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ECHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Head Home After Unlikely Third Period

April 3, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


?Reading, Pa. - The Reading Royals defeated the Norfolk Admirals, 3-1, Sunday afternoon despite only scoring a single goal. The Admirals concluded a winless 3-games-in-3-nights set and their final road trip of the 2015-16 season today.

Nic Riopel held a shut out midway through the third period before things went haywire, and Adam Morrison held strong through two strong periods from Norfolk. The first period would end without either team lighting the lamp, despite multiple opportunities to strike, and the score wouldn't budge until 4:57 of the second frame.

The play started in the Admirals zone when Danick Gauthier caused a turnover and carried the puck up with Greg Chase and Braden Christoffer. After entering the zone, Chase's powerful slapper from the right wall was deflected off of Morrison and sent to the opposite side, right to Christoffer's stick. He buried his 11th goal of the season early in the second, giving Norfolk the 1-0 lead.

Riopel pitched a shutout for just over 50 minutes of regulation unti luck set in for the Royals. Mike Marcou threw the puck toward the net, and it deflected off the post behind Riopel. Unfortunately, the puck bounced off an Admiral skate right into Norfolk's net, tying the game 1-1.

A little over a minute later, the curtain would fall on the eventual game-winning goal. Mike Pereira, in his first game back after his recall to the AHL, was credited with the goal. A textbook pad save from Riopel sent Pereira's shot angling away from the net. As Gabriel Verpaelst tried to swat it out of the crease and to the right point, the puck lifted right into his own net at 12:39 of the third, putting the Royals ahead, 2-1.

Frustration seemed to set in, and with 2:21 left in regulation, Greg Chase sat in the penalty box for slashing. Reading took advantage of having an extra man on the ice as Pereira scored the first Reading goal not accidentlly put in by Norfolk just five seconds into the power play, making it 3-1.

Riopel blocked 36 of 39 Reading shots, and Morrison saved all but one of Norfolk's 33 attempts on net. The Admirals did not convert on any of their three man-advantages, while the Royals capitalized on 1-of-6 power-play opportunities. Truly a game to forget, the Admirals return home and must move past this heartbreaking loss for the final three home games of the 2015-16 season this week.

Three Stars:

1. REA - #14 Mike Pereira

2. NOR - #33 Nic Riopel

3. REA - #39 Adam Morrison

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