Colton Sissons has been one of the most reliable Admirals over the last month. He’s our pick for the Admiral of the Month. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Let’s welcome in the month of March by giving a wave to the best performances from February. When looking back at all that happened in the last month there’s been a lot of hot and cold results but some pretty good performances. The top of which for me comes from my pick, Colton Sissons.
Sissons scored 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games during the month of February. His start to the season in scoring was nothing like what we saw last season. It took him 25 games before even recording an assist. Jump ahead to the present and it feels like he’s game is right back where it was last season. He has played great on both sides of the puck, has been a provider, and his goal scoring touch has picked back up.
This is what Chris Bruton looked like after fighting Triston Grant. How Bruton looked is also how we all felt inside after the game ended. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
What can you say? The Grand Rapids Griffins storm rolled the Milwaukee Admirals last night in a 4-0 shutout. It felt like the Griffins had the game on cruise control for the better majority of the contest. There was about a ten minute or less spell for the Admirals to close the second period. The game was 1-0 at that time. Instead of carrying their first whisper of momentum into the third the Griffins took hold of the game and never let go.
At the start of the season the Admirals played a speed and stretch pass game which had them beating teams almost on skill alone. When the rest of the league wised up in December it hit them hard. What followed was January’s “play the right way” campaign and things really appeared to not only be trending upwards for the Admirals but looked as if that’s the type team balance that should be expected moving forward.
February’s slate of games ended with the shutout loss to Grand Rapids last night. The final mark established in the month for the Admirals was 4-4-2-1. They’ve recorded only a single win from their last seven games and of those losses four came in regulation including the last two straight on home ice.
It’s hard to determine what the problem is but it’s easy enough to through darts at the idea board. For example, having the amount of injuries, call ups, PTO signings, etc can’t be the most ideal scenario for a team to get on or maintain any sort of groove. That being said, those moves and injury problems were really targeted at the defense. It’s the offense that has had its share of hot and cold performances in February. At the start of this month there was a three-game winning streak where the Admirals posted a grand total of seventeen goals. This current four-game losing streak that the Admirals are on? Twelve goals.
You certainly prefer to go through stretches such as this now rather than playoff time. My line of thinking is that, with so many banged up parts getting back into the lineup, the Admirals are better suited to rebounding and getting back to their good vibes of “playing the right way” soon enough rather than sputtering again and again. If you look at what the month of March brings it’s a hefty chunk of games – specifically road games. The Admirals will be playing fifteen games – as opposed to the eleven games they had this month – and nine games of that grouping are all on the road – including a massive six game road trip.
After the game I was able to speak with Dean Evason and Triston Grant before Billy Currington exploded the stage with loud noises. Here is what both had to say following the shutout loss to Grand Rapids.
Petr Mrázek has always been solid against the Milwaukee Admirals. That story continued once again tonight. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
The Admirals were shutout 4-0 by Petr Mrázek and the Grand Rapids Griffins Friday night. It’s the third career shutout by Mrázek against the Admirals in twelve career performances. The Ads now have only one win from their last seven games and have fallen down the pecking order in the Midwest Division.
It could have gone much worse but the first period was about as sluggish of a start as the Admirals have had all season. Their first shot came 9:57 into the frame and they were outshot in the period 12-6.
It’s probably no surprise then that the Griffins were able to generate a goal out of that opening period. After a counter rush back up ice for the Griffins, that saw a two-on-one pass for Andy Miele flame out, they capitalized off of an Admirals defense that was scrambling. Scott Czarnowczan stepped up from the point and got to the left side of Marek Mazanec. He fed on over to a wide open back door where Marek Tvrdon had a tap in for his seventh goal of the season.
After Petr Mrazek was called for a trip, the Griffins scored shorthanded in the third period to push their lead to 2-0. Tomas Nosek raced down the left wing and fought off the backcheck of Taylor Aronson before cutting across goal to go forehand to backhand past the extended left pad of Mazanec. The goal was Nosek’s sixth of the season and the Admirals seventh shorthanded goal allowed this season.
Jeff Hoggan scored midway through the third period to make it a 3-0 game. Xavier Ouellet’s stretch pass deflected off of Colton Sissons stick in neutral ice and wobbled its way perfectly in line with the Griffins captain. Hoggan finished off his breakaway with a forehand over the glove of Mazanec to score his eighth goal of the season.
The Admirals finally had enough of being bossed around and things exploded with Rich Clune instigating a small brawl. The fracas spilled into a secondary fight between Triston Grant and Chris Bruton. Grant bloodied up Bruton and the crowd finally had something to cheer about.
In the closing minutes the Admirals burned their timeout and pulled Mazanec in the hopes of a miraculous comeback. That of course didn’t happen. What did happen was a long range empty netter for Landon Ferraro for his twenty-second goal of the season to seal the game at its 4-0 final.
