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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk clinches playoff berth, shuts out Philadelphia twice

March 25, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


Five-Game Homestand Begins Wednesday with Penguins

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Admirals clinched a playoff berth for the second-straight year this past weekend, as they won all three contests, including two shutouts against the Phantoms. On Friday, March 22, Norfolk outlasted the Portland Pirates, 2-1. The Blue and Gold blanked the Phantoms 6-0 on Saturday, March 23 at Scope, and 4-0 on Sunday, March 24 at Philadelphia.

A five-game homestand begins this week when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) make their final appearances in Norfolk this season on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:15 p.m. and again on Friday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) return to Scope on Saturday, March 30 for a 7:30 p.m. face off.

The Admirals remain in first place in the South Division with 84 points (34-24-12-4), making them the #3 seed in the Western Conference. The Hershey Bears are second in the South at 31-25-11-6 (79 points, #7 seed) while Philadelphia sits third at 29-25-14-5 (77 points, #8 seed).

Some important matches this week that may affect the Calder Cup Playoffs picture include (current seeding in parentheses):
March 27 - Cincinnati (9) at Houston (6); Bridgeport (4 Eastern) at Philadelphia (8); Hartford (2 Eastern) at Chicago (5); Grand Rapids (1) at Rochester (10); Cleveland at Utah (4)
March 29 - Hershey (7) at Cleveland; Syracuse (2) at Rochester (10); Grand Rapids (1) at Milwaukee; Cincinnati (9) at Houston (6); Chicago (5) at Utah (4); Albany at Philadelphia (8)
March 30 - Syracuse (2) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Hershey (7) at Cincinnati (9); Houston (6) at Milwaukee; Rochester (10) at Grand Rapids (1); Chicago (5) at Utah (4)
March 31 - Hershey (7) at Cincinnati (9)

WEEKLY RECAP

Friday, March 22.Norfolk (2) vs. Portland Pirates (1)
In their lone meeting at Scope this season, the Admirals handed the visiting Portland Pirates a 2-1 loss. In the opening frame, the Blue and Gold unleashed 14 shots on Portland netminder Sebastien Charpentier. But the important one came at the 15:29 mark when Quintin Laing notched a power play tally, giving the Admirals a 1-0 with one period gone. Valeri Zelepukin extended Norfolk's lead to two goals when he lit the lamp with just over two minutes remaining in the second period, and the Admirals carried a 2-0 lead into the final stanza. With Charpentier pulled for the extra skater in the final minute of play, the Pirates' Ivan Ciernik stuffed the puck home to bring Portland to within one goal at 19:45. But the Blue and Gold stifled any chance of a comeback in the last 15 seconds, and the Admirals came out on top, 2-1. Craig Andersson recorded 18 saves, picking up the win, while Charpentier had 34 saves between the pipes for Portland.

Saturday, March 23.Norfolk (6) vs. Philadelphia Phantoms (0)
In a key South Division match up, the Admirals shut out the Philadelphia Phantoms 6-0 at Norfolk Scope. Valeri Zelepukin opened up the scoring with a power play tally at the 15:26 mark of the first stanza, giving the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead after one period. At 6:50 of the second frame, Mike Peluso found the back of the net giving Norfolk a two-goal advantage. Ajay Baines stole a Philadelphia pass, feeding the puck to Jean-Yves Leroux, who skated down to the Phantoms' net on a breakaway, beating goaltender Corey Hirsch for a 3-0 Admirals' lead. With the teams skating four-a-side in the final stanza, Mike Peluso stole the puck in the neutral zone and scored on a breakaway of his own at 13:47. Kent Huskins lit the lamp at the 17:20 mark, extending Norfolk's advantage to five goals. Vern Fiddler capped the evening's scoring when he banged the puck home with 42 seconds remaining in the game, and the Admirals finished the game as 6-0 victors. Michael Leighton stopped all 24 Philadelphia shots to record the shutout, while Corey Hirsch had 21 saves in net for the Phantoms.

Sunday, March 24. Norfolk (4) vs. Philadelphia Phantoms (0)
Mike Peluso scored twice as the Admirals shut out the Phantoms for second consecutive night. Peter White got the Blue and Gold on the board early when he notched a power play tally at 4:14 of the opening frame. Norfolk maintained a 1-0 lead into the third period when Peluso found the back of the net as the Admirals enjoyed a two-man advantage at the 3:29 mark. Trailing 2-0, the Phantoms pulled goaltender Neil Little in the closing minutes of the game, but Peluso took the puck and fired it into the open net at 18:33 to end Philadelphia's hope of a comeback. With 44 seconds remaining, Ty Jones lit the lamp to give Norfolk a 4-0 win. Michael Leighton stopped all 19 shots by the Phantoms to pick up his second shutout in as many games, while Little posted 18 saves, taking the loss.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, March 27.Norfolk vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.7:15 p.m.
Friday, March 28.Norfolk vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins .7:30 p.m.
The Blue and Gold have split the season series with the Pens thus far, having won the first four matches and lost the last four. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leads the League in penalty minutes (2,603), minor penalties (609), 10-minute misconducts (43) and game misconducts (30). Martin Sonnenberg is atop the team scoring chart with 19+29=48 points. Tom Kostopoulos' 25 goals are most on the club. Peter Ratchuk is the Pens' highest scoring defenseman with 15+23=38 points. Steve Parsons, Darcy Verot and Jason MacDonald are ranked first, second and fourth in the AHL in PIM, with 366, 350 and 324 PIM, respectively. The Penguins' netminding tandem is comprised of Sebastien Caron (14-20-7, 3.11 GAA, .903 spct.) and Robbie Tallas (6-22-5, 3.38 GAA, .902 spct.). Tallas' 22 losses tie him for second-most among AHL goalies. Saturday, March 30.Norfolk vs. Philadelphia Phantoms.7:30 p.m. The Admirals have upped their record to 5-2-1-0 against the Phantoms, and have won their last three match ups. Philadelphia has outshot its opponents 715-705 during the second period, but has been outshot by its foes in the first, third and overtime stanzas. The Phantoms 2,001 shots are second-fewest among all AHL clubs (Albany - 1,832). Mark Greig is first on the team in scoring among active players with 21+36=57 points. Vaclav Pletka has 10 power play tallies to lead the club in that category. Peter Vandermeer's 311 PIM are most on the club and fifth-most in the AHL. Neil Little is second in the League with a 2.06 GAA. He has posted a record of 11-14-6 with a .923 spct. Corey Hirsch is 0-2-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .857 spct. since recently joining the Phantoms from Portland. He is 6-14-5 with a 2.77 GA and .916 spct. in 25 appearances overall this season.

