After beating Adirondack on Friday and Saturday nights, the Norfolk Admirals failed to complete a three-game ECHL sweep Sunday as the Thunder won 6-2 before 3,623 at Scope.
Goalie Jeremy Brodeur gained the victory with 36 saves in a game that yielded 74 penalty minutes (37 per team), far more than in the series’ first two contests. The Admirals fell to 4-3-2-0, while the Thunder improved to 4-2-1-1.
Brodeur, 29, who played seven games for Norfolk in 2018-19, is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur, who’s an executive with the Thunder’s NHL affiliate, the New Jersey Devils.
Adirondack scored twice in 11 seconds past Norfolk goalie Alex Worthington to move ahead 2-0 in the first period. Cam Squires netted a power-play goal at 14:20 before Grant Loven, named the day’s No. 1 star, followed at even strength at 14:31.
In the second period, the Admirals’ Matt Crasa scored on a power play at 3:32 off a Kristóf Papp assist to cut the margin to 2-1. But Adirondack regained command on second-period goals by Chase McLane at 8:49 and Dylan Wendt at 14:33.
Brannon McManus made it 5-1 with a goal at 6:01 of the third, though the Admirals’ Brady Fleurent scored his team-high fifth goal off assists from Ben Zloty and Justin Young on a power play at 9:06.
After Admirals coach Jeff Carr pulled the goalie, Adirondack’s Greg Smith capitalized with an empty-net goal at 18:47.
Norfolk will continue the homestand with Friday and Saturday night games against the Savannah Ghost Pirates, both starting at 7:05.
