Admirals Weekend Road Trip Round Up

This week was an Admiral-less week in the Norfolk area. With the Admirals on the road there were only a few ways for us to get our fix. For the die hard fans there was a nice road trip up to the snowy north. For most of us there was either AHL live or listening to Pete on the radio or internet stream. No matter how you may have got your fix you were able to keep up with the team and their successful road trip that saw them collect 5 of 6 possible points this weekend. The Admirals will return to Scope for a weekend series against the Providence Bruins. At Saturday’s game the Admirals will also the latest inductees to the Admirals Hall of Fame. Brian Martin and Marty Wilford will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.

Game Reports from the Norfolk Admirals:

 

Friday, Feb 15, 2013

Bobkov, Penalty Kill Lead Admirals to Victory

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, Penn. – Igor Bobkov made 32 saves, the penalty kill was perfect on eight chances and Brayden Irwin’s first goal of the season broke a scoreless tie in the third period as the Norfolk Admirals (21-24-2-1) topped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (25-21-2-1), 1-0, on Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Admirals registered a franchise-low 12 shots on goal in the contest, but Bobkov (10-13-0) turned aside all 32 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season.

The Admirals continue a four-game road trip tomorrow against the Connecticut Whale. They return to Norfolk Scope Arena on Feb. 22nd and 23rd against the Providence Bruins.

After both teams registered five shots in a scoreless first period, the Penguins out-shot the Admirals, 13-4, in the second period with help from five power play opportunities in the stanza. However, the game entered the third period with no score.

Irwin, who had been signed to his second Professional Tryout Contract of the season with Norfolk just yesterday, broke the scoreless stalemate 3:17 into the final frame. Sami Vatanen sent a shot from the right point that Penguins goaltender Jeff Zatkoff blocked. However, Irwin found the rebound in traffic in the low slot and slipped a shot under Zatkoff.

That was one of only three third-period shots for Norfolk, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton sent 14 shots towards Bobkov. However, Bobkov came up with several huge saves to stifle the Penguins’ offense and earn the shutout.

Jeff Zatkoff (16-14-0) stopped 11 of 12 shots for the loss.

Norfolk was 0-for-3 on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 0-for-8.

Three Stars: 
1. Igor Bobkov – NOR
2. Brayden Irwin – NOR
3. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond – NOR

Norfolk Admirals 1 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 0 – Status: Final
Friday, February 15, 2013 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Norfolk             0 0 1 – 1
W-B/Scranton 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Smith Wbs (interference), 1:20; Sill Wbs (slashing), 6:08; Hendry Nor (holding), 15:14; Caputi Nor (tripping), 20:00.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Wagner Nor (tripping), 4:06; Letourneau-Leblond Nor (hooking), 8:03; Clark Nor (boarding), 12:38; served by Caputi Nor (bench minor – too many men), 14:50.

3rd Period-1, Norfolk, Irwin 1 (Letourneau-Leblond, Vatanen), 3:17. Penalties-Letourneau-Leblond Nor (holding), 6:21; Smith-Pelly Nor (roughing), 8:43; Smith Wbs (roughing, interference), 8:43; Clark Nor (fighting), 11:12; Payerl Wbs (fighting), 11:12; Pelley Nor (slashing), 19:58.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 5-4-3-12. W-B/Scranton 5-13-14-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 3; W-B/Scranton 0 / 8.
Goalies-Norfolk, Bobkov 10-14-0 (32 shots-32 saves). W-B/Scranton, Zatkoff 16-15-0 (12 shots-11 saves).

A-5,296
Referees-David Banfield (77), Ryan Murphy (5).
Linesmen-Scott Adams (20), Ryan Daisy (90).

 

Saturday, Feb 16, 2013

Admirals Fall in Overtime to Whale

HARTFORD, Conn. Igor Bobkov made 33 saves and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond scored his second goal of the season, but the Norfolk Admirals (21-24-3-1) saw former Admiral Brandon Segal score 2:08 into overtime as the Connecticut Whale (24-21-4-2) claimed a 2-1 decision on Saturday night at the XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Admirals have picked up standings points in all three games of their four-game road trip so far (2-0-1-0). Bobkov (10-14-0) has stopped 65 of 67 shots over his last two games.

