AHL Norfolk Admirals

Resilient Admirals Sink Division-Leading Phantoms

Published on March 7, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - With the recall of alternate captain Karl Stewart to the parent Tampa Bay Lightning this morning, six players were missing off the Norfolk Clear Day Roster for the second straight game; and for the second straight game, the Admirals rose to the occasion.

Blair Jones and Radek Smolenak both netted a goal and an assist and Marc Denis turned in another impressive performance with a 42-save effort to lead the Norfolk Admirals (23-34-2-5) past the East Division-leading Philadelphia Phantoms (38-21-2-3) 4-2 in their first game back from their nine-game road trip on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Secondary scoring was key in the Norfolk victory, and it started 6:17 into the game when Brandon Segal netted his first goal as an Admiral to put Norfolk up 1-0. Radek Smolenak sent a shot from the left point that Philadelphia goaltender Scott Munroe could not handle cleanly. The rebound sat in the bottom of the right circle where Segal found it and sent it into the cage.

Norfolk's power play gave it a 2-0 lead just under seven minutes later. Adam Henrich sent a shot from the high slot that made its way through a Justin Keller screen and past Munroe at 13:11. Marc Denis made nine opening period saves to preserve a 2-0 Norfolk lead through 20 minutes.

Blair Jones, who was a game-time decision to play due to illness, gave Norfolk a three-goal lead early in the second period with a highlight-reel, coast-to-coast play. Jones took the puck in his own end and skated the length of the ice along the left wing. He swung behind the net and emerged with a backhand shot at the opposite post that bounced off the back of new Philadelphia goaltender Martin Houle and into the top of the net at 4:37.

Philadelphia cut Norfolk's advantage to two goals with a Jonathan Matsumoto power play goal at 8:24 of the second stanza. However, that would be all they would get as Denis made 16 saves in the period.

The Norfolk power play answered back with a tic-tac-toe passing play early in the final frame. Mario Scalzo sent a backhand pass from the left point to Jones at the left faceoff dot. Jones then sent another backhand pass from there to the right faceoff dot, and Smolenak sent a quick shot past Houle at 3:18.

Denis stood tall in net in the final frame, stopping 19 of 20 shots in the final 20 minutes to preserve the victory. David Laliberte was the only Phantom to solve Denis at 14:34. The Admirals killed seven of eight Phantoms' man advantages - including three in the final frame - as Norfolk came out on top 4-2.

Marc Denis (44 shots, 42 saves) earned the win. Scott Munroe (15 shots, 13 saves) played the first period and did not receive a decision. Martin Houle (14 shots, 12 saves) was saddled with the loss.

Norfolk was 2-7 on the power play. Philadelphia was 1-8.

The Admirals will face off against the Phantoms again on Tuesday night in Philadelphia in another Admirals B2 Night at Baxter's. Watch the game on the big screen starting at 7:05 p.m. For more details, please visit norfolkadmirals.com.

After a quick trip to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday night, the Admirals will return to Scope for an eight-game homestand kicking off next Friday and Saturday against the Portland Pirates. 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. Marc Denis - NOR

2. Blair Jones - NOR

3. Radek Smolenak - NOR

Notes: The Admirals scored 10 unanswered goals over their past three games before Matsumoto's second period goal ... Marc Denis went 89:06 between giving up goals from Saturday at Lowell to Matsumoto's goal tonight ... In his last three games, Denis is 2-1-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average (GAA) and .950 save percentage (SV%). In that span, he has improved his season GAA from 3.53 to 3.10 and his season SV% from .892 to .902 ... With his second period goal, Adam Henrich is now on a four-game point streak (2-3-5) ... Bracken Kearns assisted on Segal's first period goal and now has points in three straight games (2-2-4) ... Radek Smolenak has goals in back-to-back games (2G) and three of his last four games (3G) ... F/D David Koci and D David Schneider wore alternate captain's 'A' as Norm Milley (injury) and Karl Stewart (call-up) were both out of the lineup... Norfolk's 15 first period shots marked the first time the Admirals had double-digit shots in the first period since February 15 vs. Worcester (11 games) ... F Norm Milley, D Andy Rogers and F Paul Szczechura missed the game due to injury while F/D Mike Egener was a healthy scratch ... Attendance: 5,408 (fifth-best of the season).

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