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).

Alex Picard Leads Norfolk Over St. John’s 3-1

NORFOLK, Va. – Alexandre Picard scored twice to take over the scoring lead in the playoffs as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the St. John’s IceCaps, 3-1, in front of an AHL Admirals playoff record crowd of 6,249 at Norfolk Scope Arena. Norfolk takes a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals into Monday’s Game 3 at Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Richard Panik also scored. Dustin Tokarski (6-2) stopped 30 of 31 shots and has now turned aside 59 of 61 St. John’s shots in the series. Norfolk’s penalty kill stopped all five IceCaps’ shots.

Like in Game 1, the Admirals struck first in Game 2 – this time just 51 seconds into the contest. Trevor Smith found Richard Panik in the high slot, and Panik sent a quick wrist shot past Pasquale’s blocker. The Admirals were on a three-on-two rush when Smith connected with Panik, putting Norfolk up 1-0.

The second period saw the IceCaps even the score at one goal apiece 1:41 into the period. Garth Murray won a faceoff, sending the puck back to Paul Postma at the left point. Postma sent a shot through traffic that hit Tokarski. John Albert found the rebound and backhanded it into and the net to get St. John’s on the board.

The alternating scoring continued later in the second period when Picard made the score 2-1 in favor of the home team. Brandon Segal started the play when he collected his own deflection in the right circle and passed the puck back to Mike Kostka. The puck came to Kostka at the right point where he would shoot it, sending it off the glove of Pasquale. The rebound went behind the net, ricocheted to Picard on the other side, and with Pasquale still on the other half of the crease, Picard sent it into the cage before Pasquale could dive back to stop it.

In an attempt to tie the game, St. John’s pulled Pasquale for an extra skater with time winding down in regulation. After Jean-Philippe Cote forced a turnover at center ice, Picard took the puck down the right wall and hit the empty net to cement the victory for Norfolk, 3-1. Picard now has an AHL-best eight goals and 14 points in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Eddie Pasquale (7-6) stopped 35 of 37 shots for the loss.

Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play.

Game 3 of the series takes place on Monday, May 21st, from Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The puck drops at 6:00 p.m.

Big Woody’s Bar and Grill will show Game 3, Game 4 and (if needed) Game 5 of the series at their Chesapeake Square Mall location. The Chesapeake Square Mall location of Big Woody’s Bar and Grill is located at 4200 Portsmouth Boulevard in Chesapeake, Virginia.

In addition, A Step In Time Chimney Sweeps is having an Admirals Party for Game 3 only at the Virginia Beach Town Center location of Guadalajara on Monday night, May 21st. Watch the game live at 6:00 p.m. and cheer on your Admirals. In addition, there will be a free buffet, happy hour drink specials, and cornhole with prizes available. The Virginia Beach Town Center location of Guadalajara is located at 4611 Columbus Street in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Game 3 will also be shown on Monday, May 21st, at the Hits at the Park Restaurant during the Norfolk Tides game against the Pawtucket Red Sox. You must have a ticket to the Tides game to be admitted into the ballpark.

All games can be heard at 102.1-FM, 1490-AM and 1021TheGame.com. You can also watch on a pay-per-view basis at AHLLive.com.

Three Stars:
1. Alexandre Picard – NOR
2. Dustin Tokarski – NOR
3. Eddie Pasquale – STJ

St. John’s IceCaps 1 at Norfolk Admirals 3 – Status: Final
Saturday, May 19, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

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

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Panik 3 (Oberg, Smith), 0:51. Penalties-Kulda Stj (cross-checking), 6:40; O’Dell Stj (slashing), 11:12; Oberg Nor (hooking), 13:25; Smith Nor (interference), 18:02; Gagnon Stj (roughing), 19:07; Palat Nor (roughing), 19:07; Johnson Nor (tripping), 19:31.

2nd Period-2, St. John’s, Albert 3 (Postma, Murray), 1:51. 3, Norfolk, Picard 7 (Kostka, Angelidis), 15:38. Penalties-Kulda Stj (holding), 6:09.

3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Picard 8 (Cote), 19:07 (EN). Penalties-Sawada Stj (boarding), 0:52; Killorn Nor (holding), 6:55; Conacher Nor (holding), 10:16; Meech Stj (interference), 11:17.

Shots on Goal-St. John’s 13-11-7-31. Norfolk 14-17-7-38.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John’s 0 / 5; Norfolk 0 / 5.
Goalies-St. John’s, Pasquale 7-6-0 (37 shots-35 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 6-2-0 (31 shots-30 saves).
A-6,249
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Mathieu Chenier (71), Scott Pomento (25).

