Admirals' Bochenski nabs league lead in goals in defeat

LOWELL, Mass.

Brandon Bochenski tallied his AHL-leading 12th goal of the season, but that was all the Norfolk Admirals managed in a 2-1 loss to the Lowell Devils on Friday night at the Tsongas Arena.

Lowell jumped to a 1-0 lead 24 seconds into the contest when Vladimir Zharkov attempted a centering feed from behind the goal line that banked off the back of Admirals goaltender Dustin Tokarski and into the net.

Lowell (11-6-3-0) made it 2-0 at 12:12 of the first period, when Michael Swift deflected the path of a shot by Olivier Magnan enough that the puck eluded Tokarski as it found its way into the net.

Norfolk (10-9-1-0) closed within 2-1 midway through the second period. After Bochenski got off a point-blank shot that former Admirals goaltender Mike McKenna stopped while falling down, Bochenski found his own rebound near the top of the crease and scored at 12:33.

The Admirals sent nine shots on McKenna in the final frame but could not find the equalizer.

Norfolk plays at Portland at 7 tonight.