Admirals Win 2-0, Complete The Weekend Sweep

Long night last night. Very good weekend from the Norfolk Admirals . The Ad’s won an overtime thriller on Friday night with 5-4 victory that included a Patrick Maroon hat trick. Saturday’s game was tighter with both teams going back and forth. This was a low scoring defensive battle. Norfolk produced the only goals of the night and sealed the seep with a 2-0 shutout over the Crunch. The next victory of the night also happened on the ice, but did not result in any points in the standings. The Admirals / PAPCO annual MDA Jersey Auction raised over $60,000 for MDA. Sami Vaatenen’s jersey brought in $5,600.00 with Patrick Maroon brought in the next highest amount at $4,100.00. For this game I will let the Ad’s take care of the game summary below.

From the Norfolk Admirals:

NORFOLK – Frederik Andersen made 41 saves and Norfolk stopped all eight Syracuse power plays as the Admirals (33-29-4-1) shut out the Crunch (39-19-4-5), 2-0, on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Admirals remain two points back of the Hershey Bears for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race with nine games remaining in the regular season.

Sami Vatanen and John Mitchell scored for Norfolk while Devante Smith-Pelly and Kyle Wilson each had two assists. Andersen (20-14-1) earned his 20th win of the season and his third shutout. With the win, Norfolk denied Syracuse the chance to clinch a berth in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Admirals will continue their five-game homestand by hosting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Tuesday night at Scope.

The Crunch out-shot the Admirals, 13-3, in the first period, but Andersen kept the contest scoreless with several big saves.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead 7:21 into the second period. Smith-Pelly carried the puck into the attacking zone and dropped a pass to Wilson in the right circle. Wilson then sent a pass to Vatanen at the left point. Vatanen sent a wrist shot from the left circle past the outstretched glove of Crunch goaltender Riku Helenius for his eighth goal of the season.

Andersen turned aside 11 shots in the second stanza as the Admirals took a 1-0 lead into the third period.

The lead doubled 4:52 into the third period. Smith-Pelly fired the puck into the attacking zone along the right wing glass. The puck ricocheted off a stanchion in the right corner and bounded into the slot, where Mitchell was able to fire it past an unsuspecting Helenius for his tenth goal of the season.

The Crunch had three third period power plays – including 1:40 worth of a five-on-three advantage. Andersen and the Norfolk penalty killers kept Syracuse at bay, and the netminder turned aside 17 shots in the final frame for the shutout.

Helenius (16-13-0) stopped 25of 27 shots and was saddled with the loss.

Norfolk was 0-for-4 on the power play. Syracuse was 0-for-8 in the game and 0-for-12 on the weekend against Norfolk.

The Admirals will conclude a five-game homestand next week with contests against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Tuesday night before the Binghamton Senators invade Scope on Friday and Saturday nights.

Three Stars: 
1. Frederik Andersen – NOR
2. Devante Smith-Pelly – NOR
3. Nate Guenin – NOR

Syracuse Crunch 0 at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, March 30, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

Syracuse 0 0 0 – 0
Norfolk     0 1 1 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gauthier Syr (fighting), 3:14; Mikkelson Syr (roughing), 3:14; Kurtz Nor (fighting), 3:14; Wagner Nor (interference), 5:28; Sexton Syr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 7:58; Wyman Syr (interference), 7:58; Clark Nor (roughing), 18:23.

2nd Period-1, Norfolk, Vatanen 8 (Wilson, Smith-Pelly), 7:21. Penalties-Wagner Nor (cross-checking), 5:35; served by Jacques Syr (bench minor – too many men), 6:45; Brittain Nor (roughing), 9:42; Maroon Nor (cross-checking), 13:21.

3rd Period-2, Norfolk, Mitchell 10 (Smith-Pelly, Wilson), 4:52. Penalties-Pelley Nor (slashing), 14:38; Hendry Nor (high-sticking), 14:58; McMillan Nor (hooking), 18:54.