Admirals Open Conference Finals With 6-1 Victory Over IceCaps

NORFOLK, Va. – Mike Kostka scored twice as 13 of 18 Norfolk skaters registered points in a 6-1 throttling of St. John’s in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The same two teams square off Saturday night at Scope for Game 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Photo: Ross Taylor – The Virginian Pilot

Kostka scored two of four goals by Admirals defensemen in the victory, joining single tallies from Jean-Philippe Cote and Keith Aulie. Michel Ouellet and Ondrej Palat also scored for Norfolk, while Dustin Tokarski (5-2) stopped 29 of 30 shots for the win.

The first goal of the game did not come until 18:55 of the opening period when Kostka fired a power play slapshot past St. John’s goaltender Eddie Pasquale. Evan Oberg passed to Kostka at the top of the Norfolk offensive zone to start the play. Kostka wound up and fired a slapshot through traffic, beating Pasquale between his left leg and glove.

Norfolk added to their lead with another power play goal early in the second period. Tyler Johnson had the puck at the top of the left circle and passed it to Ouellet, who took the pass at the bottom of the circle. Ouellet skated towards net, sending a shot that bounced off Pasquale. Ouellet backhanded the rebound between Pasquale’s right leg and the post at 3:08 to make it a 2-0 Norfolk advantage.

Eight minutes later, Kostka extended the Norfolk lead with a goal very similar to his first. The play started with a Philip-Michael Devos feed along the wall from behind the St. John’s net. The puck found its way around the boards to a waiting Kostka. From the top of the right circle, Kostka fired another slapshot through traffic into the back of the net, making it 3-0 Norfolk at 11:04.

Continuing with the theme of successful slapshots by defensemen, Cote added Norfolk’s fourth goal at 13:42 of the second period. Trevor Smith had the puck in the middle of the left circle when he spotted Cote alone in the high slot. With no defenders around him, Cote wound up and fired a shot that grazed the shoulder of Pasquale before going into the net and making it 4-0 Norfolk. The IceCaps would bring in David Aebischer to relieve Pasquale at this point.

The Norfolk surge continued into the third period with a Palat goal at 1:28. Cory Conacher began the play after he poked the puck loose from a St. John’s player in the Norfolk zone. Johnson then began a two-on-one break. Johnson skated until the middle of the right circle where he passed across to Palat on the edge of the left circle. Palat beat Aebischer with a snap shot, blocker side, for a 5-0 lead.

Photo: Ross Taylor – The Virginian Pilot

St. John’s responded with a power play goal by Zach Redmond at the 2:11 mark. Brock Trotter skated the puck down to the middle of the right circle before throwing the puck behind the Norfolk net. As the puck emerged from behind the net near the left circle, Redmond reached for it, gathered it and banked a shot off Tokarski and into the net to make it 5-1 Norfolk.

Five minutes later in the third, Norfolk struck again, this time during four-on-four play. Palat skated down the right side of the ice after a pass from Conacher. When he reached the bottom of the right circle, Palat passed across the slot to Keith Aulie, who one-timed it past Aebischer to make it 6-1 Norfolk.

Eddie Pasquale (7-5) stopped 17 of 21 shots for the loss in the first 33:42 of the game. Aebischer (0-0) saw his first 26:18 of action in the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs, making 10 saves on 12 shots.

Norfolk was 2-for-5 on the power play. St. John’s was 1-for-7 with the man advantage.

St. John’s IceCaps 1 at Norfolk Admirals 6 – Status: Final

Thursday, May 17, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

St. John’s 0 0 1 – 1
Norfolk      1 3 2 – 6

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Kostka 2 (Oberg, Smith), 18:55 (PP). Penalties-Gudas Nor (elbowing), 5:08; Aulie Nor (double minor – high-sticking), 13:22; Sawada Stj (high-sticking), 15:05; Barberio Nor (delay of game), 15:32; Cormier Stj (goaltender interference), 17:02.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Ouellet 1 (Johnson, Barberio), 3:08 (PP). 3, Norfolk, Kostka 3 (Devos, Angelidis), 11:04. 4, Norfolk, Cote 1 (Smith, Labrie), 13:42. Penalties-Clark Stj (high-sticking), 1:24; Cote Nor (hooking), 16:24.

3rd Period-5, Norfolk, Palat 4 (Johnson, Conacher), 1:28. 6, St. John’s, Redmond 1 (Trotter, Postma), 2:11 (PP). 7, Norfolk, Aulie 1 (Palat, Conacher), 7:21. Penalties-Devos Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 1:35; Murray Stj (roughing, fighting), 3:01; Angelidis Nor (fighting), 3:01; Johnson Nor (slashing), 5:25; Trotter Stj (high-sticking), 5:40; Picard Nor (slashing), 15:16; Albert Stj (elbowing), 18:03; Clark Stj (roughing), 18:03; Murray Stj (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:03; Picard Nor (roughing, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:03.

