AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly

February 3, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals brought home four of six points possible from their three-game away trip. They had back-to-back games against the Binghamton Senators on Friday and Saturday, and they finished up in Pennsylvania against the Hershey Bears.

The first of two against the Senators started Friday night. Eight goals were scored throughout the entire contest, and five of those tallies belonged to the Admirals. Emerson Etem led his team to a victory with his second professional hat trick. His first two came within about four minutes of each other in the first period. Etem's final goal registered 45 seconds before the final horn. The Senators threatened after going down 2-0, however, and managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the third period. Norfolk answered by scoring two goals within 30 seconds past the midway point in the final period. Etem's insurance goal at 19:15 completed the hat trick and finished off the home side in a 5-3 result.

Saturday night didn't see as many goals, but it did see another Admirals victory and a sweep of the Senators. Binghamton capitalized on the shorthand when Derek Grant blocked a shot and sped down the ice to put his team up 1-0. Etem haunted the Senators again to even the score off of a draw in the second period for his fourth goal over the weekend. The two teams were locked at one after 60 minutes. The overtime period wouldn't last longer than two minutes before Andrew O'Brien won the game. O'Brien's slap shot whizzed past netminder Scott Greenham, and Norfolk left New York with a sweep and four points.

The third game of their weekend came on Sunday night against the Hershey Bears. The contest didn't have quite the action that was packed into the two days prior. Only two goals were scored, and both of the marks would come from Hershey. Chandler Stephenson got the Bears on the board late into the third frame. The second goal came from an empty-netter by Dane Byers. Hershey walked away with a 2-0 shutout.

The Admirals spend their next four games at home against the Worcester Sharks and the Syracuse Crunch beginning this Friday versus the Sharks at 7:30 p.m. inside Scope.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All regular-season games will air live on 1650 AM WHKT "The Answer" and online at 1650theanswer.com. AHL Live will also carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch, listen or get more information about AHL Live's online audio and video features at ahllive.com.

Tune in live to 1650 AM "The Answer" every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the "Admirals Hour" with the "Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud and the "Original Admiral" Dennis McEwen. Michaud and McEwen discuss the latest in Norfolk Admirals hockey, speak with guests, update you on the Anaheim Ducks, as well as answer any calls during the show. Ask Pete and Dennis your questions by calling in to the studio at 757-454-1650.

STANDINGS UPDATE

At 18-23-3-2 (41 points), the Admirals are in 4th place in the East Division and are in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 76-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded 1-3 (in order of regular-season points) and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded 4-8.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Fri., Feb. 6 ... at Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks) ... 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 7 ... at Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks) ... 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS SPOTLIGHT

- Former Admiral center Rickard Rakell continues to roll as a member of the Ducks. Rakell scored the lone goal for Anaheim against Chicago on Friday to make it four points in the last three games. He's already smashed the four-point total he listed last season in 18 appearances with five goals and 12 assists this season in 39 games. It seems Rakell has solidified himself as Head Coach Bruce Boudreau's third-line center in Anaheim.

ADMIRALS LOG

Emerson Etem was a fixture on the scoresheet during the month of January. The third-year pro scored 16 points in 12 games last month and recorded six multi-point contests. Etem tallied three goals on January 30 against Binghamton for his second career professional hat trick. He ended the month with 10 markers and six assists. Despite a 30-save performance in a loss to Hershey on Super Bowl Sunday, Norfolk goaltender Jason LaBarbera squeezed into the top 20 in goals-against average in the AHL with a 2.29 average through 16 games played. LaBarbera is currently ranked 16th in the league.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Emerson Etem (13)

Assists: Brendan Bell (21)

Points: Nic Kerdiles (25)

Games: Nic Kerdiles, Dave Steckel (43)

PP Goals: Emerson Etem (6)

SH Goals: Chris Wagner (2)

+/- Rating: Emerson Etem, Brad Winchester (-1)

PIM: Nathan McIver (122)

GAA: John Gibson (2.28)

Spct: John Gibson (.928)

Wins: John Gibson, Jason LaBarbera (5)

Losses: Jason LaBarbera (10; 3 in OT)

GPl: Jason LaBarbera (16)

Minutes: Jason LaBarbera (916:11)

ABOUT THIS WEEK ' S MATCHUPS

The Admirals take a break from the road with a four-game stint at Scope Arena during which they host back-to-backs against the Worcester Sharks and Syracuse Crunch. These will be the first meetings between Norfolk and Worcester of the 2014-15 season, and the teams will face off once again in Worcester later this month. Last year, the clubs split their series, with two games requiring extra time to decide a winner.

