With Viktor Comes The Spoils
March 1, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
NORFOLK, VA - The Manchester Monarchs could not figure out netminder Viktor Fasth as they fell to the Norfolk Admirals, 4-1, at the Norfolk Scope on Saturday night.
Manchester (36-16-2-6) leads the Atlantic Division with 80 points. Norfolk (31-17-1-7) is tied for first place in the East Division with 70 points.
Former Monarchs center David Steckel picked up his sixth goal of the season to give the Admirals a 2-1 advantage at 13:02 of the second period. Left wing Devante Smith-Pelly collected the puck off the end boards and carried it into the left face-off circle. Smith-Pelly found Steckel in the slot for a one-timer that slid across the ice and beat netminder J.F. Berube. Defenseman Kevin Gagne assisted on the eventual game-winning goal.
The Admirals struck early with center Antoine Laganiere's eighth tally of the season at 2:07 of the opening frame. Smith-Pelly sent the puck deep in the Monarchs zone and off the end boards to the right of Berube. The puck bounced off the boards and onto the right doorstep where Steckel sent a pass between his legs and into the top of the crease for Laganiere to tip past Berube for the 1-0 advantage.
Center Hunter Bishop tied the game at 1-1 with his third goal of the season at 11:29 of the first period. Right wing Scott Sabourin controlled the puck along the left wing half wall and sent a pass to Bishop at the bottom of the left face-off circle. Bishop side-stepped an Admirals defenseman and flipped a backhand shot into the top right corner of the net and past Fasth.
Center Chris Wagner doubled the Admirals lead to 3-1 with his ninth goal of the season at 16:11 of the middle frame. Wagner picked up the loose puck along the left wing half wall in the neutral zone and broke in on Berube all alone. As Wagner entered the slot, he snapped a wrist shop five-hole on Berube for the goal. Smith-Pelly picked up his third assist of the night and Fasth added a helper on the goal.
With just two seconds remaining in the second period, defenseman Steve Eminger pocketed his second tally of the season. Forward Steven Whitney was in the blue paint and tangled up with a Monarchs player as he tried to swipe at the puck. Laganiere skated in and picked up the loose puck before sending it to Eminger in the slot. Eminger one-timed the puck past Berube to give the Admirals a 4-1 lead at 19:58 of the second period.
Berube (19-14-2) took his 14th loss of the season, stopping 28-of-32 shots. Fasth (3-2-0) earned his third win of the season with 26 saves on 27 shots.
Manchester was 0-for-1 on the power play. Norfolk went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
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