Shots on Goal-St. John’s 14-9-7-30. Norfolk 11-13-9-33.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John’s 1 / 7; Norfolk 2 / 5.
Goalies-St. John’s, Pasquale 7-5-0 (21 shots-17 saves); Aebischer 0-0-0 (12 shots-10 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 5-2-0 (30 shots-29 saves).

A-3,541
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Mathieu Chenier (71), Tom George (61).

Admirals Beat The Whale 4-3 For a 2 Game To 1 Series Advantage

 

Photo: Stan Godlewski

HARTFORD, Conn. – Alex Killorn, Trevor Smith and Mike Angelidis scored in the second period and Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves as the Norfolk Admirals edged out the Connecticut Whale, 4-3, on Sunday night at the XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Admirals takes a two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals series with Game 4 slated for tomorrow night in Hartford.

Ondrej Palat scored in the first period for the Admirals, who won their 16th consecutive road game dating back to February 12 at Charlotte.

Connecticut took a 1-0 lead just 5:20 into the contest on the power play. Casey Wellman intercepted a Norfolk clearing attempt in the slot between the hashmarks. He sent a slap shot past Tokarski’s blocker and into the net.

The game’s next score also came on a Whale power play. However, this time, it was Palat finding the back of the net while Norfolk was shorthanded. He intercepted a Connecticut pass at the blue line in the Norfolk zone and sped toward Whale goaltender Cameron Talbot on a breakaway. He deked to his forehand before stretching to slip a backhand shot past Talbot’s left leg at 8:01 for his second goal of the playoffs.

Connecticut re-claimed the lead late in the opening frame. Marek Hrivik sped past a Norfolk defender in the right wing before cutting towards the net and attempting a shot. The puck bounced off traffic in the crease before being knocked into the net by Andre Deveaux at 17:12 for a 2-1 Whale lead.

The Whale came out strong to begin the second stanza, out-shooting the Admirals 11-1 midway through the frame. However, Tokarski stood tall, and the second half of the period belonged to Norfolk. Killorn tied the game at 2-2 on the power play. He sent a shot through a screen from the right half-wall that beat Talbot at 11:31 for his third goal of the post-season.

Norfolk took their first lead of the game less than one minute later on Smith’s third goal of the playoffs. Mark Barberio sent a shot from the right point. Smith deflected the shot from the slot past Talbot at 12:16 to give the visitors a 3-2 lead.

Photo: Stan Godlewski

Norfolk’s captain doubled his team’s lead late in the second period with his first goal of the playoffs. Radko Gudas sent a shot from the right point that Michel Ouellet deflected on goal. Angelidis found the rebound on top of the crease and swept it past Talbot’s right leg at 17:40 for a 4-2 lead.

Connecticut trimmed Norfolk’s lead to one goal early in the third period with a five-on-three power play goal. Kris Newbury sent a pass from the right corner to Wellman at the top of the right circle. Wellman one-timed the puck past Tokarski at 1:06 to cut the Admirals’ lead to 4-3.

However, Norfolk’s defense was stingy and Tokarski thwarted the remaining four Connecticut shot attempts in the final frame as Norfolk held on for the one-goal victory.

Norfolk was 1-for-4 on the power play while Connecticut was 2-for-5.

Dustin Tokarski (4-1) stopped 27 of 30 shots for the win. Cameron Talbot (4-2) made 18 saves on 22 shots for the setback.

Norfolk Admirals 4 at Connecticut Whale 3 – Status: Final
Sunday, May 6, 2012 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Norfolk         1 3 0 – 4
Connecticut 2 0 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Connecticut, Wellman 2   5:20 (PP). 2, Norfolk, Palat 2   8:01 (SH). 3, Connecticut, Deveaux 2 (Hrivik, Newbury), 17:12. Penalties-Valentenko Ct (interference), 0:14; Smith Nor (boarding), 3:53; Segal Nor (slashing), 6:23; Bourque Ct (hooking), 8:59.

2nd Period-4, Norfolk, Killorn 3 (Kostka, Picard), 11:31 (PP). 5, Norfolk, Smith 3 (Barberio, Conacher), 12:16. 6, Norfolk, Angelidis 1 (Ouellet, Gudas), 17:40. Penalties-Oberg Nor (hooking), 0:56; McIlrath Ct (high-sticking), 9:37; Deveaux Ct (roughing), 18:51; Picard Nor (roughing), 20:00.

3rd Period-7, Connecticut, Wellman 3 (Newbury, Erixon), 1:06 (PP). Penalties-Barberio Nor (holding the stick), 0:43.

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 8-7-7-22. Connecticut 11-14-5-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 4; Connecticut 2 / 5.
Goalies-Norfolk, Tokarski 4-1-0 (30 shots-27 saves). Connecticut, Talbot 4-2-0 (22 shots-18 saves).
A-3,319
Referees-Chris Ciamaga (24), Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Jim Briggs (83), Paul Simeon (66).

