Killorn’s OT Goal Lifts The Admirals To A 4-3 Victory And Clinches The Series.

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Alex Killorn scored on a rebound 13:27 into overtime as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Manchester Monarchs, 4-3, on Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. With the win, Norfolk won the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against Manchester, three games to one, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Connecticut Whale beginning Wednesday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Photo: Bruce Taylor - Union Leader

Evan Oberg, Mark Barberio and Trevor Smith also scored for the Admirals, who erased 1-0 and 3-1 deficits for the win. Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski (2-0) stopped 22 of 25 shots for the win.

The Monarchs opened scoring just 38 seconds into the contest. A Manchester defenseman caused a turnover in the left corner of the Norfolk zone. Justin Azevedo found the puck in the high slot and sent a slap shot off the crossbar and into the net to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

Norfolk knotted the score at 1-1 midway through the second stanza. Oberg sent a shot from the left point through traffic that glanced off Zatkoff. While the goaltender slowed the puck, he did not stop it, as it trickled between his legs and into the net at 7:18.

However, the Monarchs restored their lead exactly four minutes later on a four-on-four play. Brandon Kozun and Patrick Mullen executed a crossover play at the Norfolk blue line, with Kozun dropping a pass to Mullen in the high slot. Mullen skated a few strides toward the net before sending a shot past Tokarski’s glove at 11:18 for a 2-1 Manchester lead.

The Monarchs doubled their lead just over four minutes later with their first power play goal of the series. Thomas Hickey sent a slap shot from the high slot. Andy Andreoff changed the path of the puck from high to low with a deflection from the center slot, and the shot eluded Tokarski at 15:37 for a 3-1 Manchester lead.

However, that lead evaporated less than two minutes later with a pair of Norfolk goals. Cory Conacher set up the visitors’ second goal when he spotted Barberio in the left circle. The AHL’s Outstanding Defenseman waited for a Manchester defender to commit to a block before shuffling to his left in the faceoff circle and sending a wrist shot top-shelf at 16:58.

The Admirals tied the game at 3-3 just 16 seconds later. Smith entered the attacking zone along the right wing with speed. He sent a shot from the right circle that Zatkoff blocked. However, Smith found his own rebound and backhanded a shot past Zatkoff’s left leg at 17:14 for his second goal of the post-season.

The Admirals out-shot the Monarchs, 10-3, in the third period but could not solve Zatkoff as the game required overtime.

Photo: Bruce Taylor - Union Leader

Norfolk sustained the pressure in the overtime session, out-shooting Manchester, 9-2, before finding the back of the net with their tenth shot of the extra session. Alexandre Picard sent a shot that Zatkoff stopped. However, Killorn found the rebound in the right circle as traffic was encroaching on Zatkoff. He fired a shot over a prone Zatkoff for his first professional playoff goal and the series-clincher at 17:14.

Jeff Zatkoff (1-1) stopped 35 of 39 shots for the loss.

Both teams were 1-for-5 on the power play.

Norfolk Admirals 4 (OT) at Manchester Monarchs 3 – Status: Final OT
Friday, April 27, 2012 – Verizon Wireless Arena

Norfolk         0 3 0 1 – 4
Manchester 1 2 0 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Manchester, Azevedo 1   0:38. Penalties-Ouellet Nor (tripping), 7:49; Angelidis Nor (fighting), 10:42; Clune Mch (fighting), 10:42; Cliche Mch (hooking), 15:55; Conacher Nor (slashing), 17:51.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Oberg 1 (Killorn, Picard), 7:18. 3, Manchester, Mullen 1 (Kozun, O’Neill), 11:18. 4, Manchester, Andreoff 2 (Hickey, Vey), 15:37 (PP). 5, Norfolk, Barberio 2 (Conacher, Ouellet), 16:58 (PP). 6, Norfolk, Smith 2 (Gudas), 17:14. Penalties-Azevedo Mch (interference), 2:21; served by Czarnik Mch (bench minor – too many men), 9:27; Smith Nor (interference), 11:03; Picard Nor (hooking), 15:07; Labrie Nor (roughing), 15:55; Cliche Mch (roughing, roughing), 15:55; Palat Nor (interference), 17:37.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Cote Nor (fighting), 1:49; Deslauriers Mch (fighting), 1:49; Kolomatis Mch (slashing), 9:37.

OT Period-7, Norfolk, Killorn 1 (Picard, Barberio), 13:27. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 8-11-10-10-39. Manchester 10-10-3-2-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 5; Manchester 1 / 5.
Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 2-0-0 (25 shots-22 saves). Manchester, Zatkoff 0-2-0 (39 shots-35 saves).
A-6,102
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Joe Andrews (32), Landon Bathe (80).

Admirals Take Game 3, Beat Monarchs 5-2

Photo: Mark Bolton - Union Leader

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Brandon Segal had two goals against his former team, Dustin Tokarski made 25 saves in his first game of the series and Norfolk’s penalty kill remained perfect as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Manchester Monarchs, 5-2, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Admirals now lead the best-of-five series, two games to one. Norfolk has a chance to close out the series in Game 4 on Friday night in Manchester.

