A quick recap because I need to get to bed for a 8 a.m. booster club bus to Atlantic City for the 4 p.m game vs. the Albany Devils at Boardwalk Hall.

Pens got slapped in the mouth tonight by the Norfolk Admirals and lost 7-4. This was after being down 4-1 to start the third period, having chased starting goaltender Brad Thiessen and tying the score at 4 about 8 minutes in.

As mentioned, Thiessen vs. Cedrick Desjardins. Tim Wallace was out due to a minor injury. Joey Haddad was back from The Nail and played.

First period: Three fights before the game is :30 old. Keven Veilleux dropped Tim Marks, Jesse Boulerice and Pierre-Cedric Labrie spun around and what not and Chris Durno and Zach Sill slipped and fell during their scrap. Later, Eric Tangradi and Radko Gudas would fight after the Big Dog interfered with Desjarsdins and also before referee Jamie Koharski could blow his whistle boarded an Admiral. In the four-minute power play that would ensue, Matt Fornataro would score.

In the first period intermission, I would be lucky enough to snag a signed Marc-Andre Fleury signed puck. Better look at the signature here.

Second period: Eric Tangradi would continue his torrid pace and tie the game at one. Nearly two minutes later, Paul Szczechura would push the Admirals back in front at the very end of a Jesse Boulerice interference call. Then, less than a minute later, Mark Barberio would score. He had an entire lane open to just drive down and snipe on Thiessen. Two minutes later, Troy Milam from the blue line would score as Thiessen was screened. That was all for Brad as John Curry came in to relive him.

Unacceptable defense by Steve Wagner tonight. If I had more time I would break down his spotty play and where he in my opinion cost us the game. This cannot continue.

Third period: Comeback would be on. Tangradi on a deflection at 2:41, Keven Veilleux on a rebound at 5:20 and Joey Haddad backhanded at 7:46. The Mohegan Sun Arena was jumping. It was electric. It felt good. It felt refreshing.

Norfolk wasn’t impressed. After the Haddad goal it appeared we stopped playing. Radko Gudas again while Curry was screened in front by his own man. After that it was all she wrote. Newly acquired Levi Nelson would pot an empty netter.

Line brawls at the end. Check the scoresheet for the culprits. Robert Bortuzzo took a 5 minute elbowing major. I hate misconducts at the end of games cause guys get suspended. We’ll have to see. In the ensuing 5 on three after another mini line brawl Troy Milam would rub it in and score at 19:59.

I said in my Gameday post that if Norfolk won, it’d send a notice to the League that the Admirals are for real. They did, and they have.

Interesting to see what Bombulie will have to say about this game. Check him out later.

Around the East: Worcester beat Albany 6-3, Portland beat Adirondack 2-1, Rochester defeated Binghamton 4-3 in a shootout and Syracuse lost 4-3 to the Providence Bruins.

Standings: WBS 42, NOR 39, HER 33, CLT 32, BNG 26, ALB 22, SYR 22 and ADK 20.

Back on the schtick tomorrow at 4 in Atlantic City. I am off to bed. Gameday post will be up at high noon.

Let’s Go Pens!