The Norfolk Admirals gained a point in the standings Friday night, but they couldn’t get back on the winning track.
The Admirals lost their sixth game in a row, though they reached overtime for the first time in that frustrating stretch. Norfolk (15-14-3-1) fell 4-3 to the Worcester Railers in the opener of a three-game, three-night series in Massachusetts.
Blade Jenkins slipped the puck past Admirals goalie Thomas Milic 1:17 into overtime to send most of the crowd of 1,912 home happy.
Milic made 28 saves, while winning goalie John Muse made 40 for the victory.
Ryan Verrier’s goal 3:25 into the game put the Railers ahead, but Aaron Miller’s goal at 11:47 and Denis Smirnov’s at 19:13 gave Norfolk a 2-1 lead after one period. Owen Norton, 25, gained his first pro point via an assist on Smirnov’s goal. It was the former Mercyhurst College defenseman’s 17th ECHL game and his 13th as an Admiral.
Artyom Kulakov tied the score at 2 at 18:04 of the second period as Daylan Kuefler gained his second assist of the evening.
In the third period, Riley Piercey scored at 1:39 for a 3-2 Railers lead, but Brandon Osmundson — a Chesapeake native — scored his second Admirals goal of the season at 15:31, eventually forcing overtime to get Norfolk its 34th standings point. Norton earned another assist.
In OT, though, Jenkins scored off an Anthony Repaci assist during 3-on-3 play for a sudden finish.
The rematch was set for Saturday night at DCU Center, followed by a 3:05 p.m. clash Sunday.
