Needing to string wins together to get in ECHL playoff contention, the Norfolk Admirals opened a three-game series Friday night by rallying for a 5-3 victory over the host Greensboro Gargoyles.
Chesapeake native Brandon Osmundson earned No. 1 star honors. He had three assists before clinching the victory by scoring into an empty net with 43 seconds remaining.
After winning before 5,643 at Greensboro’s historic coliseum, the site of numerous ACC basketball tournaments and many other events, the Admirals (17-24-2-0) will return to Scope for the series’ final two games — 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 3:05 Sunday.
It was the franchises’ first-ever clash. The expansion Gargoyles (12-24-5-1) are affiliated with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, who play in nearby Raleigh. After moving from Hartford, Connecticut, the Hurricanes played their first two NHL seasons in Greensboro’s coliseum while their arena in Raleigh was being built.
Last-place Greensboro took a 2-1 lead in the first period, when all three goals were on power plays. Kristof Papp scored for the Admirals at 11:09, but Patrick Newell responded at 16:03 and assisted Greg Smith’s go-ahead goal for the Gargoyles at 17:35.
Newell scored 5:34 into the middle period, putting Greensboro ahead 3-1. But Chase Yoder pulled the Admirals even, scoring at 18:14 of the second and 8:03 into the third period. Osmundson and Jack O’Leary assisted both goals.
Less than a minute before the tying goal, Admirals goalie Isaac Poulter gave Norfolk momentum by stopping Tyler Weiss on a penalty shot. Poulter gained the victory with 31 saves.
With the Admirals short-handed, O’Leary then gave them the lead for good 12:59 into the third off an Osmundson assist.
Greensboro pulled goalie Ruslan Khazheyev for an extra attacker late in the game, and Osmundson capitalized with the clincher.
