NORFOLK — Posted along the bottom of the video scoreboard at Scope is the tagline #AllHandsOnDeck as a call for support from fans
And should the Norfolk Admirals close out the first round of their Kelly Cup playoff series with the Trois-Rivières Lions in Game 5 Saturday night on home ice, it’s because they have been following the same mantra all season long — a team that gets production from up and down the lineup.
“It feels good that we’re taking care of business in the facet of earning these victories vs. coasting or getting lucky because we have an 80-point guy,” Admirals coach Jeff Carr said. “We’re a by-committee team. We play our best when everyone is chipping in.”
The Admirals enter Saturday’s 7:05 matchup leading 3-1 in the tightly contested series, and points are coming from all over the ice.
Brady Fleurent fired in two goals to power the Admirals in the series-opening victory. Brandon Osmundson, a Chesapeake native, registered two goals and an assist in a 5-4 setback in Game 2, and defenseman Josh McDougall had both Norfolk goals in a 2-1 Game 3 win. All three were on the road at the Colisée Vidéotron in Quebec.
Carr said the Admirals didn’t have rink availability, so between that and the long travel distance between Norfolk and Trois-Rivières, it made sense to play the first three games away and the remainder of the games at home.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that. It was pretty neat to be part of, and being able to win two games out of the three was great,” Admirals rookie Austen Keating said. “We called it a business trip, we got there, got the job done, and now we’re able to come home to a great group of fans.”
On Wednesday, the Admirals returned home for the remainder of the series, and Gehrett Sargis scored twice to lead the Admirals to a 6-3 win. They jumped out to 4-0 lead, with all the goals coming during a 10-minute stretch ending in the first minute of the second period, before Trois-Rivières clawed back into the game with three unanswered goals.
“It’s chemistry — our guys are so close and we have an awesome organization,” Sargis said. “Everyone’s working together. It’s incredible to sit back and see what we’re accomplishing. But it’s a long haul — a marathon. We haven’t done anything yet, so we’ve got to keep it rolling.”
Now, the road to close out the series runs through Norfolk, with the first chance coming Saturday night. Games 6 and 7 are scheduled for Sunday and Wednesday nights, if necessary. The other ECHL North Division series, between the Adirondack Thunder and Maine Mariners, is currently tied at 1, with Game 3 slated for Friday.
Carr said leading up to Game 5, the Admirals would focus on watching video to see what they can implement to clean up play and reduce Trois-Rivières’ scoring chances. Keating added that he and his teammates know what they have to do to win — focus on what they do best by having everyone contribute and not worry about their rivals across the ice.
“It’s not easier, it’s the playoffs. They’re going to come play every single game,” Keating said on being home the rest of the series. “We’re expecting their best come Saturday. They’re fighting for their lives and they’re going to come hungry. We’re just going to have to match that and be ready to go right from the puck drop.”
