Admirals Drop Second-Straight Road Game, 2-1
December 28, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
WILKES-BARRE, Penn. - One day after dropping a shootout contest in Allentown, the Norfolk Admirals suffered their second-straight loss on Sunday afternoon to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Mohegan Sun Arena, 2-1.
It would again be the home team to open the scoring. The Penguins' Tom Kostopoulos was hooked down to the ice in the slot, drawing a delayed penalty. Norfolk goaltender Jason LaBarbera stopped Kostopoulos' shot, but couldn't turn aside the rebound by Conor Sheary. Nick Drazenovic earned the secondary assist at 7:17 of the first period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead, which would last into the first intermission.
Late in the second period, captain Dave Steckel ended a long scoring drought and knotted the game. Brandon Yip began the play near the blue line as he sent a pass through two Penguins defenders onto Steckel's stick. The centerman buried a low snapper past netminder Matt Murray at 17:46, his first marker since April 26, while Brendan Bell extended his team lead in assists with a secondary helper.
Early in the final frame, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton once more broke the deadlock. Dragging the puck down the right side, Drazenovic fired a laser from the half-wall that beat LaBarbera up high on his stick side. Taylor Chorney registered the only assist at 5:07 to increase the Penguins' lead to 2-1.
Although the Admirals had a flurry of close chances in the last minute of play with LaBarbera pulled, they were unable to solve the Penguins' stingy defense and fell in Wilkes-Barre, 2-1.
Murray stopped 26 of 27 shots, while LaBarbera made 21 saves on 23 shots.
The Penguins went 0-for-4 on the power play, and the Admirals went 0-for-5 with the man-advantage.
Norfolk wraps up its three-game road trip on Tuesday when they visit the Hershey Bears. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Three Stars:
1) WBS #10 Nick Drazenovic (GWG, 1 A)
2) WBS #43 Conor Sheary (1 G)
3) WBS #30 Matt Murray (26 saves)
NOTES ... Dave Steckel's tally was the 101st of his professional career ... Brandon Yip now has four points (two goals, two assists) in three games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season ... Brendan Bell has an assist in two of his last three games ... The loss was Jason LaBarbera's first this season to the Penguins ... Norfolk had won 12 of their last 13 games in Wilkes-Barre ... The Admirals have allowed the first goal in 23 of their 31 games this season.
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