AHL Norfolk Admirals

Penguins Slide Past Admirals in Third Period

March 12, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - Marek Kvapil netted a goal and an assist, but the Norfolk Admirals (23-36-2-5) gave up four third-period goals as they fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (37-24-0-3) 5-3 on Wednesday night at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

The Penguins briefly took a 1-0 lead early in the game. Dave Gove's slap shot from the top of the right circle beat Norfolk netminder Jonathan Boutin at 2:06.

The Admirals claimed a 2-1 lead with a pair of goals mid-way through the opening frame. Adam Henrich tied the game at 11:10 while the teams skated four-on-four. Henrich skated from the right corner to the right faceoff dot before sweeping a shot through a screen and through Penguins netminder John Curry's leg pads.

Kvapil put Norfolk on top 2-1 less than three minutes later with a shorthanded breakaway goal. Kvapil stole the puck in the neutral zone and sped toward the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton end, kicking a bouncing puck from skate to stick at the blue line to remain onside as he entered the attacking zone in the slot. He deked to the stick-side before snapping a glove-side shot past Curry's right leg at 13:57.

After a scoreless second stanza that saw Jonathan Boutin make 15 saves, the Penguins scored three goals in the first half of the final frame to take control of the game. Jon D'Aversa tied the game at 2-2 when his shot off a faceoff from the left half wall beat Boutin high to the glove-side at 3:09. Former Admiral Ben Lovejoy netted his first professional goal at 8:03 to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ahead 3-2. Gove's second goal of the game off a centering feed from Jean-Michel Daoust at 9:53 made gave Norfolk a two-goal deficit.

The Admirals clawed back to within a goal of the Penguins with 5:43 remaining in the game. After a forechecking steal, Kvapil centered a pass from behind the goal line to Rob Klinkhammer at the left faceoff dot. Klinkhammer one-timed the pass into the cage for his ninth goal of the season.

However, the Admirals would be unable to find the equalizer. Gove added an empty net goal to complete the hat trick with 15 seconds remaining.

Jonathan Boutin (37 shots, 33 saves) picked up the loss. John Curry (20 shots, 17 saves) got the win.

Norfolk was 0-2 on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 0-5.

The Admirals will return to Scope for an eight-game homestand kicking off Friday and Saturday against the Portland Pirates. Friday night, the first 2,500 fans will receive an Admirals pennant courtesy of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. Saturday night, the first 1,500 kids will receive an Admirals St. Patty's Day puck courtesy of Liberty Tax Service upon exiting the building.

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase Admirals season tickets, ten packs or group tickets, please stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Three Stars:

1. Dave Gove - WBS

2. Ben Lovejoy - WBS

3. Mark Letestu - WBS

Box Score

Notes: Marek Kvapil's first period tally was the first shorthanded goal of his professional career ... Norfolk now has ten shorthanded goals on the season, good for a tenth-place tie in the AHL ... Kvapil's two-point effort (1-1-2) was his first multipoint AHL game since December 27, 2006, when he was a Springfield Falcon versus the Hartford Wolf Pack ... All nine of rookie winger's Rob Klinkhammer's goals this season have been at even strength ... F/D Mike Egener returned to the Norfolk lineup and played his seventh game of the season with the Admirals - his first since January 11 vs. Hartford ... F Norm Milley, D Andy Rogers and F Paul Szczechura missed the game due to injury while RW Chris Lawrence was a healthy scratch ... Attendance: 6,896.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2008


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