AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk finishes road trip on losing note

March 7, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - After defeating Binghamton on Wednesday, the Admirals dropped the last three matches of their 10-game road swing, falling into a tie for third place in the East. On March 2nd, Eric Nickulas scored a minute and a half into overtime to lift the Ads to a 3-2 win over the B-Sens. Two nights later, Michael Leighton made 45 saves, but the Admirals were unable to score as they were blanked by Binghamton 2-0. On March 5th, Norfolk lost at Bridgeport 4-1. The team's two-week jaunt concluded at Lowell on March 6th. Mikhail Yakubov scored twice in the last 1:04 of regulation to tie the game, but the Ads fell to the Lock Monsters 3-2 in a shootout.

Norfolk returns home to face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a pair of matches this weekend before traveling to Hershey on Sunday for their final meeting with the Bears this season.

STANDINGS
Norfolk (34-22-1-5, 74 pts) is currently tied for third in the East Division with Philadelphia (34-20-2-4, 74 pts). Binghamton (33-19-5-4) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (32-17-5-6) share first place with 75 points each. Hershey (32-27-1-1, 66 pts) is fifth followed by Bridgeport (26-29-2-1, 55 pts) and Albany (19-30-6-5, 49 pts).

THE WEEK AHEAD
Fri., Mar. 11 ... Admirals vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 12 ... Admirals vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 13 ... Admirals @ Hershey Bears (Colorado Avalanche) ... 5:00 p.m.

NORFOLK LEADERS
Goals: Rene Bourque (24 - 3rd AHL rookies) Assists: Marty Wilford (25)
Points: Rene Bourque (43 - T 3rd AHL rookies) Gms Played: M. Keith, Laing, Moen, Vorobiev (62)
PP goals: Matt Keith (7) SH goals: Quintin Laing (3 - T 6th AHL)
+/- Rating: Jim Vandermeer (+13) PIM: Mike Brown (239)
GAA: Michael Leighton (2.06 - 8th AHL) Spct: Michael Leighton (.921)
Wins: Michael Leighton (19) Losses: Michael Leighton (16)
GPI: Michael Leighton (39) Minutes: Michael Leighton (2219)

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON LEADERS
Goals: Michel Ouellet (30 - T 3rd AHL) Assists: Kris Beech (45 - 5th AHL)
Points: Michel Ouellet (56) Games Played: Several (60)
PP goals: Ramzi Abid (9) SH goals: Colby Armstrong (3 - T 6th AHL)
+/- Rating: Matt Murley (+32 - 3rd AHL) PIM: David Koci (237)
GAA: Dany Sabourin (1.64) Spct: Dany Sabourin (.943)
Wins: Marc-Andre Fleury (22 - T 8th AHL) Losses: Marc-Andre Fleury (11)
GPI: Marc-Andre Fleury (40 - T 10th AHL) Minutes: Marc-Andre Fleury (2256)

HERHSEY LEADERS
Goals: Mathieu Darche, Eric Perrin (20) Assists: Eric Perrin (35)
Points: Eric Perrin (55) Games Played: Boychuk, Perrin, Ulmer (61)
PP goals: David Masse (7) SH goals: Jeff Ulmer (2)

-more-

Norfolk Finishes Road Trip/Page 2

+/- Rating: Johnny Boychuk (+7) PIM: Dennis Bonvie (276 - 2nd AHL)
GAA: Peter Budaj (2.66) Spct: Peter Budaj (.919)
Wins: Peter Budaj (25 - T 4th AHL) Losses: Peter Budaj (17)
GPI: Peter Budaj (45 - 6th AHL) Minutes: Peter Budaj (2551 - 7th AHL)

UPCOMING GAMES/PROMOTIONS
Friday, March 11 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
· The Baby Pens are back for the first time since October.
· STIHL's Hometown Hero for March is Kevin DiBona, President of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Kevin will be honored with a presentation at the game.
Saturday, March 12 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
· Admirals Baseball Cap Giveaway to the first 3,500 fans, courtesy of ACS, LLC, GTI, and WB33.
Wednesday, March 16 (Worcester IceCats)
· Special 12:15 p.m. start time as Worcester makes its lone appearance at Scope this season.

ADMIRALS NOTEBOOK
· Norfolk's 3-2 SOL to Lowell on Sunday gave the Lock Monsters a season sweep of the Admirals. Only Manchester (2-0 in 2003-04) and Worcester (2-0 in 2002-03, 2003-04) had swept a season series over Norfolk the past two years.
· In their last seven games, the Admirals are 36-38 on the penalty kill (94.74) and did not allowed a power play goal in six of those contests.
· Mikhail Yakubov, who missed 12 games due to a broken jaw, scored both of the Admirals' goals at Lowell on March 6, his first lamplighters since January 15th at Hershey.
· Pavel Vorobiev has no PIM in his last 16 games (since January 28th vs. Springfield).
· On Sunday, Marty Wilford and Jason Morgan each picked up their 400th AHL career PIM.
· Adam Munro had a four-game winning streak snapped with a loss at Bridgeport on March 5th.
· Ajay Baines is scoreless in seven matches (since February 23rd at Springfield).

ON THE RADIO
Admirals games are broadcast on the Admirals' Flagship Station, 1050 AM. All games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to www.SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

Fox Sports Radio has been purchased by new owners and will change formats in the near future. The station will continue to carry Admirals games on 1050 AM through the playoffs.

Tune in to the Admirals Radio Show, brought to you by First Team Auto Superstore, Tuesday, March 8th. This week, Pete Michaud welcomes Travis Moen and Adam Munro as his special guests in the studio taking your questions from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1310 AM.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for all remaining games on the Admirals' home schedule are available at the Scope Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, charge-by-phone at (757) 671-8100 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. 10-Packs and group tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, visit the team's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com or call the Admirals at (757) 640-1212.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2005


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