Back on the road on Friday for the start of another three-in-three at the Arena as we head down the home stretch of this incredible homestand. It's that time of year, youngsters from recently-completed college programs and Junior teams are coming in on look-sees for an opportunity to win a contract. In recent days the Royals have added collegiate forwards Tyler Kirkup (Bemidji State) and Shane Sellar (RPI) plus goalie Mike Robinson (New Hampshire) to the active roster. Early in the season we saw the Norfolk Admirals five times in our first seven home dates, on this night they returned for the first time since November 21 for the start of a two-game series. Norfolk does not have one of the league's better records but as this weekend played out you would have never known it. In the Friday opener the Royals fell behind early, Mason Millman's tally midway through the first period knotted the score 1-1. In the second period the Ads went back up 2-1, it stayed that until midway through the third when Trevor Gooch found the net to draw the Royals even. Just sixteens seconds later the unphased Admirals struck right back for a 3-2 lead they would hold all the way to the final horn. Mike Robinson made his pro debut and took the loss becoming the seventh goaltender to appear for the Royals in '21-22. Saturday's game began at 4:00, one of three such early starts the club had scheduled at home on Saturdays. Thomas Ebbing gave the Royals a 1-0 lead in the first but Norfolk ripped off three in a row before Ebbing struck again, entering the third period the Royals trailed 3-2. With four minutes left in regulation Patrick Bajkov lit the lamp to tie it 3-3 but there was still one round left in the chamber. In the closing seconds Norfolk scored on a play the Royals argued was offside but to no avail, an empty-net goal on the ensuing faceoff ended what can only be called a stunning 5-3 loss. Logan Flodell (back from a stint in the AHL) started in goal and deserved a better fate. Jenny and her mother were along for both games since Friday was Mental Health Recovery Night and Saturday was Autism Awareness Night, both are causes very close to their hearts. I was home by 8:30 and very glad for the fact that the game had that late afternoon start time, Sunday will be busy and it starts early. Take care, thanks for reading.
