Admirals score 6 goals in road win

SPRINGFIELD, Ma. - Trevor Smith tied a career-high with four points as the Norfolk Admirals (27-17-1-2) defeated the Springfield Falcons (21-22-1-2), 6-1, at the MassMutual Center on Saturday night. Dustin Tokarski turned aside 32 of 33 shots for his 19 ^th victory of the season.

Evan Oberg notched a goal and two assists for the Admirals, who wrap-up a three-game road trip Sunday afternoon in a rematch with the Falcons. Richard Panik, Mark Barberio and Jeff Dimmen also scored for the Admirals while Pierre-Cedric Labrie was credited with a pair of assists in his return to Norfolk.

The Admirals opened the scoring with a pair of first period goals. Evan Oberg gave the Admirals a 1-0 lead less than a minute after the opening faceoff. Trevor Smith snapped a shot from the center of the right faceoff circle that was deflected by Oberg over the blocker of Falcons netminder Manny Legace at 37 seconds of the first. 

Norfolk doubled their lead on Richard Panik’s tenth goal of the season. Panik skated into the attacking zone and sent a shot from beyond the left faceoff dot, off the far post and in behind Legace to give Norfolk a 2-0 lead at the 15:11 mark of the first.

The lone Falcons goal came on a second period by Matt Calvert. After Cam Atkinson was denied on multiple chances, Calvert tipped a shot behind Tokarski to narrow the Admirals lead to 2-1 at 5:27 of the period.

Just eighteen seconds later, Smith notched his first goal of the contest to give Norfolk a 3-1 lead. After the ensuing faceoff, Smith skated into the Falcons’ zone and slipped a shot through the pads of Legace for his 17 ^th goal of the season at 5:45 of the second. 

The Admirals extended their lead to three on Smith’s second goal of the contest. After picking up a loose puck at center ice, Smith skated into the Falcons zone and snuck a shot behind Legace for his 18 ^th goal of the season at 11:42.

A power play goal by Mark Barberio gave the Admirals a four-goal lead. As the Admirals enjoyed a two-man advantage, Barberio picked up a loose rebound off the pads of Falcons netminder Paul Dainton and sent a shot into the open net to give Norfolk a 5-1 lead at 17:30 of the middle stanza.

The Admirals capped off the scoring in the final minute of the second period. Jeff Dimmen gave the Admirals a 6-1 lead with up his second goal of the season with a slap shot from the left faceoff circle over the blocker of Dainton at 19:15 of the second period. 

Dustin Tokarski (19-10-0) turned aside 32 of 33 shots for his 19 ^th victory of the season. Manny Legace (10-14-1) allowed four goals on nine shots before being replaced midway through the second period. Paul Dainton stopped 12 of 14 shots in backup the role.

Norfolk was 2 for 8 on the power play while Springfield was 0 for 3 with the man advantage. 

The Admirals will conclude their three-game road trip tomorrow afternoon against the Springfield Falcons at 3:00 p.m. The game 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.

The Admirals return home on Friday and Saturday, February 10and 11, to face off against the Adirondack Phantoms.