NORFOLK, VA. – The Idaho Steelheads (9-5-2-0) used their top-ranked power play to take down the Norfolk Admirals (2-9-3-0) by a score of 4-1 Saturday night.
Both teams displayed fatigue during the opening 20, featuring a slow tempo of play, however the scoring did indeed get underway in the second. Brian Nugent earned his first of the season by deflecting one through Connor Knapp’s five-hole after an elongated sequence of offensive zone attack by the Steelheads. Zach Bell and Anthony Luciani were a part of that established attack, receiving assists on the goal.
The Steelheads lead lasted all of 66 seconds though, when John Kurtz got the Admirals back to even. Adam Phillips dumped the puck deeper into the Idaho zone, where it was pinned up against the boards and eventually shuffled to Brodie Dupont, who picked up his third assist in three games by setting up Kurtz.
In the third period the visitors were put back on top once again thanks to their leading point-getter, Jefferson Dahl. Currently touting the league’s top power play unit, Rob Linsmayer set up a heavy drive from Brandon Anselmini that was deflected down in front by Dahl, giving Idaho a mid-third period lead, one they would not look back from.
Travis Ewanyk would put the icing on the cake for the Steelheads, finding not one but two empty four-by-six’s. Admirals head coach Rod Aldoff elected to pull goaltender Connor Knapp with roughly a minute and a half to go, unfortunately to no avail, officially giving the Steelheads the 4-1 victory.
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