Milwaukee Admirals

Milwaukee Musings: Ads split start to the season

Milwaukee Admirals

Milwaukee Musings: Ads split start to the season

by
Eric D
October 24, 2023

The Milwaukee Admirals kicked off their 2023-24 campaign with two Saturday contests over the past couple of weeks. After dispatching the Chicago Wolves in overtime, the Admirals gave up a last-second heartbreaker to the Texas Stars over the weekend. They’ll conduct a small Canadian road trip this week before heading home to host the Iowa Wild before Halloween.

2023-24 Nashville Predators AHL | ECHL Prospects Stats

Quick Hits

On Monday, the Nashville Predators reassigned Nolan Burke (F), who recently recovered from injury, from the Milwaukee Admirals to the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators
With Luke Schenn being placed on injured reserve, Nashville could recall a defender from Milwaukee, which would allow Adam Wilsby to draw into the Admirals’ lineup
In the Atlanta Gladiators season opener, Jack Matier (D) notched his first pro goal and assist, and Gustavs Davis Grigals (G) stopped 30 of 32 shots for a win

Milwaukee Admirals (2) @ Chicago Wolves (1)

Milwaukee opened the season on the road, taking on division rival Chicago two Saturdays ago. After a scoreless, penalty-filled first period, the Wolves got on the scoreboard first due to a missed backdoor assignment from Marc Del Gaizo and Jordan Gross. Moments later, Denis Gurianov blasted a one-timer from the top of the circles off a feed from Del Gaizo, tying the game.

^{Fedor Svechkov totaled two assists in his AHL debut.}

The third period matched the first on the scoreboard, but Spencer Stastney scored the game-winner on a breakaway in overtime thanks to a stretch pass from Fedor Svechkov; Svechkov ended his AHL debut with two assists and some notable defensive moments.

Milwaukee Admirals (2) v. Texas Stars (3)

The Admirals came out of the gates for their home opener at a blistering pace, peppering the Stars with shot attempts. While Milwaukee finished the first 20 minutes with a 17-3 shot advantage, Texas scored with one second left in the frame on a breakaway chance.

Towards the end of period two, Roland McKeown took advantage of a broken play at the Stars’ blueline and tied the game with assists from Mark Jankowski and Gurianov.

^{Egor Afanasyev scores his first goal of the 2023-24 season.}

In the final frame, Egor Afanasyev capitalized on one of Milwaukee’s six power-play chances, banking a puck from the goal line off of Matthew Murray’s leg and in. Ten minutes later, Logan Stankoven scored his second of the night, blasting a shot past Yaroslav Askarov on the man advantage. While Askarov was sharp most of the night, stopping 21 of 24 shots, the Stars snuck the game-winner over his left shoulder with just 19 seconds remaining in period three to drop the Admirals to a 1-1-0 record.