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ECHL Norfolk Admirals

Rimmer, Admirals Battle Hard, Fall in Overtime

March 12, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


TOLEDO, OH. - The Norfolk Admirals faced reigning Eastern Conference leader, the Toledo Walleye, Saturday night at Huntington Center where they suffered a 2-1 overtime loss.

Coming off a gratifying victory in Kalamazoo, Michigan the night prior, the Admirals looked for a second straight road win, this time against Toledo. The Walleye, who lead the North Division and Eastern Conference, have only dropped six games on home ice this season.

Toledo struck first at 7:39 in the opening period as Evan Rankin recorded his 75th goal as a member of the Toledo Walleye and 10th on the season. After receiving a feed from Ralfs Freibergs, Rankin tipped in the cross-crease pass over Ty Rimmer to take the lead, 1-0.

Norfolk responded 2:23 later when Danick Gauthier notched his second goal in just his second game as an Admiral. Steven Whitney, coming off a three-point game Friday night in Kalamazoo, redirected the puck over to wide-open Gauthier in the slot. Gauthier's patience out-lasted Toledo netminder, Jeff Lerg, and his forehand-backhand move lifted the puck up and into the net at 10:02 in the first, notching the equalizer, 1-1.

Toledo, who sit dead last for PIM's in the league, recorded the first penalty of the night at 5:38 in the second period when Freibergs was sent off for interference. Neither team was able to score through the remaining two periods. Ty Rimmer was splendid in net, stifling a furious Toledo forecheck that registered 20 shots on goal in the second period alone, tying Rimmer's season-high of 20 stops in a single period. Regulation would come to a close, and the game entered overtime tied at one apiece.

During the extra skate, Toledo secured the win at 2:15, as well as their position at the top of the Eastern Conference, when Josh Shalla threw the puck from the left side boards out in front where it found Beau Schmitz. He deflected it home to claim the 2-1 victory and their 39th win of the year.

Rimmer only allowed two goals on 39 Walleye attempts on net and Jeff Lerg let in just one of 23 Admiral shots. Both netminders did not allow a single goal over the final 40 minutes of regulation. Toledo went scoreless on two power-play opportunities, with Norfolk going 0-for-1.

The Admirals head to Wheeling, West Virginia to face the Nailers Sunday at 4:00 p.m for their third game in three days.

Three Stars:

1. TOL - 17 B. Schmitz

2. NOR - 25 D. Gauthier

3. TOL - 86 E. Rankin

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



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