The good news for the Norfolk Admirals: Big crowds keep coming to Scope.
The bad news: With every loss, including Saturday’s 4-1 decision to Fort Wayne before 6,669, the Admirals’ odds of making their third consecutive ECHL playoff appearance grow ever slimmer.
The Komets (29-13-8-0) gained their second victory in the three-game series, and goalie Samuel Jonsson needed just 17 saves for it.
At two points per victory and one point per loss that went to overtime, The Admirals (19-27-2-0) are 17 points out of a playoff spot with 24 games remaining.
Christian Propp, the latest goalie to gain a Norfolk start since Isaac Poulter was promoted to the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, made 25 saves but took the loss.
In the first period, Matt Copponi and Alex Aleardi scored at 6:54 and 16:45, respectively, to give Fort Wayne a 2-0 lead.
Brady Fleurent cut the lead in half just 1:28 into the second period on a power play, his 20th goal of the season. But Aleardi, the night’s No. 1 star, scored on a power play at 5:12.
The Komets all but wrapped up the victory with 4:40 remaining in the third period on Austin Magera’s power-play goal.
The Admirals have one more game left on a homestand on which they’re 2-3: 7:05 p.m. Wednesday against the slumping Greensboro Gargoyles.
https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/02/21/fort-wayne-takes-series-vs-admirals-before-big-scope-crowd/

