SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Savannah Ghost Pirates, proud ECHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, fell to the Norfolk Admirals, 3-0, in their home opener Friday night at Enmarket Arena.
FIRST PERIOD
The puck dropped on the fifth season of Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey, but neither the Norfolk Admirals (1-0-0-0) nor the Ghost Pirates (0-1-0-0) found the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes. Goaltending was the story of the period, as Vinnie Purpura turned away all six shots from the Admirals while Matt Vernon stopped all 15 shots from the Ghost Pirates.
SECOND PERIOD
The Admirals broke through in the second period, scoring twice in a span of two minutes. Will Gavin scored his first goal of the season after collecting a rebound off the kick plate behind the net. Gavin banked the puck off Purpura and into the net to give Norfolk a 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Grant Hebert extended the Admirals' lead with a goal off a shot from the left circle by Behdan Engum. Hebert redirected the puck past a sliding Purpura on the glove side to make it 2-0.
THIRD PERIOD
The Ghost Pirates could not crack Vernon in the final period, as the goaltender finished with 33 saves to record the shutout. Norfolk added one more goal with less than a minute remaining when Brandon Osmundson scored from the left half wall to seal the 3-0 victory.
The Ghost Pirates will continue their fifth season Saturday, Oct. 17, when they host the Jacksonville Icemen at Enmarket Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. For tickets and more information, visit ghostpirateshockey.com.
– GHOST PIRATES –
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