Shots on Goal-Syracuse 13-11-17-41. Norfolk 3-14-10-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Syracuse 0 / 8; Norfolk 0 / 4.
Goalies-Syracuse, Helenius 16-14-0 (27 shots-25 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 20-14-1 (41 shots-41 saves).

A-6,706
Referees-Ryan Fraser (14).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Luke Murray (92).

Syracuse Crunched, Admirals Win In OT 5-4

They playoff race is in full swing. Norfolk is sitting 2 points out of a playoff spot, but there are a few more teams with the same situation. Every game for the last few week of the season have to be looked at as “must win” type games. It’s Crunchtime and the Syracuse Crunch are in town for a weekend series with the Admirals.

Friday nights game had everything you could imagine in a typical Admirals game and a few surprises. There was a fight, plenty of goals, a third period meltdown, and an overtime thriller. The Syracuse Crunch came to town looking less like the team that used to be the Calder Cup Admiral squad from last year. They were still a formidable opponent for the Admirals.

Syracuse struck first with a Brett Connolly goal at 3:51 into the first period. Connolly sent a backhanded shot from the left corner that went into the net off of Admirals goalie, Frederik Andersen. The Crunch struck once again at 17:07 of the first. Former Admiral fan favorite, Eric Neilson, deflected a Danick Gauthier wrist shot past Andersen for the 2-0 lead. Neilson’s goal was his first of the season and first as member of the Crunch. The Admirals would finally get on the board in the final seconds of the period. Kyle Bonis would get his first professional point since joining the Admirals from the OHL. Bonis sent the puck behind the net from the right circle. Patrick Maroon scooped up the puck and came up on the left side of the net and sent the puck past Riku Helenius for his nineteenth goal of the season at 19:46 of the first period.

Syracuse came out in the second and appeared to have this game under their control. Norfolk was struggling and could not  get their offense started. It was a back and forth defensive battle for most of the period. The Crunch scored at 18:59 to take the 3-1 lead. Alex Hutchings recovered a rebound from a Jean-Philippe Cote shot. Cote sent a wrist shot in on Andersen and the rebound bounced out to Hutchings who shot it past Andersen

Syracuse took a 4-1 lead just ten seconds into the third period and it looked like another nail in the Admiral coffin. J.T. Brown made a pass from the left circle that was tipped by J.T. Wyman and then on to the stick of Dan Sexton who redirected it past Andersen. The Admirals answered back with a pair of goals less than two minutes apart. McMillan stole the puck from the Crunch in the Admirals defensive zone and skated up towards the Crunch goal. He passed the puck across the crease to a waiting Devante Smith-Pelly who slammed the puck home at 0:50 of the third period. Rod Pelley and Chris Wagner worked together to help cut the Crunch lead to 4-3. Pelley sent a breakout pass to Wagner who would close in on Helenius and sent a backhand shot into the net for his seventh goal of the season. Patrick Maroon closed out the scoring for the third period as he tipped a Nate Guenin shot past Helenius at 8:49 to tie the game a 4 goals each.

Former Admirals captain Mike Angelidis took a slashing penalty late in the third period and started the Overtime period in the penalty box. The Crunch were shorthanded as the Admirals made their way into the offensive zone. Sami Vatanen sent a pass from the left point to Charlie Sarault in the right circle. Sarault, a newly signed Admirals from the OHL,  collected the puck and centered a pass to Patrick Maroon. Maroon would slide the puck past the pads of Riku Helenius for the Admiral 5-1 win at 1:44 of overtime.

Helenius (16-12-0) stopped 25 of 30 shots for Syracuse. Andersen ( 19-14-1) stopped 26 of 30 shots for the Admiral win.  Norfolk was 2-for-6 on the power play. Syracuse was 0-for-4.

Norfolk and Syracuse meet once more tonight at Scope.

