NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Norfolk Admirals

Admirals on Wrong End of 2-1 Score for Second Straight Night

March 29, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - Devante Smith-Pelly scored the only goal for the Norfolk Admirals (34-24-2-7) in another 2-1 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (38-22-3-5) on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Penguins' goaltender Peter Mannino (8-3-1) st opped 24 of 25 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while Norfolk's John Gibson (20-17-4) denied 11 of 13 shots.

After a physical and scoreless first period, the Penguins struck first on a one-timer at the top of the Admirals' zone. Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson drove an Andrew Ebbett pass from the right point through traffic and into the Norfolk net at 11:50 of the second period. Ebbett's cross-ice feed extends his assist streak to 11 games, which is the second-longest string of assists in the AHL this season.

The Penguins held their one-goal lead into the third period and widened the gap early in the final frame. A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton penalty carried over, giving Norfolk a man advantage to begin the third.

The Penguins' Scott Harrington cleared a puck through the neutral zone between Admirals' Max Friberg and Jesse Blacker. A miscommunication opened the door for Dominik Uher, who raced to the loose puck for a one-on-one opportunity with Gibson. Uher flipped a shot over Gibson's outstretched right leg and the Penguins went up 2-0 on a shorthanded opportunity 56 seconds into the third.

Norfolk stayed alive four minutes later when Smith-Pelly corralled a puck on the power play that leaked into the slot through bodies near the Penguins' crease. Smith-Pelly turned and slung a wrister back from whence it came over Mannino's shoulder to pull the Admirals within one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 4:57 of the third period.

The Admirals tested Mannino 11 times in the third but the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton netminder relinquished just one goal all night to escape with his eighth victory for the Penguins in a 2-1 win over Norfolk.

Norfolk managed to convert on only one of their six power plays and shut down the Penguins' attack on the man-advantage, holding Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to 0-for-3.

Suffering the sweep leaves the Admirals just one point up on divisional opponent, Hershey, for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Norfolk begins a six-game road trip next Friday at Adirondack.

Don't miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central