AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly

Published on March 10, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals dropped two home games to the Binghamton Senators last week, and lost to the Charlotte Checkers in the first of a seven-game road trip this past Sunday.

Wednesday night, the Admirals lost to the Senators, 4-1. The first period saw matching goals from each side. The Senators grabbed the first lead before defenseman Colby Robak tied it up with his first goal as an Admiral near the end of the first frame. Binghamton's next goal didn't come until late in the second period on a power-play strike from Ryan Dzingel. Two more unanswered goals followed, and the Senators earned the 4-1 win over Norfolk.

The sides met again on Friday evening, and Binghamton jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the end of the opening period. Narrowing the gap at 4:47 of the second, Kevin Gagne hit a one-timer from the blue line to make the score 2-1. Mike Sgarbossa's equalizer from a Max Friberg pass just halfway through the final period knotted it at 2-2. Neither team could convert in the final 10 minutes, and overtime beckoned. An even five minutes into the extra session, Binghamton's Carter Camper whipped the game-winner past Norfolk goalie Jason LaBarbera's ear to make it a pair of strikes on the night in a 3-2 overtime triumph.

A season-long, seven-game road trip began in Charlotte two days later. Norfolk stumbled into another 2-0 deficit after the first period, and rookie goaltender Ryan Faragher replaced Jason LaBarbera. The Checkers beat the fresh netminder a little more than five minutes into the second period. Down 3-0, Norfolk chipped away at the lead as Chris Wagner flipped in a rebound at 8:33 to cut the deficit to two for the visiting team. Sgarbossa netted his second in two straight games at 10:54 of the second. Charlotte contained the second-period Norfolk flurry and salted away the victory in the final frame with a fourth tally at 15:12 to hand Norfolk a 4-2 loss.

The Admirals continue their away trip as they head to Portland for two back-to-back games against the Pirates on Friday and Saturday evening. The three-in-three concludes Sunday in Providence at 3:05 p.m.

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 22-30-4-3 (51 points), the Admirals are in 5th place in the East Division and are 15th 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., Mar. 13 ... at Portland Pirates (Arizona Coyotes) ... 7 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 14 ... at Portland Pirates (Arizona Coyotes) ... 7 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 15 ... at Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins) ... 3:05 p.m.

ADMIRALS SPOTLIGHT

- Former Admiral and now current Duck James Wisniewski made his Anaheim season debut last night in a 2-1 loss to Vancouver. Columbus exchanged Wisniewski and a 2015 third-round pick for former Admirals Rene Bourque, William Karlsson and a second-round pick at the trade deadline last week. Wisniewski began his professional career as an Admiral from 2004-2006 as a fifth-round selection in 2002 of the Chicago Blackhawks. He accumulated 60 points in 127 regular-season games and seven points in nine playoff games while with Norfolk. Emerson Etem tallied the lone goal for the Ducks in yesterday's defeat.

ADMIRALS LOG

Defenseman Colby Robak scored his first goal as an Admiral on Wednesday versus Binghamton. He has a goal and four assists for Norfolk this season since joining the Admirals in late January. Forward Mike Sgarbossa rides a two-game goal streak into this weekend, sparked by his first goal as an Admiral on Friday night versus Binghamton. After a scoreless Norfolk debut, Sgarbossa has three points (2g,1a) in three contests with the Admirals.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Chris Wagner (14)

Assists: Mike Sgarbossa (20)

Points: Chris Wagner (27)

Games: Dave Steckel (59)

PP Goals: Louis Leblanc (5)

SH Goals: Chris Wagner (2)

+/- Rating: Mark Fistric (0)

PIM: John Kurtz (153)

GAA: Jason LaBarbera (2.51)

Spct: Jason LaBarbera (.916)

Wins: Jason LaBarbera (7)

Losses: Jason LaBarbera (16; 5 in OT)

GPl: Jason LaBarbera (25)

Minutes: Jason LaBarbera (1410:34)

ABOUT THIS WEEK ' S MATCHUPS

A trio of games await the Admirals this weekend, beginning with a back-to-back against the Portland Pirates followed by a Sunday matinee against the Providence Bruins. After losing to Charlotte, 4-2, on Sunday, Norfolk has difficult tasks ahead, given that Portland and Providence rank sixth and fifth in the Eastern Conference, respectively. History is not on the Admirals ' side, either: in the season so far, they are a combined 0-for-5 against the two teams.

