Syracuse Crunch Falls 4-3 to Norfolk Admirals in Overtime

Story and photos by Julia Morris 

Norfolk Admirals’ defenseman Shea Theodore picked a good time to find the net for the first time this season, scoring a game-winning goal in overtime to lead his team to a 4-3 victory over the Syracuse Crunch Friday night.  The score came 2:01 into the sudden death overtime period, ending a physical battle that included 24 penalties between the two teams.

Syracuse scored the first goal of the game and led several times but failed to stay ahead. 

In the opening period, the Crunch (4-4-2-0) took a 1-0 lead when defenseman J.P. Cote scored just 3:51 into the game. Left wing Henri Ikonen passed the puck across the offensive zone to center Mike Angelidis on the left side of the net.  Angelidis fired a shot that was blocked by Admirals’ goalie Igor Bobkov but Cote was waiting for the rebound and slid the puck between Bobkov’s legs for his first goal of the season.

“There’s a lot of good things we did tonight,” Cote said. “We had a pretty solid first period I thought.  You just can’t release. You have got to keep going and that’s the main thing we have to learn.”

Shortly after the goal, Crunch center Tanner Richard and Admirals’ defenseman Jesse Blacker dropped gloves, one of many scuffles throughout the game.  Richard fired punches and both players fell to the ice, increasing the cheers of fans at the War Memorial Arena.

Crunch builds lead, Admirals catch up

The Crunch scored 6:51 into the second period on a power play. Captain Jonathan Marchessault scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Crunch a 2-0 lead.  While Syracuse converted on that opportunity, overall the team was only 1-7 on the power play.

“We had good plays but we weren’t burying and we got a little casual,” Marchessault said.

The Admirals (5-6-0-0) responded with two quick goals, both coming with less than five minutes remaining in the second period.  Admirals’ left wing John Kurtz fired a shot and Crunch goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made a nice glove save, one of his 29 on the night. But shortly after Admirals’ left wing Nic Kerdiles scored and cut the Crunch lead to 2-1.  Center Chris Wagner scored with just 17 second left  to tie it at 2-2 heading into the third period. 
 

“I think we just gave them a bit too much room and obviously it came back to bite us,” defenseman Jake Dotchin said.

The Crunch struck first in the third period but once again failed to hold the lead. Just 1:02 into the third, right wing Jerome Samson had the puck behind the net of the Crunch’s offensive zone.  He shoveled a pass to Angelidis, who found the net and put the Crunch ahead 3-2.  

But the Admirals answered 6:44 into the period – this time on a short-handed goal.  Center Joseph Cramarossa lit the lamp to shift momentum in favor of the Admirals. The Crunch have given up a league-leading five short-handed goals this season.

“Some of the shifts we weren’t as good as we should have been, as solid as we should have been,” Cote said. “Once you don’t show up for a minute the momentum can switch and that’s the kind of league we’re in and we have to learn that.”

Norfolk carried its scoring momentum into overtime and Theodore's goal gave the Admirals the victory.

The two teams will face off again Saturday night at the War Memorial Arena.  Game time is set for
7 p.m.