Lawrence, Chris

Third period comeback effort falls short.

NOR-4
WOR-5

Jonathan Boutin allowed 5 goals on 32 shots for the loss.

First Period
NOR Kvapil, (1) (Scalzo, Henrich), 1:40 (PP)
WOR Iggulden, (20) , 10:02
WOR Mink, (17) (Cavanagh, Iggulden), 15:45 (PP)
WOR Raduns, (12) (Spang, Walsh), 18:47 (PP)

Second Period
WOR Iggulden, (21) (Armstrong, Evans), 2:20
WOR Iggulden, (22) (Evans, Armstrong), 12:26

Third Period
NOR Kearns, (4) , 4:56 (SH)
NOR Henrich, (10) (Lawrence), 11:51
NOR Jones, (11) (Segal, Kearns), 19:27 (PP)

Norfolk allowed 5 unanswered goals after scoring the game's opening marker before scoring 3 of their own in the third period in a failed comeback bid.

Adam Henrich was named the game's third star. Henrich has 2 goals and 7 points in his last 10 games, and appears to have gained a good measure of the momentum he had earlier in the season prior to getting hurt. From the outside looking in, it certainly appears that the former 2002 second round pick has done everything you could ask of him to earn a contract next season.

Blair Jones has 3 goals and 11 points in his last 13 games, which is a hopeful sign for a guy who had gone scoreless in his previous 13 games.

It was also really good to see Chris Lawrence get a helper in his first game back after missing a month and a half with a shoulder injury.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Maybe this is the weekend the Admirals make their move after all?

SPR-2
NOR-4

Jonathan Boutin stopped 30 of 32 shots faced in the win. The young netminder has now run his record to 5-2-2 on the season with a 2.57 GAA and .925 save percentage.

First Period
NOR Stewart, (3) (Keller, Jones), 5:12
NOR Campbell, (2) (Klinkhammer, Lawrence), 5:42
NOR Klinkhammer, (1) (Leach, Mihalik), 11:30
NOR Lawrence, (3) (Klinkhammer, Mihalik), 11:46
SPR Thoresen, (12) (Schremp, Syvret), 19:41

Second Period
SPR Sestito, (2) (Schremp, Syvret), 7:43

Third Period
NO SCORING

Rob Klinkhammer, Boutin, and Chris Lawrence were the game's three stars.

Norfolk improves its record to 7-10-2 on the season with one more game to go against Springfield this weekend.

Norfolk is now tied with Wilkes/Barre Scranton with 16 points, 2 back of Hershey for the final playoff spot in the division and 3 back of Albany and Binghamton. Once they play Springfield tomorrow night they get back into division play on the road with two games against Albany and then matchups with Binghamton and Hershey, so a winning streak now can flip their fortunes in the division quickly.

Can't look ahead though. Springfield's going to come out flying Saturday night.

Game sheet from TheAHL.com.

As readers of this site know, we typically release our annual Preliminary Rankings of the Lightning's prospects around the first week of October once Lightning camp breaks. Obviously we haven't done that yet, so I just wanted to give everyone an update on where we are.

This just in... according to the Virginian-Pilot's Paul White, Lightning style training camps are grueling. Who knew?

Also, Head Coach Steve Stirling praises Justin Keller, Chris Lawrence, Brandon Elliot, Jay Rosehill, Jonathan Boutin, and Dana Tyrell. Also, Marek Kvapil scored two goals on the first day of scrimmages.

The Tampa Bay Lightning issued a press release today reporting that 2005 third round pick Chris Lawrence has been signed to a three-year entry level contract.

By signing Lawrence, Tampa avoided losing his rights as he would have been eligible to re-enter the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on June 1 had he not come to terms with the Lightning.