I’d Like To Solve The Puzzle Pat…..Admirals Win!

The Admirals received some of their firepower back from the Ducks earlier this week. Would it be enough to bring them a victory? Well they took a spin on the wheel and solved the puzzle for Friday night. The visiting St. John’s IceCaps took them to the shootout, but Viktor Fasth, emerson Etem, and John Britain shut them down. Norfolk wins 3-2 in the shootout.

Pat Sajak and Brandon McMillan

The Admirals had a visit last night from Pat Sajak. The Wheel of Fortune star was in town with his son to catch a game. Sajak, who owns homes in Maryland and California, is a longtime season ticket holder for the Capitals and Kings. He had made plans to catch a game prior to the lockout ending. He picked a good time to come down. An Admirals AHL game last night and next week he can catch the Caps back at the Verizon Center.

Game Summary from the Norfolk Admirals:

January 18, 2013

Admirals Cap Comeback with Shootout Win

Photo: John wright

NORFOLK – Emerson Etem tied the game in the third period and Josh Brittain netted the winning goal in the shootout as the Norfolk Admirals (15-19-2-1) completed a comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat the St. John’s IceCaps (16-20-1-2), 3-2, on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The same teams meet tomorrow night at Scope in the sixth annual Pink in the Rink to benefit the Tidewater Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Brittain also scored in regulation for the Admirals, giving him goals in three straight contests. Goaltender Viktor Fasth (1-1-0) stopped 20 of 22 shots through regulation and overtime before stopping all five shooters in the shootout for his first North American professional victory.

The IceCaps took a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of power play goals. Eric O’Dell opened scoring at 6:22 before former Admirals defenseman Richard Petiot doubled the St. John’s lead with his first goal of the season at 10:40.

Just before the midway mark of the second period, the crowd of 5,759 rose to their feet as Jay Rosehill dropped the gloves with Ryan Schnell. The fight helped Rosehill break the 1,000 career AHL penalty minutes mark, and gave the Admirals momentum, which they cashed in less than a minute later.

Brittain cut the St. John’s lead in half with his third goal of the season – and third goal in as many nights. He accepted a pass from Troy Bodie near the bottom of the left circle and sent a shot from a bad angle through the leg pads of IceCaps goaltender Eddie Pasquale. The goal at 9:01 of the second stanza cut St. John’s lead to 2-1.

Norfolk knotted the contest at 2-2 just under five minutes into the third period. Patrick Maroon entered the attacking zone along the left wing and sent a pass to Etem in the left circle while being knocked to the ice. Etem sent a feed towards the goalmouth that deflected off a St. John’s defender’s skate and behind Pasquale for Etem’s tenth goal of the season at 4:56.

Photo: John Wright

After a scoreless overtime, the game proceeded to a shootout. Brittain scored the only goal of the shootout in the top of the third round, and Fasth denied all five St. John’s shooters, as the Admirals earned a 1-0 edge in the shootout and the 3-2 decision in the game.

Eddie Pasquale (9-14-2) stopped 32 of 34 shots through regulation and overtime before preventing four of five shooters in the shootout from converting for the shootout setback.

Norfolk was 1-for-5 on the power play. St. John’s was 2-for-5.

The Admirals and Ice Caps square off again tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15 p.m. in the sixth annual Pink in the Rink to benefit the Tidewater affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure. For more details, visit norfolkadmirals.com.

Three Stars:
1. Emerson Etem – NOR
2. Josh Brittain – NOR
3. Richard Petiot – STJ

NOTES … Josh Brittain has goals in his last three games – his first three career Norfolk goals … Jay Rosehill now has 1,004 penalty minutes in his 352-game American Hockey League career between the Admirals, Springfield Falcons and Toronto Marlies … Rosehill ranks second all-time in AHL Admirals history with 491 penalty minutes in 148 games … Norfolk out-shot St. John’s, 35-22, enjoying its largest shot differential of the season (+13) … Did not play: Igor Bobkov, Garrett Klotz, Brandon McMillan, Matt Smaby, Matt Kennedy, Andrew Rowe, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. 

