AHL Norfolk Admirals

Sharks Bite Back, Top Admirals in Shootout

Published on January 16, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Goals by Bracken Kearns and Brandon Bochenski gave the Norfolk Admirals (16-20-1-4) a 2-0 lead in the second period on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. However, the Worcester Sharks (22-18-0-1) netted two unanswered goals in regulation and then claimed a 3-2 win by topping the Admirals in a seven-round shootout.

The Admirals got on the board just 2:30 into the game with a shorthanded goal. Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss used a poke check to disrupt a charging Bracken Kearns near the top of the left circle. However, Kearns recovered the puck and sent a shot from the left faceoff dot into a yawning cage for his ninth goal of the season.

Norfolk's lead doubled early in the second period with Brandon Bochenski's team-leading thirteenth goal of the season. Bochenski sent a shot from the high slot that went off the skate of a Worcester defender and deflected through Greiss' legs at 3:54.

Worcester got on the board just over 11 minutes later. Jamie McGinn centered the puck from the bottom of the left circle toward the goalmouth, and Torrey Mitchell redirected the feed past Norfolk netminder Mike McKenna at 15:15.

The Sharks knotted the score at 2-2 exactly six minutes into the third period. Matt Fornataro accepted a pass from Ryan Vesce in the left faceoff circle and approached McKenna alone, holding the puck on his backhand before shooting a puck high to the short side.

In the shootout, Justin Keller and Radek Smolenak scored for Norfolk. However, Vesce and McGinn leveled the shootout at two goals apiece through the customary five rounds and then Fornataro scored in the seventh round to give Worcester the 3-2 edge in the shootout and in the game.

Mike McKenna (41 shots, 39 saves) shouldered the shootout loss. Thomas Greiss (33 shots, 31 saves) picked up the win.

Norfolk was 0-4 on the power play. Worcester was 0-3.

The Admirals and Sharks will face off once again tomorrow night at Scope. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2009


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