The Admirals conclude their four-game road trip tomorrow afternoon against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. They return to Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday and Saturday against the Providence Bruins.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead 15:42 into the first period. Sami Vatanen dumped the puck into the attacking zone along the right wing. Mat Clark passed it to Letourneau-Leblond in the right corner, and Letourneau-Leblond spun around from the bottom of the right circle while shooting the puck past Whale goaltender Cameron Talbot for his second goal of the season.

Connecticut tied the game at 1-1 late in the first period with a power play goal. Former Admirals defenseman Mike Vernace sent a centering feed to Logan Pyett in the high slot. Pyett sent a slap shot past Bobkov at 18:45.

Neither team scored for the remainder of regulation. In overtime, Norfolk’s Rod Pelley and Connecticut’s Kris Newbury were assessed coincidental roughing penalties, leading to three-on-three hockey. Nineteen seconds later, Segal took a pass from Sean Collins and scored 2:08 into overtime to give the Whale the 2-1 verdict.

Cameron Talbot (19-19-1) stopped 26 of 27 shots for the win.

Norfolk was 0-for-7 on the power play. Connecticut was 1-for-5.

Three Stars: 
1. Brandon Segal – CT
2. Cameron Talbot – CT
3. Igor Bobkov – NOR

Norfolk Admirals 1 at Connecticut Whale 2 (OT) – Status: Final OT
Saturday, February 16, 2013 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Norfolk         1 0 0 0 – 1
Connecticut 1 0 0 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Letourneau-Leblond 2 (Clark, Vatanen), 15:42. 2, Connecticut, Pyett 5 (Vernace, Mashinter), 18:45 (PP). Penalties-Collins Ct (boarding), 1:02; Brittain Nor (roughing), 9:25; Smith-Pelly Nor (hooking), 17:35.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Yogan Ct (high-sticking), 2:46; Mitchell Nor (fighting), 6:26; Haley Ct (instigating, fighting, misconduct – instigating), 6:26; Kurtz Nor (fighting), 9:09; McIlrath Ct (fighting), 9:09; McMillan Nor (tripping), 12:58; Pelley Nor (hooking), 16:24; Yogan Ct (hooking), 17:52.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Yogan Ct (interference), 2:53; Parent Nor (holding), 9:29; Pyett Ct (goaltender interference), 9:29; Collins Ct (hooking), 12:26.

OT Period-3, Connecticut, Segal 14 (Collins, Pyett), 2:08. Penalties-Pelley Nor (roughing), 1:49; Newbury Ct (roughing), 1:49.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 11-7-9-0-27. Connecticut 14-6-11-4-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 7; Connecticut 1 / 5.
Goalies-Norfolk, Bobkov 10-14-0 (35 shots-33 saves). Connecticut, Talbot 19-19-1 (27 shots-26 saves).

A-5,825
Referees-Trent Knorr (44), Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Derek Wahl (46).

Sunday, Feb 17, 2013

Admirals Close Road Trip with Comeback Victory

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Emerson Etem’s power play goal with 3:58 left in regulation tied the game and Mat Clark’s first goal of the season won it 1:57 into overtime as the Norfolk Admirals (22-24-3-1) closed out their four-game road trip with a 3-2 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (22-21-3-3) on Sunday night at Webster Bank Arena. Norfolk picked up standings points in all four games of the trip (3-0-1-0).

Devante Smith-Pelly also scored for the Admirals, while Jordan Hendry assisted on both the game-tying and game-winning goals. Goaltender Frederik Andersen (10-10-1) stopped 21 shots in his first game back since playing for Denmark during the Olympic Qualification Tournament. Norfolk peppered Bridgeport netminder Kevin Poulin (15-13-3) with 42 shots, as the Admirals out-shot the Sound Tigers, 42-23.

The Admirals return to Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday and Saturday nights against the Providence Bruins with the Admirals Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony taking place on Friday.

Norfolk took a 1-0 deficit into the first intermission after a Mike Halmo goal 8:03 into the first period. While on the power play, Smith-Pelly tied the game at 1-1 with his sixth goal of the season at 3:42 of the second period. However, Chad Costello gave the home team a 2-1 lead heading into the third period with an even-strength goal at 11:44 of the second stanza.

