Pink ice can’t help Admirals to victory

The ice set a rosy stage as the Norfolk Admirals played the Hartford Wolf Pack during the first Pink in the Rink event at Scope on Saturday.

The surface, along with other events during the game, was designed to increase breast cancer awareness and education. The event also helped raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization that helps breast cancer survivors and encourages research.

Hartford 3, Admirals 2

From a season high crowd to boo-proof effort to a near-brawl to a stirring comeback, the Admirals’ inaugural “Pink at the Rink” had just about everything … that is, except an elusive victory for the down-on-its-luck home team.

Too little, too late

The Wolf Pack led 3-0 in the third period before Norm Milley and David Schneider delivered power-play goals to bring the Admirals to within one with just more than four minutes left. Norfolk goalie Marc Denis came out for an extra skater with about 1:40 left, but a delay-of-game penalty on Dan Jancevski with just over a minute to play eliminated the Admirals’ advantage and helped Hartford hang on.

“We’re really close,’’ Jancevski said. “One or two breaks, a good bounce hear and there, and boom! I think we’ll get rolling.’’

Show of support

The game, which doubled as a fundraiser and education/awareness showcase in the fight against breast cancer, drew 5,650, 23 more than the previous season high on Oct. 19 in the Admirals’ home opener against Binghamton.

Close, but not quite

The much-discussed “pink ice’’ wound up taking on a dark, fuschia-like tint, which made for a striking visual from the stands but provided players with an unusual challenge.

“We had no idea where the red line or the blue line were,’’ Jancevski, the Admirals captain, said with a smile. “Everything just looked pink.’’

But this issue was minor, the Admirals said, compared to the fight the game was helping take on.

“We’re in the sports and entertainment business,’’ said Admirals goalie Marc Denis, who played the game with pink tape on the blade of his goalie stick.

“And on nights like this, the cause is bigger than the game.’’

Fight night

The Admirals continue sticking up for each other on the ice, most notably during the third period when Adam Henrich got jumped by two Hartford players. His teammates rushed to Henrich’s aid and within seconds every skater on the ice had his gloves off just like in the old ECHL days.

Power play works

The two power-play goals came in stark contrast to Friday night, when Norfolk went 1 of 9 with the man advantage in a 4-2 loss to the Wolf Pack.

“We got some traffic to the net, and when you do that good things happen,’’ Milley said.

Admirals coach Steve Stirling experimented with using four forwards and one defenseman on the power-play unit.

“It was worth a try,’’ the coach said.

A for effort

Unlike in previous nights, a few appreciative cheers and no boos greeted the Admirals when they skated off at the end of Saturday night’s game.

“I think they saw a bigger effort, guys battling and sticking up for each other, and they appreciated that,’’ Stirling said.

No offense, but …

Saturday’s game marked the 10th time in 14 games that the Admirals have been held to two goals or fewer.

Norfolk is 1-12-0-1 over that span.