Admirals knockout Phantoms 3-0

Frederik Andersen made 32 saves while Kyle Wilson, Devante Smith-Pelly and Patrick Maroon each had two points as the Norfolk Admirals (30-28-4-1) shut out the Adirondack Phantoms (25-33-2-3), 3-0, on Wednesday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

With the win, Norfolk closes to within three points of a playoff spot with 13 games remaining in the regular season.

Wilson, Smith-Pelly and Sami Vatanen each scored for Norfolk. Andersen improved to 17-13-1 on the season with his second shutout of 2012-13. The Admirals out-shot the Phantoms, 48-32.

Norfolk now embarks on a two-game road trip beginning against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night. The team will return to Scope to battle the Syracuse Crunch on Mar. 29-30.

The Admirals took the lead 6:05 into the first period on Wilson’s second goal as an Admiral and seventh goal of the season overall. Phantoms goaltender Scott Munroe kicked the rebound of a Smith-Pelly shot to the left point. Ryan Parent collected the puck and sent a behind-the-back pass to Wilson in the slot between the hashmarks. Wilson sent a shot past Munroe’s glove for a 1-0 Norfolk lead.

The lead doubled less than seven minutes later on Smith-Pelly’s ninth goal of the season. Maroon won a puck battle along the boards in the right corner and centered the puck to Smith-Pelly in the right circle. Smith-Pelly rifled a shot past Munroe at 12:53 for a 2-0 lead for the home team.

After a scoreless second period, the Admirals closed out scoring midway through the final frame while skating four-on-four. Maroon took the puck from the left corner behind the net and centered to Vatanen in the left circle. Vatanen netted his seventh goal of the season at 12:38 for the 3-0 lead.

That was more than enough of a lead for Andersen, who turned aside eight shots in the first period, 11 shots in the second period and 13 shots in the third period for the shutout.

Munroe (12-16-0) was strong for the Phantoms, making 45 saves on 48 shots, but he was saddled with the loss.

Norfolk was 0-for-6 on the power play. Adirondack was 0-for-4.