PENS' OFFENSE STYMIED AGAIN, DROP TOUGH ONE TO NORFOLK

Last Updated on Saturday, 07 November 2009 17:24 Written by Penguins Manager Saturday, 07 November 2009 03:43

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Ryan Bayda netted his team-leading seventh goal of the season, but it was not enough as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins by a 2-1 score on Friday night.

The Penguins ran into a stifling Admirals squad from the drop of the puck. The top line of Mark Parrish, Paul Szczechura, and Dana Tyrell combined to force the first Penguins penalty just 43 seconds into the game, as Ben Lovejoy was whistled for cross-checking. Parrish would get himself open in the slot, and sent a low shot past John Curry for the 1-0 lead exactly two minutes in.

The Penguins would be forced to kill two more Admirals power plays in the first period. Late in the frame, the Admirals’ pressure allowed Martins Karsums to fire a shot from the top of the right circle that Curry trapped down low but didn’t have completely covered. Reaching in to slide the puck home was Matt Syroczynski, who picked up his first AHL goal to give the Admirals the 2-0 advantage.

The teams would play deadlocked through the third period. After the Penguins were unable to capitalize on two third-period power plays, they would pull Curry with just over two minutes remaining. The move paid off as Luca Caputi sent a sharp-angle shot off of Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski. The puck deflected into the slot, and there to clean it up was Bayda.

The Penguins pulled Curry one last time with under a minute to go, and pressured until the last second, but could not find the equalizer.

Curry’s record fell to 5-3-1 as he stopped 25 Norfolk shots, while Tokarski’s rose to 5-3-0 after he stopped 30 of 31 from the Penguins.

The Penguins hit the road to take on the Worcester Sharks at the DCU Center in the first of two meetings this season. Faceoff is set for tomorrow, November 7th at 7:05 pm. The team returns home on Wednesday, November 11th to face the Portland Pirates at 7:05 PM at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

NOTES: C Keven Veilleux and F Eric Tangradi both returned to the lineup after missing the past three weeks due to injury…The Penguins’ power play goal drought extended to five games, as they are now 0-for-16 over their last five games, with their last man-advantage goal scored on October 23 against the Hershey Bears… The offense was held to two goals or fewer for the fifth consecutive game… The Admirals have defeated the Penguins four consecutive times dating back to late last season, including three straight at Wachovia Arena… The last Penguins’ victory over the Admirals was a 4-1 win on March 8.