Blades fall 4-2 to Admirals
NORFOLK, Va. Scott Allen scored a goal while also adding an assist to lead the Norfolk Admirals (21-30) to a 4-2 victory Wednesday night over the Florida Everblades (33-16).
The Admirals scored the game’s opening goal at the 4:16 mark of the first period. Moving the puck into the attacking zone, Scott Allen went alone, scoring his thirteenth goal of the season unassisted to give the Admirals an early 1-0 lead.
Norfolk added to the lead midway through the first period, taking advantage of a turnover in the Everblades zone. Pressuring the ‘Blades in their own zone, Nick MacNeil forced a turnover off a poke check, sending the puck toward the slot area. Picking up the puck, Greg Chase snapped a shot past Blades goaltender Daniel Altshuller.
The Blades got on the board late in the first period, scoring a power play goal at the 17:32 mark of the opening period. Beginning to up the pressure, defenseman Kevin Montgomery cut the Norfolk lead in half, firing a shot past Admirals’ goaltender Nic Riopel to make the score 2-1.
Continuing to fight back, the Blades began to up the pressure on the Admirals late in the second period. Finally, at the 16:30 mark of the period, the ‘Blades found a way to tie the game. Fighting his way down the left wing side, Brendan O’Donnell wristed a low shot through the five hole of Nic Riopel and into the back of the net.
The tie did not last long. With under a minute remaining in the middle frame, Norfolk broke into the attacking zone. Cole Martin fired a shot toward the Blades net. Screening Altshuller, Braden Christoffer managed to tip the puck to once again give the Admirals a onegoal lead.
Norfolk earned its second two-goal lead of the game off a power play midway through the third period. A shot fired from the blue line was tipped through the legs of Altshuller and off the post. Unfortunately for the Blades, the rebound off the post fell right to the stick of Steven Whitney. The former Blades forward banged the puck into the open net, giving the Admirals a 4-2 lead.
Nic Riopel earns the win in goal for the Admirals, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced. Altshuller takes the loss allowing four goals on the 27 shots he faced.
The Blades ill once again take on the Admirals at 7:30 p.m. Friday night in the second of three straight games.