Game Day: Admirals Face Defending Champs

Norfolk Admirals (2-1-0-0) at Colorado Eagles (2-0-0-0)

Friday, October 20, 9:05 pm ET

Budweiser Events Center, Loveland, CO

Rewind:

Norfolk arrives in Loveland preparing to play the teams fourth and fifth games in eight days, once the weekend concludes. Prior to heading to Colorado the Admirals started the season by splitting a pair of games with the Idaho Steelheads. After losing on Friday night, Norfolk bounced back and topped the Steelheads 5-3 on Saturday night. The team carried that momentum into a fast start on Monday when they topped the Grizzlies by the same score. Netminder Jake Paterson started two of the three games, notching 77 saves.

Nice to Meet You, Round Two:

Just like last weekend, the Admirals will be facing an opponent for the first time ever when they take on the defending Kelly Cup Champion Eagles on Friday night. Colorado joined the ECHL prior to the 2011-12 season, after playing in the CHL from 2003-2011. Norfolk’s two games in Loveland are the only matchups against the Eagles this season.

Special Teams:

The Admirals have tallied on the man-advantage in two of their first three games (4/13, 30.8%). Only Wheeling (6) and Greenville (4) have scored the same amount as or more power play goals than Norfolk (4) so far this season. Three different players (Besse, Melancon, Mingoia) have accounted for the Admirals four tallies while six other players have assisted on the goals. Colorado (0-for-9) is one of 11 teams that did not record a power play goal over opening weekend.

The blank slate for Colorado also includes the penalty kill, where the Eagles (7-for-7) are one of eight teams that have killed of every penalty through the first two games. Norfolk is close behind the Eagles having killed off nine of ten penalties.

Firsts:

A trio of Admirals notched their first professional goals over the course of the first three games. Grant Besse, TJ Melancon, and Jordan Abt found the back of the net for the first time. Besse followed up by scoring another goal, to give him his first career multi-goal game.

Netminder Ty Reichenbach also recorded his first ECHL victory, making 40 saves on 43 shots Saturday night.

Scouting the Eagles:

Forward Michael Joly (2g, 1a) currently leads an Eagle offense that is averaging 2.5 goals per game through two games. Joe Cannata and Lukas Hafner split time in net through the first two games, each recording a victory.