Things started well for the Norfolk Admirals. Just seconds into the game, Rod Pelley won the face-off, Sami Vatanen grabbed the puck and slid a pass up to Brandon McMillan on the far left boards. McMuffin took a couple strides and fired off a quick wrister over the shoulder of Braden Holtby. Holtby, a goalie that spent time up with the Washington Capital last season, did nothing to react to McMuffin's shot.
90 percent of the period was played in the Admirals zone. They couldn't clear the puck. Naturally, as our Ducklings do, they got frustrated and started playing to injure someone.
With no help from his teammates, Frederik Andersen, was solid. He stopped 12 of 13 shots and faced three power plays by the Bears.
The goal scored by Hershey was no fault of Andersen's.The Ads had an ugly Terrible neutral zone turnover. I couldn't tell who it was but the Admiral let the puck slip through his legs while the Bears' player went flying. He took a shot and it was blocked by one of our guys; however the rebound went to another Bear and he flipped if over and in a sliding Andersen. Game tied at one.
After the Bears first goal, Kurtz fought Alex Berry milliseconds after the puck dropped. I called a draw. Kurtz got a few in nasty blows in the beginning before it was Berry's turn to do so. I think Kurtz threw a punch that threw the two of them off balance. He fell first and Berry fell on top. Something tells me we're gonna see another fight tonight.
There was no more scoring the rest of the period. The game is tied 1-1 after one.
Random Notes: Emerson Etem on the power play is a fantastic thing. He's stays around the top of the circle, so when the team clears, he can get it and fly up the ice. The Bears player had to trip him to in order to catch up on what would have been a sure goal...First unit for the power play Sami Vatanen, Patrick Maroon, Peter Holland, Jordan Henry and Kyle Palmieri...Hampus Lindholm is back on the ice.
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