Three Stars:
1. Patrick Maroon – NOR
2. Brandon McMillan – NOR
3. Chris Wagner – NOR

Bear Hunting….Admirals Bag Some Bears, Win 4-1

Photo: John Wright

Norfolk, VA

The Admirals had a successful weekend against the Bears. Four out of a possible four points and the Bears left Norfolk with nothing. While gaining some ground on the Bears, there is still some work to be done if the Admirals want to squeak into the playoffs. With 18 games left in the season the Admirals find themselves sitting in twelfth place in the AHL’s Eastern Conference with 59 points. I don’t think that there is anyone out there that would think that this years Admirals can pull off a winning streak to finish off the season. It’s not going to happen. Norfolk has a chance, but they are going to have to fight for every point and get some help if they want to make the post season. They got 4 points this weekend, there are 36 more points out there. get into the playoffs and it’s back to 0 points for everyone. Let’s get them points and bring back hockey to the Norfolk Scope in May and June.

From the Norfolk Admirals:

NORFOLK – Patrick Maroon scored twice and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves as the Norfolk Admirals (27-26-4-1) defeated the Hershey Bears (28-23-3-5), 4-1, on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Admirals, who were eight points out of a playoff spot entering the week, earned five of a possible six points in the standings over three games. Norfolk has now closed to within three points of the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference with 18 games remaining in the regular season.

Troy Bodie and Brayden Irwin also scored for Norfolk, while Jordan Hendry notched two assists for the home team. Andersen (15-11-1) improved to 8-1-0 over his last nine games.

The Admirals now embark on a three-game road trip beginning on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Checkers. The return to Scope on March 19th and 20th to host the Adirondack Phantoms.

The Admirals opened scoring 2:25 into the contest on Bodie’s fourth goal of the season. Bears goaltender Dany Sabourin fumbled the puck as he attempted to clear it from the zone. Bodie corralled the puck and swept it into the cage for a 1-0 Norfolk lead.

The lead doubled just 34 seconds into the second stanza on Irwin’s first goal of the season. Josh Brittain worked the puck from the left corner to Jordan Hendry in the left circle. The veteran blueliner sent a low slap shot that Irwin deflected from the low slot. The puck changed directions, eluding Sabourin between the netminder’s legs for a 2-0 lead.

Hershey cut its deficit to one goal just over seven minutes later. Garrett Stafford carried the puck into the Norfolk zone along the right wing. Just before he circled behind the net, he centered the puck into the low slot, where Jon DiSalvatore one-timed the puck past Andersen. The goal at 7:43 of the second period cut the home team’s lead to 2-1.

Norfolk’s penalty kill came up large midway through the second period, killing off a Hershey five-on-three power play for 1:07 with several big saves by Andersen.

The lead increased to 3-1 early in the third period. Maroon carried the puck behind the net from the left wing, circled in front and sent a wraparound shot past Sabourin at 4:34 for his sixteenth goal of the season. Sami Vatanen earned an assist on the play to extend his point/assist streak to seven straight games (1g, 9a).

Maroon sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 1:20 remaining in regulation.

Sabourin (8-10-3) stopped 15 of 18 shots in the setback.

Norfolk was 1-for-3 on the power play. Hershey was 0-for-6. The Admirals killed the final 17 straight Hershey power plays in the season series to finish 39/41 (95.1%) on the penalty kill against the Bears this season.

Norfolk’s three-game road trip begins Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. against the Charlotte Checkers. The Syracuse Crunch and Binghampton Senators will provide the opposition on March 15-16. The Admirals return to Scope on March 19-20 to face off against the Adirondack Phantoms.

Three Stars:

1. Frederik Andersen – NOR
2. Patrick Maroon – NOR
3. Jordan Hendry – NOR

Hershey Bears 1 at Norfolk Admirals 4 – Status: Final
Saturday, March 9, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

