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| Lots of rough stuff in tonight's Penguins/Admirals game, setting the tone for tomorrow night's rematch. Editor's note: Photo is from the October 26th game. Credit: Amy's WBS Pens Picture Page. |
Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had three straight power plays in the first 6:18 of the period, but were unable to tie the game. Norfolk's Devante Smith-Pelly finished off a tic-tac-toe passing display for his second goal of the night on a power play shortly after that and Admirals goaltender John Gibson stopped 20 of 21 shots and haunts the Penguins for a third straight time this season in the Admirals 4-1 win.
A lot of extra curricular activity in this one, including a goalie fight between Jeff Deslauriers and the aforementioned Gibson. These two teams rematch in Norfolk tomorrow night as well in what should be an interesting East Division game.
After a slow start to the game for both teams, it was the Norfolk Admirals cashing in on the power play to open the scoring. Former WBS defenseman Alex Grant blasted a shot from the point toward Jeff Deslauriers' net. On it's way to the goal, Devante Smith-Pelly re-directed the puck past Deslauriers to give the Admirals a 1-0 lead
Garnet Exelby's point shot bounced around the WBS net and went in off the skate of John Kurtz. The goal went under review but was confirmed as a good goal, giving Norfolk a 2-0 lead with left in the first period.
Sami Vatanen, in his first game back with Norfolk, had a great first period. He picked up secondary assists on both Admirals goals in the opening period.
In the second period with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins trailing 2-0, Jeff Desluariers made a save and took a late smack from Norfolk's Zack Stortini after the whistle. Deslauriers took offense and came up swinging on Stortini, which started a small scrum near the WBS net.
After things calmed down, the two teams went to their respective benches for a media break. Admirals goaltender John Gibson, a Pittsburgh-native, skated right by Deslauriers and the two made contact and started the brawl back up. Deslauriers was assessed a major for fighting and ejected from the game, while Gibson stayed in the game. All this happened 6:09 into the middle frame.
The Penguins got within one late in the second period on a Zach Sill deflection goal after a nice slap-pass on the point from Brian Dumoulin. It was Sill's 3rd goal of the season and in his first game back with the WBS Pens after being re-assigned from Pittsburgh earlier this week.
The Penguins tried to turn it up a notch in the third period, but were unable to cash in on the power play tonight, and at a crucial time early in the third period when the game was within reach at 2-1. The Pens failed on three straight power plays to start the third period, and the Admirals cashed in on their power play.
Dave Steckel, well-known as the guy who gave Sidney Crosby a concussion in the Penguins/Capitals outdoor game at Heinz Field, added an empty net goal for the 4-1 final score.
ROSTER NOTES
Jeff Deslauriers got the start in net, stopping six of eight shots in the first 26:09 before being ejected after a fight in the second period. Eric Hartzell came in and stopped seven of eight shots the rest of the way, coming on in relief of Deslauriers.
After sitting out the team's previous two games as a healthy scratch, forward Tom Kuhnhackl returned to the WBS lineup tonight. Also returning up front was Zach Sill, who was recently re-assigned Pittsburgh.
Carter Rowney and Denver Manderson joined Nick D'Agostino and Harrison Ruopp as healthy scratches.
Lines
Zolnierczyk - Drazenovic - Kostopoulos
Uher - Torquato - Zlobin
Kuhnhackl - Sill - Thompson
Farnham - Carman- Leblond
Samuelsson - Despres
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - McNeill
WBS Scratches: Nick D'Agostino, Harrison Ruopp, Denver Manderson,Carter Rowney and Adam Payerl
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