Photo: David Molnar
The Admirals embarked on their second road trip of the season early last week. A loss in Bridgeport was followed by a loss in Binghamton Saturday night. I, like many Admiral fans, was hoping that the team had a “Come to Gretzky” moment and would turn things around. Unfortunately that moment never happened and the Springfield Falcons shut out our Admirals 5-0. Igor Bobkov was had another horrible night allowing four goals in the first period and once again being pulled in favor of Anderson for the remainder of the game. Admirals game recap follows below. Let’s hope the Admirals can rebound tomorrow in Albany.
From The Norfolk Admirals:
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Curtis McElhinney stopped 35 shots as the Norfolk Admirals (6-5-0-0) were shut out by the Springfield Falcons (8-1-0-2), 5-0, on Sunday evening at MassMutual Center. The Admirals fell to 0-3-0-0 on their four-game road trip, which concludes tomorrow afternoon against the Albany Devils.
Igor Bobkov (3-3-0) allowed four goals on 12 shots through the first period before being replaced by Frederik Andersen (3-2-0), who stopped 18 of 19 shots. Bobkov took the loss while Andersen did not receive a decision.
Norfolk out-shot Springfield, 35-31, in the contest. The Falcons went 3-for-7 on the power play while shutting down all five Norfolk man advantage opportunities.
Norfolk fell behind only 41 seconds into the contest on a Springfield power play goal. Cam Atkinson sent a shot from the left circle that Bobkov stopped. However, Nick Drazenovic found the rebound and put the Falcons ahead, 1-0.
Drazenovic doubled Springfield’s lead less than nine minutes later with his second goal of the contest. Atkinson had a partial breakaway from the slot and sent a shot off Bobkov’s pads. Drazenovic swept the rebound into the net past Bobkov’s right leg at 9:25.
A pair of goals late in the first period extended the home team’s advantage to four goals. Springfield netted its second power play goal of the contest at 18:06. Atkinson sent a shot from the left circle that Bobkov stopped. Ryan Craig found the rebound in the goalmouth and swept it to his right, where Matt Calvert shot it past Bobkov’s left leg for a 3-0 Falcons lead.
Norfolk’s deficit grew to four goals just 48 seconds later. Ryan Johansen sent a shot from the blueline that Bobkov blocked. The puck wound up in the left circle, where Jonathan Audy-Marchesseault sent it into the net at 18:54 for a 4-0 Springfield lead.
The score remained the same until late in the second period when the Falcons netted their third power play goal of the contest. Atkinson sent a shot from the left circle that went wide of the net, caromed off the end boards, ricocheted back towards the crease, pinballed off the back of Andersen’s pads and went into the goal at 19:03 of the second period. The play was reviewed to see if the puck was completely across the goal line before the net came off its pegs. The call on the ice was upheld to put the final score at 5-0.
The Admirals conclude their four-game road trip tomorrow afternoon against the Albany Devils at 2:00 p.m. All games can be heard on 102.1-FM, 1490-AM or 1021TheGame.com. You may also watch on a pay-per-view or season pass basis at AHLLive.com.
The Admirals return to Scope to host the Springfield Falcons on Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday’s game is Diabetes Awareness Night. Special discounted fundraising tickets are available to benefit the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center. These tickets are only available at norfolkadmirals.com/groups through Thursday.
Norfolk Admirals 0 at Springfield Falcons 5 – Status: Final
Sunday, November 11, 2012 – MassMutual Center
Norfolk 0 0 0 – 0
Springfield 4 1 0 – 5
1st Period-1, Springfield, Drazenovic 5 (Atkinson, Savard), 0:41 (PP). 2, Springfield, Drazenovic 6 (Atkinson), 9:25. 3, Springfield, Calvert 3 (Craig, Atkinson), 18:06 (PP). 4, Springfield, Audy-Marchessault 5 (Johansen, Moore), 18:54. Penalties-Maroon Nor (slashing), 0:27; Atkinson Spr (tripping), 1:13; Vatanen Nor (hooking), 17:58.
2nd Period-5, Springfield, Atkinson 5 (Calvert, Drazenovic), 19:03 (PP). Penalties-Kubalik Spr (goaltender interference), 2:15; Prout Spr (cross-checking), 10:14; Goloubef Spr (hooking), 11:23; Parent Nor (high-sticking), 13:46; Bodie Nor (interference), 18:04.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Lindholm Nor (holding), 1:20; Clark Nor (roughing), 7:02; Kubalik Spr (roughing), 7:02; Elkins Nor (holding), 13:06; Prout Spr (hooking), 13:39; Caputi Nor (tripping), 16:56; Clark Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Norfolk 14-8-13-35. Springfield 12-11-8-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 5; Springfield 3 / 7.
Goalies-Norfolk, Bobkov 3-3-0 (12 shots-8 saves); Andersen 3-2-0 (19 shots-18 saves). Springfield, McElhinney 8-1-1 (35 shots-35 saves).
A-2,692
Referees-Tim Mayer (19), Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Paul Simeon (66).
