The Norfolk Admirals extended their professional hockey record by winning their 24th consecutive game, beating the Binghamton Senators 3-1 in Norfolk, Va., on Friday night to wrap up the AHL regular-season championship.
The Admirals (51-18-1-2, 105 points) earned the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, given to the top finisher in the overall regular-season standings. The Tampa Bay Lightning's top affiliate will have home-ice advantage for as far as they go in the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs, which begin following the conclusion of the regular season on Apr. 15.
Under second-year coach Jon Cooper, the Admirals have demolished the record books -- they haven't lost since Feb. 5. Norfolk’s 24-game winning streak, including the last 18 in regulation, is the longest ever by a professional hockey team. The previous AHL record was 18 consecutive wins; the NHL record is 17, set by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992-93.
Norfolk, which has won a division title for the first time since 2003, has set franchise records for wins and points in a season while claiming its first regular-season championship.