The first place Admirals (27-17-3-4) host the 10th and last place Henderson Silver Knights (20-29-2-0).
Mitch McLain is the only ex-Ads player on this team. Mason Geertsen, #4, is the one who injured Kemell in January of 2024 at Henderson with a late check behind the play in Period 1. He was ejected in Period 2 for coming off of the bench at 0:00 and trying to start a fight.
The ice looks soft by the boards (again). It is Hockey Fights Cancer Night. For the honorary puck drop, the two team captains had a long talk!
Murray is in goal. At LD is Gravel, with Statsney. LW is Denisenko, O'Reilly at C and Ozzy. The Ads are wearing their red jerseys and hockey stockings.
Bjork was dragged down by a horse collar in the SW corner and no call. Then Ufko was Tripped about 2 minutes into the game, which was called. De Leo (3) scores 5-hole on a rebound of Statsney's (11) shot. Friedman (6) had the other assist on a cross ice pass at the Blue Line. The Ads nearly scored again, seconds later. HSK holds Lucchini's glove and Jake is called is called for Holding. HSK scores a PPG at 6:11 to tie the game. Poor officiating!!!
Marino, Pavel and Wall are up front, with Gravel and Statsney. HSK does a lot of cross-checking. It is how they played defense last season.
O'Reilly centers Ozzy and Denisenko, with Del Gaizo and ?. Kemell called for a Slashing minor that I and my daughter did not see. The Ads had the puck behind their own net at the time for a possible break out. Ads killed the PP with 8:00 minutes remaining. SOG are 9-6 Ads. Kemell cross-checked from behind and he loses the puck. No call. Something happened in the NW corner as 3 Ads players go after #19, Brisson. He got 2 for Roughing as did Friedman. I will guess that he hit Matt Murray with his stick well after the whistle to get that reaction. #65, Mayo, goes for a minor for Cross-Checking Statsney in the SE corner. HSK killed the PP. SOG 13-11 Ads. HSK's motto is "Cross-Checking is Us!".
Period 2 begins with the same 6 Ads who started. After a line change, Ufko and Del Gaizo are on with?
HSK's team captain just high sticked an Ads player in front of their bench and way, way after the whistle! No call? How can that be?
Marino with a big hit, then he flipped a guy with a bigger hit by the Ads bench. HSK is only interested in going after the smallest Admirals, not any of the big ones! Ottenbreit and Friedman are paired. Friedman is not a fast skater.
With 10:12 remaining, HSK scores on a 2-on-1 against Friedman, who covered neither player!
HSK called for High Sticking with 9:55 remaining. The guy gets out of the box and Friedman lets him take an open shot from the slot! Marino hammers #12 in the NE corner and draws a fight from McLain, who lost badly. Marino was going to the box when #89 (McKay) grabbed him. He got 2 minutes for Roughing instead of the 10 minute Misconduct that he deserved! I thought that Marino was going to fight a fresh guy. The penalties were evened up as Marino got 2 minutes for Boarding.
Now Ozzy takes a stick from #44 well after the whistle as he was skating away from the HSK goal. That was not called. I am expecting a line brawl in the last 5:04. The refs are letting HSK get away with WAY TOO MUCH.
Ufko (6) scores 5-hole from the top of left circle just after the minors expired. Assist to Ozzy. SOG 19-17 Ads with 3:08 remaining. McKay slashed an Admiral (Friedman?) like 5 or 10 seconds after the whistle and Ottenbreit went after him! There was a Second Fight going on nearby. HSK #20 Fighting vs Denisenko, who does not seem to like his old team at all. McKay got 2 for Roughing and 5 for Fighting. The Ads have a PP with 2:31 remaining. Marino comes out of the box.
McLain, #75, comes out of the box to a chorus of boos from the 9000 fans. He was limping like he had a leg cramp. Total SOG were 23-18 Ads in a 2-2 tie.
Period 3 begins with Rolston joining Cal and Ozzy. I guess Denisenko is still in the box for Fighting? Bjork, De Leo and Reedy are up front. #44 interferes with Ozzy, then checks him, then holds his stick. No call. Kemell checks #25, who hits Kemell's linemate in the neck with a cross-check and no call. Wall knocks down #5 and #65 slashes Roston, no call. The Ads can't clear the puck and Murray has it go over his left leg pad for a score. He should have stopped that shot. The Ads have 11:30 to score. SOG are 24-20 Ads. Marino checks #13, who looked like he wanted to fight. Marino gets dumped in front of the HSK goal and #5, Chase Pauls, gets a Minor for Hooking with 8:20 remaining. Bjork gets mugged after the face-off and ref Kyle Bauman just watches it go on for 15 seconds. That was ridiculous!!!
I have not seen Denisenko this period. I keep seeing Rolston playing on different lines. HSK scores on a counterattack at 17:40 to make it 4-2. Murray comes off with around 1:30 left. Ads take a TO. I have an idiot yelling behind me that it is "too late now!". Ozzy called for Cross-Checking. I did not see it. Ads lose.