Norfolk Admirals Weekly Release #3

Admirals send Mallards packing and gear up for three-in-three

NORFOLK, Va. – The Admirals were back at Scope last Friday, where they hit the ice against the Quad City Mallards for the first time this season. Coming off a three straight road losses, Norfolk turned up the heat at home and managed to grab a 3-2 win over Quad City by way of shootout.

Having outshot their opponents in the last two matchups, the Admirals proved they could play a strong game offensively by placing 40 attempts on net. Norfolk’s Alexis Loiseau stole the show, making his professional scoring debut with two goals in regulation and the game-winner in the shootout.

The Admirals lit the lamp first after Greg Chase fed the puck to Loiseau, marking a five-game point streak for Chase. Loiseau struck again in the second period, which gave Norfolk a two-goal advantage going into the third. The Mallards managed to get two past Ty Rimmer, leveling the count and forcing overtime play. After five-minutes of three-on-three came and went, the Admirals and Mallards went to the shootout, where Loiseau claimed the game-winning goal in Norfolk's third attempt. Rimmer saved 37 of 39 shots before turning aside a pair in the shootout.

Loiseau’s performance during the Quad City faceoff did not go unnoticed. The next day, he was called to Bakersfield to play with the Admirals’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Condors.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNETAll regular-season games will air live on 1650 AM WHKT "The Answer" and online at 1650theanswer.com. ECHL.TV will also carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch, listen or get more information about ECHL.TV's online audio and video features at ECHL.TV. Also, Buffalo Wild Wings on Monticello Avenue in Norfolk and Laskin Road in Virginia Beach will show Norfolk Admirals away games during the 2015-16 season.

STANDINGS UPDATEAt 2-4-0-0 (4 points), the Admirals are tied for 4th place in the East Division and are tied for 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Below are the current ECHL Eastern Conference standings:

Click here for league standings

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 72-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded 1-3 (in order of regular-season points) and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded 4-8.

THE ADMIRALS’ WEEK AHEADFri., Nov. 6 … vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits (New York Rangers) … 7:30 p.m.Sat., Nov. 7 ... vs. Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:15 p.m.Sun., Nov. 8 ... at South Carolina Stingrays (Washington Capitals) ... 3:05 p.m.

ADMIRALS SPOTLIGHT• Alexis Loiseau followed up his first pro goal and first multi-point game with the game-winning shootout marker Friday night. The next day he was headed to California after Bakersfield recalled the rookie to make his AHL debut. Loiseau made his first appearance for the Condors two nights ago against the Texas Stars and remains with Bakersfield today.

ADMIRALS’ LOG• Rookie forward Greg Chase extended his point streak to five games last Friday with an assist on Alexis Loiseau's first goal against Quad City. Chase pulled even with Josh Currie for the team lead in points with five. The rookie out of Sherwood Park, Alberta leads Norfolk with three goals.• Ty Rimmer continues to shoulder a heavy load as he denied 37 of 39 Quad City shots Friday night. But Rimmer's biggest two saves came after the overtime session during the shootout. First, he shut down the Mallards' Zach Pochiro, and rose to the occasion by stuffing Raphael Bussieres shot to win the duel over Quad City's Steve Michalek.

NORFOLK LEADERSGoals: Greg Chase (3)Assists: Josh Currie (3)Points: Greg Chase, Josh Currie (5)Games: Several players tied (6)PP Goals: Four players tied (1)SH Goals: Michael Pelech (1)+/- Rating: Joe Marciano (0)PIM: Jonathan Lessard (18)GAA: Ty Rimmer (2.99)Spct: Ty Rimmer (.917)Wins: Ty Rimmer (2)Losses: Ty Rimmer (4)GPl: Ty Rimmer (6)Minutes: Ty Rimmer (341)

ABOUT THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHUPSThe Admirals (2-4-0) will meet the fifth-place team in the South division, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (3-4-0), Friday night to start off back-to-back home games before moving on to an out-of-town contest. The last four of five games played by the Swamp Rabbits--two of which resulted in wins--were all decided by one goal. Norfolk will need to continue sustaining momentum towards the other net in order to hold the advantage over Greenville and secure a win under regulation. Despite the Swamp Rabbits' 26th-ranked penalty-killing unit overall, Greenville is 12th on the road in the same category, and runs in the middle of the pack with the man advantage at 15th. Norfolk is 11th overall while a man down and 12th on the power play. A better-than-expected performance on special teams from one of these clubs could certainly make the different Friday evening.

