Preseason-10.03.2008: Philly at Norfolk

[timothy]

Lines and pairing for Friday night's preseason game against the visiting Bears (from the Pilot Online):

Forwards
Mitch Fadden - Wyatt Smith - Brandon Bochenski
Justin Keller - Zenon Konopka - Blair Jones
Radek Smolenak - Paul Szczechura - Brandon Segal
Luciano Aquino - Bracken Kearns - Brent Henley

Defense
Jeff May - Daryl Boyle
Scott Jackson - Justin Fletcher
Ty Wishart - Andy Rogers

Goaltending
Riku Helenius will start in goal.

Note Mitch Fadden getting top line LW time, and I notice they are giving Jones some time on the 2nd line RW. With the Smith and Konopka in the mix, I was wondering if Rumble would experiment with Szczechura or Jones on the wing. With Henley and Konopka in the lineup, expect some fireworks.

For Saturday's pre-season rematch with Philly, Chris Lawrence, Mathieu Curadeau and Brady Leavold will be worked into the forward rotation. Matt Smaby will join the defense and Mike McKenna will be the starting goalie.

[cromag]

Unless I missed something, Norfolk is playing the Phantoms tonight.

[timothy]

Unless I missed something, Norfolk is playing the Phantoms tonight.

Oops. Jumping ahead wasn't I?

[timothy]

Norfolk beats Philly 4-3. Game recap at http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3724429

Riku Helenius stopped 29 of 32 shots, giving up two goals in the 1st period including the first one just 33 seconds into the game followed by a power play goal 3 minutes later. Helenius would settle down and not give up the third goal until 1:19 remaining in the game.

Goals from Luciano Aquino, Brandon Bochenski (PP), Justin Fletcher, and Brandon Segal. One of Konopka's two assists came on Aquino's goal, hitting Luc with a pass from the top of the right circle to the far blueline as Aquino was coming out of the box and breaking all alone in on the goalie. Blair Jones fed Bochenski, who was setup on the left faceoff dot on the power play, who then lasered a low glove side wrister for the equalizer.

[Cheapseats]

The first two goal on Helenius were rather soft, but after that he settled in and played pretty well. Aquino is a blazer man he is fast, the pass was perfect right on the tape and put in the net. B-Bo's goal was a beauty took a nice feed from Jones and ripped a wrist shot top shelf! It was interesting to see Jones working the point on the PP. Aslo they held a shootout after the game was finished. Helenius stopped all five shots he faced from the Phantoms. B-bo scored the only goal for Norfolk. Same two teams play tonight.

[timothy]

The first two goal on Helenius were rather soft, but after that he settled in and played pretty well. Aquino is a blazer man he is fast, the pass was perfect right on the tape and put in the net. B-Bo's goal was a beauty took a nice feed from Jones and ripped a wrist shot top shelf! It was interesting to see Jones working the point on the PP. Aslo they held a shootout after the game was finished. Helenius stopped all five shots he faced from the Phantoms. B-bo scored the only goal for Norfolk. Same two teams play tonight.

Thanks for the report. I like what I've seen of Aquino. How does he look in traffic and along the boards?

How did Jones look on the RW?

[Cheapseats]

The only thing about Aquino that I saw is he gets outworked along the boards. If he gets open ice though man can he fly. I just don't see him making the team with the plethora of forwards the Admirals have. Jones looked solid over at the RW, I must say I have been impressed with his play in the two games we've seen. We were talking about that last night. He his hitting people and battling for pucks. He seems to have a better attitude out on the ice & on the bench. Last year he seemed to sulk an awful lot!

[timothy]

The only thing about Aquino that I saw is he gets outworked along the boards.

Is it because of his lack of size or is it lack of effort.

[Cheapseats]

Is it because of his lack of size or is it lack of effort.
His lack of size, not lack of effort. He defiantly is doing the little things to get the coach's attention. I just think he's going to get caught up in a numbers game. The guy defiantly has talent!

[timothy]

His lack of size, not lack of effort. He defiantly is doing the little things to get the coach's attention. I just think he's going to get caught up in a numbers game. The guy defiantly has talent!

I know he's not going back to the IHL I wonder if he'd take an NHL three-way contract or a AHL/ECHL contract, and start the season in Augusta.