Admirals 4, Binghamton 2

WHO WROTE

THIS SCRIPT?

Kinrade, who a week ago was an alternate captain at Michigan Tech, signed an amateur tryout contract with the Admirals on Friday and didn’t arrive in Norfolk until about 5 p.m. Then, with the Admirals clinging to a 2-1 lead in the third period, Kinrade:

- Skated out of the penalty box and stole the puck from Binghamton captain Denis Hamel.

- Collected a pass from Brandon Bochenski and zoomed into the attacking zone.

- Launched the game-winning goal over the left shoulder of Binghamton goalie Jeff Glass.

Afterward , Kinrade wasn’t even sure whom to credit for setting him up.

“I got the pass from THAT guy over there,” he said while pointing at Bochenski. “I don’t even know his name yet.”

“That’s OK,” Bochenski replied. “You’ll know my name soon enough.”

THAT’S MORE LIKE IT

Admirals coach Darren Rumble was thrilled with the team’s overall effort, which was a stark contrast to his assessment of Wednesday’s performance in a 5-3 loss to the Senators. That game inspired a 7a.m. “hard skate” the following day, with the promise of even earlier workouts if the team didn’t shape up.

“It told them if they didn’t show up (Friday), the arrival time for the next practice would keep getting an hour earlier,” Rumble said with a laugh. “But they responded. Everybody showed up tonight.”

WHO’S THAT GIRL?

The Admirals (28-35-3-5) received a good-luck omen shortly before the opening face-off when Cynthia Konopka, older sister of Admirals captain Zenon Konopka and a music teacher who has studied opera, belted out a powerhouse version of “God Bless America.”

According to the captain, even dating back to his pee wee hockey days, his teams virtually never lose when his sister sings. “It’s probably about 90 percent,” the captain said. “Her record’s really good.”

DOING IT ALL FOR YOU

Konopka, who scored the game’s first and last goals, has points in a team season-high nine straight games. But in an emotional post-game interview, Konopka said he only cares about the team’s “one-game winning streak” and vowed that the Admirals would deliver for the fans the rest of the season.

“We had a great crowd, and they’re the reason a guy like me is out there playing,” he said. “These people spend their hard-earned money to come out and see us, and I promise we’re going to play really hard like this the rest of the season.”

THE SUPPORTING CAST

Radek Smolenak recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick – a goal, an assist and a fight. Every Admiral had at least one shot on goal . Riku Helenius made 29 saves to pick up his eighth victory.

TODAY: The Admirals will host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7:15 p.m.