Hershey 0 1 0 – 1
Norfolk   1 1 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Bodie 4 (Guenin, Andersen), 2:25 (PP). Penalties-Orlov Her (delay of game), 0:31; Brittain Nor (high-sticking), 5:45; Pelley Nor (boarding), 12:29.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Irwin 1 (Hendry, Brittain), 0:34. 3, Hershey, DiSalvatore 16 (Stafford, Taffe), 7:43. Penalties-Irwin Nor (high-sticking), 8:02; Guenin Nor (cross-checking), 8:55.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Maroon 16 (Hendry, Vatanen), 4:34. 5, Norfolk, Maroon 17 (Wagner), 18:40 (EN). Penalties-Almeida Her (hooking), 0:28; Sexton Nor (interference), 1:17; Brittain Nor (interference), 3:54; DiSalvatore Her (tripping), 4:24.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 7-12-5-24. Norfolk 8-7-4-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 6; Norfolk 1 / 3.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 8-10-3 (18 shots-15 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 15-11-1 (24 shots-23 saves).
A-7,316
Referees-Chris Cozzan (18), Jason Rollins (37).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Scott Pomento (25).

Full Steam Ahead, Admirals 5 Bears 1

The final stretch of the AHL season is upon us. The Admirals bounce back after an OT loss to the Checkers on Wednesday. Norfolk powered up their offense and set a course for the playoffs with a 5-1 victory over the Bears. There is no guaranteed playoff spot waiting for the Admirals. They are going to have to earn it. Every game won can move them up, every loss will keep them on the bottom.

Game Summary from the Norfolk Admirals:

March 8, 2013

Admirals Out-Gun Bears

NORFOLK – Sami Vatanen and Patrick Maroon each had a goal and two assists and the home team out-shot the visitors, 32-17, as the Norfolk Admirals (26-26-4-1) upended the Hershey Bears (28-22-3-5), 5-1, on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Dan Sexton, Josh Brittain and John Mitchell also scored for Norfolk while Hampus Lindholm and John Kurtz notched two assists each. Frederik Andersen (14-11-1) stopped 16 of 17 shots for the win. The Admirals cut their deficit to five points for the eighth and final playoff spot with 19 games remaining in the 2012-13 regular season.

The Admirals will host the Bears again tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15 p.m.

Norfolk took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on Sexton’s fifth goal of the season. Vatanen stopped a Hershey clearing attempt at the right point. He fed Sexton at the bottom of the left faceoff circle. From one knee, Sexton one-timed the puck past Bears netminder Dany Sabourin at 9:47. Both Sexton and Vatanen extended their point streaks to an Admirals season-high six games on the play.

The home team’s lead doubled with a five-on-three power play goal 6:08 into the second stanza. Maroon sent a pass from the right corner to Vatanen in the opposite circle. Vatanen one-timed the pass beyond the outstretched glove of Sabourin for his fifth goal of the season and a 2-0 Norfolk lead.

Hershey cut into the lead with an unassisted goal less than seven minutes later. Jeff Taffe intercepted a pass in the high slot, skated deeper into the slot and fired a slap shot past Andersen’s glove at 12:49 to cut Norfolk’s lead to 2-1.

However, the Admirals restored their two-goal lead 6:33 into the final frame. Maroon entered the attacking zone along the left wall and sent a shot from near the goal line at the left corner. The puck hit the inside of Sabourin’s left skate and went between his legs and into the net for Maroon’s 15th goal of the season and a 3-1 Norfolk lead.

The Admirals increased the lead to three goals midway through the third period with their second power play goal of the game. Maroon spotted Brittain with a pass from the left corner to the right circle. Brittain one-timed the puck past Sabourin at 11:02 for his ninth goal of the season and a 4-1 lead.

Norfolk closed out scoring with 3:10 remaining in regulation with Mitchell’s seventh goal of the season. Lindholm sent a feed to Kurtz for a shot from in tight that bounced off Sabourin. Mitchell one-timed the rebound into the net for the 5-1 final score.

Sabourin (8-9-3) stopped 27 of 32 shots in defeat.

Norfolk was 2-for-7 on the power play. Hershey was 0-for-4.

