Norfolk Falls to Syracuse in Shootout

The Admirals were looking for their first win over their new rivals the Syracuse Crunch as the season series reached its midpoint. It looked promising for most of the game, but in the end the Ads had to settle for a single point in a shootout loss.

The game started off much more tame than any other game so far in the series. No faces were injured in the play of the first period. In fact, the entire period was played pretty equally. The teams each recorded seven shots through 20 minutes of play and Andersen was on top of his game stealing a goal or two from Syracuse.

The second period was penalty filled, but still only minor penalties were given which benefited the Admirals more than the Crunch. Kyle Palmieri scored two power play goals on Syracuse netminder Dustin Tokarski with Peter Holland assisting on the first one and his second one was unassisted. I am really hoping, but not expecting, that Palmieri is getting hot and the Ducks will leave him down here with us.

Syracuse rookie Danick Gauthier cut the lead in half with just over four minutes left in the period. Other than that minor flaw, the Admirals played a really strong period of hockey.

Unfortunately, the Admirals fell into turtle mode for the third period and got completely outplayed. The Crunch got off 23 shots in the period to the Admirals four. Andersen earned a star in my book, though not officially, for only letting in one goal on that amount of shots while killing quite a few penalties where the Admirals couldn't clear the puck.

P.C. Labrie tied the game up for Syracuse at 13:16 of the third and Andersen held strong to take the game to overtime from there.

Overtime went by fairly quickly. Much like the third period Norfolk rarely got out of their own zone, and the only shot belonged to Syracuse. Emerson Etem and Palmieri both had break away chances but the defense caught up both times. The only time it looked like the Admirals would hold possession in the offensive zone the referee killed the play because the Norfolk net was off the moorings. So the game headed to the shootout.

After being so strong in the third period, Anderson got lit up in the shootout, letting all four Syracuse shooters score.

Tonight the Admirals look to stretch that strong second period to a full 60 minute effort in Binghamton.