ECHL Game Recap: Norfolk Admirals vs Reading Royals | 11/20/2024

The Norfolk Admirals welcomed the Reading Royals  to Norfolk Scope on Wednesday night. This was the second meeting between the two clubs. On November 6, the Royals hosted the Admirals for the first game of the season series. The game did not disappoint, as it was back-and-forth throughout, with the Admirals coming out on top with a 6-5 final in overtime.

For the second time in two tries, the Admirals came away with a win over the Royals, with a 5-2 final. Stepan Timofeyev (1g, 2a) and Brady Fleurent (2g, 1a) had three-point nights, while Denis Smirnov (1g, 1a) had a two-point night.

Game Notes

• Ben Zloty and Domenic DiVincentiis made their Admirals debuts after being assigned by the Matioba Moose on Nov. 18 and 19 respectively.
• After being acquired from the Fort Wayne Komets, Filip Fornåå Svensson made his Admirals debut as well.
• The Admirals entered the game with a 6-4-3 record, sitting two points behind the North Division leaders, Wheeling Nailers.
• Reading entered the game with a 6-8-2 record, sitting just one point behind their opponents in this game.

Game Recap

Through the first six minutes of the game, both teams had great chances to take the lead, but the goaltenders stood on their heads, making huge saves to keep it scoreless. Just as it was looking like the first period was going to end scoreless, the Royals’ Tyler Gratton was whistled for slashing at 16:21. On the ensuing power play, the Admirals sent out their first unit, and it paid off after struggling the last few games to get going. Just 25 seconds into the power play, Fleurent tallied his fourth goal of the season. All alone on the right side of the net, Fleurent received a perfect pass from Timofeyev and shoveled it under the pad of Keith Petruzzelli. Both goalies would shut the door for the remainder of the first, and the Admirals took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

First Period Stats

The second period saw much of the same as the first, with both goalies being tested often. However, there was a switch in play as the Royals were throwing everything they could on net to try and find something past DiVicentiis, but he shut the door on all 11 shots he faced to preserve their 1-0 lead going into the second intermission.

Second Period Stats

Early in the first period, the Admirals were able to extend their lead to two as Timofeyev tallied his second point of the night at 5:17. Just over four minutes later, the Royals brought the game back to within one as Ryan Leibold collected his first goal of the season. At 13:39, the Admirals regained their two-goal lead as Smirnov collected his second point of the night. A minute and a half later, Marko Reifenberger joined in on the scoring with his third goal of the season. Fleurent tacked on an empty-net goal at 15:51 to make it a 5-1 game, but the Royals were not done scoring as they made it a 5-2 game at 17:07 thanks to Jake Smith.

Third Period Stats

Three Stars

1. Domenic DiVicentiis (28 saves)
2. Stepan Timofeyev (1g,2a)
3. Brady Fleurent (2g,1a)

Up Next

The Admirals and Royals will meet again on Friday night, this time traveling to Reading, PA. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.