TEAM NOTEBOOK
* The Admirals are currently in the midst of a franchise-record six-game winning streak dating back to a 4-3 overtime win at Cleveland on 3/15. The streak also ties a club record for longest unbeaten streak set earlier this season (12/12 vs. Hershey to 12/28 vs. Hartford, 4-0-2).
* The Blue and Gold's 6-0 victory over the Phantoms on March 23 matched a season-high for largest margin of victory (6-0 over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 12/23).
* Norfolk's 4-0 win at Philadelphia on March 24 set a franchise mark for most consecutive road victories (five, since 3/6 at Lowell) and tied a club mark for road unbeaten streak (six games, 5-0-1-0 since 3/15 at Cleveland).
* The Admirals are 25-10-6-3 when they score at least one power play goal this season.
* Goaltender Michael Leighton is on a team-record five-game winning streak since a 1-0 win over Cincinnati 3/9, including three shutouts during that span.
* Leighton's six shutouts this season surpass Norfolk's team total of five shutouts in 2000-2001.
* Jean-Yves Leroux has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last five contests.
* Craig Andersson is 3-1-1 in his last five starts, posting a 2.13 GAA and .923 spct. over those games.
* Since rejoining Norfolk on March 9, Mike Peluso has skated in seven games, posting seven points (5+2).
* Defenseman Nolan Baumgartner has registered five points (one goal, four helpers) during his last six appearances.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
* Friday, March 29 (W-B/Scranton Penguins), the first 2,500 fans through the gates receive a set of Admirals trading cards courtesy of Norfolk's Sheriff McCabe, Virginia Beach's Sheriff Lanteigne and the Coalition for a Smoke Free Virginia.
* Friday, March 29 (W-B/Scranton Penguins), the Calder Cup Trophy will be at Scope for fans to see up close and in person.
* Saturday, March 30 (Philadelphia Phantoms), two lucky fans will win the chance to drive like NASCAR drivers with a pair of trips to the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Richmond, VA.
* Saturday, March 30 (Philadelphia Phantoms), is a Newport News Shipbuilding Night. Employees of Newport News Shipbuilding who present a NNS ID at Scope 's Box Office receive $2.00 off all tickets purchased.

ON THE RADIO
The Admirals' Call-In Show can be heard at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 28 on WHKT 1650-AM. Pete Michaud welcomes Mike Peluso and Peter White as his special guests when the Call-In Show is broadcast live from The Azalea Inn, located at 2344 E. Little Creek Road in Norfolk. Those attending the live broadcast of the Call-In Show at The Azalea Inn can register at the restaurant for the chance to win an item autographed by the special guests of the evening. The winner must be present to receive the prize.

Each and every week that the Call-In Show airs, one lucky fan receives an Admirals Prize Pack just for calling in to ask the host or his guests a question. Additionally, everyone who phones in will be entered into a grand prize drawing. Fans may also enter the drawing by attending the Call-In Show when it is broadcast live at The Azalea Inn. At the final broadcast from The Azalea Inn this year (Thursday, April 4) names will be drawn at random for three grand prizes: 1st Prize - an autographed Admirals jersey, 2nd Prize - an autographed stick, 3rd Prize - an autographed Admirals t-shirt. Winners must be present to claim their prize.

TICKET INFORMATION
2002 Playoff Packages are now available through the Admirals Ticketing Office at the following prices: Corporate Boxes - $2,720, Gold Section - $220, Blue Section - $204, Navy Section - $185 and White Section - $140. Any seats not purchased by March 25 will be made available to the general public. Individual playoff tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, April 1.

Season tickets for 2002-2003 are also available now, and can be purchased through the Admirals Ticketing Office, or online at www.norfolkadmirals.com. Prices are as follows: Gold Section $475.00, Blue Section $375.00, White Section $275.00. (The Navy Section has been incorporated into the Blue Section or White Section, depending on seating area.)

Individual game tickets and children's tickets for all of the Norfolk Admirals' remaining 2001-2002 home games can be purchased at the Scope Box Office, TicketMaster outlets, charge-by-phone at (757) 671-8100 and on the World Wide Web at www.ticketmaster.com. Flex Vouchers and group tickets are available through the Admirals' office at 1300 Diamond Springs Road, Suite 101, in Virginia Beach. For more information on Playoff Packages or 2002-2003 Season Tickets, or to reserve a group outing, please call the Admirals' office at (757) 363-1900 or visit our web site at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

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