NORFOLK, Va. — Bob Wren scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period Saturday night as the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks held on to defeat the Norfolk Admirals 4-3 and stave off elimination in their best-of-5 AHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.

        The Ducks trail 2-1 in the series. Game 4 is 5 p.m. today at the Norfolk Scope. Game 5, if necessary, is scheduled for Wednesday at Cincinnati Gardens.

        On the winning goal, Wren took a pass from Jay Legault and, from the slot, ripped a shot past goaltender Jeff Maund for his team-leading fourth goal of the series. Petr Tenkrat, Dwayne Zinger and Antti Aalto also scored for the Ducks, who led 3-1 after the first period.

        Valeri Zelepukin scored twice and added an assist for the Admirals. His second goal, at the 8:43 mark of the third period, tied the game at 3-3. Former Duck Josef Marha assisted on all three Norfolk goals.

        Scott Langkow, who had 35 saves for the Ducks, made a number of quality stops and displayed the form that made him a two-time AHL all-star as Norfolk held a 38-13 margin in shots, including 22-8 through the first two periods.

        Maund, an Ohio State product, surrendered four goals on just 13 shots in the losing effort.

        “When you look at us, we didn't put our best foot forward in the first two games and we dug ourselves a huge hole,” Ducks coach Mike Babcock said. “We didn't have to win three games to keep our season going. We needed to win one (first).”

        Cincinnati ....... 3  0  1—4

        Norfolk ....... 1  0  2—3

        First period: 1. Cin, Tenkrat 1 (McDonald, Butsayev), 2:01 (ppg). 2. Nor, Zelepukin 3 (Wilford, Marha), 5:22. 3. Cin, Zinger 1 (Tenkrat), 5:39. 4. Cin, Aalto 2 (Legault, O'Sullivan), 7:02 (ppg).

        Second period: No scoring.

        Third period: 5. Nor, Baumgartner 2 (Marha, Zelepukin), 5:06. 6. Nor, Zelepukin 4 (Marha), 8:43.7. Cin, Wren 4 (Legault), 10:47.

        Shots on goal: Cin 6-2-5-13; Nor 11-11-16=38. Power-play Conversations: Cin 2-for-4; Nor 0-for-5. Goalies: Cin, Langkow (38 shots, 35 saves; record: 1-0); Nor, Maund (13 shots, 9 saves; record: 2-1). Att: 3,091.

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