Admirals show signs of promise

Despite a defeat Sunday, the Norfolk Admirals won four of six games on their ECHL season-opening homestand and seem to be trending up.

Sunday, with 1,954 fans at Scope, they saw a three-game winning streak end with a 4-3 loss to the Maine Mariners, who overcame a trio of one-goal deficits.

Norfolk’s Justin Young, named the day’s No. 2 star, scored 15:02 into the game at even strength and on a power play 18:03 into the first period, which ended with the Admirals (4-3-0-1) on top 2-1.

Wyllum Deveaux, named the game’s No. 1 star, answered with his second goal of the day one minute into the second period, leveling Maine at 2.

Dmitry Kuzmin put the Admirals ahead again 31 seconds into the third period, netting a power-play goal. But Ethan Keppen scored Maine’s third tying goal at 11:33 of the third, and Reid Stefanson followed with the go-ahead goal at 14:40.

Shane Starrett made 30 saves for the victory for the Mariners (2-40-0), who were outshot 33-26.

Goalie Yaniv Perets took the loss Sunday, but he posted his first pro victory — a shutout — Saturday night in a 5-0 victory as the Admirals represented Hampton in their City Series promotion.

Mathieu Roy set the tone by scoring 19 seconds into the game and was named its No. 1 star. No. 3 star Brian Bowen scored twice, and No. 2 star Perets made 17 saves.

Perets, 23, a Carolina Hurricanes NHL prospect, led Quinnipiac to the 2023 NCAA championship before turning pro.

Griffin Mendel scored shorthanded 5:11 into the game, and Bowen made it 3-0 just 1:37 into the middle period. In the third period, Justin Robidas’ power-play goal and Bowen’s second goal capped the night with a flourish. Thomas Caron had two assists.

Norfolk never has made the 16-team playoffs since returning to the ECHL for the 2015-16 season and has gone through numerous administrative changes. But Jeff Carr, who was promoted to head coach early last season after a miserable start, seems to have a team far better than the one that spent almost the entire season mired in the ECHL cellar.

The Admirals next will play at 7 Wednesday night in Pennsylvania against the Reading Royals.