AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk's Point Streak Reaches 11 Games

Published on November 4, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Admirals finished last week at 2-0-0-1, giving them five more points in the standings, and at least one point in each of their 11 contests thus far this season. Wednesday, October 30, Cleveland's David Cloutier sunk the Blue and Gold with a power play tally in overtime, giving the Barons a 3-2 win. On Friday, November 1, the Admirals handed Philadelphia a 2-1 loss in the City of Brotherly Love. The following night, Norfolk avenged Wednesday's overtime loss by thrashing the Barons 4-1, highlighted by a pair of Igor Radulov lamplighters.

Thursday, November 7, the Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) make their first appearance at Scope this season for a 7:15 p.m. face off. The next evening, both clubs travel back to Philadelphia for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. The Blue and Gold then hop on the bus for their first-ever match up in Binghamton, NY, against the Senators (Ottawa Senators) on Saturday, November 9 at 7:05 p.m.

Norfolk maintains the top record in the South Division and second-best record in the AHL with 19 points (8-0-1-2). The Hershey Bears sit second in the South with 12 points (5-2-1-1) followed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (4-5-1-0, nine points) and Philadelphia (3-5-1-0, seven points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Thursday, November 7...Norfolk vs. Philadelphia Phantoms...7:15 p.m.

Friday, November 8...Norfolk @ Philadelphia Phantoms...7:05 p.m.

Norfolk won the first two meetings between the teams this year, both taking place at the First Union Spectrum. The line of Mike Peluso (1+3=4 points), Peter White (1+2=3 points) and Casey Hankinson (2+1=3 points) has accounted for four of the Admirals' five goals in the two games. Philadelphia is ranked 20th on the power play (15.51) and fourth in penalty killing (87.67). The Phantoms have been out-scored 10-2 in the third period this season. Mark Greig leads the squad in goals (six) and points (10, four assists). Guillaume Lefebvre tops the squad with a plus-6 rating, while David Harlock has the lowest rating at minus-9. The Vandermeer brothers have been piling up the penalty minutes, Peter having received 46 PIM and Jim having accumulated 39 PIM. Between the pipes, Neil Little is 2-3-1 with a 2.77 GAA and a .895 spct. while Antero Niittymaki is 1-2-0 with a 4.03 GAA and a .855 spct.

Saturday, November 9...Norfolk @ Binghamton Senators...7:05 p.m.

This meeting marks the Admirals' first trip to Broome County Arena. Binghamton last had an AHL franchise in 1997 with the Rangers. The Senators rank 25th in the League on the power play (11.86) and 18th in penalty killing (83.33). They are the fifth-least penalized club in the AHL, averaging just 20.7 PIM per game. Defenseman Josef Boumedienne tops the Senators in assists (eight), points (nine, one goal) and plus/minus rating (plus-9). Two of Alexandre Giroux's three goals are shorthanded tallies, tying him for the League-lead in that category. Only five members of the Binghamton squad are on the negative side of plus/minus ratings, Wade Brookbank's minus-4 being the lowest. The goaltending duties have been split between Ray Emery (six GPI, 3-2-1, 2.78 GAA, .900 spct.), Simon Lejeunesse (three GPI, 1-0-0, 3.58 GAA, .857 spct.) and Martin Prusek (two GPI, 0-1-1, 2.43 GAA, .900 spct.)

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Thursday, November 7 (Philadelphia Phantoms)

* Peninsula Residents Night - fans who show proof of residency on the Peninsula at Scope's Box Office or any TicketMaster outlet can purchase tickets as buy one, get one free in the Blue or White seating levels

* College Night - college students who show a valid college ID at Scope's Box Office or any TicketMaster outlet can purchase tickets for $5.00 in the White seating level

Friday, November 15 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

* Player portrait giveaway to the first 3,000 fans, courtesy of the Tobacco Usage Control Program (TUCP) (Player portrait #1 of eight)

Wednesday, November 20 (Binghamton Senators)

* Hats off to Our Fans Night - fans who purchase an Admirals hat from the souvenir stand this night only may have the price refunded if an Admirals player scores a hat trick in the evening's game (excludes previous purchases)

Friday, November 22 (Binghamton Senators)

* AJ Gator's pre-game party at the 244 Granby Street location in downtown Norfolk

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* Norfolk has picked up at least one point in the standings in each of the team's 11 games this season, the longest such streak in the club's brief AHL history.

* G Craig Andersson leads the League with a 1.75 goals against average, and is second among all netminders with a .937 save percentage. He has posted a 4-0-0 record and allowed just seven goals in his four starts.

* Rookie Igor Radulov snapped a seven-game scoreless streak with his two goals on Saturday, November 2 against Cleveland. He is tied for fourth among rookie scorers with five tallies on the year.

* The Admirals' 2-1 victory at Philadelphia on November 1 was their fourth win in their last five game on the Phantoms' home ice dating back to February 24 of last season.

* Norfolk's netminding tandem of Craig Andersson and Michael Leighton have combined to give the Admirals the Western Conference's lowest team GAA (2.23) and second-lowest in the AHL (Hamilton, 2.09).

* F Mike Peluso is currently tied for sixth in the League in scoring with 5+9=14 points.

* D Johnathan Aitken has an eight-game penalty streak in progress, and has picked up PIMs in all but one game thus far this season. He is tied for third in the AHL with 14 minor penalties this year. Aitken's streak breaks the club mark previously held by Shawn Thornton (2001-02) and Jeff Paul (2000-01).

ON THE RADIO

All games are broadcast on the Admirals' Flagship Station, WBVA 1450-AM "The Buzz". 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 20 minutes prior to game starting time.

This week's Admirals Radio Show will be pre-empted due to the Admirals' game with the Philadelphia Phantoms on Thursday, November 7. The Radio Show will return Thursday, November 14, when Pete Michaud will welcome special guests as he broadcasts from the Azalea Inn, 2344 E. Little Creek Road in Norfolk.

TICKET INFORMATION

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. Season tickets as well as 10- and 20-Game Plans, Flex Vouchers and Group Tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, contact the Admirals at (757) 363-1900 or visit the club's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2002


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