Photo: Mark Bolton - Union Leader

Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Philip-Michael Devos each scored their first career Calder Cup Playoff goals while Alexandre Picard netted his team-leading fourth goal of the playoffs. Norfolk received three assists from Trevor Smith and two helpers each from Alex Killorn and Cory Conacher.

The Admirals denied all six Manchester power play opportunities to improve to 20-for-20 on the penalty kill in the series, while Tokarski (1-0) earned his third career playoff victory in his first game of the series.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead just 35 seconds into the contest. Killorn carried the puck into the attacking zone along the right wing before sending it to Evan Oberg in the right circle. Oberg slipped past a defenseman before shuffling the puck to his left. Segal, who played for Manchester in 2009-10, accepted the pass between the hashmarks and sent a shot past Manchester goaltender Martin Jones for his first goal of the game.

The Admirals’ lead doubled to 2-0 just over seven minutes later. Smith sent a feed from the left corner to Labrie in the left faceoff circle. Labrie sent a shot over the blocker of Jones at 7:40.

Manchester cut Norfolk’s lead to one goal less than four minutes later. Linden Vey spotted Robbie Czarnik in the slot, and Czarnik sent a quick backhand shot through the leg pads of Tokarski at 11:06 to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Admirals after one period.

Norfolk restored its two-goal lead 4:31 into the second period. Mike Kostka sent a shot from the high slot that Jones stopped. However, Devos found the rebound in the low slot and sent a shot through Jones’ legs for a 3-1 lead.

Mark Bolton - Union Leader

Manchester again closed its gap to one goal less than nine minutes later. Vey intercepted a puck at the right point of the Norfolk zone and cut towards the slot. He dropped a pass in the high slot to Stefan Legein, and Legein sent a slap shot over the glove of Tokarski at 12:51 to cut the visitors’ lead to 3-2.

However, the Admirals iced the game in the final half of the third period after Legein was whistled for boarding, giving Norfolk a five-minute, major power play. Picard scored at 14:45 off a rebound opportunity to put Norfolk ahead, 4-2. Segal then sealed the victory at 18:32 with an empty-net goal.

Martin Jones (1-1) stopped 28 of 32 shots for the loss

Norfolk was 1-for-8 on the power play. Manchester was 0-for-6 with the man advantage.

 

Norfolk Admirals 5 at Manchester Monarchs 2 – Status: Final
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 – Verizon Wireless Arena

Norfolk 2 1 2 – 5
Manchester 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Segal 1 (Oberg, Killorn), 0:35. 2, Norfolk, Labrie 1 (Smith, Conacher), 7:40. 3, Manchester, Czarnik 2 (Vey, Mullen), 11:06. Penalties-Clune Mch (boarding), 3:44; Azevedo Mch (hooking), 5:04; Kostka Nor (delay of game), 14:40; Czarnik Mch (slashing), 17:09.

2nd Period-4, Norfolk, Devos 1 (Kostka, Smith), 4:31. 5, Manchester, Legein 2 (Vey, Kolomatis), 12:51. Penalties-Johnson Mch (roughing), 13:52; Panik Nor (interference), 15:19; Oberg Nor (tripping), 18:48.

3rd Period-6, Norfolk, Picard 4 (Conacher, Smith), 14:45 (PP). 7, Norfolk, Segal 2 (Killorn, Picard), 18:32 (EN). Penalties-Kolomatis Mch (holding the stick), 0:26; served by Picard Nor (bench minor – too many men), 2:37; Gudas Nor (tripping), 4:22; Smith Nor (interference, roughing), 9:08; Hill Mch (roughing), 9:08; Legein Mch (major – boarding, game misconduct – boarding), 12:50; Clune Mch (roughing), 19:46.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 13-9-11-33. Manchester 10-6-11-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 8; Manchester 0 / 6.
Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 1-0-0 (27 shots-25 saves). Manchester, Jones 1-1-0 (32 shots-28 saves).

A-2,807
Referees-David Banfield (44), Jon McIsaac (39).
Linesmen-Jeremy Lovett (78), Brian MacDonald (72).

Monarchs Tie The Series With A 5-2 Win Over The Admirals, Series Moves To Manchester

 

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals (1-1) could not match the third period scoring of Manchester on Saturday night, as they fell, 5-2, to the Monarchs (1-1) in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Admirals and Monarchs are tied at one game apiece in the best-of-five series with Game 3 set for Wednesday night in Manchester at 7:00 p.m.

Alexandre Picard scored twice for Norfolk while Jaroslav Janus stopped 25 of 29 shots in defeat.

The Monarchs have outscored the Admirals, 5-0, in the third period during the series. Tonight’s third period goals by Monarchs Robert Czarnik, Linden Vey and Andy Andreoff were the difference, as was Manchester goaltender Martin Jones, who stopped 37 of 39 Norfolk shots.