The Admirals used their eighth power play of the game to tie the game at 2-2, as Etem netted his 13th goal of the 2012-13 season at 16:02 of the third period.

Just under two minutes into overtime, a Clark found a Josh Brittain shot attempt and scored his first goal as an Admiral, as the visitors claimed the 3-2 win 1:57 into overtime.

Norfolk was 2-for-8 on the power play. Bridgeport was 0-for-2.

Three Stars: 
1. Kevin Poulin – BRI
2. Mat Clark – NOR
3. Chris Wagner – NOR

Norfolk Admirals 3 (OT) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 – Status: Final OT
Sunday, February 17, 2013 – Webster Bank Arena

Norfolk       0 1 1 1 – 3
Bridgeport 1 1 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Halmo 2   8:03. Penalties-Niederreiter Bri (hooking), 5:03; Smaby Nor (interference), 9:01; Pelley Nor (cross-checking), 12:01; DeFazio Bri (tripping), 15:45.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Smith-Pelly 6 (Sexton), 3:42 (PP). 3, Bridgeport, Costello 2 (Watkins, Donovan), 11:44. Penalties-Halmo Bri (roughing), 1:46; Donovan Bri (boarding), 7:34; Watkins Bri (high-sticking), 7:57; Cantin Bri (tripping), 17:00.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Etem 13 (Vatanen, Hendry), 16:02 (PP). Penalties-Cantin Bri (boarding), 1:04; Irwin Nor (slashing), 11:44; Cantin Bri (high-sticking), 11:44; Donovan Bri (cross-checking), 14:56.

OT Period-5, Norfolk, Clark 1 (Brittain, Hendry), 1:57. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 13-15-13-1-42. Bridgeport 10-7-4-2-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 2 / 8; Bridgeport 0 / 2.
Goalies-Norfolk, Andersen 10-10-1 (23 shots-21 saves). Bridgeport, Poulin 15-13-3 (42 shots-39 saves).

A-3,852
Referees-Ryan Fraser (14).
Linesmen-Mike Baker (11), Paul Simeon (66).

Corey Elkins OT Goal Lifts The Admirals Over The Whale 5-4.

Corey Elkins provided the bulk of the Norfolk offense Friday Night. Elkins scored two in regulation and the game winner with less than 30 seconds remaining in OT to help lift the Admirals over the Whale.

Norfolk would jump out to an early lead as Elkins stole the puck from Connecticut defenseman Matt Gilroy and sent the puck to the back of the Whale net at 1:02. The lead would not hold for long as Gilroy answered back with a goal of his own that beat Igor Bobkov at 2:55. The score remained 1-1 until the halfway point of the first period. Elkins would get goal number two of thenight while both teams skated at four aside. Sami Vatanen stole the puck in the Whale zone and passed to Nate Guenin, Guenin returned the puck to Vatanen who found Elkins in the right slot. Elkins would lift the puck over Whale goalie Jason Missiaen at 9:47.

The Whale came back and tied the game at 2-2 halfway through the second period. Matt Gilroy would get his second power play goal of the game. Kyle Jean fed a pass to Gillroy who then sent a shot through a screen and into the Admiral net at 9:13. Norfolk answered back three minutes later with a goal from Jay Rosehill at 12:02. Two minutes later Sami Vatanen and Kyle Palmieri would assist on a Peter Holland power play goal to give Norfolk a 4-2 lead at 14:16.

The third period was all Connecticut Whale. Former Calder Cup Admiral Brandon Segal scored a pair of goals to tie the game up at 4 goals each. Segal would get his first goal a 4:03 and followed up with the second with 1:36 remaining in regulation. The Admirals were unable to regain the lead and this game went to overtime.

The overtime period was a defensive battle and it seemed that the game wold go to  a shootout. Ryan Lasch took the puck from behind the net and passed to Vatanen in the left circle. Vatanen passed the puck to Elkins in the right circle. Elkins burried the puck behind Missianen at 4:30 for the hat trick and the Admiral 5-4 win.

