Admirals slip past Bears at Scope

In front of a season-high crowd of 7,414 fans at Norfolk Scope Arena, Pierre-Cedric Labrie netted the game-winner in his return from the NHL, as the Norfolk Admirals (26-15-1-2) defeated the Hershey Bears (24-12-4-3), 2-1, on Friday night. The Admirals and Bears, who are now tied for second place in the AHL’s East Division, face off tomorrow night at Scope before both teams begin the All-Star break.

Carter Ashton opened the scoring with his 17 ^th goal of the season, Trevor Smith recorded an assist in his return to Norfolk from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Richard Panik extended his point streak to four games with an assist. Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski tied the AHL lead with 18 ^th victory of the season.

The game remained scoreless until just over the midway point of the second period when Ashton opened the scoring. After an initial shot by Panik was stopped by Bears netminder Braden Holtby, Mike Kostka poked the puck over to Ashton, who then sent a backhand shot into the gaping net at 11:32.

The Bears knotted the game at 1-1 with a goal by Jacob Micflikier 6:32 into the final frame. After an Admirals turnover deep in their zone, Cody Eakin fed the puck out in front of the Admirals’ net. Micflikier picked up the loose puck and tucked a shot under Tokarski.

Less than four minutes later, the Admirals took the lead for good. Cory Conacher fed a pass to Smith, who redirected the shot onto the right pad of Holtby. Labrie, who made his NHL debut with the Lightning earlier this month, picked up the loose puck in the goalmouth. He then slipped the game-winner over Holtby's glove for his seventh goal of the season at 10:04.

Despite a six-on-four Bears advantage for close to two-minutes as time wound down, Dustin Tokarski and the Admirals held on for the one-goal victory.

Tokarski (18-9-0) turned aside 29 of 30 shots to record his 18 ^th victory of the season. Braden Holtby (14-11-1) stopped 44 of 46 shots in defeat.

Norfolk was 0 for 9 on the power play while Hershey was 0 for 6 with the man advantage.

Prior to Saturday night’s rematch between the Admirals and the Bears, join us for Guns and Hoses Night to benefit The Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD). You get two games for the price of one, as the representatives of area police departments and representatives of area fire departments square off at 4:30 p.m. The Admirals then host the Hershey Bears at 7:15 p.m.