St. John’s IceCaps 2 at Norfolk Admirals 3 (SO) – Status: Final SO
Friday, January 18, 2013 – Norfolk Scope

St. John’s 2 0 0 0 – 2
Norfolk      0 1 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, St. John’s, O’Dell 9 (Mouillierat, Sawada), 6:22 (PP). 2, St. John’s, Petiot 1 (Sawada, Jaffray), 10:40 (PP). Penalties-Sol Stj (fighting), 2:05; Bodie Nor (fighting), 2:05; Petiot Stj (hooking), 2:45; Brittain Nor (cross-checking), 4:23; Huskins Nor (closing hand on puck), 8:42; Mouillierat Stj (holding the stick), 15:08; Melchiori Stj (interference), 16:59; Brittain Nor (holding), 19:02.

2nd Period-3, Norfolk, Brittain 3 (Bodie), 9:01. Penalties-Guenin Nor (slashing), 0:57; Schnell Stj (fighting), 8:33; Rosehill Nor (fighting), 8:33; Maxwell Stj (tripping), 18:22.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Etem 10 (Maroon, Huskins), 4:56 (PP). Penalties-O’Neill Stj (tripping), 4:15; Schaus Nor (tripping), 5:18.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – St. John’s 0 (Maxwell NG, O’Dell NG, Klingberg NG, Jaffray NG, Mouillierat NG), Norfolk 1 (Etem NG, Maroon NG, Brittain G, Lasch NG, Sexton NG).
Shots on Goal-St. John’s 7-6-7-2-0-22. Norfolk 9-11-10-4-1-35.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John’s 2 / 5; Norfolk 1 / 5.
Goalies-St. John’s, Pasquale 9-14-2 (34 shots-32 saves). Norfolk, Fasth 1-1-0 (22 shots-20 saves).

A-5,759
Referees-Jon McIsaac (45).
Linesmen-John Grandt (98), Mark Hamlett (81).

Bobkov Comes Up Big as Admirals Shut Out IceCaps

From The Norfolk Admirals:

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Rookie goaltender Igor Bobkov stopped all 38 shots he faced for his first career AHL shutout as the Norfolk Admirals (5-1-0-0) defeated the St. John’s IceCaps (4-4-0-0), 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at MileOne Centre. Next up for the Admirals is a pair of games against the Binghamton Senators at Scope on Friday and Saturday nights.

Patrick Maroon and John Mitchell scored for the Admirals, who were out-shot, 38-27. Norfolk killed all six St. John’s power plays in the game.

All of the game’s scoring came in the second period. The Admirals took a 1-0 lead midway through the stanza. Defenseman Ryan Parent, who had signed with the Admirals earlier in the week and was making his Norfolk debut, sent a shot from the left faceoff circle that IceCaps goaltender Eddie Pasquale stopped. However, Maroon found the rebound and put it past the goaltender at 11:33 for his fourth goal of the season.

Norfolk’s lead doubled in the waning moments of the second stanza as a St. John’s power play expired. Troy Bodie collected the puck as it ricocheted off the post behind Bobkov from an IceCaps power play shot. He then sent a long pass to Mitchell as he exited the penalty box. Mitchell broke in on Pasquale with a partial breakaway through the right circle. He sent a shot from the slot between Pasquale’s right leg and blocker at 19:49 for his third goal of the season.

Bobkov (3-0-0) shut the door the rest of the way, stopping 18 shots in the third period alone to preserve the victory.

Pasquale (25 saves, 27 shots) took the loss.

Norfolk was 0-for-2 on the power play. St. John’s was 0-for-6.

The Admirals return to Scope on Friday and Saturday nights to square off against the Binghamton Senators. The puck drops on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

Norfolk Admirals 2 at St. John’s IceCaps 0 – Status: Final
Sunday, October 28, 2012 – Mile One Centre

Norfolk     0 2 0 – 2
St. John’s 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Whitmore Stj (tripping), 1:45; Wagner Nor (tripping), 4:23; Albert Stj (slashing), 8:02; Palmieri Nor (slashing), 16:01.

2nd Period-1, Norfolk, Maroon 4 (Smith-Pelly, Parent), 11:33. 2, Norfolk, Mitchell 3 (Bodie), 19:49. Penalties-Mitchell Nor (slashing), 3:04; Palmieri Nor (hooking), 12:10; Mitchell Nor (interference), 17:43.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Mitchell Nor (closing hand on puck), 11:40.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 12-12-3-27. St. John’s 10-10-18-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 2; St. John’s 0 / 6.
Goalies-Norfolk, Bobkov 3-0-0 (38 shots-38 saves). St. John’s, Pasquale 2-4-0 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-6,287
Referees-Trevor Hanson (47).
Linesmen-Jim Vail (5), Todd Horwood (34).