Norfolk and Connecticut will meet again Saturday night at Scope. Game time is at 7:15 p.m. Don’t forget that ODU will play Northern Virginia Community College at 2:00 p.m. Your ticket to the Admirals game get you in to see both games.

Connecticut Whale 4 at Norfolk Admirals 5 (OT) – Status: Final OT
Friday, October 19, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

Connecticut 1 1 2 0 – 4
Norfolk         2 2 0 1 – 5

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Elkins 1   1:02. 2, Connecticut, Gilroy 1 (Kolarik, Newbury), 2:55 (PP). 3, Norfolk, Elkins 2 (Vatanen, Guenin), 9:47. Penalties-Rosehill Nor (hooking), 2:32; Palmieri Nor (cross-checking), 8:57; Kolarik Ct (hooking), 9:01; McMillan Nor (tripping), 17:17.

2nd Period-4, Connecticut, Gilroy 2 (Jean, Newbury), 9:13 (PP). 5, Norfolk, Rosehill 1 (Wagner, Bodie), 12:02. 6, Norfolk, Holland 2 (Palmieri, Vatanen), 14:16 (PP). Penalties-Kreider Ct (major – boarding, game misconduct – boarding), 3:58; Vernace Ct (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:58; Hendry Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:58; Bobkov Nor (delay of game – restricted area), 8:14; Parlett Ct (tripping), 9:49; Haley Ct (kneeing), 13:37; Mitchell Nor (holding the stick), 14:57.

3rd Period-7, Connecticut, Segal 1 (Miller, Vernace), 4:03. 8, Connecticut, Segal 2 (Jean, Vernace), 18:24. Penalties-Tessier Ct (interference), 2:04; Smith-Pelly Nor (interference), 2:46; Gilroy Ct (slashing), 7:39; Wagner Nor (tripping), 10:29.

OT Period-9, Norfolk, Elkins 3 (Vatanen, Lasch), 4:30. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 6-13-8-3-30. Norfolk 11-6-9-3-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 2 / 7; Norfolk 1 / 6.
Goalies-Connecticut, Missiaen 0-2-0 (29 shots-24 saves). Norfolk, Bobkov 2-0-0 (30 shots-26 saves).

A-3,511

Referees-T.J. Luxmore (49), Fred Leblanc (30).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Luke Murray (92).

Hockey Night In Hampton Roads – Admirals Vs. Connecticut Whale

By Ken Peacock

Here we are in the second week of the AHL season. While the NHL and NHLPA go back and forth bickering and not producing results, our Norfolk Admirals concentrate on playing hockey. Tonight we will see the Connecticut Whale venture onto the ice at Scope. This will also see the return of former Admirals Brandon Segal and Mike Vernace. Segal is the first player from the Calder Cup championship squad to return to Norfolk and will get to see the banner hanging from the rafters of Scope.

Brandon Segal Photo: CT Whale

The Whale come into town with a 0-2 record. Connecticut opened up the season at home last Friday night against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Sound Tigers scored six straight and beat the Whale 6-4. Sunday the Whale took on the St. John’s IceCaps. Once again they jumped out to an early lead, but the IceCaps came back for a 3-2 win. Connecticut is lead by Kris Newbury with 3 goals in 2 games, while rookie Kyle Jean has 2 goals.

This is the only time we will see the Whale in Norfolk unless the playoffs dictate otherwise. Connecticut is getting their longest bus trip out of the early. The last time the Admirals and the Whale saw each other was in the playoffs last year. The Whale lost to the Admirals in the six game Eastern Conference Semifinals. Connecticut was 0-3-0-1 in the regular season. Two of those losses were at Scope.

The Action starts tonight at Scope at 7:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. There are plenty of tickets available so get yours today.

Find out more about the opposition here at The Connecticut Whale Official Website.

Join in on the game day talk over at AdmiralsZone. View the game day threads here today.

Admirals Over The Marlies 4-2 Before A Sellout Crowd. Norfolk Takes A 2-0 Lead Up To Toronto.

NORFOLK, Va. – Four different Admirals scored goals and Dustin Tokarski stopped 30 of 32 shots as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Toronto Marlies, 4-2, in front of a sellout crowd at Norfolk Scope Arena on Saturday night. The Game 2 victory gave the Admirals a two-games-to-zero lead in the best-of-seven Calder Cup Finals. The series now shifts to Toronto with Game 3 set for Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. at Ricoh Coliseum.

