Game Day: Admirals Wrap Up Weekend Against Nailers

NORFOLK, VA. – The Norfolk Admirals, ECHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators, wrap up a three-in-three on Saturday night hosting the Wheeling Nailers for the second straight night.

Game #15

Admirals (3-11-1-0) vs. Nailers (9-2-2-0)

Scope Arena

7:00 pm

Last Time Out:

The Admirals scored first but Wheeling got the next six as the Nailers topped Norfolk 6-2 on Friday night. Trevor Mingoia capitalized on an early two-on-one giving the Admirals their first and only lead of the night. Wheeling netted three goals before the end of the period to take a 3-1 lead into the locker room. The second period was scoreless, holding the Nailers lead at two after forty minutes.

In the third the Nailers offense opened things up netting another trio of goals before the Admirals got on the board. Domenic Alberga got a late goal for the Admirals but Wheeling took the first of the weekend series 6-2.

Head to Head:

The Nailers have taken both games of the season series so far topping Norfolk 5-3 in Wheeling last Sunday, and 6-2 in Norfolk last night. Wheeling has taken five of the eight meetings between the teams since Norfolk rejoined the ECHL.

Norfolk’s Trevor Mingoia leads all Admirals skaters with three points (2g, 1a), including a goal in both games. Grant Besse (1g, 1a) and Brodie Dupont (2a) have each notched two points in the games. Jamie Murray and Ty Reichenbach have split the games each getting a start.

Wheeling’s Garret Meurs has picked up five points (3g, 2a) against the Admirals including three points (1g, 2a) last night. Nailers captain Derek Army has four points (1g, 3a) over the two game set. Sean Maguire and Will King each started a game against the Admirals recording a victory.

Special Teams:

Friday night was the first time in six games that the Admirals power play had been held scoreless. Wheeling was able to kill off all three penalties, stymying the Admirals man-advantage unit. Norfolk forward Grant Besse is tied with Wheeling’s Derek Army and Hunter Fejes for the second most power play tallies in the ECHL with four. Adirondack’s Ty Loney is first with five.

Wheeling boasts’ the ECHL’s best power play, having converted on 30.4% of chances. Last night the Nailers were two-for-seven with an Admiral in the box. Rookie Cam Brown leads all ECHL skaters with nine power play assists.

Staying Home:

Saturday’s game is the fourth of seven home games for the Admirals in the month of October. Norfolk is in the middle of the second six-game home-stand since returning home from a five-game road trip to start the season. The current home-stand is the second to last time that the Admirals will spend an extended stay at Scope. Norfolk will play nine-straight games at home from February 2-19. Apart from the nine game streak the Admirals will have no more than three-straight home games the rest of the season.

“Eye Love the 80’s”:

Saturday night is Eye Love the 80’s night presented by Virginia Eye Consultants. Of the 20 players on the Norfolk roster only two (Michael Young and Brodie Dupont) were born during the 1980’s. Dupont, born in 1987, is the oldest player on the team while Young is two years younger. The Nailers Zach Tolkinen is the only Wheeling skater born in the 80’s (1989).

Post-Game Skate:

Fans are invited to skate with and meet their favorite players after the game Saturday night. Fans are asked to go to Gate 1 to sign a waiver and get wristbands before skating with the team.