Three Stars: 
1. Sami Vatanen – NOR
2. Patrick Maroon – NOR
3. Hampus Lindholm – NOR

Hershey Bears 1 at Norfolk Admirals 5 – Status: Final
Friday, March 8, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

Hershey 0 1 0 – 1
Norfolk   1 1 3 – 5

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Sexton 5 (Vatanen, Kurtz), 9:47. Penalties-DiSalvatore Her (hooking), 1:13; Vatanen Nor (holding), 5:27; Smith-Pelly Nor (roughing), 19:55.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Vatanen 5 (Maroon, Lindholm), 6:08 (PP). 3, Hershey, Taffe 16   12:49. Penalties-Parent Nor (delay of game), 4:03; Schilling Her (interference), 4:24; McNeill Her (interference), 4:45; McNeill Her (tripping), 8:57; Irwin Nor (hooking), 14:26; Carman Her (tripping), 18:11.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Maroon 15 (Vatanen, Andersen), 6:33. 5, Norfolk, Brittain 9 (Maroon, Guenin), 11:02 (PP). 6, Norfolk, Mitchell 7 (Kurtz, Lindholm), 16:50. Penalties-Wellar Her (fighting), 1:27; Letourneau-Leblond Nor (fighting), 1:27; Marshall Her (holding), 3:19; Brouillette Her (fighting), 3:30; Smith-Pelly Nor (fighting), 3:30; Taffe Her (unsportsmanlike conduct, diving), 9:39; Kurtz Nor (tripping), 9:39; Kane Her (hooking), 10:48; Smith-Pelly Nor (diving), 10:48.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 5-5-7-17. Norfolk 17-4-11-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 4; Norfolk 2 / 7.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 8-9-3 (32 shots-27 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 14-11-1 (17 shots-16 saves).

A-5,626
Referees-Trent Knorr (44).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Scott Pomento (25).

Admirals Take Weekend Series Over Bridgeport.

The Norfolk Admirals started out the week down in Charlotte for a Sunday match-up with the Checkers. Rod Pelley got his first goal of the season and Netminder Jeff Deslauriers made his first appearance for the Admirals. Unfortunately for the Admirals Pelley’s goal was the only one of the night and Charlotte lit up Deslauriers for 6 goals. Needless to say the Admirals had a long and silent bus ride back to Norfolk.

Photo: John Wright

The Checkers provided the opposition for the Wednesday night game at Scope. Charlotte has had our number this season and have always been a tough competitor. This game however was all about the Admirals. Luca Caputi, Jay Rosehill and Dan Sexton all scored goals for the Admirals. Special teams were running at full steam. Two of the goals were scored on the power play and the Admirals stopped all seven of the Checkers power play opportunities. Igor Bobkov was in goal for the Admirals and only allowed one goal. The Admirals turned in a solid 3-1 Norfolk victory.

Photo: John Wright

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers rolled into town Friday night and they brought the snow with them. A very small crowd was on hand as the Admirals and Sound Tigers got down to business. Bridgeport was solid for the first two periods. The Sound Tigers held on to a 1 – 0 lead over Frederik Anderson and the Admirals into the third period. Norfolk would finally get on the board seven minutes into the third period. Dan Sexton put a shot on goal that was stopped, but Patrick Maroon swept in to clean up the garbage and tied the game up at 1 each. Four minutes later Maroon would force a turnover and send a pass to Josh Brittain. Brittain put the puck in the net for the Admirals 2-1 lead and the Admirals Victory.

Photo: John Wright

Saturday night at Scope had the Admirals and Sound Tigers back in action. Norfolk was riding high on two consecutive victories and wanted to go into the AHL All-Star break with another victory.The weather had calmed down some and the snow was melting away. There was the annual Guns and Hoses game for CHKD and that brought in a nice crowd for the Admirals game as well. Tonight was another solid performance for the Admirals. Emerson Etem turned in two goals and an assist. Luca Caputi chipped in a goal and two assists. Josh Brittain and Rod Pelley would contribute a goal each in a 5-0 Admiral victory. Frederik Anderson would stop all 23 Sound Tiger shots he faced.