Richard Panik had a goal and an assist while Mike Angelidis, Keith Aulie and Evan Oberg tallied two assists each. Alexandre Picard, Brandon Segal and Trevor Smith also scored. Dustin Tokarski (10-2) got his second win of the Calder Cup Finals stopping all but two Toronto shots. Ben Scrivens (11-4) lost his second consecutive game, allowing four goals on 32 Norfolk shots. The Scope crowd of 8,661 was the first playoff sellout in AHL Admirals history and just the second playoff sellout since the Admirals began play at Scope in 1989-90.

Photo: John Wright

Panik opened the scoring for Norfolk with his fourth goal of the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs at 14:38 of the first period. Evan Oberg sent a long pass across the ice to Panik in the low right circle. In anticipation of the oncoming Panik, Scrivens attempted to poke check the puck away. The attempt left the space between his legs open, and Panik backhanded the puck through for a 1-0 lead.

Toronto responded less than four minutes later with a power play goal. In the Toronto offensive zone, Jake Gardiner passed the puck to Joe Colborne who wound up and beat Tokarski with a slapshot from the right circle at 18:20 to tie the game at 1-1.

Norfolk went ahead, 2-1, at 15:17 of the second period after a Picard score. From the left point, Evan Oberg sent a high shot towards Scrivens. Before reaching the net, Mike Angelidis deflected the puck down and into Scrivens, where the Toronto netminder kicked the puck back into play. Picard stuck the rebound past the prone goaltender from the right faceoff circle for his team-leading ninth goal of the playoffs.

Photo: John Wright

Norfolk’s lead doubled midway through the third period on Segal’s fifth goal of the playoffs. Aulie batted the puck out of the air and then sent a pass through the neutral zone to Angelidis, who quickly shuffled the puck to his left to Segal. Segal crossed the blue line and fired a wrist shot past Scrivens’ glove at 8:26.

Smith stretched the home team’s lead to 4-1 with his fifth goal of the playoffs late in the third period. Panik sent a pass from the right corner across the slot. Smith accepted the pass and sent a quick shot through the legs of the goaltender at 15:52.

Juraj Mikus closed out scoring with 43 seconds remaining in regulation on his first goal of the playoffs.

Norfolk was 0-for-4 on the power play while Toronto was 1-for-5.

 

Toronto Marlies 2 at Norfolk Admirals 4 – Status: Final
Saturday, June 2, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

Toronto 1 0 1 – 2
Norfolk  1 1 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Panik 4 (Oberg), 14:38. 2, Toronto, Colborne 2 (Gardiner, Lashoff), 18:20 (PP). Penalties-Segal Nor (goaltender interference), 11:13; Smith Nor (cross-checking), 18:06.

2nd Period-3, Norfolk, Picard 9 (Angelidis, Oberg), 15:17. Penalties-Rosehill Tor (high-sticking), 7:27; Ashton Tor (slashing), 19:34; Picard Nor (goaltender interference), 19:34; Lashoff Tor (hooking), 19:50.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Segal 5 (Angelidis, Aulie), 8:26. 5, Norfolk, Smith 5 (Panik, Aulie), 15:52. 6, Toronto, Mikus 1 (Ashton, Dupuis), 19:17. Penalties-Rosehill Tor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:17; Cote Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:17; Gardiner Tor (interference), 3:47; Barberio Nor (slashing), 4:54; Mikus Tor (tripping), 5:08; Gudas Nor (tripping), 10:18; Smith Nor (high-sticking), 11:55.

Shots on Goal-Toronto 10-9-13-32. Norfolk 14-10-8-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Toronto 1 / 4; Norfolk 0 / 4.
Goalies-Toronto, Scrivens 11-4-0 (32 shots-28 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 10-2-0 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-8,661
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Matt MacPherson (83), John Grandt (95).

Norfolk Draws First Blood, Beat The Marlies 3-1

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals opened the 2012 Calder Cup Finals by celebrating some of their recent accomplishments.

They closed out the night one step closer to a title.

