Szczechura, Paul

The road is a tough place to make up ground.

NOR-3
WOR-4

Karri Ramo allowed 4 goals on 32 shots for the loss. His .890 season save percentage is starting to become a bit of an eyesore.

First Period
NOR Szczechura, (9) (Smolenak, Bochenski), 1:30
NOR Smith, (3) (Hutchinson, Bochenski), 6:05 (PP)
WOR Cavanagh, (7) (Demers, Vesce), 14:20

Second Period
WOR Moore, (1) (Demers, Zalewski), 0:32 (PP)

Third Period
WOR Larose, (8) (Demers, Armstrong), 4:10
WOR Desjardins, (2) (Buckley, McLaren), 9:55
NOR Heward, (4) (Szczechura, Downie), 19:13

Paul Szczechura now has 9 goals and 20 points in 17 games. As of this moment, he's tied for 5th in the AHL in scoring.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

NOR-3
PRO-4

Karri Ramo allowed 4 goals on 29 shots in the loss.

First Period
PRO Sobotka, (5) (St. Pierre, Lashoff), 18:02

Second Period
PRO Karsums, (7) (Boychuk, Sobotka), 2:36 (PP)
NOR Kearns, (3) (Rosehill, Hutchinson), 2:50
NOR Szczechura, (8) (Smolenak, Boyle), 13:42

Third Period
NOR Simek, (4) (Downie, Rogers), 4:45
PRO Boychuk, (4) (Sobotka, Karsums), 6:46 (PP)
PRO Marchand, (4) (Marquardt, Bitz), 14:07 (PP)

Paul Szczechura was named the game's third star.

It was right there for them. They had the lead with about 15 minutes left to play, but two unanswered power play tally's later, Providence still owns the Baby Bolts. The loss snaps the Admirals' five game points streak (4-0-1).

Norfolk's road trip continues Wednesday night in Worcester. They'll wind up their six game roadie Friday and Saturday against Springfield and Lowell.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Left a point on the table.

NOR-4
MAN-5 (SO)

Karri Ramo allowed 4 goals on 32 shots before surrendering shootout goals to 2 of 3 shooters to take the SOL. Ramo continues to struggle this season in the shootout situations.

First Period
NOR Simek, (3) (Jones, Boyle), 3:49
MCH Moulson, (3) (Murray, Drewiske), 18:39

Second Period
NOR Szczechura, (7) (Hutchinson, Smolenak), 0:35
MCH Gauthier, (3) (Purcell, Moulson), 4:59
NOR Smolenak, (6) (Segal, Smaby), 6:47
NOR Smolenak, (7) (Heward, Segal), 19:11 (PP)

Third Period
MCH Lewis, (3) (Parse, Drewiske), 3:24
MCH Purcell, (3) (Gauthier, Piskula), 16:29

Overtime
NO SCORING

Shootout
NOR- NONE
MAN- Dravecky, Purcell

Radek Smolenak and Brandon Segal were the game's first and third stars, respectively.

That's a tough one. A win in this game and the Ads would've had an opportunity to get to .500 tomorrow night, and they had a 2 goal lead and momentum heading into the final frame. Ordinarily you feel great if you can get a point on the road, but this was worse than a sister kisser. And, it's hard to get too upset about Ramo's shootout futility considering how poorly the Admirals' shooters have faired on breakaways in the extra extra session this season too. Tonight, Wyatt Smith, Blair Jones, Paul Szczechura, and Smolenak all got blanked in the shootout.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

By Corine Gatti
NORFOLK, Va. – It is part of the life of an athlete. Being traded and packing up the suitcase to start over in an unfamiliar city is nothing new. Norfolk center Paul Szczechura experienced that last winter after being informed that the Iowa Stars traded him to the Norfolk Admirals. Shocked and disappointed, Szczechura turned his thinking around and his game around. “It was a little rough in the beginning when I found out and left Iowa [Stars],” Szczechura said. “It was around Christmas time and I knew I had to work harder.” Iowa had initially signed Szczechura to an Amateur Tryout Contract in March 2007 after finishing his collegiate career at Western Michigan University [CCHA]. He was signed to an American Hockey League Standard Player’s contract the following season. With that all behind him, Szczechura joined Norfolk undrafted and without an NHL contract.

But that didn’t last.

Szczechura’s destiny and career took a turn for the better. The Brantford, Ontario native tuned into his own offensive rhythm and adapted instantly to an Admirals jersey. The Southeast seemed to smile down on the rookie, notching seven goals in his first 10 games with Norfolk. The center tied the Admirals for third on the team with 14 goals, and finished the 2007-2008 campaign by scintillating fans with 26 points in 24 games.A two-year NHL contract with the Lightning soon followed in April. What deemed to be a setback, the trade paid dividends for both Tampa and Szczechura.

Change was good.