Verpaelst Extends Season-Long Win Streak to Four with OT Winner
January 22, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK, Va. - Gabriel Verpaelst netted his second overtime game-winner this season to lift the Norfolk Admirals to a 3-2 victory over the Elmira Jackals Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.
The Admirals were first to draw blood at 13:53 in the opening period after Michael Pelech won the faceoff in the right circle back to Sam Noreau at the point. Noreau took a shot from the right point that hit the rear boards and ricocheted back towards the net. Jonathan Lessard collected the deflection, turned and swept the puck off of Elmira netminder Alex Vazzano's left skate, putting Norfolk up 1-0 at the end of the first.
The Jackals tied things up at just 1:25 in the middle frame when Ian Young netted his first professional goal. Blake Hietala won a battle for the puck in the corner and moved it up top to Young in front of the blue line. Young's slap shot from the left point found its way past Admirals goalie Ty Rimmer to tie the game 1-1.
At 10:44 in the second, the Jackals forged ahead, following a battle in front of the Norfolk cage. Young fed one in front from the right corner to Tyler Gjurich, who made an attempt that was knocked down by Norfolk goalie Ty Rimmer. Cason Hohmann swatted the loose puck in, giving Elmira the 2-1 lead that held through the remainder of the period.
Pelech notched the equalizer on Norfolk's power play with just 1:42 left in the third after Lessard whipped a wrister from the slot that bounced off Vazzano's pads. Pelech pounced on the rebound and flicked it into a mostly vacant net to knot the score at 2-2, forcing the extra skate.
In overtime, Alexandre Ranger carried the puck up the right wing before handing off to Alexis Loiseau. As he circled to the top of the right ring, Loiseau dished to Verpaelst crossing the blue line. Verpaelst drifted into the slot, and slapped a shot from the high slot, breaking his stick in the process. The puck beat Vazzano between his legs, securing the 3-2 overtime victory, and extending the win streak to four games.
Rimmer turned away 27 of 29 Elmira attempts, with Vazzano denying 29 of 32 Norfolk shots. The Admirals managed to capitalize on one of their three man advantages, while the Jackals went scoreless on their three power-play opportunities.
Norfolk will host Elmira again at Scope Saturday night at 7:15 p.m.
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