AHL Norfolk Admirals

Wagner's hat trick lifts Admirals to 5-4 win

Published on October 11, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals and Hershey Bears opened the 2014-15 AHL regular season at a break-neck pace. The goals came fast and furious as Kris Newbury put Hershey up 1-0 just 3:23 into the opening period. Norfolk answered right away as Chris Wagner buried a two-on-one opportunity to even the game up at one.

A flurry of penalties and opportunities ensued as the Admirals and Bears continued to trade goals in the first. Philippe Cornet put the Bears ahead only to watch their lead vanish less than four minutes later. While Hershey had the man advantage, Norfolk's Wagner notched his second goal of the night. That marked only the second time in Admirals history that a player recorded two short-handed goals in a single game.

Dane Byers gave Hershey yet another lead with a power play goal, 9:31 into the first period. Again, just like that, Norfolk answered. Andrew O'Brien re-directed a shot from the point with just over three minutes remaining in a hectic opening period.

The quick pace of the first was slowed down drastically in the second as several penalties including matching roughing calls to Brad Winchester and Dane Byers, stymied any momentum built by either side. Several scrums broke out as the game got chippy, carrying on a heated rivalry between Norfolk and Hershey.

The Admirals finally took their first lead of the night on the power play, as Louis Leblanc tapped in a rebound past goalie Philipp Grubauer. Steve Oleksy was quick to respond for the Bears, tying the game at four with just 8:53 gone in the second.

Chris Wagner completed his hat trick 10:39 into the third period with a hard snap shot between the hash marks, giving Norfolk a 5-4 lead. Unlike earlier, the Admirals would never squander that lead.

Hershey made a late-period push, pulling Grubauer with just under a minute left in the contest. Norfolk tightened defensively as goaltender Jason LaBarbera would not let another shot find the back of the net.

A 5-4 final score capped a wild night as the Admirals earned the win in their first contest of the regular season.

Norfolk hosts Hershey once again on Monday. Tickets are still available at the Scope Box Office. Puck drops at 6:05 p.m.

NOTES ... Norfolk's Max Friberg exited less than two minutes into the game with an injury and did not return ... Norfolk held the shot advantage, 37-23 ... Numerous NHL veterans made their Admirals debuts including wingers Brad Winchester, Brandon Yip and Steve MacIntyre, and goalie Jason LaBarbera ... Scratched for the Admirals: Joseph Cramarossa, Charlie Sarault and Jesse Blacker ... Attendance for the night: 6,229.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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