Springfield Dominates Norfolk 5-0
By Ted Warren
Logo PropertyOf The Norfolk Admirals
The Springfield Falcons shutout the Norfolk Admirals tonight in a devastating 5-0 rout. Nick Drazenovic tallied the games 1st goal while the Falcons were on the power play just 41 seconds into the contest. Drazenovic found a rebound in the left circle and drilled it past Admirals’ goalie Bobkov for a 1-0 lead. Midway through the 1st period, Cam Atkinson broke away from Norfolk defenders and streaked down the ice and shot the puck in Bobkov’s direction; however; Bobkov made the initial save, but Drazenovic slammed the rebound home to tally his 2nd of the afternoon. Rebounds were the headline of the 1st period as Matt Calvert also scored on a rebound. Calvert’s goal was scored on the power play at the 18:06 mark of the opening stanza which brought the lead to 3-0 Springfield. With just minutes remaining in the 1st period, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault pounded a rebound shot past Bobkov to thicken the Falcons lead to 4 goals. The Falcons outshot the Admirals 14 to 12.
Frederik Andersen assumed the position between the pipes as Bobkov saw his night end after his 4-goal mishap in the 1st. Cam Atkinson scored the game’s 5th and final goal on the power play at the 19:03 mark in the second period. The officials reviewed Atkinson’s goal because it initially looked like the pegs came off the moorings before the puck actually entered the net. Referees Tim Mayer and Jean Hebert declared the goal was legal for the 5th tally of the night. Springfield outshot Norfolk 11 to 8 in the 2nd period.
Springfield was 3 for 7 on the man advantage. Norfolk ended up outshooting Springfield in the contest 33 to 29. No rest for the weary though, the Admirals will face off against the Albany Devils in a rare 2 pm tilt to complete the 4 game road trip.