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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Respond to Shutout with Comeback Victory

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


NORFOLK, Va. - Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series between the Admirals and Monarchs summed up Norfolk's play through the 2013-14 regular season quite accurately. Hard-nosed and consistent defense at one end with persisting struggles in the offensive zone. Manchester controlled play for the majority of the first period and found their way past Admirals' rookie sensation, John Gibson, for the first goal of the night at 11:38. After the initial tally, Norfolk's defense dug in, denying a potent Manchester side of another strike until late in the third.

The Admirals were able to move the contest into the Monarchs' zone at times in the second and third periods, but never moved a puck through the thick defense of Manchester netminder, Jean-Francois Berube. Opportunities on the power play and at full strength were halted by Berube in a 30-save performance that ended in a shutout of visiting Norfolk and a win for the home-standing Monarchs. One more marker with 1:20 left to play capped off a 2-0 score for Manchester in the series opener.

Game 2 appeared to be headed in the same direction after Nic Dowd and Zack O'Brien lit the lamp just over a minute apart near the end of the opening period. The two-goal gap was an early gut check for the Admirals, and they responded accordingly in the following period. On the power play, Max Friberg drove to the net and swiped home a rebound opportunity before Berube could recover, making it 2-1 in the middle of the second. Four minutes later, Dave Steckel knocked down a puck on its way to Manchester's cage that scurried through Berube's legs to even it at 2-2. What Manchester enjoyed as a relatively comfortable lead evaporated in a matter of minutes, setting up a third period that would tilt the series in either the Monarchs' or the Admirals' favor going forward.

It took over 11 minutes to find the game-winner in the third. William Karlsson slashed through the Manchester zone to haul in a pass from University of Wisconsin product Nic Kerdiles. Karlsson, in on net, flicked a shot towards the far post that caught a piece of Berube's glove on its way into the Monarch goal. Gibson robbed Manchester on three occasions in the dying minutes, including a surreal trapper save from close range that he snatched out of the air while falling forward. Clutch defense along with sensational goaltending preserved the slim lead and a 3-2 Norfolk decision.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Schedule: Norfolk vs. Manchester

The Admirals (1-1) and Monarchs (1-1) are now tied at one game a piece in this Eastern Conference opening round series. Due to the distance between the two playoff sites, the Monarchs were allowed the first two games at home to begin the series or the last three of the series at home. They travel to Hampton Roads for the remainder of the best-of-five first-round quarterfinal:

Game 3

Manchester at Norfolk

7:15 p.m.

Game 4

Manchester at Norfolk

7:30 p.m.

Game 5*

Manchester at Norfolk

7:15 p.m.

*If necessary. All times are Eastern and subject to change.

NORFOLK PLAYOFF LEADERS

Goals : Max Friberg, William Karlsson, Dave Steckel (1)

Assists : Sami Vatanen (2)

Points : Dave Steckel, Sami Vatanen (2)

Games : 17 players (2)

PP goals : Max Friberg (1)

SH goals : None

+/- Rating : 13 players (0)

PIM : Nolan Yonkman (5)

GAA : John Gibson (2.02)

Spct : John Gibson (.933)

Wins : John Gibson (1)

Losses : John Gibson (1)

GPI : John Gibson (2)

Minutes : John Gibson (118:59)

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL SERIES: GAME 3 PREVIEW

The Admirals return to the Norfolk Scope Arena after splitting the first two games of this opening round playoff series at Manchester's Verizon Wireless Arena. A shutout in Game 1 succeeded by a comeback win in Game 2 allows for either the Admirals or the Monarchs to take control of the with a 2-to-1 series lead. The teams own road records that are almost identical (NOR 20-13-2-3, MCH 20-12-2-4) and failed to take either of the two matchups that Norfolk and Manchester each played on each other's ice during the regular season. However, the Monarchs did manage to rank third in away scoring and away goal differential in the Eastern Conference while the Admirals rank towards the bottom in home scoring and are ninth in goal differential at home.

Norfolk defeated Manchester 3-2 in the first game at Scope and won 4-1 in the second of two games in Hampton Roads. Sami Vatanen is the only current Admiral that scored a goal in the 3-2 win back on February 28 and six of the nine Norfolk points that night now reside on the Anaheim roster. However, seven of the 10 Norfolk points generated in March 1's 4-1 win were by players that are current Admirals. Devante Smith-Pelly accounted for the remaining three points with a trio of assists.

MANCHESTER LEADERS

Goals: Zach O'Brien (2)

Assists: Andy Andreoff (2)

Points: Andy Andreoff, Zach O'Brien (2)

Games: 18 players (2)

PP goals: None

SH goals: None

+/- Rating: 4 players (+2)

PIM: Steve Quailer (5)

GAA: Jean-Francois Berube (1.52)

Spct: Jean-Francois Berube (.947)

Wins: Jean-Francois Berube (1)

Losses: Jean-Francois Berube (1)

GPI: Jean-Francois Berube (2)

Minutes: Jean-Francois Berube (118:28)

ADMIRALS' SPOTLIGHT

- Winger Devante Smith-Pelly scored twice in the Anaheim Ducks' series-clinching win in Game 6 Sunday over the Dallas Stars. Smith-Pelly cut the Stars' lead in half when he squeezed a one-timer through at the end of the first period to make it 2-1. Then, with 24 seconds remaining, Smith-Pelly tied the game at 4-4 when he patiently lifted a loose puck that leaked out of a pile-up in the Dallas crease into the net. Nick Bonino subsequently won it for the Ducks in overtime with a goal 2:47 into the overtime period.

- Center forward Rickard Rakell notched a goal of his own as well during the Dallas series. In Game 5, Rakell tipped a puck past Stars' goalie Kari Lehtonen in the first period, which gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead. Rakell played 18 regular season games for Anaheim and recorded four assists. He has a goal and an assist in three playoff games.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Apr. 30 ... Game 3 vs. Manchester, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., May 2 ... Game 4 vs. Manchester, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., May 3 ... Game 5 vs. Manchester, 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Goaltender John Gibson earned the first playoff win of his young career. The rookie made a number of saves over the weekend that displayed the endless amount of potential he possesses in a 24-save outing Friday and a 32-save winning performance Saturday in Manchester.

- William Karlsson scored the game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-2 win in Game 2 versus the Monarchs. It was his first point in the postseason as an Admiral and it tied the series at 1-1. Assisting on the goal was Nic Kerdiles and Sami Vatanen. It was Kerdiles's first professional point and Vatanen's second as an Admiral after he also helped on Dave Steckel's goal in the second period.

**Upcoming Home Games, Events, & Promotions**

Wednesday, April 30 vs. Manchester, 7:15 p.m.

Friday, May 2 vs. Manchester, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 3 vs. Manchester, 7:15 p.m. (if necessary)

GAME TICKETS

Individual playoff tickets are on sale now for each guaranteed game. Purchase at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com .

For any questions regarding playoff ticketing, 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.

ON THE RADIO / INTERNET

The "Admirals Hour" radio show airs every Tuesday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on 1490 AM The Game. Tune-in for an inside look into Admirals hockey featuring Admirals players, coaches, and staff.

All regular season games air live on 1490-AM The Game and on 1650 AM. Listen online at

http://1490amthegame.com/home/listen-live/.

Fans can watch the games online at AHL Live on a pay-per-view, or season pass basis at http://ahl.neulion.com/ahl/ .

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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