Forward Paul Szczechura, who joined the Norfolk Admirals in midseason and helped fuel a mini-surge, has signed a two-year contract with the parent Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old, who came to the Admirals in a trade with Iowa on Jan. 15, scored 14 goals in 24 games with Norfolk. He had two goals in 29 previous games with Iowa.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have cleaned house behind the bench of the Norfolk Admirals, re assigning head coach Steve Stirling to a full-time college scouting position and declining to pick up the option on assistant Darren Rumble.

Paul Szczechura scored 41 seconds into overtime Saturday to help the Norfolk Admirals end the season on a winning note, beating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-2 at Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Kyle Wanvig’s slapshot from the top of the right circle, his team-leading 23rd goal of the season, tied the score with 2:25 remaining in regulation.

THE PLAN SEEMED SOUND: Sign some veteran free agents to mentor a young nucleus. Lean on a hotshot young goalie. Watch the victories pile up. So how did the Norfolk Admirals, the team with that plan, get mired in the worst season in franchise history? THE APOCALYPSE? Early on, there were three indications Norfolk’s season was in trouble. WE HARDLY KNEW YOU

Kyle Wanvig snapped a 2-2 tie with his second goal of the game at 1:38 of the third period Friday night to lift the Norfolk Admirals past Binghamton 3-2 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Wanvig now has a team-leading 22 goals. Justin Keller added his 15th goal of the season and Dana Tyrell had two assists for the Admirals (28-44-2-5), who rebounded from Wednesday’s

Tim Conboy's shot through a screen beat Marc Denis with 50 seconds remaining to lift Albany past Norfolk 2-1 on Wednesday night at the Times Union Center. Conboy's game-winner spoiled an otherwise solid effort by the veteran Denis, who stopped 24 shots and was named the game's No. 3 star.

When 7 p.m. Where Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y. Records Norfolk: 27-43-2-5, 61 points; Albany: 42-28-3-4, 91 points Radio 100.5 FM

NORFOLK Maybe they should give out free stuff every night. Fan Appreciation Night brought out the best in the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday night as they treated a season-high crowd of 6,627 to a 5-2 victory over Albany in their home finale at Scope.

The Admirals followed an inspired first period with a mistake-riddled effort in the next 20 minutes. The result was a three-goal second period by the River Rats that doomed Norfolk to its fifth loss in six games. What happened?

With the signing of defenseman Daryl Boyle on Wednesday, the Norfolk Admirals have introduced five amateur tryout contract players to the pros over the past two weeks.
Coach Steve Stirling said such late-season additions aren't unusual, especially for a team with significant injuries.