IceCaps Hand Admirals First Setback of 2012-13

From The Norfolk Admirals:

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The Norfolk Admirals (4-1-0-0) took their first loss of the 2012-13 season, as the St. John’s IceCaps (4-3-0-0) earned a 3-2 decision on Saturday night at MileOne Centre. The same teams will meet tomorrow afternoon in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Devante Smith-Pelly had a goal and an assist in the contest, which was the first road game of the season for the Admirals. Sami Vatanen also scored for Norfolk, while goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 40 of 43 shots. The IceCaps out-shot the Admirals, 43-30.

Norfolk lost its first regular season game since February 5, 2012, against the Springfield Falcons. The Admirals won their final 28 regular season games of the 2011-12 season and the first four games of the 2012-13 regular season before tonight’s setback.

Neither team scored in the first period, as Andersen made 16 saves and St. John’s goaltender Mark Dekanich made five saves.

The IceCaps took a 1-0 lead 11:33 into the second stanza. Jason Jaffray poked the puck off the stick of a Norfolk defenseman into the slot. Zach Redmond recovered the puck in the slot and sent a quick shot past the blocker of Andersen.

The deficit grew to two goals less than two minutes later while Norfolk was on the penalty kill. Jaffray took the puck from the right corner and attempted a shot that Andersen stopped. However, Jaffray found his own rebound in the low slot, spun around on his backhand and sent a shot from the edge of the left circle under the legs of Andersen at 13:14 for a 2-0 St. John’s lead.

Norfolk cuts its deficit to one goal with less than a minute remaining in the second period. Hampus Lindholm sent a shot from the left circle that Dekanich stopped. Patrick Maroon poked the puck loose in the crease, and Smith-Pelly swept the puck into the net at 19:24 for his first goal of the season. The Admirals trailed the IceCaps, 2-1, heading into the third period.

The IceCaps restored their two-goal lead midway through the final frame. Hunter Tremblay sent a shot from the right circle that made its way through the crease and was heading towards the left corner. Eric O’Dell, who had skated behind the net from the right circle, emerged near the left circle, found the loose puck, and shot it past Andersen’s right leg at 8:27 for a 3-1 St. John’s lead.

Norfolk used a quick power play goal late in the third period to once again draw within one goal of tying the game. Peter Holland won a faceoff to Smith-Pelly, who fed the puck to Vatanen at the right point. Vatanen sent a slap shot past a screened Dekanich at 15:10 for his second goal of the season.

Despite out-shooting St. John’s, 16-13, in the third period, the Admirals were unable to find the equalizer, as they fell, 3-2.

Both teams were 1-for-5 on the power play. Dekanich made 28 saves to earn the win.

The same teams meet tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

Norfolk Admirals 2 at St. John’s IceCaps 3 – Status: Final
Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Mile One Centre

Norfolk     0 1 1 – 2
St. John’s 0 2 1 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Etem Nor (hooking), 1:19; Burmistrov Stj (tripping), 2:20; Holland Nor (tripping), 3:53; Guenin Nor (delay of game), 5:51; Burmistrov Stj (high-sticking), 8:25.

2nd Period-1, St. John’s, Redmond 3 (Jaffray), 11:33. 2, St. John’s, Jaffray 1 (Burmistrov, Redmond), 13:14 (PP). 3, Norfolk, Smith-Pelly 1 (Lindholm, Maroon), 19:24. Penalties-Gregoire Stj (interference), 3:44; Maroon Nor (closing hand on puck), 7:17; Clark Nor (high-sticking), 11:40; Holland Nor (misconduct – abuse of officials), 14:04.

3rd Period-4, St. John’s, O’Dell 3 (Tremblay, Maxwell), 8:27. 5, Norfolk, Vatanen 2 (Smith-Pelly, Holland), 15:10 (PP). Penalties-Guentzel Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:27; Burmistrov Stj (hooking), 10:27; Maroon Nor (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:41; O’Dell Stj (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:41; Gagnon Stj (slashing), 15:05; Arsene Stj (delay of game), 17:12; Wagner Nor (roughing), 20:00; Jaffray Stj (roughing), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 5-9-16-30. St. John’s 16-14-13-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 5; St. John’s 1 / 5.
Goalies-Norfolk, Andersen 2-1-0 (43 shots-40 saves). St. John’s, Dekanich 2-0-0 (30 shots-28 saves).