GREENVILLE LEADERSGoals: Six players tied (3)Assists: Jack Combs (5)Points: Jack Combs (8)Games: Several players tied (7)PP Goals: Three players tied (1)SH Goals: None+/- Rating: Emerson Clark, Nikita Kashirsky (+2)PIM: Bretton Cameron (29)GAA: Adam Morrison (2.80)Spct: Adam Morrison (.905)Wins: Adam Morison (2)Losses: Allen York (3)GPl: Adam Morrison (4)Minutes: Adam Morrison (214)

On Saturday, the Wheeling Nailers rematch the Admirals from their last visit to Scope, when the Admirals split a pair of games during the 2015-16 season-opening weekend. The Nailers, who are ranked first in the North division, will bring with them a 4-2-0 record and goalie Frank Palazzese, who sits in 7th overall in the league for goals-against average (1.67) and 15th for save percentage (.930). Defense will need to be tight in order to help lighten Rimmer's workload and protect the crease against forward Derek Army and rookie forward John McCarron, who are second and fifth in the league for shots on goal, respectively. Wheeling put up a combined 77 shots on Rimmer opening weekend.

WHEELING LEADERSGoals: Jarrett Burton (4)Assists: Derek Army (6)Points: Derek Army (8)Games: Several players tied (6)PP Goals: Derek Army, Jarrett Burton (2)SH Goals: Sahir Gill, Clark Seymour (1)+/- Rating: Mike Gunn (+5)PIM: Shane Bakker (22)GAA: Franky Palazzese (1.67)Spct: Franky Palazzese (.930)Wins: Brian Foster, Franky Palazzese (2)Losses: Brain Foster, Franky Palazzese (1)GPI: Brain Foster, Franky Palazzese (3)Minutes: Franky Palazzese (180)

The Admirals will head to North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday to face another southern team, the South Carolina Stingrays (3-4-1-0), who are ranked fourth overall in their division. The Stingrays hold an even 2-2 record at home, while Norfolk sits on a 0-3 away record. The defending Eastern Conference Champions have struggled on the back end a bit, allowing more than three goals per game. Joe Devin leads the way in scoring, but six Stingrays have at least four points and three have posted three goals in the club's eight games. Physicality will rise to the surface when these two teams meet. South Carolina is second in the ECHL in penalty minutes with 156.

SOUTH CAROLINA LEADERSGoals: Three players tied (3)Assists: Joe Devin (4)Points: Joe Devin (7)Games: Several players tied (8)PP Goals: Joe Devin (2)SH Goals: Andrew Johnston (1)+/- Rating: Andrew Johnston (+4)PIM: Wade Epp (23)GAA: Mark Dekanich (3.12)Spct: Mark Dekanich (.882)Wins: Three goalies tied (1)Losses: Vitek Vanecek (3)GPI: Vitek Vanecek (5)Minutes: Vitek Vanecek (264)

**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**

Friday, November 6 vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Ink in the Rink NightGot ink? Fans with tattoos in plain sight or in a tasteful, non-offensive location acceptable to reveal in public will receive a special discount at the door. The Admirals will also hold a contest on social media for the best Admirals or hockey-themed tattoo in Hampton Roads. Stay tuned to the Norfolk Admirals' Facebook page and Twitter (@NorfolkAdmirals) for updates on the contest.

Saturday, November 7 vs. Wheeling Nailers - EVMS NightThe Admirals host a night to support the Strelitz Diabetes Center and raise awareness for a cure for the disease. The Center's endocrinologists work to find a cure as well as mitigate the complications that come with diabetes. Visit evms.edu and search 'Strelitz Diebetes Center' to learn more about what the endocrinology experts are doing to wipe out diabetes.

TICKETSIndividual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and online at ticketmaster.com. Don’t miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals’ Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime.