Ashton, Carter

And now things get really tight in the playoff race.

NOR-1
WBS-2

Dustin Tokarski allowed just 2 goals on 25 shots, but his first period softie allowed to Jesse Boulerice ended up being the margin of defeat.

First Period
WBS Boulerice, (4) (Conner, Lee), 4:23
WBS Johnson, (13) (Haddad, Wagner), 13:19 (PP)

Second Period
NO SCORING

Third Period
NOR Fornataro, (9) (Wishart, Fadden), 15:22

It was a beautiful stickhandling play by Matt Fornataro that helped pull the Admirals to within one goal late in the game. Defenseman Ty Wishart got his 31st point of the season on the play, but he should be chastized along with Vladimir Mihalik for some very soft play along the wall in the defensive zone, especially in the first period. The soft goal, the soft play along the wall, and a disgustingly bad 0-for-8 power play doomed the Admirals in this one. That, and Mitch Fritz losing his mind at the end of the second period, including the ever-classy crotch chop to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton crowd, drawing a double minor and game misconduct that killed off about a quarter of the third period for a Pens team that only held on by one goal.

On the bright side, the two pro debuts went pretty well tonight. Carter Ashton almost had a beautiful goal chipping the puck between two defenders and showing surprising burst to split them and get himself a breakaway. He got in too tight on the backhand, though, and couldn't lift the puck to notch the goal. He had another chance a few minutes later when he spun out in front from behind the net on his backhand. Had he been a little more patient, he could've taken another half stride and maybe stuck it in far post. Richard Panik had one good chance from the slot, but the defining play for him was a downright nasty check he threw coming back into the Admirals zone. Downright nasty. In case you didn't know, he's strong as a bull.

Norfolk's lead over the Pens is down to 1 point with the Pens holding 1 game in hand. Uh oh. Norfolk has 11 games left to play in the season: 3 on the road and 8 at home. Norfolk draws Adirondack at Scope on Friday.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

(Norfolk Admirals release) NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals have added Tampa Bay Lightning prospect forwards Carter Ashton and Richard Panik to their roster. Ashton has been assigned to the Admirals by the Lightning from his junior team while Panik has been signed to an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO).

Ashton, 18, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound right wing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, split this season between the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. In 28 games with Lethbridge, he posted 13 goals and 26 points. He was then traded to Regina, where he scored 11 goals and 25 points.

Panik (“PAN-ihk”), 19, a 6-foot-2, 203-pound right wing from Martin, Slovakia, split this season between the Windsor Spitfires and the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. In 33 games with Windsor, he posted nine goals and 18 points. After being acquired by Belleville, Panik notched 12 goals and 23 points in 27 games.

QMJHL

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 4 @ Moncton Wildcats 0
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Season Totals: 64 GP, 15-43-58, +37, 70 PIM

This was a preview of a QMJHL first round playoff series that Moncton hopes has a different result. That series begins Friday. Moncton will close out their season Sunday against the top-seeded St. John Sea Dogs on NHL Network.

OHL

Belleville Bulls 4 @ Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 2
C Richard Panik, BEL: 1-2-3, E, 2 PIM (roughing), *Second Star*
Season Totals: 59 GP, 20-20-40, +4, 51 PIM
With Bulls: 26 GP, 11-11-22, -11, 32 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: Did not play.
Season Totals: 57 GP, 19-14-33, -19, 51 PIM
With Bulls: 44 GP, 17-13-30, -17, 31 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM

Panik (pictured) may not be headed to the OHL playoffs, but he’s certainly performing at a high level to finish the year and giving Tampa Bay something to think about. He hit 20 goals and 40 points on the season thanks to a three-point game Friday. Panik now has nine points in his last six games and five in his last two. DeCoste missed his fourth game due to a concussion.

Barrie Colts 4 @ Brampton Battalion 2
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 0-1-1, +1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 67 GP, 46-34-80, +43, 56 PIM

Hutchings tied his previous career high for assists in a season, set last year in 63 games. Barrie has one game remaining and the league's top seed sewn up.

Sudbury Wolves 5 @ Kingston Frontenacs 3
W Matias Sointu, SBY: 1-0-1, +1, 2 PIM (tripping)
Season Totals: 50 GP, 8-20-28, -4, 22 PIM
With Sudbury: 28 GP, 5-13-18, -9, 16 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

Sointu’s empty net goal provided the final piece to a playoff spot clinching win for the Wolves. Sudbury is tied with Niagara for seventh in the East, but Niagara has a game in hand.

Oshawa Generals 3 @ Ottawa 67’s 4
G Michael Zador, OSH: Loss, 42 saves on 46 shots
Season Totals: 48 GP, 14-27-2-1, 4.06 GAA, .886 sv%, 2 SO

The Gens needed a miracle to happen to get into the playoffs, starting with a win over Ottawa, but they blew a 3-1 lead entering the third period and will stay home during the playoff season. They were outshot 46-29 in the game, including 22-6 in the final period.

