The last time the Norfolk Admirals visited Wilkes-Barre,
back on November 5, the Penguins pounced for four
first period goals and coasted to a 6-3 win.
Of course, it didn't hurt that the Admirals were
just winding up a strech of four games in five days
that saw the visitors also stop in Portland and Hartford
the previous two evenings.
The Admirals had no such handicaps this time around,
but the result turned out to be the same, as the Penguins
posted a 4-2 victory before a sellout crowd of 8,273.
The win, the Penguins' 12th in a row over the Admirals
at home, moved Wilkes-Barre/Scranton into a tie for
first in the East Division with Norfolk.
This win didn't come nearly as easy as the first
meeting though, as the Admirals played a physcial
contest that saw the Pens post just one shot on goal
during the opening 20 mintues.
"It was an emotional game. They’re a good
team, there’s no doubt about that," said
head coach Todd Richards, who saw his club improve
to 14-3-1-0 on he season. "The first game we
caught them at the end of a road trip, and I think
we surprised them coming out of the gates so quickly.
I think they were more focused this game and ready
to play, and it showed in the first period."
Wilkes-Barre failed to register a shot on the team's
lone power play of the frame, and saw the Admirals
throw nine pucks at Jeff Deslauriers. But solid play
by the home club kept Norfolk off the board as well.
"I thought we did a good job defending, the
wingers covering their ‘D’ men,"
said Richards. "I think J.D. did a good job of
catching pucks and eliminating second opportunities."
The Pens also did a good job of throwing the fists,
as both Dennis Bonvie and Daniel Carcillo posted impressive
outings against Reed Low and Colin Fraser in the early
going.
Norfolk finally cracked Deslaurier's armor 8:23 into
the second period, when Chris Durno used a screen
by two Penguins to beat Deslauriers with a wrister
from 30 feet.
