AHL Norfolk Admirals

Etem's Two Goals Send Admirals to Third Win of Road Trip

January 11, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


HERSHEY, Pa. - Emerson Etem scored twice and a Dave Steckel empty-net goal from next to his own net secured a 4-2 victory over the Hershey Bears Sunday evening at the Giant Center.

Early in the first period, Hershey's Casey Wellman collected a wayward pass in the corner before spinning into the top of the left circle. Wellman snapped a shot over Igor Bobkov's glove at 5:56 and the Bears led 1-0. Stanislav Galiev and Jim O'Brien helped Wellman to his fourth point versus the Admirals this weekend.

Hershey's Nathan Walker lifted a stick into the face of Norfolk's Kevin Gagne, handing the Admirals four minutes of power-play time. Just 35 seconds later, Emerson Etem raced around Hershey's Cameron Schilling along the right wing for a chance in on Bears goaltender Justin Peters. Etem placed a shot perfectly into the top corner past Peters' stick side, pulling the Admirals even at 10:37. Max Friberg picked up his fourth point in the last five games on the assist as William Karlsson tallied his first point of the road trip. The deadlock lasted into the second period.

A second Etem sighting came at 10:21 of the middle frame on the power play. The first-round draft pick deferred to fellow first-rounder Dany Heatley behind the goal line and cut to the front of the net from the half wall. Heatley gave it back to Etem who followed his first attempt on net with a whack at the puck in front of Peters. The second effort squeaked through Peters' legs to push Norfolk in front 2-1.

Only 28 seconds into the third period, Chris Wagner connected on a one-timer off a feed from Etem. The scorcher blew by Peters and Norfolk seized control with a 3-1 advantage. The Bears answered at 12:41 of the third when Kris Newbury smacked a loose puck in the slot into the top shelf beating a screened Bobkov to his glove side.

With time running out for the Bears, officials whistled Brad Winchester for boarding at 17:18 of the third in his first game back since November 8. About a minute and a half later, Friberg joined Winchester on a high-sticking double-minor to sit for the rest of regulation sending Hershey to a 6-on-3 advantage with Peters on the bench. Shortly after Winchester's infraction ended, captain Dave Steckel heaved the puck from his own goal line into the empty net, capturing a 4-2 decision for the Admirals.

Igor Bobkov saved 22 pucks in his second AHL win of the season and Justin Peters made 31 stops on 34 opportunities. Norfolk won three of four on this road trip after seizing three wins away from home prior to this trek through Pennsylvania.

Three Stars :

1) Emerson Etem (2 G, 1 A)

2) Igor Bobkov (22 saves)

3) Stanislav Galiev (2 A)

NOTES ... The Admirals racked up the most penalty minutes (49) in 31 games dating back to October 25, 2014 (94) ... Hershey was charged with 49 as well, the most by any Admirals opponent since October 25, 2014 (Springfield). Chris Wagner's goal is the fastest goal scored in any period this season (:28, 3rd) ... He has five goals and six points in five games against Hershey. Emerson Etem played in his 200th professional game while Max Friberg skated in his 100th AHL game ... Etem has eight points in his last six AHL games ... Dany Heatley registered his first assist in 2014-15 ... Admirals are 4-0-0-1 when Etem scores ... Dave Steckel has goals in back-to-back goals ... Admirals are 8-4-1-1 in games in which they have scored first ... It was also Norfolk's first win in its third game in three days this season.

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