Admirals edge Stingrays to end losing streak

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Kelly Klima scored with 32 seconds remaining in the third period, as the Norfolk Admirals defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 4-3 Friday Night at the North Charleston Coliseum. Ty Reichenbach made 39 saves on 42 shots and gets the win for Norfolk. With the win, Norfolk now improves to (13-15-1-2 29 Points) on the year and snapped a nine-game winless streak.

South Carolina would get on the board first with a goal from Vinny Muto just under three minutes into the game. South Carolina was able to keep the puck in the Norfolk zone after a failed clear. Former Admiral Christian Horn gathered the puck at the left point and fired a shot on goal which was initially saved by Reichenbach. The rebound came right out to the slot where the shot beat Reichenbach over the glove to give South Carolina an early 1-0 lead.

South Carolina extended their lead to two goals with a tally from Matt Pohlkamp. Following a scrum behind the net along the boards, the puck took a deflection and bounced out in-front of the crease. Pohlkamp gathered the puck and went from his forehand to his backhand and put the shot top-shelf beating Reichenbach to give South Carolina a 2-0 lead with 2:25 remaining in the first period.

Norfolk got on the board with a goal from T.J. Melancon. Luke Nogard gathered the puck in the South Carolina end behind the net. Nogard passed the puck into the right circle for Patrick D’Amico. D’Amico fed the puck to Melancon at the point who unloaded a slap-shot that beat Gordon Deifel on the stick side to cut the South Carolina lead to 2-1 with less than two minutes to go in the first period.

Early in the second period, South Carolina extended their lead with a power-play goal from former Admiral Horn. The Rays were able to keep the puck in after winning the initial face-off to start the power-play. Horn was fed the puck in the slot and put it over the shoulder of Reichenbach and bank it off the post to give South Carolina a 3-1 lead.

Norfolk cut the South Carolina lead back to one with a goal from D’Amico. Nogard was able to keep control of the puck and fire off a shot from in close in the South Carolina end. The initial shot was saved, but D’Amico was at the back post and was able to knock the rebound in behind Deifel to cut the South Carolina lead to 3-2.

Norfolk tied the game on a goal from John Gustafsson. Cody Smith was able to keep the puck in at the blue line after Hurley found him from in the left corner. Smith shot the puck which was initially saved by Deifel, but the rebound bounced right out to Gustafsson who was there to backhand the puck into the net to tie the game at three.

Norfolk would seal the game with a goal from Klima. Moments after serving a penalty, Jalen Smereck found a loose puck deep into the Norfolk zone and fed Klima in on a breakaway off after a big stretch pass. Klima skated into the zone, made a sudden deke move, and put the puck over the glove of Deifel to give Norfolk a 4-3 lead with just over 30 seconds to go in the third period.

Reichenbach made 39 saves on 42 shots and gets the win while Deifel made 26 saves on 30 shots and takes the loss for South Carolina.

Norfolk continues its road trip on Saturday with a 7:35 p.m. affair at Atlanta.