DULUTH, GA – The Norfolk Admirals concluded their three-game opening weekend road trip on Sunday afternoon, facing the Atlanta Gladiators at Gas South Arena for the second consecutive day. Following Saturday's narrow 2-1 defeat, Norfolk looked to bounce back and finish its weekend in Georgia on a winning note. Behind a pair of goals from Will Gavin, the Admirals defeated the Gladiators, 3-2, securing their second victory of the 26-27 season.

Goaltender Matt Vernon returned between the pipes for the Admirals following his impressive 33-save shutout performance in Friday's season-opening victory over the Savannah Ghost Pirates. He finished the afternoon with 

Norfolk wasted no time establishing its offensive presence, breaking through just 35 seconds into the opening period. Brandon Osmundson redirected a shot from defenseman Will Magnuson past Atlanta goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter to give the Admirals an early 1-0 advantage. The goal marked Osmundson's second of the season, with Magnuson and Grant Hebert earning assists.

The Admirals continued applying offensive pressure throughout the opening frame, but Atlanta answered at the 11:59 mark when Ethan Strang found the back of the net to even the score at 1-1. Connor Caponi collected the assist on the equalizing goal.

Norfolk responded less than three minutes later, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity to regain the lead. At 14:30, Gavin fired a shot past Semptimphelter for his second goal of the season, putting the Admirals back in front, 2-1. Jack O'Leary earned the assist on the play.

The opening period featured several trips to the penalty box, including a slashing minor assessed to Ryan Gagnon. Despite the challenges on special teams, the Admirals maintained their offensive momentum and outshot Atlanta 20-10 in the opening 20 minutes, carrying a 2-1 advantage into the first intermission.

Atlanta opened the second period with increased offensive pressure, looking to erase Norfolk's one-goal advantage. The Gladiators generated several scoring opportunities, but Vernon remained steady between the pipes to keep the Admirals in front.

Norfolk found itself shorthanded early in the middle frame when O'Leary was assessed a tripping minor at the 2:13 mark. The Admirals' penalty-killing unit responded, successfully turning aside Atlanta's opportunity and preserving the one-goal advantage.

The physicality continued midway through the period when Matthew Barnaby and Atlanta's Owen Murray dropped the gloves at the 9:45 mark, with both players receiving five-minute fighting majors. Neither team managed to break through offensively during the middle frame, as the Admirals carried their 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Norfolk held a 34-23 advantage in shots on goal through 40 minutes of play.

In the third period, Gavin continued his impressive offensive performance, finding the back of the net for the second time on Sunday afternoon. At the 6:51 mark, Gavin scored his third goal of the season off an assist from Kristóf Papp, extending Norfolk's lead to 3-1 and giving the Admirals some additional breathing room.

However, Atlanta wasted little time responding. Just 12 seconds later, Samuel Tremblay found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, cutting Norfolk's advantage to 3-2 and bringing the Gladiators back within one.

As the final period progressed, the Admirals continued to battle defensively, looking to protect their narrow advantage. Norfolk faced adversity in the closing minutes as late penalty trouble forced the team to rely on its defensive structure and penalty-killing efforts to keep Atlanta from finding the equalizer.

Despite the late pressure from the Gladiators, Vernon and the Admirals held firm, preserving the one-goal advantage to secure a 3-2 victory and close out their opening weekend road trip on a winning note.

Norfolk finished its first three games of the 2026-27 regular season with a 2-1-0 record, collecting four of a possible six points before returning home for its highly anticipated home opener.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. NOR - W. Gavin (2 goals, +1)

2. NOR - B. Osmundson (1 Goal)

3. ATL - S. Tremblay (1 Goal)

NEXT UP

The Admirals will return to Norfolk Scope for the first time in the 2026-27 regular season on Friday night as they open a three-game series against the Trois-Rivières Lions. Friday's contest marks Norfolk's highly anticipated home opener, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m.