Norfolk has the beginning part of the week off as the AHL All-Star game is being played in Providence. The Admirals return to action on the road Friday in Adirondak and on Saturday in Bridgeport. The next home action is Feb 8 and 9 against the WB/S Penguins.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final
Friday, January 25, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

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

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Campbell 2 (DeFazio, Landry), 1:13. Penalties-Nelson Bri (holding), 1:49; Gallant Bri (fighting), 5:32; Letourneau-Leblond Nor (fighting), 5:32; Combs Bri (delay of game), 16:27; McIver Bri (fighting), 19:21; Kurtz Nor (fighting), 19:21.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gallant Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:18; Brittain Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 6:18; Brittain Nor (high-sticking), 8:38.

3rd Period-2, Norfolk, Maroon 12 (Sexton, Guentzel), 7:00. 3, Norfolk, Brittain 4 (Maroon), 10:39. Penalties-Halmo Bri (fighting), 3:38; Kennedy Nor (roughing, fighting), 3:38; Maroon Nor (interference), 16:02; Mitchell Nor (elbowing), 19:52.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 13-15-10-38. Norfolk 16-8-14-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 4; Norfolk 0 / 2.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 12-10-2 (38 shots-36 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 9-10-1 (38 shots-37 saves).

A-4,575
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Luke Murray (92), Mark Hamlett (81).

 

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0 at Norfolk Admirals 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

Bridgeport 0 0 0 – 0
Norfolk       1 2 2 – 5

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Etem 11 (Maroon, Caputi), 6:11. Penalties-Kabanov Bri (slashing), 2:18; Cantin Bri (roughing), 3:49; Brittain Nor (roughing), 3:49; Cantin Bri (cross-checking), 7:40; Smaby Nor (interference), 18:50.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Caputi 3 (Etem, Vatanen), 7:30 (PP). 3, Norfolk, Brittain 5 (Sexton, Parent), 14:56. Penalties-Gallant Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:47; Wagner Nor (slashing), 3:45; McIver Bri (boarding), 7:04.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Etem 12 (Vatanen, Caputi), 12:47 (PP). 5, Norfolk, Pelley 2 (Letourneau-Leblond, Mitchell), 19:19 (PP). Penalties-Pelley Nor (holding), 0:26; DeFazio Bri (slashing, fighting, misconduct – continuing altercation), 11:26; Kennedy Nor (fighting), 11:26; McIver Bri (instigating, fighting, misconduct – instigating, game misconduct – aggressor), 11:35; Maroon Nor (roughing), 11:35; Brittain Nor (roughing), 13:19; Halmo Bri (high-sticking), 18:28.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 10-6-7-23. Norfolk 16-7-12-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 3; Norfolk 3 / 8.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Nilsson 7-10-0 (35 shots-30 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 9-10-1 (23 shots-23 saves).
A-7,574
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Luke Murray (92), Mark Hamlett (81).

Admirals Go 1-2 On Weekend Roadtrip

The Norfolk Admirals returned from the holidays with 3 games in 3 nights. First up for the Admirals was a match up against the former Norfolk Admirals. This was the first of eight games for these two teams. Syracuse took the first game 4-2 and will be Norfolk’s opponent this upcoming Friday and Saturday. Next up for the Admirals was a game against the divisional rival WB/S Penguins. Norfolk bounced back with a 3-2 overtime victory. Norfolk’s hope for salvaging the weekend road trip was spoiled in the first period of their Sunday afternoon match against the Springfield Falcons. Springfield held the Admirals to a Emerson Etem shorthanded goal and beat the Admirals 4-1.

Game Summary From The Norfolk Admirals:

December 29, 2012

Maroon Nets Overtime Winner As Admirals Top Penguins

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, Penn. – Patrick Maroon scored a power play goal 1:21 into overtime as the Norfolk Admirals (14-14-1-0) topped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (14-13-2-1), 3-2, on Saturday night from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Chris Wagner and Peter Holland also scored for Norfolk, while goaltender Igor Bobkov (7-8-0) stopped 23 of 25 shots in the victory.

