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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Rats Scuttle Past Admirals in Shootout

January 25, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Paul Szczechura's scoring touch continued with the game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation. However, the Norfolk Admirals (12-28-1-4) fell 3-2 in a shootout in a hard-fought battle with the Albany River Rats (25-20-0-2) on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Admirals took 13 of the game's first 14 shots, with one denting the twine behind Albany netminder Michael Leighton. While on the power play, Jay Leach sent a shot from the high slot that bounced off Leighton to Szczechura in the low slot. Szczechura shoveled it to Karl Stewart at the left side of the goalmouth, and Stewart put it past Leighton at 14:02.

The River Rats knotted the score at 1-1 late in the second period on a two-on-one break. Jakub Petruzalek sent a pass from the left circle to the right circle where Brandon Nolan one-timed the puck past Admirals goaltender Jonathan Boutin at 16:46.

Albany took a 2-1 lead midway through the third period after a fortuitous bounce in front of Boutin. Joey Mormina took a shot from the left point that deflected off an Admirals defender in front of the net and right onto the blade of Petruzalek in the right circle. Petruzalek quickly shot the puck past an unsuspecting Boutin at 10:52.

The Admirals tied it up with 1:15 left in regulation. Norm Milley sent a shot from the right circle that Leighton stopped. However, Szczechura pounced on the rebound and sent it into the cage.

The Admirals out-shot Albany 6-0 in overtime but were unable to solve Leighton. Karl Stewart converted his shootout attempt for the second straight night. However, he would be the only Norfolk skater to get one past Leighton. Petruzalek and Jamie Johnson put their attempts past Boutin as the River Rats won the shootout 2-1.

Jonathan Boutin (20 shots, 18 saves) was saddled with the shootout loss. Michael Leighton (38 shots, 36 saves) earned the victory.

Norfolk was 1-7 on the power play. Albany was 0-3.

The Admirals and River Rats will square off once again tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15. The first 2,500 adults through the gates will receive a winter hat courtesy of Bank of the Commonwealth and Fox43. Stewie from the Fox43 hit show "Family Guy" will be in attendance.

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. Jakub Petruzalek - ALB

2. Paul Szczechura - NOR

3. Michael Leighton - ALB

Notes: Norfolk is on a three-game undefeated streak (2-0-1) ... With his two-point night, Szczechura has points (3-3-6) in all five games since joining Norfolk in a January 15 trade from Iowa (AHL) ... Szczechura has already more than doubled his point total in five games with Norfolk (3-3-6) than in 29 games with Iowa (2-3-5) ... Alternate captain Norm Milley returned to the lineup after missing three games with a lower-body injury ... Milley extended his scoring streak to nine games (4-5-9) dating back to December 29 at Hershey with an assist on Szczechura's tying goal in the third period. His streak is the longest on the team this season, is the second-longest active streak in the AHL and is tied for the eleventh longest scoring streak in the league this season ... With an assist on Szczechura's goal, Radek Smolenak now has points in four straight games (2-3-5) dating back to January 18 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ... Albany netminder Michael Leighton was an Admiral from 2001-05 and remains Norfolk's all-time leader in games played (147), minutes (8698), wins (75), shutouts (18), goals-against average (2.16) and save percentage (.919) ... Of the six games Leighton has played against his former team, five have gone to overtime (Leighton is 1-0-4) and four have been decided in a shootout (Leighton is 2-2). Overall, Leighton is 4-0-2 in six games against the Admirals as a member of the River Rats, Portland Pirates or Philadelphia Phantoms ... Forwards Shawn Collymore, Adam Henrich and Chris Lawrence missed tonight's game due to injury, while forwards Zbynek Hrdel, Marek Kvapil and Stanislav Lascek were healthy scratches ... Attendance: 4,795.

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