WHL

Brandon Wheat Kings 9 @ Regina Pats 3
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 0-1-1, -5, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 63 GP, 24-27-51, -11, 102 PIM
With Regina: 35 GP, 11-14-25, -3, 50 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

This was the Pats’ final home game of the season, which meant it was the last time the Regina faithful could see Jordan Eberle up close. Eberle was awarded the game’s First Star despite the blowout loss to the Memorial Cup hosts. Eberle did have a goal in the game and remains two points up on Brandon Kozon for the league scoring title. He’s rumored to possibly be joining the Oilers before the end of the NHL season. Ashton, meanwhile, had a horrific night in the plus/minus department and will play his final junior game Saturday in Brandon. He has an NHL contract in hand and will likely join the AHL Norfolk Admirals next week.

Kelowna Rockets 4 @ Vancouver Giants 3
C/W/D James Wright, VAN: 0-1-1, -2, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 19 GP, 5-11-16, -3, 13 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants finally returned home after a 10-game Olympic road trip, but fell to the Rockets 4-3. They had battled back from a 3-0 first period deficit only to see the game winner scored late in the third. Wright has been playing a little defense lately at the request of his coach, Don Hay. Vancouver is locked into the West’s No.2 seed despite having the conference’s fifth best point total. Winning the B.C. Division will do that. They will play Chilliwack or Kamloops in the first round.

QMJHL

Moncton Wildcats 3 @ Acadie-Bathurst Titan 4 (OT)
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 3 SOG, *Third Star*
Season Totals: 60 GP, 14-42-56, +38, 64 PIM

Barberio had a rare minus game and saw his three-game point streak come to an end, but still got a Third Star on the road for his good play.

OHL

Sudbury Wolves 2 @ Niagara IceDogs 4
W Matias Sointu, SBY: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 47 GP, 7-19-26, -5, 18 PIM
With Sudbury: 25 GP, 4-12-16, -10, 12 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

A big win for Niagara, who jumped Sudbury into seventh in the East, leaving the Wolves just one point ahead of Oshawa for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Kingston Frontenacs 2 @ Oshawa Generals 3 (OT)
G Michael Zador, OSH: Did not play.
Season Totals: 45 GP, 14-24-2-1, 4.07 GAA, .886 sv%, 2 SO

The Gens are just one point behind Sudbury for the final playoff spot having swept their weekend home-and-home series with the Frontenacs. Zador did not play in either game.

WHL

Prince Albert Raiders 3 @ Regina Pats 6
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 0-0-0, -1, 2 PIM (elbowing)
Season Totals: 62 GP, 24-26-50, -6, 102 PIM
With Regina: 34 GP, 11-13-24, +2, 50 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

The Pats have won two in a row since being eliminated from playoff contention.

Vancouver Giants 0 @ Kelowna Rockets 3
C/W James Wright, VAN: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 17 GP, 4-10-14, -2, 6 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants have now lost four in a row. Wright hasn’t registered a point in his last five games and is minus-seven during that time.

QMJHL

Moncton Wildcats 4 @ St. John Sea Dogs 3 (SO)
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG, *First Star*
Season Totals: 59 GP, 14-42-56, +39, 64 PIM

A big, confidence-building win for the Wildcats over the CHL’s second-ranked team on the Sea Dog’s home ice. Moncton is ranked No.4 in the CHL. Barberio’s goal came in the first period on the power play to tie the game at two for Moncton. He has goals in two straight games and is one off his career high with five games left. He did not participate in the shootout.

OHL

Belleville Bulls 3 @ Sudbury Wolves 4
C Richard Panik, BEL: 1-0-1, -2, 4 PIM (spearing double-minor)
Season Totals: 56 GP, 19-16-35, +4, 47 PIM
With Bulls: 23 GP, 10-7-17, -11, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: Did not play.
Season Totals: 57 GP, 19-14-33, -19, 51 PIM
With Bulls: 44 GP, 17-13-30, -17, 31 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM
W Matias Sointu, SBY: 0-4-4, +2, 2 PIM (holding opponent’s stick), *First Star*
Season Totals: 46 GP, 7-19-26, -4, 18 PIM
With Sudbury: 24 GP, 4-12-16, -9, 12 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

Sointu (pictured) has six points in his last two games. The four points in a game were a career high for the young Finn. Panik scored for the second game in a row, but took a double-minor for spearing as the game ended.

Barrie Colts 3 @ Ottawa 67’s 6
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 64 GP, 45-29-74, +38, 54 PIM

A rare loss for the CHL’s top-ranked team from Barrie. Hutchings saw his point streak end at 12 games and his goal streak end at seven. He’s five goals short of 50 with four games remaining.

Oshawa Generals 5 @ Kingston Frontenacs 2
G Michael Zador, OSH: Did not play.
Season Totals: 45 GP, 14-24-2-1, 4.07 GAA, .886 sv%, 2 SO

The Gens are two points behind Niagara for the East’s last playoff spot with five games remaining.

WHL

Lethbridge Hurricanes 2 @ Regina Pats 4
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 61 GP, 24-26-50, -5, 100 PIM
With Regina: 33 GP, 11-13-24, +3, 48 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

The Pats get a win despite being out of the playoff race. Ashton’s goal, which came on the power play, was his first in eight games. He tied his career high for points in a season at 50, set in 70 games last year with the Hurricanes (30 goals).

Vancouver Giants 1 @ Kamloops Blazers 6
C/W James Wright, VAN: 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM (hooking)
Season Totals: 16 GP, 4-10-14, -1, 6 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants have now lost three in a row. Wright hasn’t registered a point in his last four games and is minus-six during that time.