Special Teams Spotlighted In Admirals Shoot-Out Loss To Bridgeport

Final Score: Admirals 3, Sound Tigers 4 (SO)

First Period Recap: John Gibson made 13 saves to keep Bridgeport from scoring in the first. On the other end of the ice, Bridgeport's goalie, Anders Nilsson also kept the Admirals scoreless, making 12 of 12 stops. Two Power Plays & Two Penalty kills for each team. Zack Stortini took his 3rd major penalty of the season when he fought Bridgeport's Joe Finley after Stortini had checked the Sound Tiger pretty hard. Overall a pretty quiet period that would lead up to a wild second.

Second Period Recap: Norfolk started out on a brief carry over penalty kill in which Bridgeport could not cash in on. Then the goals started flowing. Chris Wagner failed to wraparound for a goal, but ended up getting it onto Max Friberg's stick as he entered the crease and Friberg was able to bury for a Short Handed goal.

Not even four minutes later, Bridgeport answered with a short handed goal of their own after Stefan Warg couldn't keep the puck while on a Power Play. A little over a minute later, on the same power play, Stefan Noesen was able to find Rakell's stick and "Rockin' Ricky Rakell" was able to one time it to the back of the net to take a 2-1 lead.

It did not stay that way as Bridgeport was able to pot one behind Gibson to tie it up. This goal turned out to be the only even strength goal of the night. Bridgeport then got the go ahead goal on the man advantage after Noesen took a holding minor. To close out the period Stortini & Finley would match up for Round 2 with Finley taking an additional minor to lead to Norfolk starting the third on the man advantage. Bridgeport out shot Norfolk 14-8.

Third Period Recap: Bridgeport kills the PK without any pressure from Norfolk's PP unit. Warg continues the parade to the penalty box by taking an interference penalty less than halfway through the third. However, after a clear of the puck from the Ads defensive zone, Joseph Cramarossa stole the puck from the Sound Tigers goalie and fed it to Devante Smith-Pelly who cashed in for Norfolk second short handed goal of the night and game tying goal around the mid-point of the period.

The rest of the period both teams were unsuccessful getting a go ahead goal. Norfolk had a golden opportunity at it when Bridgeport took a double minor for high sticking, and during that double minor, earned another penalty to put the Ads on an extended 5 on 3. Norfolk did nothing with the opportunity. Admirals out shot the Sound Tigers 13-9 as the game went into extra time.

Overtime: No real opportunity for either team as Norfolk was only able to get off two shots to Bridgeport's three during bonus hockey.

Shootout: "Rockin Ricky Rakell" was the only shooter able to score for the Admirals in a six-round shoot out. Bridgeport was able to put two behind Gibson to get the win and extra point.

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The Good: Norfolk had 2 short handed goals today after only have 5 all year last year

The Bad: Even Strength goals. It looks like the Admirals can score short handed, occasionally on the Power Play, but they need to get some 5 on 5 goals and not rely on specialty teams.

The Ugly: Admirals were not able to hold the lead after being ahead twice. This is the second night in the row that Admirals have coughed up a lead and ended up giving a bonus point to the other team

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3rd Icehole: Stefan Warg, made a horrible turnover on the power play leading to Bridgeport's short handed goal.

2nd Icehole: Nolan Yonkman/Garnet Exelby defensive pairing, on the ice for Bridgeport's Power Play goal & even strength goal.

1st Icehole: Zach Stortini, He fought twice today after already fighting twice last night. Two games into the season and he already has 24 PIMS. The four fights were not because of a bad play or hit against an Admiral. They have been because of his mistake or his reasoning. There is a place for enforcers in hockey and Stortini needs to find his sooner than later or it could really hurt Norfolk's game.

Next Game: Admirals come home to Norfolk Scope for their home opener on Friday, October 11, 7:30PM EST.