Murray Stars, Miceli Plays Hero as Admirals Complete Comeback

Norfolk, VA.- Jamie Murray made 50 saves in his home debut and Angelo Miceli played hero as the Admirals overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Monarchs 4-3 in overtime on Friday.

The 50 saves for Murray set a career high. Defenseman Michael Young finished the night with three points (1g, 2a). Miceli, who scored the game winner, added an assist for a multi-point night as well. Schutt’s short-handed tally was the first short-handed goal the Admirals have scored this season.

Manchester got on the board first just 2:46 into regulation. Tony Turgeon forced a turnover in front of the Norfolk bench, creating a two-on-one with a short sheet of ice in front of him. The winger dropped a pass back to Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman who wristed a shot low to the far side past Jamie Murray. Three minutes later Manchester’s Corey Ward was the recipient of a bad bounce as his centering pass deflected off the defenseman, bouncing right back to Ward who was able to tap it past Murray.

Norfolk cut the lead in half on a delayed penalty. Alex Pompeo sent a pass out to the point where Michael Young sent a wrist shot through traffic that beat Charles Williams. The blue liners first tally as an Admiral cut the lead to 2-1. The deficit would grow back to two goals quick however as Manchester answered back less than 0:30 later.

A night after scoring his first professional goal Tommy Schutt added his second, this time short-handed. A long pass from Michael Young broke the forward free. Schutt paused briefly to move around a sliding defenseman before lifting a back hand high past Williams cutting the lead to one. After two periods of play the Admirals trailed by one.

In the third the Admirals power play snapped a four –game long drought in a big way. After Manchester’s Tony Turgeon was assessed a five-minute major for head butting the Admirals took advantage. At the 6:20 mark of the period Michael Young sent a cross-ice pass to Grant Besse who snapped the puck past Williams to tie the game at 3-3. Neither team was able to score the rest of the way as Norfolk headed to overtime for the first time this season.

In the final frame extra period it was Angelo Miceli who sent the fans home happy. Manchester’s Williams came out to play the puck slowly backing behind his net. In on the forecheck, Miceli forced a turnover and quickly tucked the puck into the empty cage before Williams could get back in the net. The overtime winner snapped the Admirals six-game losing streak and gave the team their first win on home ice of the season.

Netminder Jamie Murray, making his second start, set a career high with 50 saves on the night. The victory was his first with the Admirals.

Norfolk finished the night 1-for-8 on the man-advantage while Manchester was 0-for-7.

The Admirals wrap up a six-game home stand against Atlanta on Wednesday night.