Norfolk enjoyed a successful road trip on which they went 2-1 against Binghamton and Hershey. Over its last nine games, they have claimed 10 of a possible 18 points, improving their record to 18-23-3-2 and passing the Senators for 14th place in the Conference. Emerson Etem wrapped up his bid for Player of the Month with 16 points in 12 games in January, which rocketed him up to fourth on the team in points. Etem accomplished the feat with zero penalty minutes, six multi-point games, five special-teams goals and 49 shots. After scoring just one point in seven games, Nic Kerdiles regained his scoring touch, putting up five points in his last six games and ranking 13th among AHL rookies. Chris Wagner and William Karlsson have also contributed, combining for eight points in their last six outings. Andrew O ' Brien was the unlikely hero on Saturday when he potted the overtime game-winner against Binghamton under two minutes into the extra frame. Newcomer Mark Fistric has made an impression, registering two points in his five games so far and providing excellent awareness along the blue line. Don ' t be surprised if the Admirals keep the Sharks scoreless on the power play, as Norfolk is first in the league on the penalty kill at home.

The Sharks will be out for blood this weekend, since they sit one point outside of the playoff picture with two games in hand on the Penguins. In January, they composed a 10-2-0-1 record, which included an eight-game win streak. Worcester ' s most recent contest against Providence was especially lucrative for Ryan Carpenter and Eriah Hayes, who both had three-point nights. Winger Jeremy Langlois continues to impress, racking up 11 points (eight goals, three assists) last month and placing eighth in the AHL among first-years. Worcester remains without its second-highest scorer, Daniil Tarasov, who was recalled by San Jose last Wednesday and had notched 25 points in 41 games. Chris Tierney was particularly productive last month as well, netting 14 points in as many games on six goals and eight assists, including two power-play tallies and one game-winner. Look for Taylor Fedun to be in on goals, as the defenseman has 19 assists on the year, nine of which came in January. The Admirals will have their work cut out for them against the Sharks ' goalies: all three netminders have a sub-2.72 goals-against average and above a .900 save percentage. The top goaltender, Troy Grosenick, ranks eighth in the AHL in wins with 15. He also shut out the Carolina Hurricanes in his 45-save NHL debut on November 16.

WORCESTER LEADERS

Goals: Jeremy Langlois (16)

Assists: Taylor Fedun (19)

Points: Jeremy Langlois (26)

Games: Four players tied (44)

PP Goals: Jeremy Langlois (1)

SH Goals: Ryan Carpenter (1)

+/- Rating: Will Coetzee, Evan Trupp, Gus Young (8)

PIM: Michael Haley (76)

GAA: Troy Grosenick (2.67)

Spct: Troy Grosenick (.905)

Wins: Troy Grosenick (15)

Losses: J.P. Anderson (9; 1 in OT)

GPl: Troy Grosenick (24)

Minutes: Troy Grosenick (1458:26)

**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**

Friday, February 6 vs. Worcester Sharks

- Operation Smile Night

A portion of ticket sales will be donated to Operation Smile, so come watch Admirals hockey while giving to a great cause!

Saturday, February 7 vs. Worcester Sharks

- Boy Scout Night, Colonial Council

The second Boy Scout Night of the 2014-15 season benefits Colonial Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Purchase specially discounted tickets through the Colonial Boy Scout Council Service Center

in Newport News and a portion of the proceeds go to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters!

- Ellie's Hats Night

The first-ever Ellie's Hats Night benefiting the Cancer Center at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters is a new partnership between the Admirals and Grassfield High School DECA. We urge fans to bring new hats to throw onto the ice at the end of the game as a part of Ellie's Hats Hat Toss. The hats will go to CHKD patients suffering from cancer.

TICKETS

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2015


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