The Monarchs took a 1-0 lead with a goal by Vey at 11:23 of the opening period. After a turnover in the Manchester zone, Vey took the puck down the left side of the ice towards Janus. One-on-one, Vey deked from backhand to forehand before slipping a shot into the net.

The Monarchs added to that lead when Brandon Kozun put in a rebound past Janus at 17:12. Ray Kaunisto sent a shot high and wide of Janus, with the puck caroming off the right corner glass and ending up on Trent Hunter’s stick at the right half wall. Hunter took the puck at the right circle and flung a shot towards Janus. The puck hit off Norfolk defender in the crease, and Kaunisto was there to finish the goal to make it a 2-0 game.

Photo: Stephen M. Katz - The Virginian-Pilot

Norfolk answered with their first goal of the night 5:10 into the second period. Brandon Segal skated with the puck behind the Manchester net and sent a backhand pass to Picard in the right circle. Picard beat Jones blocker-side to draw the Admirals within one goal while giving Jones his first goal allowed in the series.

Photo: Stephen M. Katz - The Virginian-Pilot

Five minutes later, Picard tied the game at 2-2. Alex Killorn had puck behind the net and backhanded a pass to Jeff Dimmen in the left circle. Dimmen sent a quick shot toward the net that Picard corralled. Picard backhanded the puck between the legs of Jones.

The teams remained tied until 5:28 of the third period when a four-on-four scenario went in favor of Manchester. Thomas Hickey had possession at the left half wall when he passed the puck across the slot and found Czarnik. Janus could not reposition himself in time to stop the shot from Czarnik and Manchester took a 3-2 lead.

Vey scored his second goal of the night at 16:16, putting the Monarchs up, 4-2. After forcing a turnover at the mid wall, Vey skated towards the slot and fired a shot past Janus.

Needing to get two goals in a short period of time, the Admirals pulled Janus with approximately three minutes remaining in regulation in favor of an extra attacker. After the puck was knocked loose at center ice, Andreoff pushed the puck into the empty net for Manchester’s fifth goal of the night. With the score 5-2, time expired on Norfolk.

Jaroslav Janus (1-1) turned aside 25 of 29 shots for his first AHL playoff loss. Martin Jones (1-0) stopped 37 of 39 shots for the win.

Norfolk was 0-for-5 on the power play. Manchester was 0-for-7 with the man advantage.

Manchester Monarchs 5 at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, April 21, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

Manchester 2 0 3 – 5
Norfolk        0 2 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Manchester, Vey 1 (Hickey), 11:23. 2, Manchester, Kozun 1 (Kaunisto, Hunter), 17:12. Penalties-Campbell Mch (roughing), 0:26; Devos Nor (high-sticking), 9:59; O’Neill Mch (interference), 10:19; Labrie Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:23; Labrie Nor (cross-checking), 14:42.

2nd Period-3, Norfolk, Picard 2 (Segal, Killorn), 5:10. 4, Norfolk, Picard 3 (Dimmen, Killorn), 10:02. Penalties-Andreoff Mch (high-sticking), 0:08; Campbell Mch (fighting), 2:57; Angelidis Nor (fighting), 2:57; Mullen Mch (hooking), 12:35; Conacher Nor (charging), 13:17; O’Neill Mch (goaltender interference), 14:41; Labrie Nor (boarding), 18:37; Smith Nor (cross-checking), 20:00.

3rd Period-5, Manchester, Czarnik 1 (Vey, Hickey), 5:28. 6, Manchester, Vey 2   16:16. 7, Manchester, Andreoff 1 (Muzzin), 17:59 (EN). Penalties-Campbell Mch (slashing), 4:11; Picard Nor (tripping), 5:08.

Shots on Goal-Manchester 12-10-8-30. Norfolk 8-22-9-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 0 / 7; Norfolk 0 / 5.
Goalies-Manchester, Jones 1-0-0 (39 shots-37 saves). Norfolk, Janus 1-1-0 (29 shots-25 saves).
A-5,774
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Steve Patafie (85).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Scott Pomento (25).

2012 Calder Cup Playoffs – Admirals Vs. Manchester – GAME 2 TONIGHT!

First round quarterfinals continue tonight at SCOPE. The Admirals took the lead last night with a 3-2 win over the Monarchs. A little over 5,000 fans watched last night and we want to pack the house tonight. Get your tickets now and get to SCOPE and support the Admirals as they try to move ahead in the series. All it takes is three games to move on to the next round. PACK THE HOUSE TONIGHT!!!

2012 Calder Cup – Rd 1 – Manchester

2012 Calder Cup – Rd 1 – Manchester, a set on Flickr.

Random Shots From Game 1

Tyler Johnson, Hometown Hero

A nice little find on YouTube. Tyler Johnson from his Spokane Chiefs days. You would think they would want to be an Ovechkin or Crosby, but not they want to be Tyler Johnson. Turn up the volume,audio is not the best.