NORFOLK, Va. — Cory Conacher and Tyler Johnson each tallied a goal and an assist and the Norfolk Admirals killed off all 10 power plays they faced on the way to a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.
Dustin Tokarski (9-2) stopped 23 of 24 shots for his fifth straight win. His shutout streak ended at 202:06 after former Admiral Carter Ashton netted Toronto’s lone goal early in the third period. Brandon Segal added an empty netter. Toronto’s Ben Scrivens (11-3) turned aside 39 of 41 shots in defeat.
Conacher scored Norfolk’s first goal of the game at 12:21 of the first period. Tyler Johnson had the puck in the right circle when Conacher criss-crossed behind him into the slot. As Conacher became open, Johnson passed the puck to the AHL regular season MVP, who one-timed it past Scrivens, glove-side.
Conacher and Johnson were also involved in the second Norfolk goal 10:03 in the second period. On a Norfolk power play, Conacher passed the puck from the right circle to Mark Barberio, who was waiting the high-slot. Barberio spotted Johnson in the left circle and passed to him. Johnson one-timed the puck past Scrivens for a 2-0 Admirals lead.
Carter Ashton, who was a linemate of Johnson and Conacher early in the season, got the Marlies on the scoreboard at 3:57 of the third period. After taking a pass from Greg Scott, Ashton beat Dustin Tokarski from the left circle, putting the puck in the bottom-right corner of the net. Ashton’s goal made the score 2-1.
The third period saw Toronto go on five power plays. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Scrivens was pulled for an extra skater to give the Marlies a six-on-four skater advantage. After the puck was cleared from the Norfolk defensive zone, Segal skated past a Toronto defender and shot the puck into the empty net, securing the 3-1 Norfolk win at 19:41.
The teams meet tonight in Norfolk for game two of the Calder Cup Finals.
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