The Milwaukee Admirals snapped a five-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon with a 7-2 win over Central Division rival, the Chicago Wolves. Five different Admirals found the back of the net to bring Milwaukee back into first place in the division.
Sunday night’s first period looked as though it was going to be the start of another Chicago onslaught; like the Admirals underwent this past Wednesday. At 11:59, Matt Donovan was chasing the puck near the corner boards against Chicago center T.J. Tynan. Tynan fell to the ice and Donovan caught his jaw with his stick. This led to some pushing and shoving by Donovan with Chicago’s Curtis McKenzie which eventually landed him in the box with a four-minute roughing penalty. Zach Magwood ended up serving the actual two-minute penalty. McKenzie also served two-minutes for roughing. The Admirals had just finished nearly killing off a Justin Kirkland holding penalty at 10:06. The Kirkland penalty ended, which brought play back to 5 on 4 but Daniel Carr (9) was able to score on Milwaukee goaltender Troy Grosenick at 12:23. Grosenick attempted a diving save towards the puck, but Carr was able to lob it over him to score Chicago’s first goal of the game. Carr scored four goals on Wednesday morning’s matchup between these two teams. Chicago right-winger Tyler Wong made it a two-goal game at 16:12 with his first goal of the season.
Milwaukee fans surely were feeling as though a replay from Wednesday was about to happen. Something awoke inside the Admirals offense as Anthony Richard (7) was able to shove the puck into the goal after a rebound from a shot from Mathieu Olivier (5). Justin Kirkland had just forced a turnover behind the net, which led to Richard being able to beat Chicago goaltender Oscar Dansk’s left side. About a minute and a half later at 17:41 Predators top prospect, Eeli Tolvanen, scored his second goal of the season with a slapshot from the top of the circle that ricocheted off the crossbar and into the net. The Admirals and Wolves were tied at the end of the first period. Also worth noting, at 3:05 into the first period Mathieu Olivier and Chicago’s Alex Gallant dropped the gloves (and their helmets) at the Chicago blue line. Olivier was able to land four right jabs to Gallant’s side, before connecting several punches to Gallant’s head. Olivier brought Gallant to his knees before the linesmen stepped in to end it. They both served their five-minutes and two-minute minors for unsportsmanlike conduct. Chicago led the period in shots with 11 to Milwaukee’s 7.
The second period started with both teams looking to gain the lead. At 4:05 Chicago’s McKenzie was called for cross-checking. Chicago was able to kill of the penalty. Less than a minute after the penalty ended Tyler Gaudet and Yakov Trenin got in front of the Chicago defenders for a two-on-one chance. Trenin (4) passed to his left to Tyler Gaudet (3) who was able to put it behind the right leg of Dansk. Not even a minute later, Colin Blackwell had a breakaway and was able to bury it for his fourth goal of the season. Admirals Captain Jarred Tinordi (3) and goaltender Troy Grosenick (1) had the assists. The second period, which has thus far been the most eventful period for the Admirals this season, was relatively calm in this game.
The third period
started off with Chicago getting a chance at a powerplay when Zach Magwood was sent to the box for slashing at 3:15. Milwaukee’s penalty kill unit continues to be excellent and is currently ranked at #2 in the AHL. As the penalty had just ended, at 5:20 Anthony Richard mounted a two-on-one scoring chance, but the other skater wasn’t needed. Richard was able to beat Dansk’s left side on his own for his second goal of the game and his eighth of the season. The Admirals went on the powerplay at 6:19 when Chicago’s Griffin Reinhart was called for tripping. Chicago was able to kill the penalty.
Eeli Tolvanen was sent to the box for slashing at 9:10. The Chicago bench was getting desperate to generate some offense. With about 10:22 left in the period Chicago pulled Dansk in favor of an extra attacker to give Chicago a 6 on 4 advantage. This decision proved to be to Chicago’s disadvantage when the penalty ended and Tolvanen was able to gain possession right outside of the box; he was able to score the empty net goal from an awkward angle. This was Tolvanen’s first North American multi-goal game.
At 13:10 into to the period Chicago’s Curtis McKenzie collided with Milwaukee netminder Troy Grosenick which dislodged the net. Yakov Trenin threw some jabs and both Trenin and McKenzie were sent to the box for two minutes. Grosenick laid on the ice visually in pain. He was grabbing at his hamstring when the Milwaukee trainer came off the bench. Grosenick was able to exit the game under his own power, but most of his weight was being put on just one leg. Milwaukee’s Tom McCollum took over after this point.
With about six and a half minutes to go in the third period Chicago pulled Dansk for a second time. At 13:51 Magwood was able to breakaway from the Chicago defender to score Milwaukee’s second empty net goal of the game. Tom McCollum was able to stop the two shots he faced after entering the game. Milwaukee won by its largest margin of the season and reclaimed their spot alone in first place in the Central Division. Shots on goal at the end of the game were Chicago 29-27 for Milwaukee. This was Oscar Dansk’s first regulation loss to the Milwaukee Admirals in his AHL career.
Game Notes:
What can you say after a 7-2 victory?! Milwaukee looked good and were ready to stifle Chicago’s offense. The +/- ratings were excellent down the lineup. Jarred Tinordi was +5, Tyler Gaudet was +4, and Frederic Allard and Anthony Richard were both +3.
If there was one thing that the Admirals could continue to improve on, it is the powerplay. Milwaukee was 0 and 2 in this match and is at 18.8% for the season. Milwaukee’s shots on goal during powerplays were lacking.
This was easily Eeli Tolvanen’s best game of the season, statistically speaking. Many have mentioned that once he scores his first few goals more will come. It looks like he may be settling into the North American game and he is trying to get shots on goal from a wider variety of spots on the ice.
Anthony Richard’s impact on this team is so apparent after missing him for a few games after an injury a week ago. While this was not his first game back after his injury, he was excellent. He had three shots on goal and scored twice. He also now leads the team with eight goals.
The Milwaukee Admirals play again on Wednesday at 7:00PM in Des Moines, IA to play the Iowa Wild for the first time this season. You can find game recaps here on PenaltyBoxRadio.com.
