NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk Admirals (1-1) could not match the third period scoring of Manchester on Saturday night, as they fell, 5-2, to the Monarchs (1-1) in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Admirals and Monarchs are tied at one game apiece in the best-of-five series with Game 3 set for Wednesday night in Manchester at 7:00 p.m. Alexandre Picard scored twice for Norfolk while Jaroslav Janus stopped 25 of 29 shots in defeat. The Monarchs have outscored the Admirals, 5-0, in the third period during the series. Tonight’s third period goals by Monarchs Robert Czarnik, Linden Vey and Andy Andreoff were the difference, as was Manchester goaltender Martin Jones, who stopped 37 of 39 Norfolk shots. The Monarchs took a 1-0 lead with a goal by Vey at 11:23 of the opening period. After a turnover in the Manchester zone, Vey took the puck down the left side of the ice towards Janus. One-on-one, Vey deked from backhand to forehand before slipping a shot into the net. The Monarchs added to that lead when Brandon Kozun put in a rebound past Janus at 17:12. Ray Kaunisto sent a shot high and wide of Janus, with the puck caroming off the right corner glass and ending up on Trent Hunter’s stick at the right half wall. Hunter took the puck at the right circle and flung a shot towards Janus. The puck hit off Norfolk defender in the crease, and Kaunisto was there to finish the goal to make it a 2-0 game. Norfolk answered with their first goal of the night 5:10 into the second period. Brandon Segal skated with the puck behind the Manchester net and sent a backhand pass to Picard in the right circle. Picard beat Jones blocker-side to draw the Admirals within one goal while giving Jones his first goal allowed in the series. Five minutes later, Picard tied the game at 2-2. Alex Killorn had puck behind the net and backhanded a pass to Jeff Dimmen in the left circle. Dimmen sent a quick shot toward the net that Picard corralled. Picard backhanded the puck between the legs of Jones. The teams remained tied until 5:28 of the third period when a four-on-four scenario went in favor of Manchester. Thomas Hickey had possession at the left half wall when he passed the puck across the slot and found Czarnik. Janus could not reposition himself in time to stop the shot from Czarnik and Manchester took a 3-2 lead. Vey scored his second goal of the night at 16:16, putting the Monarchs up, 4-2. After forcing a turnover at the mid wall, Vey skated towards the slot and fired a shot past Janus. Needing to get two goals in a short period of time, the Admirals pulled Janus with approximately three minutes remaining in regulation in favor of an extra attacker. After the puck was knocked loose at center ice, Andreoff pushed the puck into the empty net for Manchester’s fifth goal of the night. With the score 5-2, time expired on Norfolk. Jaroslav Janus (1-1) turned aside 25 of 29 shots for his first AHL playoff loss. Martin Jones (1-0) stopped 37 of 39 shots for the win. Norfolk was 0-for-5 on the power play. Manchester was 0-for-7 with the man advantage. The same two teams meet Wednesday night in Manchester for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Game 3 will be shown at Big Woody’s Bar and Grill at Chesapeake Square Mall. Big Woody’s is located at 4200 Portsmouth Boulevard North in Chesapeake
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