Corazzini goal opens door for Admirals

By TRIS WYKES, The Virginian-Pilot
© November 13, 2005

NORFOLK — Moments before the puck is dropped to start each Norfolk
Admirals game, veteran Shawn Thornton is handed a packet of smelling
salts from the bench. The wing runs it under his nostrils, shakes
his head, widens his eyes and, sufficiently jolted, is ready to play.

Perhaps Thornton's wake-up call spread down the bench Saturday, for
after winning just two of their previous eight home games, the
Admirals sprang to life in a 4-1 defeat of the Providence Bruins.

Down 1-0, the Admirals got under way offensively when former P-Bruin
Carl Corazzini showed off speed and hands to tie the score midway
through the first period.

Jason Morgan pounced on a Providence turnover at center ice and fed
Corazzini, who beat two defenders down the left side and buried the
puck in the net's upper right corner. The tally was Corazzini's
second since being signed by Norfolk in mid-October and tasted extra
sweet to the Boston University product, who has seven points in his
last seven games.



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"I'm not going to lie; it was nice scoring against them,'' said
Corazzini, who had had 23 goals and 25 assists in 103 Providence
games over three seasons. "I was just coming off the bench and
wanted to give Morgie a passing option. I was going to deke on my
backhand, but I saw the goalie leaning, so I shot it.''

Norfolk coach Mike Haviland, who coached Corazzini in the ECHL, said
the diminutive skater is rounding into form.

"I knew what he could do and I was glad we got him,'' Haviland
said . "He might not have been in the best shape when he got here,
but he is now and he's seeing the points come.''

The Admirals' James Wisniewski had the second period's only goal,
eight minutes before the second intermission and with Norfolk on a
power play. The Admirals hadn't scored in 17 straight man advantages.

Thornton's pass along the blue line found Wisniewski at the left
point, and the stocky defenseman blasted a one-timer through a
screen and under the crossbar. The play succeeded in part because
defender Jeremy Reich, fronting Wisniewski, was playing without a
stick and couldn't effectively pressure his man.

"Our power play was much better tonight at moving the puck and
keeping things simple,'' said Haviland, whose club hosts league-
leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday. "Getting that goal really
gave us confidence.''

Norfolk closed the scoring with nine minutes remaining after Nathan
Barrett used his body along the left sideboards to keep a P-Bruins
clearing attempt in the zone. The puck slid down to Morgan near the
bottom of the left circle, and he zipped a pass to the inner edge of
the opposite circle, from where Martin St. Pierre dropped to a knee
and fired a one-timer under the crossbar.

Notes: The Virginian-Pilot's three stars: Norfolk's Morgan (1),
Corazzini (2) and Thornton (3). ... Admirals captain Ajay Baines
missed his fifth consecutive game with a knee injury and defenseman
Dustin Byfuglien was sidelined with a hip injury suffered Friday.
Brian Lee took his place, playing for the third time this
season. ... Newcomer Andy Hilbert sat out his second consecutive
game and has yet to play for Norfolk. Haviland said Hilbert, who
hasn't played this season after a contract impasse and a trade from
Boston to Chicago, made the decision, saying he's not yet in game
shape.