Smirnov Scores In 100th Game To Lift Admirals Over Reading

Just about everything went right for the Norfolk Admirals Wednesday night in a 5-2 win over the Reading Royals at Norfolk Scope.

For one thing, the victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Admirals, who improve their record to 7-2-0-1. With the loss, Reading falls to 6-9-2.

Also, Denis Smirnov played in his 100^th game as an Admiral, scoring a goal in the process.

Brady Fleurent got the scoring started for Norfolk on a power-play opportunity at 16:46 of the first period. Fleurent sent a Stepan Timofeyev cross crease feed over the left pad of Reading goalie Keith Petruzzelli for his fourth goal of the season.

That was all the scoring until the third period, when both teams combined for six goals. Timofeyev notched his fourth goal of the season on a tip-in of a loose puck in the crease at 5:17 for a 2-0 Admirals lead.

After Ryan Leibold cut the Reading deficit to 2-1 at the 9:20 mark for his first goal as a Royal, Smirnov scored for the first time as an assistant captain to make the score 3-1.

It was Smirnov’s 100^th game wearing an Admirals sweater.

Darick Louis-Jean sent a beautiful feed to Marko Reifienberger for his third of the year and a 4-1 Norfolk advantage.

The Admirals finished their scoring with an empty-netter by Fleurent, his second on the night. Jake Smith put one in for the Royals for his second of the season at 17:07 to make the final score 5-2.

Domenic DiVincentiis, who had just been assigned to Norfolk by the Manitoba Moose the day before, was impressive in his ECHL debut in net, stopping 28 of 30 shots.

The two teams get together again on Friday, this time at Santander Arena in Reading. Puck drop is set for 7 Pm ET.