Norfolk, VA – Brodie Dupont scored in the final five minutes of regulation to give the Admirals their fourth-straight home victory, as they topped Atlanta 3-2 on Friday night.
Darik Angeli scored his third goal in the last two games and added an assist, giving the forward his second straight multi-goal game. With the victory the Admirals are now seven points back from the Gladiators for fourth place in the South Division.
Darik Angeli opened the scoring midway through the opening period with a short-handed tally. Shorthanded, Chase Harrison took a shot from the top of the circle that was initially saved by Dan Vladar. The rebound snuck through Vladar’s glove and Angeli slapped it into the net, giving Norfolk the 1-0 lead. Angeli’s 22nd goal of the year was the lone tally in the opening period, as the Admirals led 1-0 after the first.
In the second period tape-to-tape passing helped the Admirals push the lead to 2-0. Angeli connected with Domenic Alberga who found a wide-open Alex Pompeo on the back door. Pompeo’s one-timer propelled right past Vladar and into the net giving the Admirals a 2-0 lead. Atlanta stormed back to tie the game with two goals in 42 seconds. Phil Lane got the visitors on the board. The forward rolled out of the corner and around the left dot, wristing a shot into the top corner, beating Reichenbach. Shortly after Lane’s tally Atlanta tied the game up. Stephen Pierog connected with Ryan Lannon, crashing down from the point, one timed the puck past Reichenbach, tying the game.
The tie would last until the final five minutes of the third period. Tied at 2-2 with the man-advantage the Norfolk power play gave the home side the lead for good. Grant Besse’s shot from the circle was initially stopped by Vladar, but Dupont swatted the loose puck into the back of the net, giving the Admirals the 3-2 lead. Dupont’s 21st goal of the season ended up being his second game-winning goal of the season.
Ty Reichenbach made 34 saves in the victory for the Admirals. Dan Vladar made 37 saves in the loss for the Gladiators.
The Admirals wrap up the season series with the Gladiators on Saturday afternoon at the Scope.
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