Admirals Insider 2.0 (November 22, 2016)

NORFOLK, VA. - The week of American Turkey Day is here and that means three more games in three days for the Admirals.

THIS PAST WEEK IN ADMIRALS HOCKEY (November 14 - November 22)

6-4 L vs. Idaho4-3 OTW vs. Idaho4-1 L vs. Idaho

The Admirals entered last week still seeking their first win at home and despite earning it, they had to wait until Friday to get it. Wednesday night the visiting Steelheads struck on the very first shot on goal, with Travis Ewanyk lighting the lamp just 22 seconds in. John and John (Dunbar and Kurtz) would dig the Admirals out of the hole but Idaho would even the score before break. In the second Jeff DiNallo would earn his first professional goal but this time the Steelheads would bang two in a row to go up 4-3. However, the goals were an afterthought after both sides came together for a near five-on-five scrum at the buzzer, resulting in 66 penalties minutes, including ejections for Gabriel Verpaelst and Sam Noreau. After an entire intermission of attempting to sort out the penalties of what just happened, Idaho began the third on a five-on-three, leading them to two further goals. Nick MacNeil would get the Admirals first shorthanded goal of the season late but it wouldn't be enough as the visitors would take the 6-4 win to open the series.

Friday night it finally happened. In their ninth home game of the season the Admirals won in front of a Norfolk Scope crowd. After an even first period and scoreless second, Jaedon Descheneau and Domenic Alberga struck just a minute and a half apart to set the home side ahead by two in the third. But just like seemingly every other home game thus far this season, the opposition found a way to level the score and send the game to extra time. Already leading the league with three overtime losses, it looked as if the boys had just had enough, finally striking gold thanks to newcomer Brodie Dupont. After Gabriel Verpaelst dished the puck to Domenic Alberga, #8 fed the new #7 back door and despite it taking two efforts, the puck crossed the line and the Admirals finally had their first win at home.

Saturday the team was looking to pick up back-to-back W's for the first time but the Steelheads had none of it, taking a 4-1 win for the road. The final score isn't quite indicative of how the game went, considering two of Idaho's tallies came as empty netters in the final two minutes. However, all credit is due to the team that currently has the best power play in the ECHL, which is fittingly enough how they earned their game-winner. The first period whistled by scoreless and the second was tied for all except 80 seconds. Brian Nugent and John Kurtz got their respective sides on the board in the second but Jefferson Dahl's PPG was the killer, being the dagger before the final freebies in the 4-1 contest.

LOOKING AHEAD: (November 23 - November 28)

The team will now hit the road tomorrow for their first three games in three days set. Beginning on Thanksgiving

NEXT HOME STAND: (December 2 - 3)

After the trip down south, the Ads return to Norfolk Scope for a weekend of hosting the Reading Royals. The Pennsylvania squad currently sits towards the bottom of the North Division and has tilts the next few days against Elmira, Cincinnati and Wheeling before coming to Norfolk. The two sides had a few interesting scraps last season and it will be interesting to see if anything carries over into this campaign.

ADMIRALS LEADERS (SKATERS): Goals: Nick MacNeil (4)Assists: Josh Brittain (5)Points: Nick MacNeil (8)Power Play Goals: Domenic Alberga (1)Shorthanded Goals: Nick MacNeil (1)+/-: Brodie Dupont (3)Penalty Minutes: Gabriel Verpaelst (51)

ADMIRALS LEADERS (GOALIES): Games Played: Eetu Laurikainen (8)Wins: Eetu Laurikainen and Connor Knapp (1)Losses: Eetu Laurikainen (5-2)Minutes: Eetu Laurikainen (453)Goals Against Average: Connor Knapp (2.82)Save Percentage: Connor Knapp (.917)

SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T KNOW:

Those of you who have attended a game recently may already know this, but the Admirals will officially have a kiosk inside MacArthur Center beginning this Friday. For all of your holiday needs, be sure to check it out.