AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Sweep Crunch with 2-1 Overtime Victory

February 14, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk felt the love on Valentine's Day as they came away with a 2-1 win and series sweep over the visiting Syracuse Crunch at Scope Arena.

Syracuse would not be shutout for a third straight time. Evading two Norfolk skaters, Artem Sergeev took the puck up the right wall in the Admirals' zone and attempted a cross-ice pass. Mark Fistric positioned himself in the passing lane, but the puck went off his skate and slid past goaltender Jason LaBarbera. Jean-Philippe Cote got the secondary assist at 5:19 to give the Crunch a 1-0 lead.

One period later, center William Karlsson's talent was on display. After an extended cycle in the zone on the power play, Josh Manson swept the puck to the top of the slot to Stefan Noesen, who one-touched a beauty to Karlsson in the left circle. Karlsson directed the pass on net, which beat Syracuse netminder Kristers Gudlevskis top shelf. The tally at 7:47 tied the game at 1-1.

The Admirals had a chance to take the lead with 43 seconds remaining in the second when Syracuse's Jake Dotchin tripped up Max Friberg on a breakaway. However, on the ensuing penalty shot, Gudlevskis fought off the backhand attempt to keep the score tied.

With neither team scoring in the third period, it required overtime to decide a victor, and it was the Admirals who came out on top. Emerson Etem lost control of the puck in the slot that Karlsson picked up trailing the play. Karlsson's initial shot was turned aside by Gudlevskis, but the Swede followed up his own rebound and flicked the puck over the goaltender's pad to finish the Crunch, 2-1.

Gudlevskis turned aside 24 of 26 Norfolk shots in the loss, while LaBarbera stopped 20 of 21. The Crunch went 0-for-2 on the power play, with the Admirals going 1-for-4 when a man-up.

The Admirals next embark on a four-game road trip that takes them to Charlotte, Worcester and Bridgeport, beginning with a Monday tilt against the Checkers at 7 p.m. Norfolk is now 21-24-3-2 with 47 standings points after winning three of the last four.

Three Stars:

1) NOR #22 William Karlsson (GWG)

2) NOR #3 Josh Manson (1 A)

3) NOR #1 Jason LaBarbera (20 saves)

NOTES ... With his goal tonight, William Karlsson extended his point streak to six games ... Stefan Noesen has two points in the two games since his return from injury and five in six games overall ...Josh Manson is on a two-game point streak and has three in his last four contests ... Emerson Etem has assists in back-to-back games ... This is the first time since Halloween weekend that the Admirals have recorded a sweep over an opponent ... Norfolk held Syracuse to one shot in the third period, which is tied for the fewest of any period this season ... This is the 10th straight matchup that Norfolk has had at least 25 shots on net.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2015


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