Anxious to get out of a five-game slide, scoring is something Norfolk needs more of. Since the start of February, the Admirals have scored two or fewer goals all but five times, though they are not without the offensive firepower to turn things around. Chris Wagner, who scored his team ' s first goal on Sunday, has put up points in each of his last two games, and has surpassed still-injured Nic Kerdiles for the points lead. Traded to the Ducks organization on March 2, Mike Sgarbossa has skated in three games for the Admirals, and has scored three points over his last two contests, including a power-play marker at Charlotte. Max Friberg and Stefan Noesen were quiet in Norfolk ' s most recent outing, but the two have totaled 12 points over their last seven games. The series against the Senators was beneficial for both Colby Robak and Kevin Gagne, who each potted their first goal of the season; Robak went on to add two assists on Sunday. Goaltending will have to improve for Norfolk, with Jason LaBarbera going 0-3-2 in his last five starts and Ryan Faragher going 0-3. Shots on goal, however, have not been one of the Admirals ' detractions, as the club has peppered 25 or more in 19 straight games, in addition to a 51-shot effort last Friday against Binghamton.

The Pirates are on a streak of their own, rattling off five straight wins and seven of nine, with their most recent victory coming in a 5-1 rout over Eastern Conference-leading Hershey. It was a generous weekend for Alexandre Bolduc, who netted four points in their three games, including one power-play goal and a game-winner; the center has had just three scoreless games since January 21. Jordan Martinook is quickly catching up, though, having contributed three goals and five assists in March alone on only nine shots. Justin Hodgman is scoring in bunches, with two three-game point streaks in his past nine games, and a two-point effort on Sunday. Fortunately for the Admirals, the Arizona Coyotes called up Brendan Shinnimin yesterday, who recorded eight points in as many games. New to the Pirates is David Leggio, formerly of Bridgeport, who had a stellar first showing with Portland, boasting a 1.01 goals-against average and .958 save percentage. He will have tough competition with starter Mike McKenna, who has compiled 2.13 goals-against and a .931 save percentage in 39 games and is fifth in the AHL in wins (22). The Admirals ' power play will face a formidable foe in Portland ' s home penalty kill, which draws first in the league at 89.4%.

PORTLAND LEADERS

Alexandre Bolduc (15)

Assists: Alexandre Bolduc (23)

Points: Alexandre Bolduc (38)

Games: Eric Selleck (57)

PP Goals: Alexandre Bolduc (5)

SH Goals: Jordan Martinook (2)

+/- Rating: Dylan Reese (17)

PIM: Eric Selleck (148)

GAA: Mike McKenna (2.13)

Spct: Mike McKenna (.931)

Wins: Mike McKenna (22)

Losses: Mike McKenna (16; 2 in OT)

GPl: Mike McKenna (39)

Minutes: Mike McKenna (2253:52)

Providence will be no easier as they, too, sit on a five-game win streak and most recently downed Worcester by a 3-2 decision. Two of those five wins came in Hampton Roads, where Providence swept the Admirals; Sunday will be the final test of the 2014-15 season series for the clubs. Points leader Alexander Khokhlachev is slumping with one point in his last three games and four since February 6. Justin Florek has found a rhythm after notching Sunday ' s first goal just 15 seconds into the game - the name should sound familiar, as Florek put in two against Norfolk on February 28. Seth Griffith has been heating up lately, notching seven points in his last eight games, one of which came as the power play game-winner. Jeremy Smith and Malcolm Subban are a threatening duo in net, with each playing 28 games - Smith ranks fourth in the AHL in goals-against average (2.04) and second in save percentage (.934).

PROVIDENCE LEADERS

Paul Carey (15)

Assists: Alexander Khokhlachev (24)

Points: Alexander Khokhlachev (37)

Games: Justin Florek, Tyler Randell (57)

PP Goals: Paul Carey, Alexander Khokhlachev (4)

SH Goals: Tyler Randell (2)

+/- Rating: Chris Casto (11)

PIM: Tyler Randell (91)

GAA: Jeremy Smith (2.04)

Spct: Jeremy Smith (.934)

Wins: Jeremy Smith (16)

Losses: Malcolm Subban (14; 4 in OT)

GPl: Jeremy Smith, Malcolm Subban (28)

Minutes: Jeremy Smith (1680:05)

**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**

Wednesday, March 25 vs. Charlotte Checkers

- Family Fun Pack (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 popcorns, 4 sodas for $54!)

- $9 Student Rush Tickets (with valid high school or college student ID)

Saturday, March 28 vs. Albany Devils

- Muscular Dystrophy Association Jersey Auction

Immediately following the game versus Albany, bid on special edition, game-worn jerseys auctioned off right on the ice. Total sales will go to the MDA.

- Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Night

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

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