Admirals Sweep Weekend Series with 2-1 Win over Penguins
November 1, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK, Va. - Brad Winchester and Nic Kerdiles each tallied a goal for the Admirals in a 2-1 victory to sweep the weekend series over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Saturday night at Scope Arena.
After a disappointing three-game road trip, it appears all the Norfolk Admirals needed was home ice. Unlike last night, it did not take an overtime session for the Admirals to close out a 2-1 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Through the first period of play between the Admirals and Penguins, goals and shots were hard to come by, but the physical play remained prevalent. The boards rattled continually throughout the first period. A quick-paced opening 20 minutes featured several heavy body checks thrown by Brad Winchester and newcomer Bryan Allen as the two teams showed no remorse for one another.
Appropriately, Norfolk's best scoring chance came shorthanded as John Kurtz walked in alone, but couldn't slip the puck past Penguins goalie Matt Murray. Later in the period on the man advantage, 19-year-old Shea Theodore broke up a Penguins' odd-man opportunity in front of the Norfolk net to spring a three-on-one rush the other way. Winchester took a pass from Jesse Blacker at center ice and put the puck between Murray's legs for the 1-0 lead with just nine seconds left in the opening frame. Theodore recorded an assist as well on the goal. It was his second point in just two games played with Norfolk.
The first period came to an end with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton registering only one shot on Admirals goalie Jason LaBarbera, tying a franchise record for shots allowed in one regular-season period. It was also Norfolk's first time this season holding a lead after the opening frame.
The physicality between the division foes continued in the second period. Multiple scrums erupted in front of each team's net, usually centering around Penguins forward Bobby Farnham. Steve MacIntyre and Mat Clark of the Admirals also frequently found themselves in the middle of the ill-tempered rivalry. Somehow, cooler heads prevailed with no fighting majors doled out.
Once the pushing and shoving subsided, Nic Kerdiles was able to score his first goal of the season. The Admirals winger was left unguarded in the slot. He didn't hesitate to slip it past Murray, putting Norfolk up 2-0 with less than three minutes remaining in the period. Another first came for Dave Steckel as the center found Kerdiles in the middle of the ice, picking up his first point of the season as the period came to an end.
Mat Clark delivered the biggest hit of the night moments after Norfolk had killed off a penalty to Louis Leblanc early in the third period. His check sent two players down to the ice, one of whom was teammate Steve MacIntyre. While MacIntyre would eventually skate away, Penguins forward Tom Kuhnhackl had to go to the locker room for repairs.
Another scrum nearly erupted midway through the third, resulting in penalties to Norfolk's Nathan McIver as well as Farnham and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond of the Penguins. Unfortunately, the Admirals were unable to capitalize on the man advantage spurred by undisciplined play on both sides.
Despite few offensive opportunities, the Penguins were able to close within a goal late in the third. Conor Sheary found himself staring at a wide open net after LaBarbera made the initial save on Tom Kostopoulos, who picked up the assist on the goal 14:36.
The Penguins forwards awakened in the last five minutes of the game, eventually finishing the game with 23 shots, but LaBarbera stood tall. The defense tightened in the game's final moments as the Admirals were able to hold on for their second straight win over the Penguins, 2-1. Rookie Matt Murray saved 17 shots in his second loss of the weekend.
The Admirals begin a trio of games on the road on Wednesday morning as they face Bridgeport for a rare 11 a.m face-off.
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American Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2014
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