Norfolk, which has posted a 7-3-1-0 record in December so far, rounds out the month and a three-game road trip tomorrow evening against the Springfield Falcons. They return to Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday and Saturday nights to face off against the Syracuse Crunch.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton opened scoring 4:14 into the first period. Brian Gibbons sent a wrist shot from the right point through a screen and past Bobkov to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

The Admirals tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second period. Wagner won a faceoff at the left dot in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton zone to Gabe Guentzel at the left point. Guentzel skated into the high slot and sent a wrist shot through traffic. Wagner deflected the shot past Penguins goaltender Jeff Zatkoff at 6:06 for his third goal of the season.

Norfolk took a 2-1 lead late in the second period on Holland’s team-leading 12th goal of the season. A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward sent a shot that caromed all the way around the glass in the Admirals’ zone and landed just across the blue line near the left point. Holland picked up the puck on a breakaway and scored glove-side at 16:33.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Penguins tied the game just 46 seconds later. Former Admirals forward Trevor Smith won a faceoff in left circle. He centered the puck towards the low slot, and Jayson Megna sent a shot between Bobkov’s legs to tie the game at 2-2 at 17:19 of the second period.

After a scoreless third period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Benn Ferriero was whistled for hooking 27 seconds into overtime, giving Norfolk a four-on-three skater advantage. Holland sent a pass from the bottom of the right circle across the slot to Maroon, who was stationed on top of the goalmouth to Zatkoff’s right. Maroon tipped the puck past the right skate of the goaltender and into the net for his ninth goal of the season at 1:21, as Norfolk claimed the 3-2 victory.

Zatkoff (11-10-0) stopped 25 of 28 shots.

Norfolk was 1-for-4 on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 0-for-3.

Three Stars:
1. Patrick Maroon – NOR
2. Peter Holland – NOR
3. Jayson Megna – WBS

NOTES … Patrick Maroon has points in four consecutive games (2g, 2a) … Norfolk has overtime wins in two of their last three games. Peter Holland has the primary assist on both overtime goals … With his two-point performance tonight, Holland now has 29 points (12g, 17a) in 29 games this season … The Admirals have improved to 6-1 in games decided after regulation, with a 3-1 mark in overtime and a 3-0 mark in shootouts … Did not play: Ryan Lasch, John Kurtz, Brandon McMillan, Matt Smaby, Nick Schaus, Frederik Andersen. 

Norfolk Admirals 3 (OT) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 – Status: Final OT
Saturday, December 29, 2012 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Norfolk             0 2 0 1 – 3
W-B/Scranton 1 1 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Gibbons 4 (Samuelsson, Morrow), 4:14. Penalties-Guentzel Nor (hooking), 8:50; Palmieri Nor (slashing), 12:05; Farnham Wbs (goaltender interference), 19:38.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Wagner 3 (Guentzel, Bodie), 6:06. 3, Norfolk, Holland 12   16:33. 4, W-B/Scranton, Megna 3 (Smith), 17:19. Penalties-Peters Wbs (high-sticking), 18:55.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-served by Holzapfel Wbs (bench minor – too many men), 12:18; Maroon Nor (tripping), 15:39.

OT Period-5, Norfolk, Maroon 9 (Holland, Palmieri), 1:21 (PP). Penalties-Ferriero Wbs (hooking), 0:27.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 7-13-5-3-28. W-B/Scranton 11-6-8-0-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 4; W-B/Scranton 0 / 3.
Goalies-Norfolk, Bobkov 7-9-0 (25 shots-23 saves). W-B/Scranton, Zatkoff 11-10-0 (28 shots-25 saves).

A-5,101
Referees-Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Scott Adams (20), Matt McNulty (26).

December 30, 2012

Admirals Close Out Road Trip With Loss In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Emerson Etem’s shorthanded goal was the only tally of the game for the visitors as the Norfolk Admirals (14-15-1-0) closed out a three-game road trip with a 4-1 loss to the Springfield Falcons (17-8-2-3) on Sunday evening from MassMutual Center. Norfolk went 1-2-0-0 on the road trip.

