Admirals Hang Tough In Loss To Essex

The Amherstburg Admirals stayed within one goal for 59 minutes of hockey against the first-place Essex 73’s on Tuesday night, ultimately giving up a late-empty net goal in a 3-1 defeat in Essex.

The Admirals got off to a dream start with the team’s leading-scorer Brett Jones capitalizing on a 73’s turnover for his seventh goal of the season and a 1-0 lead at 4:56 of the opening frame.

Once finding themselves down a goal, the high-powered 73’s went to work and did not let up for the rest of the evening. Nate Dowling tied the game with five minutes left in the first and Carter Dembinski scored what would turn out to the game-winner with five minutes left in the second, as Essex blanketed the Admirals attack to prevent a tying goal. Patrick McManus salted things away with an empty-net goal in the dying secomds to preserve the win.

Goaltender Russell Vaughan was the main reason the Admirals were able to stay in the game. The rookie puck-stopper made 36 saves as the Admirals were outshot 37-10 overall.

Remaining in fifth-place but just four points out of third, the Admirals will have a chance to get back in the win column on Thursday when they travel to Walpole Island to take on the Wild.