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 Over Monarchs 3-2, Lead Series 1-0

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals (1-0) used two power play goals and a perfect penalty kill to hold on to a 3-2 victory over the Manchester Monarchs (0-1) in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Admirals lead the best-of-five series, one game to none, with Game 2 set for tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15 p.m.

Norfolk killed all seven Manchester power play opportunities – including two in the game’s final five minutes. Alexandre Picard and Trevor Smith scored power play goals for Norfolk while Mark Barberio scored at even strength. Jaroslav Janus (1-0) stopped 27 of 29 shots for his first career victory in the Calder Cup Playoffs. A crowd of 5,720 saw the contest at Scope, easily surpassing the previous AHL Admirals playoff record crowd of 4,324 from April 27, 2007.

Norfolk jumped out to an early lead with a goal from Barberio at 6:39 of the first period. Picard won a faceoff at the left circle directly back to Barberio at the left point. Already in a shooting stance, Barberio launched a slap shot past Manchester goalie Jeff Zatkoff’s glove to make the score 1-0.

The second period would see two quick power play strikes from the Admirals. Picard made the score 2-0 after a series of passes between he, Smith and Cory Conacher. The AHL’s MVP started the passes from the right faceoff circle when he sent the puck to Smith in the right corner. Smith then passed to a streaking Picard in the slot, who one-timed the puck past Zatkoff at 1:42.

Within two minutes of the Picard goal, Smith beat Zatkoff to give Norfolk a 3-0 lead. The power play score began with a pass at the right point from Mike Kostka to Evan Oberg. Oberg took the puck at the left point and skated with it through the left circle. He threw the puck in front of the crease and the puck deflected off of Smith’s right skate into the net at 3:39.

This prompted a change in Manchester net with Martin Jones relieving Zatkoff. Jones would not allow another goal.

The Monarchs mounted a comeback attempt midway through the third period with a shorthanded goal. After forcing a turnover in the Manchester zone, Stefan Legein sent a shot from the right half wall past Jaroslav Janus into the bottom right corner of the net to cut Norfolk’s lead to 3-1.

Manchester’s third period surge continued with a goal by Marc-Andre Cliche at 13:57. Thomas Hickey fired a shot from the blue line into traffic. The shot deflected off Cliche and past Janus to bring the Monarchs within one goal.

With one minute remaining in regulation, Manchester pulled Jones from net to bring an extra skater on the ice. After a near empty netter by Norfolk, time expired and Manchester could not send the game into overtime.

Jaroslav Janus (1-0) turned aside 27 of 29 shots for his first AHL playoff victory. Jeff Zatkoff (0-1) stopped 10 of 13 shots for the loss through 23:24 of play. He was pulled after the third goal in favor of Martin Jones, who stopped all 19 shots he faced through 35:06 of relief.

Norfolk was 2-for-6 on the power play. Manchester was 0-for-7 with the man advantage.

Manchester Monarchs 2 at Norfolk Admirals 3 – Status: Final
Friday, April 20, 2012 – Norfolk Scope

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

1st Period-1, Norfolk, Barberio 1 (Picard), 6:39. Penalties-Panik Nor (tripping), 3:07; Conacher Nor (hooking), 11:35; O’Neill Mch (boarding), 16:03; Hickey Mch (slashing), 19:58.

2nd Period-2, Norfolk, Picard 1 (Smith, Conacher), 1:42 (PP). 3, Norfolk, Smith 1 (Oberg, Kostka), 3:39 (PP). Penalties-Mullen Mch (hooking), 3:02; Clune Mch (fighting), 3:40; Labrie Nor (fighting), 3:40; Picard Nor (roughing), 14:07; Segal Nor (roughing), 17:56.

3rd Period-4, Manchester, Legein 1 (Azevedo), 9:53 (SH). 5, Manchester, Cliche 1 (Hickey, Mullen), 13:57. Penalties-Mullen Mch (slashing, roughing), 3:41; Angelidis Nor (slashing, roughing), 3:41; Picard Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:41; Kozun Mch (interference), 6:15; Muzzin Mch (delay of game), 7:57; Deslauriers Mch (high-sticking), 15:05; Panik Nor (hooking), 15:58; Segal Nor (tripping), 17:57.

Shots on Goal-Manchester 11-8-10-29. Norfolk 9-11-12-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 0 / 7; Norfolk 2 / 6.
Goalies-Manchester, Zatkoff 0-1-0 (13 shots-10 saves); Jones 0-0-0 (19 shots-19 saves). Norfolk, Janus 1-0-0 (29 shots-27 saves).

A-5,720
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Jason Rollins (37).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Scott Pomento (25).