NORFOLK — Following a victory in the series opener Wednesday night, the Norfolk Admirals took to the ice at Norfolk Scope for game two of the North Division Semifinals against the Wheeling Nailers.
In another impressive performance across the board, the Admirals shut out the Nailers 4-0, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
Goaltender Thomas Milic made his second consecutive playoff start and maintained his high level of play, recording 33 saves on 33 shots faced.
Just 35 seconds into the game, the Admirals took the lead with an opening goal scored by Darick Louis-Jean. It marked his second consecutive game with a goal, which resulted from an unusual bounce near the front of the net. It was also Louis-Jean’s second tally of the postseason.
With five minutes remaining in the first period, Ben Zloty recorded his inaugural goal of the postseason, extending the Admirals’ lead to 2-0. Facilitated by an offensive faceoff, during which Zloty maneuvered from the left point to the net uncontested, he scored through the five-hole. The Admirals maintained a two-goal advantage after the first period.
The Admirals continued added another goal eight minutes into the second period off the power play. Denis Smirnov executed a one-timer from Hank Crone, picking up his first goal of the postseason. With a 3-0 lead, the Admirals kept up the pressure while frustrations escalated on the Wheeling side.
With the score stayed 3-0 two periods of action, the Admirals looked to close things out in the third period.
The score remained unchanged until the final five minutes, when Sean Montgomery scored his first goal of the postseason with a breakaway finish, increasing the lead to 4-0 for the Admirals. Norfolk’s defense shut down Wheeling the res of the way, and as the final seconds ticked away, Norfolk celebrated another playoff victory.
Norfolk now holds a 2-0 series lead over Wheeling as the series moves to West Virginia.
Sentara Health Three Stars of the Game
- NOR – Thomas Milic (33 save shutout)
- NOR – Ben Zloty (1 goal, 1 assist, +1)
- NOR – Brady Fleurent (2 assists, +2)
What’s Next
The series will shift venues to Wheeling, West Virginia, for games three to seven, if necessary, as the Scope will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Game three is on Wednesday at WesBanco Arena with the puck drop at 7:10 p.m.