The Norfolk Admirals defeated the Trois-Rivieres Lions by a final score of 4-2 Wednesday night at Colisee Videotron Arena, taking a 1-0 series lead.
First Period
The first period, like the start of any series, was a feeling-out process by the two teams. The Admirals’ Austen Keating would take a tripping penalty at 8:20 of the first period. On the ensuing power play for the Lions, Trois-Rivieres would have an incredible scoring chance as Alex-Olivier Voyer would dish a beautiful backhand pass to a wide-open Nolan Yaremko on the backdoor. Norfolk goaltender Oskari Salminen would go right to left to rob Yaremko of an easy tap-in goal on the backside to keep the game scoreless. The Admirals would outshoot Trois-Rivieres 11-7 in the period, with the game staying scoreless heading into the first intermission.
Second Period
The second period saw both the Admirals and Lions become more physical and get into penalty trouble. At 2:37, Trois-Rivieres’ Anthony Beauregard was called for tripping. The Admiral’s powerplay would go right to work with quick passing to get the Lions’ defenders running around. Using that to their advantage, Admirals’ Austen Keating would receive a pass at the top of the right-side circle from Danny Katic. Keating would make no mistake as he would find a small opening to shoot the puck through a Trois-Rivieres defender. Brady Fleurent would redirect the shot into the back of the net past Lions’ goaltender, Zachary Emond, and open the scoring at 3:28.
The Lions would try to answer back just 40 seconds later, but to no avail, as Salminen would deny Nicolas Guay a grade-A scoring opportunity. At 5:13, the Admirals would extend their lead to two. Dakota Krebs would step down the wall and break up a break-out pass from the Lions to keep the puck in the zone. Krebs looked to the middle of the ice and saw a wide-open Gehrett Sargis, who made no mistake burying the one-time feed into the back of the net.
The Lions would once again try to respond just 14 seconds after the goal, but it was Salminen who once again denied the Lions from getting one back. The Lions continued to pour on the pressure throughout the second period. At 12:28, Salminen would deny yet another grade-A scoring opportunity when the puck would find Lions’ forward, Miguel Tourigny, all alone at the hashmarks. Salminen would get the shoulder up in time to make the save, keeping the Admirals with a two-goal lead. The period would finish 2-0. Trois-Rivieres outshot Norfolk 11-7 in the middle frame. Shot total at the end of two was 18-18.
Third Period
The third period was dominated by Trois-Rivieres. The Lions would finally find the back of the net at 4:58 of the final frame. Tourigny would receive a pass on the right-side circle and quickly find the stick of Cedrick Montminy on the back door, who would out-strengthen his stick on Admirals’ forward, Brandon Osmundson, to redirect the puck into the empty side of the net. The Lions could feel a comeback starting as the had consistent pressure on the Admirals. At 14:08, Admirals’ forward, Thomas Caron, would lay his body on the line and take a shot off the foot to keep the Admirals lead. At 15:01, Trois-Rivieres pressure the Admirals. The Lions would keep the Admirals hemmed in their own zone for 1:02 with tired skaters on the ice. That would all come to an end when Salminen smothered the puck in his chest off a big shot from Lions’ defenseman Chris Ortiz.
Things would start to get heated when Admirals defenseman Krebs would line Lions’ Yaremko up for a hit. Yaremko would dodge the hit but receive a knee-on-knee from Krebs. Lions’ Jakov Novak would take exception to the hit and go after Krebs. Krebs received a minor for roughing, while Novak received a double minor for roughing. At 19:04, Fleurent would extend the Admirals’ lead to two again with an empty net. Tempers would flair as five penalties were handed out to each team. The Admirals and Lions would add a goal each in the final 30 seconds of the game giving the Admirals a 4-2 win. Trois-Rivieres outshot the Admirals 17-7 in the final frame and 35-25 for the game.
Admirals went 2-for-4 on the powerplay and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
What’s Next?
The Admirals and Lions will do it all over again Friday, April 19, after a day off on Thursday. The game will be played at 7 p.m. from Colisee Videotron Arena once again.
