Admirals Dominate In The First, Mail It In The Rest Of The Game

Final Score: Norfolk 1, Charlotte 3

First Period Recap: The Admirals started the game off the way they won their last: dominating on the defensive end of the game and creating offense from it. They out-shot the Checkers 18-3 and went 1-for-3 on the power play.

At the 5:08 mark Charlotte tough guy Nicolas Blanchard boarded Jordan Hendry and received a five minute major. The Admirals only scored one goal during the major when Brandon McMillan netted his eighth. With 26 seconds left in the period, Charlotte goalie Rob Madore couldn't cover the puck up and the Admirals just kept going at it until it slid into the back of the net.

Second Period Recap: For whatever reason, Troy Bodie decided to fight Blanchard five minutes into the second period. The Admirals pretty much didn't do anything after this point in the game. Recently it seems Bodie has had dumb fights like this where he barely even gets a lick in and loses, giving the opponent an advantage.

When you limit the fourth place Western Conference team to 3 shots in the first period - do NOT change a thing. So Blanchard changed the momentum with the victory he got. The Checkers scored on the power play with 3:34 left in the period to tie the game up. They out-shot the Admirals 18-8.

Third Period Recap: The Admirals got off 13 shots in the final 20 minutes but Madore kept standing on his head all night. Norfolk couldn't figure him out. Charlotte went up 2-1 after Hampus Lindholm decided to do a blind behind the back pass and the Checkers picked it up on the forecheck. Casey Pierro-Zabotel scored for his first of the season. Almost 15 minutes later waiver-wire star Zach Boychuk scored his 18th on the power play.

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The Good: John Mitchell played a strong game and even had a penalty shot attempt.

The Bad: The Admirals gave up on their first period strategy that could have won the game.

The Ugly: The Admirals were out-shot 32-21 over the final 40 minutes.

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3rd Icehole: Sami Vatanen - He took a late penalty that allowed Charlotte to basically pass the game clock out.

2nd Icehole: Troy Bodie - Stop fighting!

1st Icehole: Hampus Lindholm - He turned the puck over while being fore checked and it immediately led to a Checkers goal.

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