The Norfolk Admirals entertained a Scope crowd of 5,333 with a third-period comeback to reach overtime Friday night, but Francesco Arcuri scored 1:52 into the extra session to give the Idaho Steelheads a 4-3 victory.
The Steelheads (35-17-4-0) leveled the three-game series with Norfolk (21-29-3-0) at a victory apiece, and its finale is set for 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
Idaho, an affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, went ahead on Liam Malmquist’s goal 11:22 into the game. The Steelheads made it 2-0 on J Miller’s goal 4:19 into the second period, but the Admirals’ Brody Crane countered with a power-play goal at 14:33 of the second.
The Steelheads went ahead 3-1 when Ty Pelton-Byce scored 3:09 into the third, and they were poised to increase the lead on a power play. But the Admirals’ Carson Musser scored short-handed 7:11 into the period, closing the gap to 3-2.
Norfolk pulled even at 3 with 2:26 to go in regulation when Jaydon Dureau scored.
Steelheads goalie Ben Kraws made 28 saves for the victory. Norfolk’s Alex Worthington made 17 saves and took the defeat.