Admirals' Comeback Efforts Fall Just Short
April 7, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
The Admirals entered the third period with a three-goal deficit and closed to within one goal, but they fell just short as the Penguins won 5-4 on Friday night in Wilkes-Barre.
The first period started out well for the Admirals, as they scored a power play goal at 3:32. Shawn Thornton got credit for the goal when the puck bounced off his skates and the sticks of two defenders before getting past a startled Dany Sabourin. However, the Penguins charged past the quick Norfolk start in the middle of the period. Krystofer Kolanos entered the Admirals' zone and deked past a defender to get to goaltender Adam Munro. Munro came out of the crease to challenge Kolanos, but the deke allowed Kolanos to get past him and to put the puck into the net at 7:13. Twenty-eight seconds later, Ryan Stone converted a breakaway by faking a backhander before sliding a forehand shot past Munro stick-side. Wilkes-Barre took a 3-1 lead when Matt Hussey sped past two defenders and fired a shot over Munro's right pad at 12:49. The Penguins took a two-goal lead into the second period.
The Admirals cut the Penguin's advantage in half midway through the period on the power play. Scott Bertoli sent a centering pass from behind the net to Quintin Laing at the goalmouth. Laing sent a wrist shot past Sabourin at 11:26. But the Penguins continued to build on their lead later in the period. Kenny Corupe slid a shot past Munro short-side at 13:31. Stephen Dixon and Maxime Talbot converted a two-on-one shorthanded break at 16:53, with Dixon getting the goal. The home team led 5-2 after forty minutes.
A five-minute major high-sticking penalty to Corupe led to a Norfolk comeback attempt. Brandon Rogers sent a shot on net that was deflected to Michael Blunden in the crease. Blunden put it past Sabourin for his first professional goal at 14:57. Colin Fraser sent a backhander from the right circle just under the crossbar at 17:17 to close the gap to one goal. However, the Admirals were unable to get the equalizer as they fell 5-4.
Adam Munro stopped 26 of 31 shots in the game and was saddled with the loss. Dany Sabourin made 26 saves on 30 shots and picked up the victory.
The Admirals scored a season-high four power play goals on ten opportunities while shutting down the Penguins' seven power play chances.
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