Photo Courtesy of the Norfolk Admirals [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/32501f38-eda0-47f2-a3d0-2ba14abb5281.png] Photo Courtesy of the Norfolk Admirals The Norfolk Admirals [https://norfolkadmirals.com/]needed a victory Friday to keep from going down 3-1 in their North Division Finals series against the Trois-Rivieres Lions [https://lions3r.com/]. It only took one goal to do the trick. Brandon Osmundson scored the only goal of the game in the second period. Meanwhile, goaltender Thomas Milic pitched a 24-save shutout, enabling the Admirals to secure a 1-0 victory to level the series 2-2. In comparison to Thursday's loss, the Admirals saw improvement on the forecheck from the outset. They generated numerous high-quality scoring opportunities that could have allowed them to take an early lead. The Lions were also aggressive around the net early, but Milic successfully thwarted 10 shots and the first period was scoreless. The Admirals outshot Trois-Rivieres 12-10 in the frame. Norfolk increased their intensity during the first half of the middle frame. Lions netminder Luke Cavallin stood tall, making critical saves to safeguard his team's goal against the advancing Admirals. Milic continued to do the same in his crease, maintaining a strong defensive presence. The first goal of the game finally came later in the period. It was Osmundson, the Chesapeake native, who scored his third goal of the postseason by capitalizing on a rebound, thereby providing the Admirals with a 1-0 lead. It would be the only goal Norfolk would need. The Admirals outshot the Lions 8-5 in the middle frame. Milic exhibited remarkable skill to keep Trois-Rivieres off the scoreboard in the third period, making several critical saves which allowed the Admirals to maintain the lead. As the clock wound down, the Lions grew increasingly desperate, employing all possible strategies in an effort to equalize. They could not, however, and Norfolk escaped with the narrow victory to stay in the series. The two teams will take Saturday off before doing battle in Game 5, which is Sunday at Norfolk Scope Arena. Puck drop is slated for 5:05 Pm ET.
