The Norfolk Admirals’ ECHL winning streak ended at six games Friday night, though they received a standings point by reaching overtime in a 5-4 loss to the Reading Royals.
Keaton Jameson scored twice for the Admirals (33-19-4-1), who had been on their longest winning streak since the 2016-17 season.
Dajon Mingo sent most of the Pennsylvania crowd home happy by scoring 4:49 into overtime at Santander Arena. That handed Admirals goalie Yaniv Perets a loss, though he made 33 saves.
Nolan Maier gained a well-deserved victory with 37 saves for Reading (23-26-5-2), which trails Worcester by three points for the North Division’s fourth and final playoff berth. The Admirals are solidly in second place.
Norfolk carried a 3-1 lead into the final 15 minutes of regulation, thanks to goals by Jameson in the first period and — just 35 seconds apart — goals by Josh McDougall and Danny Katic in the second.
But Reading’s Shane Sellar made it 3-2 5:54 into the third period, and Mason Millman tied things at 3 at 10:12. Just 37 seconds later, Ryan Cox gave the Royals, who are affiliates of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, their first lead with a goal.
The Admirals pulled even at 4 with 3:35 left in regulation as Darick Louis-Jean assisted Jameson’s eighth goal of the season.
Mingo’s deciding goal was set up by Devon Paliani’s fourth assist of the evening.
Reading evened the three-game, four-day series at a victory each. The rubber game is set for 6:05 p.m. Saturday.
