AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk splits pair with San Antonio

Published on February 9, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Hosting their 2003 Calder Cup Playoff Quarterfinal foes for two games, the Admirals finished the week with a win and a loss against the San Antonio Rampage. On Friday, February 6, Ty Jones and Pavel Vorobiev each had a goal and an assist to lead the Blue and Gold to a 4-3 victory. The next evening, San Antonio goalie Brent Krahn made 35 stops as the Rampage ended the Admirals' three-game winning streak with a 4-2 win.

The Lowell Lock Monsters (Carolina Hurricanes) visit Norfolk for their only two regular season matches on Wednesday, February 11 and Friday, February 13. Face-off is at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday and 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Norfolk then begins a five-game road trip with a 7:05 p.m. contest in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton against the Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) on Saturday, February 14.

The Admirals are fifth in the East Division with record of 20-25-4-5 (49 points). They trail Bridgeport (27-11-8-3, 65 points), Philadelphia (29-15-5-1, 64 points), Hershey (25-20-8-3, 61 points) and Binghamton (24-20-4-2, 54 points), and are followed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (19-20-5-4, 47 points) and Albany (13-22-7-6, 39 points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, February 11 ... Norfolk vs. Lowell Lock Monsters ... 7:15 p.m.

Friday, February 13 ... Norfolk vs. Lowell Lock Monsters ... 7:30 p.m.

Lowell (22-19-4-3, 51 points) defeated Norfolk 3-2 in overtime on January 16, the teams' only other match up this season. The clubs will face each other one more time in Massachusetts on February 20. The Admirals are 3-2-3-1 all-time against the Lock Monsters, including a 2-1-1-0 record at Scope. Lowell has scored the second-most goals in the Atlantic Division (134; Manchester - 138) and has allowed the most in that division (136). Only Bridgeport (661 PIM) and Portland (759 PIM) have fewer penalty minutes in the Eastern Conference than the Lock Monsters' 854 PIM. Carolina's farm club is second in the League on the power play (18.4) and 25th when shorthanded (81.5). Mike Zigomanis tops Lowell in assists (32) and points (43; 11 goals). He is 10th in the AHL in points and is tied with Philadelphia's Kirby Law for fifth in helpers. Martin Sonnenberg has 14 goals and a plus-14 rating to lead the squad in those categories. Brad Fast has 8+12=20 points, the most of any Lowell defenseman, and he is tied with several others for third in goals by a League blueliner. Brett Lysak's minus-11 rating is lowest on the Lock Monsters, and he has spent the most time in the penalty box with 81 PIM. In net, Patrick DesRochers is 15-14-1 with a 2.80 GAA and a .911 spct. in 31 games. Dany Sabourin is 5-5-2 with a 2.74 GAA and a .908 spct. in 12 appearances. DesRochers is among the top 10 in the AHL in wins and losses. Saturday, February 14 ... Norfolk @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ... 7:05 p.m. The Admirals are 2-3-1-0 against the Penguins this year, with just one win in four tries at Wilkes-Barre (1-2-1-0). Their last match up (January 25 in Pennsylvania) ended in a 1-1 draw. Wilkes-Barre holds a 15-14-3-2 edge in the all-time series. In the six games between the clubs this year, Norfolk' s Matt Ellison has 3+3=6 points, Anton Babchuk has 3+2=5 points and Marty Wilford has 0+5=5 points. Pittsburgh's farm hands are ranked 20th in the AHL with the man-advantage (13.3) and last in penalty killing (79.34). Kris Beech is atop the Pens' scoring list with 15+18=33 points, and his plus-12 rating is best on the squad. Michel Ouellet has 21 tallies to lead the team as well as all League rookies in goals. He has 30 points (nine assists), tying him with Manchester's Noah Clarke for fifth in scoring among AHL freshmen. Matt Murley's 19 helpers are most on Wilkes-Barre. Marquis Mathieu owns the lowest rating on the Pens at minus-7. David Koci has 174 PIM to lead his team and share fifth place in the AHL (Springfield's Trevor Gillies) in that category. Between the pipes, Andy Chiodo is 11-11-1 with a 2.42 GAA and a .908 spct. in 27 games. Martin Brochu is 3-8-1 with a 2.75 GAA and a .902 spct. in 13 outings.

UPCOMING GAMES/PROMOTIONS

Wednesday, February 11 (Lowell Lock Monsters)

* The Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate visits Hampton Roads for the first time this season at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, February 13 (Lowell Lock Monsters)

* Big Rock Night. The first 1,000 ladies (18 and older) will receive a stone. One especially lucky lady will be holding a .58 carat diamond while the others will have cubic zirconias. Recipients should take their stones to Long Jewelers (2953 Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach) to see if they have the diamond. Three fans will also win gift cards to Long Jewelers.

* Pre-game Party at AJ Gator's. For just $15, receive a Blue Level ticket to that night's game, a voucher for two drinks and an hors d'oeuvre buffet at AJ Gator's, 344 Granby Street in Norfolk. Available at the Scope Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets. Special discounts available for season ticket holders through the Admirals' office.

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* With their victories over Hartford (5-1 on January 31) and San Antonio (4-3 on February 6), the Admirals scored four or more goals in consecutive games for the first time this season.

* Norfolk's 4-3 over San Antonio marked only the second time this year the team won when allowing three or more goals. The Blue and Gold are 2-16-2-1 when the opposition scores three times in a game.

* The Admirals have scored on the power play just twice in their last 20 games and twice in 86 opportunities (2.3). They are currently 25th in the AHL with the man-advantage (11.06).

* When San Antonio's Denis Shvidki netted a hat trick against Norfolk on February 7, it was nearly a year to the day since the last time an opposing player scored thrice in a game versus the Admirals (Cameron Mann, MIL, February 8, 2003).

* D Anton Babchuk, the youngest player in the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic at 19 years old, won the Sher-Wood Hardest Shot competition with a drive of 96.6 miles per hour on Sunday, February 8. He will skate with PlanetUSA in tonight's All-Star Classic game at 7:00 p.m. Eastern in Grand Rapids, MI.

* G Michael Leighton is unbeaten in four straight games (3-0-1 since January 25 at Wilkes-Barre) and has won three consecutive games (since January 30 vs. Providence). He has a 1.47 GAA and a .944 spct. over that span. Leighton's four-game unbeaten streak is the longest by a Norfolk goaltender in 2003-04.

* RW Pavel Vorobiev has five points (three goals, two assists) over his last three games (since January 31).

* C Ajay Baines has 1+3=4 points in his last four games (since January 30).

* LW Matt Ellison has a point (2+2) in each of his last four matches (since January 30).

ON THE RADIO

All games are broadcast on the Admirals' Flagship Station, AM-1230 WJOI. The games are also cybercast on the World Wide Web at SportsJuice.com. Go to www.SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at www.norfolkadmirals.com. Pre-game broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game starting time.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for all remaining contests 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. Group tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, visit the club's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com or call the Admirals at (757) 363-1900.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2004


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