AHL Norfolk Admirals

Crunch Spoil Admirals' Road Trip

November 8, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Despite going into the third period with a 4-1 lead, the Admirals were stunned by a furious Crunch comeback and left the arena with a 5-4 loss Saturday night at the Onondauga County War Memorial Arena.

At 5:47 of the first period while on the power play, Theodore fired a shot from the high slot, wristing the puck past Syracuse goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis. Chris Wagner and Charlie Sarault got credit for the assists as Norfolk enjoyed scoring first for the second time in 12 games this season.

Nearly 10 minutes later at 15:10, Theodore once again made the Crunch penalty kill pay, snapping a goal top shelf and putting the Admirals up 2-0. Brad Winchester's assist continued his torrid start to 2014-15 which has seen him score at least one point in eight of 12 games this year.

Early in the second period, Syracuse forward Jonathan Marchessault had a breakaway off an Admirals turnover, but was tripped up just past the blue line. Marchessault was subsequently awarded a penalty shot which sailed over the shoulder of Admirals goaltender Igor Bobkov, cutting the lead in half at 6:15.

The second period was comparatively uneventful until around five minutes remaining. Sarault registered his second point of the night as he handed the puck off to Louis Leblanc who curled around a defender towards the slot and fired it into the net. Nic Kerdiles got the secondary assist on the goal at 15:32.

Norfolk extended their two-goal lead with another marker at 17:29 from Winchester. Dave Steckel began the play, controlling the puck behind the net before passing it to defenseman Jesse Blacker who released a slapper from the point. Winchester's tip in front gave the Admirals a 4-1 lead heading into the second intermission, their first such advantage of the year.

The final frame belonged to the Crunch, beginning with a two-goal flurry in a span of 41 seconds. Dalton Smith notched the first with a chip over Bobkov's left shoulder at 3:51, assisted by Mike Angelidis and Slater Koekkoek. Bobkov had denied the initial shot from the point, but the rebound popped in front of the net and straight to Smith's backhand. Smith's tally brought the Crunch within two.

On the following shift, Theodore committed a turnover in front of Bobkov and Syracuse's Yanni Gourde jumped on it. A tic-tac-toe play between he and Tanner Richard at the Norfolk crease fooled Bobkov, and Gourde recorded his first goal of the season at 4:32.

Norfolk collapsed and let up an additional two goals in 45 seconds late in the third. The Crunch tied the game on another goal from Dalton Smith at 14:38. Jean-Philippe Cote held the puck behind the net before finding Smith's stick at the top of the zone. Smith lobbed it on net and past Bobkov to even it up at four.

Norfolk wasn't able to regain momentum, and Gourde caught another pass from Richard to put the Crunch on top at 15:23. Paradis was credited with an assist on the game-winner. Despite a late chance by the Admirals while Bobkov was pulled, they ultimately weren't able to send the game to overtime and lost, 5-4.

Bobkov stopped 28 of 33 shots in the loss, while Gudlevskis saved 23 of 27. Norfolk went 2-for-4 on the man advantage, and Syracuse went 0-for-2.

The Admirals will return to Norfolk next weekend as they host the Binghamton Senators on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., respectively.

Three Stars:

1) Yanni Gourde (2 G)

2) Dalton Smith (2 G)

3) Jonathan Marchessault (1 G)

NOTES ... The loss was the Admirals' fifth in six away games ... The teams racked up 40 penalty minutes in the first period, including two sets of fights ... Louis Leblanc led the team with six shots on net ... Charlie Sarault logged his first points of the season (2 A) ... Marchessault's penalty shot was the first successful penalty shot Norfolk had given up since December 27, 2009.

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