Thompson's Hat Trick Seals Weekend Sweep for Devils, 3-1
March 28, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK, Va. - Paul Thompson's hat trick was the dagger Saturday night as the Albany Devils completed a weekend sweep over the Norfolk Admirals, 3-1, at Scope Arena.
Albany capitalized first on the power play at 9:41 of the first period after John Kurtz got called for interference. Raman Hrabarenka started the play below his own blue line by threading a pass to Mike Sislo at center ice. Sislo skated into the Norfolk zone up the left wall and dropped the puck back to the center point for an incoming Hrabarenka. The defenseman wristed the puck towards net, which Thompson deflected behind goaltender Ryan Faragher. The Admirals went into the first intermission down, 1-0.
The Devils doubled their lead early in the second period on another power play goal, this time with Matt Bailey in the box for tripping. Joe Whitney manned the point and sent the puck over to the left wall and Mike Sislo, who turned and swung a pass to Thompson on the goal line. Thompson took a stride to the bottom of the circle and threw the puck on goal, which beat Faragher at 3:12.
Albany's two-goal lead only lasted about two minutes before Norfolk broke the shutout. Mark Fistric broke up an attempted Devils break-out play to corral the puck at the blue line. Antoine Laganiere picked it up and rimmed it all the way down the boards. Dave Steckel stopped the puck behind the cage and shoveled a pass up to Louis Leblanc, who backhanded it into the twine and cut the Devils' advantage to 2-1 at 5:13 of the middle frame.
Thompson put the game away with 2:30 remaining. Brandon Montour blasted the puck on Scott Clemmensen, which took a big rebound back to the blue line. The Admirals' defense was unable to keep it in, and Matt Lorito poked it out to a waiting Thompson. The right winger took off into the Admirals' end all alone and wristed a shot through the legs of Faragher, giving Thompson a hat trick and Albany the 3-1 win.
Faragher made 16 saves on the 19 shots he faced, and Clemmensen saved 37 of Norfolk's 38 opportunities. Norfolk was blanked on both of their power play attempts, while Albany went 2-for-5 on the man-advantage.
Norfolk continues their homestand with a Wednesday matchup against Lehigh Valley, followed by a back-to-back against Hershey next weekend.
Three Stars:
1) ALB #15 Paul Thompson (3 G)
2) ALB #40 Scott Clemmensen (37 saves)
3) NOR #20 Louis Leblanc (1 G)
NOTES ... Dave Steckel now has a point in back-to-back games ... With his goal tonight, Louis Leblanc has now tied his career-high in goals (13) ... Paul Thompson's hat trick was the first the Admirals have given up this season ... The Devils' two shots in the third period are the second-fewest in any third period in 2014-15 ... Norfolk's +16 shot differential in the final frame was the largest in any period this season.
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