A-6,287
Referees-Trevor Hanson (47).
Linesmen-Todd Horwood (34), Sheldon Keough (63).

Admirals Hit The Road To St. John’s

After winning four straight from the friendly confines of the Norfolk Scope the Admirals hit the road for a pair of games against the St. John’s IceCaps. The Admirals make their first road trip of the season up north just in time to miss Hurricane Sandy’s visit to the Hampton Roads Region.

The Winnipeg Jets affiliate will host the Admirals Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT and again on Sunday at 2:30 EDT. Norfolk will then return home where they will meet up against the Binghamton Senators the following weekend.

Here’s the scouting report from the Admirals on the IceCaps:

SCOUTING REPORT

• The Admirals play the St. John’s IceCaps on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon in Canada. St. John’s is the top development club of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.
• Norfolk and St. John’s last met during the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs, with the Admirals claiming the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals in four games.
• Nine players on Norfolk’s current roster saw action against the IceCaps during the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs as members of the Syracuse Crunch, with St. John’s coming out on top of the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series, three games to one.
• Twenty-one of the 28 players on St. John’s current roster are returning from 2011-12.
• The IceCaps (2-2-0-0, T-2nd Atlantic Division, T-7th Eastern Conference) opened the season with a split of road contests in Springfield and Connecticut before splitting a pair of home games against Adirondack last weekend. They face off against the Portland Pirates tonight and tomorrow night at home.
• St. John’s ranks T-20th in offense (2.50 GPG), T-11th in defense (2.75 GAPG), 16th on the power play (4/21, 19.0%) and 22nd on the penalty kill (15/20, 75.0%) this season.
• Four different players lead the IceCaps in scoring with three points in four games: D Zach Redmond (2G, 1A), RW Spencer Machacek (1G, 2A), LW Hunter Tremblay (1G, 2A) and C Alex Burmistrov (3A).
• Goaltender Eddie Pasquale has started three of St. John’s four games, going 1-2-0 with a 3.05 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Mark Dekanich, who played for the Springfield Falcons last season, is 1-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .946 SV%.
• The IceCaps are the least-penalized team in the AHL, averaging only 11.75 penalty minutes per game.

Learn more about the IceCaps by visiting their official website here.

Norfolk Admirals 4 St. John’s IceCaps 0

Norfolk Admirals 4 at St. John’s IceCaps 0 – Status: Unofficial Final
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 – Mile One Centre

Norfolk      2 1 1 – 4
St. John’s 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Oberg 2 (Picard, Angelidis), 15:15. 2, Norfolk, Johnson 3 (Palat, Barberio), 17:47 (PP). Penalties-Conacher Nor (double minor – high-sticking), 4:02; Conacher Nor (tripping), 8:47; Postma Stj (slashing), 16:01.

2nd Period-3, Norfolk, Smith 4 (Labrie, Aulie), 1:41. Penalties-Postma Stj (hooking), 6:34; Devos Nor (hooking), 8:55; Aulie Nor (interference), 10:48; DeSantis Stj (tripping), 13:24; Cote Nor (cross-checking), 17:47; Sawada Stj (slashing), 17:47.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Segal 3 (Johnson), 9:28 (PP). Penalties-Scheifele Stj (interference), 9:17; Picard Nor (double minor – high-sticking), 13:09; Redmond Stj (slashing), 17:21.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 18-15-9-42. St. John’s 7-8-14-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 2 / 5; St. John’s 0 / 7.
Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 7-2-0 (29 shots-29 saves). St. John’s, Pasquale 7-7-0 (42 shots-38 saves).

A-6,287
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Matt MacPherson (83), Joe Maynard (24).

Admirals Win 4-0, Sweep The IceCaps 4 Games To 0

Congratulations to the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals 4-0 win over the St. John’s IceCaps completes the sweep. The Admirals will now return to Norfolk and rest up for the Calder Cup Finals. Norfolk’s opponent has yet to be determined. The Toronto Marlies lead the Oklahoma City Barons 2-1 in their conference final series.