Rookie stars Cory Conacher and Tyler Johnson each had a goal and an assist as Norfolk blitzed the Toronto Marlies early and held on late, taking a 3-1 decision in a feisty opener to the American Hockey League’s 76th championship series.

In a pre-game ceremony, the Admirals raised banners to the Scope rafters commemorating their East Division, overall regular season and Eastern Conference playoff titles, as well as a fourth recognizing their record 28-game winning streak.

Once the puck dropped, Norfolk was quick to show the dominance they’ve displayed while winning 40 of their last 43 games.

Photo: L. Todd Spencer – The Virginian-Pilot

Conacher, the AHL’s most valuable player and rookie of the year in 2011-12, opened the scoring with the teams skating four-on-four at 12:21 of the first period, snapping a shot past Ben Scrivens. It was the second postseason goal for Conacher, who had led the league with 39 goals during the regular season.

Shots were 16-9 after one period and 27-12 by the midway point of the second period when Johnson doubled the lead to 2-0, ripping a bullet by Scrivens at 10:03. It was just the fourth power-play goal allowed by the Marlies all postseason.

Toronto finally got on the board at 3:57 of the third period, with former Admiral Carter Ashton, in his first action since Game 2 of the first round vs. Rochester, beating Dustin Tokarski to make it 2-1. That goal ended Tokarski’s personal shutout streak at 203 minutes and 26 seconds, just 4:01 shy of the all-time Calder Cup playoff record set by the Springfield Indians’ Marcel Paille in 1962.

The Marlies continued to pressure for the equalizer, but could not convert on three third-period power plays before Brandon Segal secured the win with an empty-net shorthanded tally with 18.3 seconds remaining.

Photo: L. Todd Spencer – The Virginian-Pilot

Scrivens (11-3, 1.64, .945) finished with 39 saves on the night as the Marlies were outshot by a 42-24 margin. Tokarski (9-2, 1.60, .940) stopped 23 shots to help Norfolk to its seventh consecutive victory.

The game, which featured a combined 70 minutes in penalties, saw Toronto finish 0-for-10 on the power play and Norfolk go 1-for-5.

NOTES: Attendance at Scope was 7,229… In Calder Cup Finals history, the Game 1 winner has won the series 56 of 75 times.

Toronto Marlies 1 at Norfolk Admirals 3 – Status: Final
Friday, June 1, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

Toronto 0 0 1 – 1
Norfolk  1 1 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Conacher 2 (Johnson, Oberg), 12:21. Penalties-Lashoff Tor (hooking), 1:25; Mueller Tor (roughing), 1:25; Cote Nor (slashing, roughing), 1:25; Panik Nor (hooking), 8:15; Dimmen Nor (tripping), 11:34; Dupuis Tor (tripping), 11:40; Labrie Nor (roughing), 15:46; Picard Nor (roughing), 18:47.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Johnson 4 (Barberio, Conacher), 10:03 (PP). Penalties-Conacher Nor (slashing), 4:47; Dupuis Tor (cross-checking), 9:18; Dupuis Tor (roughing), 12:24; Conacher Nor (roughing), 12:24; Picard Nor (cross-checking), 13:24; Picard Nor (checking to the head), 18:01; Dupuis Tor (goaltender interference), 19:23; Mikus Tor (roughing), 19:23; Palat Nor (roughing), 19:23; D’Amigo Tor (roughing), 20:00.

3rd Period-3, Toronto, Ashton 1 (Scott, Gardiner), 3:57. 4, Norfolk, Segal 4 (Smith, Gudas), 19:41 (SH EN). Penalties-Acton Tor (roughing), 8:59; Gudas Nor (roughing), 8:59; Kostka Nor (hooking), 10:38; Fraser Tor (fighting), 14:38; Labrie Nor (boarding, fighting), 14:38; Oberg Nor (delay of game), 18:24; Rosehill Tor (elbowing, misconduct), 19:57.

Shots on Goal-Toronto 9-9-6-24. Norfolk 16-13-13-42.
Power Play Opportunities-Toronto 0 / 10; Norfolk 1 / 5.
Goalies-Toronto, Scrivens 11-3-0 (41 shots-39 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 9-2-0 (24 shots-23 saves).