The Admirals, who posted a 7-4-1-0 record in December, return to Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday and Saturday nights to face off against the Syracuse Crunch.

Springfield took the lead 10:13 into the first period. David Savard sent a shot from the left point that Admirals goaltender Igor Bobkov blocked. However, Ryan Johansen found the rebound in the bottom of the left circle and sent the puck into the net to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons doubled their lead just over three minutes later. Nick Drazenovic sent a snap shot from the left circle between Bobkov’s legs and into the net at 13:22 for a 2-0 Springfield lead.

Matt Calvert made the score 3-0 less than three minutes later. He attempted a wraparound shot from behind the goal line to Bobkov’s left. The puck caromed back to Calvert off a defender’s skate, and the Falcons forward sent a shot past Bobkov’s glove from the right circle at 16:06.

The Falcons took a 4-0 lead with a power play goal 4:57 into the second period. Cam Atkinson centered the puck from behind the net to former Norfolk captain Ryan Craig at the goalmouth. Craig one-timed the puck into the net past Bobkov’s left leg.

Frederik Andersen took over between the pipes for the Admirals to start the third period, and Norfolk broke up Springfield netminder Allen York’s shutout bid with a shorthanded goal 2:47 into the final frame. Etem sent a pass from the neutral zone to Nate Guenin, who entered the attacking zone along the right wing and sent a shot on York. The rebound came into the slot, and Etem scored his ninth goal of the season to cut Springfield’s lead to 4-1.

Bobkov (7-9-0) stopped 23 of 27 shots through two periods and took the loss. Andersen (7-7-0) stopped all nine shots he faced in the third period and did not receive a decision. York (1-2-0) stopped 25 of 26 shots for the win.

Norfolk was 0-for-4 on the power play. Springfield was 1-for-7.

The Admirals return to Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday and Saturday nights to host the Syracuse Crunch. The first 2,012 fans through the gates on Friday will receive an Admirals Calder Cup replica trophy, courtesy of John’s Tax Service, JPM Financial Services and WTKR NewsChannel3.

Three Stars:
1. Matt Calvert – SPR
2. Allen York – SPR
3. Nick Drazenovic – SPR

NOTES … Did not play: Ryan Lasch, Brandon McMillan, Matt Smaby, Nick Schaus, Marco Cousineau, Jay Rosehill.

Norfolk Admirals 1 at Springfield Falcons 4 – Status: Final
Sunday, December 30, 2012 – MassMutual Center

Norfolk       0 0 1 – 1
Springfield 3 1 0 – 4

1st Period-1, Springfield, Johansen 12 (Savard, Holden), 10:13. 2, Springfield, Drazenovic 9 (Atkinson, Erixon), 13:22. 3, Springfield, Calvert 10   16:06. Penalties-Weber Spr (hooking), 3:14; Amadio Spr (cross-checking), 12:22; Palmieri Nor (interference), 13:07.

2nd Period-4, Springfield, Craig 8 (Atkinson, Calvert), 4:57 (PP). Penalties-Vatanen Nor (hooking), 3:51; Etem Nor (boarding), 6:19; Etem Nor (roughing), 8:23; Amadio Spr (roughing, roughing), 8:23; Maroon Nor (fighting), 12:32; Craig Spr (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 12:32; Wagner Nor (slashing), 15:02; Clark Nor (fighting), 18:02; Weber Spr (fighting), 18:02.

3rd Period-5, Norfolk, Etem 9 (Guenin), 2:47 (SH). Penalties-Caputi Nor (high-sticking), 1:22; Guentzel Nor (slashing), 9:37; Maroon Nor (roughing, misconduct – abuse of officials), 14:00.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 7-11-8-26. Springfield 18-9-9-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 4; Springfield 1 / 7.
Goalies-Norfolk, Bobkov 7-9-0 (27 shots-23 saves); Andersen 7-7-0 (9 shots-9 saves). Springfield, York 1-2-0 (26 shots-25 saves).

A-2,763
Referees-T.J. Luxmore (49), Jon McIsaac (45).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Paul Simeon (66).