ADMIRALS BATTLE BACK FOR 3-2 SHOOTOUT WIN

NORFOLK, VA - Newcomer Junior Lessard picked up his 14th goal of the season to tie the game, then tallied again in the shootout to help the Norfolk Admirals to a 3-2, come-from-behind victory against the Penguins on Wednesday night.

The Penguins jumped out to a 1-0 lead 12:44 into the game, when Tim Brent batted down a Deryk Engelland point shot that beat netminder Marc Denis. The goal was Brent's 10th of the season, and third in the past three games.

Tim Wallace put the Penguins up by two goals with his eighth of the campaign 5:25 into the second period.

The Norfolk comeback began four minutes later when Karl Steward put away his 10th of the season, beating John Curry shorthanded.

Lessard tied the game early in the third period, recording his fourth goal in nine games since joining Norfolk from the Iowa Stars last month.

Curry stopped 27 of 29 shots he faced during regulation and overtime, before surrendering goals to Lessard and Kyle Wanvig in the shootout. Denis stopped all four shootout attempts he faced to pick up the win.

The victory was the third in a row by the Admirals against the Penguins, and upped Norfolk's record to 16-27-2-4 on the year, and was the team's fifth win in the past seven games. The Pens saw their record go to 27-17-0-3, and moved a point clear of the Hershey Bears and Albany River Rats for second place in the East Division, eight points behind the first place Philadelphia Phantoms.

The Penguins return home to face the Portland Pirates at 7:05pm this Friday night. The Pens will be honoring local military members during the game, and will be wearing special camouflaged jerseys for the occassion. Additionally, the first 6,000 fans through the Wachovia Arena doors will receive a free camouflaged Penguins hat.

Get your tickets for Friday night's game by calling the Penguins at 208-7367, by visiting the Wachovia Arena box office, or by visiting any local TicketMaster outlet or www.ticketmaster.com.