A-7,229
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Matt MacPherson (83), John Grandt (95).

Admirals Fall In OT, Drop The First Game Of The Series 3-2

NORFOLK, Va. – Andreas Thuresson scored 2:53 into overtime as the Connecticut Whale defeated the Norfolk Admirals, 3-2, in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series on Wednesday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Admirals trail the Whale, one game to none, in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 is set for Friday night at Scope at 7:30 p.m.

Ondrej Palat scored his first professional playoff goal and Pierre-Cedric Labrie tied the game at 2-2 late in the first period. Dustin Tokarski (2-1) stopped 26 of 29 shots in the setback. All the scoring in the game came in the first period until Thuresson’s game-winner.

Norfolk took an early lead with the Palat goal at 5:43 of the first period. After Trevor Smith took a pass from Jean-Philippe Cote in the right corner, he centered to Brandon Segal in the mid-slot. Segal sent a shot that Whale goaltender Cameron Talbot kicked out into the left circle. Without breaking stride towards the goal, Palat fired the puck over Talbot’s glove to put Norfolk up 1-0.

Connecticut responded with two quick goals less than three minutes later. The first came when Tim Erixon found Jonathan Audy-Marchessault outside the crease. Audy-Marchessault beat Tokarski on his second shot over the netminder’s left leg for the tying goal at 8:18.

The second goal for Connecticut came just 12 seconds later and was the result of three quick passes. J.T. Miller passed the puck from the right corner to Casey Wellman at the right half wall. Wellman threw the puck in front of the crease, where Marek Hrivik redirected it through Tokarski’s legs at 8:30.

Labrie tied the game at 2-2 late in the first period. Mark Barberio pinched in from the right point to beat a Connecticut defender to the loose puck in the right corner. He then threw the puck towards the crease, where Labrie sent a shot wide. Killorn angled his right skate on top of the goalmouth to corral the puck and send it back to Labrie at the right edge of the slot. Labrie then sent a shot through traffic and over Talbot’s glove at 16:56 for his second goal of the post-season.

The goal fest would come to a halt in the second period when the teams combined for 21 shots, but no red lights. Midway through the period, Norfolk killed a two-man disadvantage with two of their best penalty killers, Evan Oberg and Cote, in the penalty box. The Norfolk penalty kill stood strong, killing four Connecticut power plays in the second stanza alone.

The stalemate carried over into the third period when Tokarski stopped 12 shots and Talbot denied nine. The game would require overtime.

Just 2:53 into the extra frame, Thuresson sent a slapshot from the upper-left circle. The puck hit Tokarski and deflected up and over his head. With the Norfolk netminder trying to find the rebound, the puck came down behind him and rolled into the goal for the game-winner.

Talbot (4-0) stopped 31 of 33 shots for the win.

Norfolk was 0-for-6 on the power play. Connecticut was 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

 

Connecticut Whale 3 (OT) at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final OT
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

Connecticut 2 0 0 1 – 3
Norfolk         2 0 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Palat 1 (Segal, Smith), 5:43. 2, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 2 (Erixon), 8:18. 3, Connecticut, Hrivik 5 (Wellman, Miller), 8:30. 4, Norfolk, Labrie 2 (Barberio, Killorn), 16:56. Penalties-Nightingale Ct (boarding), 2:14; Smith Nor (tripping), 13:56; Deveaux Ct (roughing), 20:00; Nightingale Ct (roughing), 20:00; Angelidis Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 20:00.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-served by Picard Nor (bench minor – too many men), 2:45; Gudas Nor (interference), 5:21; Bell Ct (high-sticking), 5:47; Oberg Nor (hooking), 8:22; Cote Nor (tripping), 9:19; Redden Ct (interference), 11:43; Erixon Ct (holding), 19:00.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Owens Ct (hooking), 4:10.

OT Period-5, Connecticut, Thuresson 1 (Owens, Bell), 2:53. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Connecticut 8-7-12-2-29. Norfolk 11-13-9-0-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 0 / 5; Norfolk 0 / 6.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 4-1-0 (33 shots-31 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 3-1-0 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-3,223
Referees-Graham Skilliter (48), Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Matt MacPherson (83), Mark Hamlett (81).