Admirals beat Wolf Pack, set sail for playoffs

Led by two goals from Nathan Barrett, the Norfolk Admirals beat the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2, at the Hartford Civic Center on Sunday afternoon.

With the win the Admirals become the third team in the East Division to clinch a spot in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Barrett bookended the game’s scoring, with a goal 3:26 into the first period. Barrett also broke a 2-2 tie, scoring the game-winner 5:05 into the third. Mike Brown scored the Admirals second goal of the game, and assisted on two others.

Goaltender Corey Crawford picked up his 21st win of the season, stopping 32 of 34 Wolf Pack shots.

Hartford’s Alexandre Giroux tallied a goal and an assist in the losing effort.

Norfolk (39-27-4-4, 86 pts.) is currently riding a three game winning streak and sits in third place in the East Division. Hartford (44-22-2-6, 96 pts.) remains in second place in the Atlantic Division, eight points behind the Portland Pirates.

Elsewhere on Sunday:

  • Denis Hamel scored his 51st goal of the season 1:07 into overtime to give Binghamton a 4-3 win over Bridgeport.
  • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Krystofer Kolanos and Kenny Corupe each scored to help the Pens to a 2-1 win over Philadelphia at the Wachovia Spectrum.
  • Portland won its fourth straight with a 4-1 win over Albany, helped by two goals from J.B. Bittner
  • Jason MacDonald scored two goals to help Providence beat Springfield, 6-2.
  • Goaltender Scott Reid made 32 saves on 33 shots in Peoria’s 3-1 win over Houston.
  • Loui Eriksson scored the game-tying goal in regulation and a goal in the shootout to lead Iowa to a 2-1 win over Cleveland.