Devils come out on top

Despite a third-period power play goal by Richard Panik, the Norfolk Admirals (21-12-1-3) fell to the Albany Devils (16-13-5-2), 3-1, on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Admirals return to action on Tuesday night as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit Scope.

Albany took a 1-0 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the first period. While falling down, Darcy Zajac tipped a pass to Eric Gelinas in the slot. Gelinas picked up the loose puck and sent it off the blocker of Admirals goaltender Jaroslav Janus at 17:05 of the opening period.

The Devils extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal by Stephane Veilleux. As the Devils skated with the power play, Veilleux sent a wrist shot from the edge of the left faceoff circle, over the left shoulder of Janus at 1:07 of the second stanza.

The visitor’s lead grew to 3-0 after J.S. Berube skated out from the right corner behind the Admirals goal line and slipped a shot over the right shoulder of Janus at 10:38 of the second period.

The Admirals controlled much of the play in the third period, out-shooting the Devils, 8-4, and getting one shot past Albany netminder Keith Kinkaid. While Norfolk skated with a five-on-four man advantage, Richard Panik deflected a Mark Barberio shot under Kinkaid for his sixth goal of the season at 7:43 of the third.

However, the Admirals could not get another shot past Kinkaid, who has stopped 86 of 88 shots in three Albany wins against Norfolk this season.

Jaroslav Janus (7-5-2) turned aside 19 of 22 shots in the defeat while Keith Kinkaid (9-10-0) stopped 28 of 29 shots for the victory.

Norfolk was 1-7 on the power play. Albany was 1-6.

Norfolk’s five-game homestand continues on Tuesday night as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit Scope in another Admirals Value Night including Family Fun Packs and Student Rush tickets.