Admirals Earn Point In O.T. Loss
By Ted Warren
Photo Credit: Norfolk AdmiralsThe Norfolk Admirals and Charlotte Checkers clashed in a midweek showdown Wednesday. Norfolk head coach Trent Yawney gave Frederik Andersen the go ahead in net while Charlotte’s Jeff Daniels gave John Muse the green light in goal.
Devante Smith-Pelly found the back of the net midway through the first period. Smith-Pelly’s goal was a result of a Dan Sexton rebound that was good to pull the home team in front by one. Checkers leading scorer Chris Terry knotted the game at one as he drove down low in the zone knocking a shot past Andersen. When the buzzer sounded to end the first period, Norfolk outshot Charlotte 11 to 9.
Checkers center Jeremy Welsh broke the 1-1 stalemate during a 5 on 3 power play just five minutes into the middle stanza. Welsh’s goal was the lone goal scored in this period. Norfolk had the upper hand in the shot department once again with 20 to Charlotte’s 14.
Admirals assistant captain Patrick Maroon answered Welsh’s power-play goal in the third. Maroon steered the puck into Muse’s crease and shot. Muse stopped the initial shot; however; the puck rebounded off Muse’s pad. Maroon found his rebound and snuck it past Muse tying the game at two apiece.
The Checkers and Admirals couldn’t figure things out in regulation so the game went into overtime. Charlotte defenseman Marc-Andre Gragani sunk Norfolk’s ship early in overtime which sealed Charlotte’s win with his power play goal.
Admira’s goalie Frederik Andersen was credited with the loss and watched his record fall to 13-11-1 while John Muse earned his fourth win of the season. Muse’s record now reads 4-2-0.
After the game Norfolk head coach Trent Yawney shared his thoughts on the game stating, “We weren’t very good, we’re lucky we got a point. A team (Checkers) that is banged up as much as they are definitely came to work and our guys didn’t start working until the first part of the third period. We had ample opportunities and a 5 on 3 where we only amplified one shot.”
Norfolk’s assistant captain Patrick Maroon stated, “We knew that they were going to come out hard and we could have took it to them. We need to be better. I think we could’ve buried them right off the start, but weren’t focused, weren’t crisp but the good thing about it is we got a point out of it and we’re still climbing.”
The Admirals hope to continue to build on its point streak this Friday and Saturday against the Hershey Bears at home in downtown Norfolk. The puck drops at 7:30 Friday night.
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