The defeat pushes the Griffins that much further ahead in the Midwest Division. They now have a four-point gap over the Admirals. Combine that with the results out of the Rockford IceHogs tonight and the Ads have fallen to third place in the division.
Ramblings: Tonight’s scratches for the Admirals were Miikka Salomaki (upper body), Joe Pendenza (healthy), Joe Piskula (lower body), and Garrett Noonan (healthy). Johan Alm made his return to the Admirals after missing the previous thirty-two straight games due to a wrist injury. Jimmy Oligny returned after missing the last ten games due to a right knee injury. And Ian White returned after missing the last two games with the Admirals due to a family emergency. This was also Anthony Bitetto’s first game in the AHL since 2/15/15 when the Admirals played against the Lake Erie Monsters.
Thoughts on the performance tonight? Could you sum this game up by the Admirals being rusty and the Griffins being hot? What’s happened to the Admirals during the finish to the month of February?
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Yesterday’s practice was an eye opener. Every single Admiral on the roster, except for Miikka Salomaki, was on the ice.
After a good six days between games, the Milwaukee Admirals are back in action tonight with the new leaders of the Midwest Division in their sights. The Grand Rapids Griffins played on Tuesday night on the road against the Iowa Wild. Once the Wild figured out that they were playing a team that wasn’t from Milwaukee or named the Admirals they simply stood no chance and the Griffins claimed sole possession of the Midwest Division for the first time all season with a comfortable 6-2 win.
~Long Story Short~
The Griffins overall record is 31-17-5-1 (68 points) and they’ve been riding a 10 game point streak (8-0-2-0). Their goal differential of +38 (174 goals forced, 136 goals allowed) is the best in the Western Conference and second to only the Manchester Monarch’s +41 (160 GF, 119 GA) in the AHL.
~The Mrázek Factor~
The last time we saw the Griffins I was having what I would consider a minor panic attack when seeing that Petr Mrázek was on the Grand Rapids roster. The coaching staff saw it best for him to be re-introduced to their lineup slowly rather than straight into the firing line and he sat on the bench for that game. We will probably not be so lucky tonight.
Mrázek has played in 3 games for the Griffins since his recent reassignment from the Detroit Red Wings. Gasp. Shock. Awe. He has won them all. His statline from those games sees him holding a 1.30 goals against average, 0.957 save percentage, and a shutout. So, same ol’ same ol’ for him.
As mentioned in the previous scouting report on the Griffins – Mrázek is a known Admiral Killer. His career totals in the head-to-head against Milwaukee is: 11 games, 7-3-0-1 record, 1.66 goals against average, 0.934 save percentage, and 2 shutouts.
If he has hit the ground running back at the AHL level it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him in net, sucking the life out of a packed concert night crowd, and making life miserable on Admirals shooters. The game plan, as you could say with any goalie of this caliber, is rather simple. Screen him, take his sight-lines away, throw pucks early and often, and crash the net for loose pucks. To beat Mrázek will mean generating and capitalizing on second and third chance opportunities. Bank on it… but, mostly, just hope that Jared Coreau starts instead.
~No Pulkkinen, No Callahan, No Problem~
The run that the Griffins have been on has basically been accomplished with out two of their best forwards. Teemu Pulkkinen remains up in the NHL playing for the Red Wings. And, in a bit of sad news, Mitch Callahan will be done for the rest of the 2014-15 season with a third-degree ACL tear in his right knee.
So who has been picking up all the slack? Who has been the man that has taken the reigns? Look no further than the last time we faced the Griffins and the guy who scored with 0.4 seconds remaining to tie the game and then won it in overtime, Andy Miele. This month the 26-year old forward has produced 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in 10 games. His scoring currently leads active players on the Griffins roster.
~The Admirals Revamped Defense~
There will be a few returning faces to the Admirals defense tonight. Johan Alm is set to play his first game since early-December. He has missed 32 consecutive games with a wrist injury. Also returning from injury will be Jimmy Oligny who had tweaked his right knee on a scary collision into the end boards at the end of January. He missed the Admirals previous 10 games. For one more addition, Ian White -who had missed the last two games following the loss of his grandmother- will also be back in the lineup.
In total, you’ll have three returning faces to the Admirals defense. That’s not even counting the returning Anthony Bitetto from his latest spell in the NHL. The biggest of those returns will be Alm who was going to be a big player in the system this season. It feels like it has been forever since he was in a game. Alm has only played 21 of the Admirals 53 games this season. While the injury itself was unfortunate the positive spin to take from this is that it means a 100% healthy Alm at the start of the playoff crunch. That’s a very welcome boost.
~We Talking About Practice, Man~
I had attended practice yesterday and everyone was on the ice for the Admirals except for Miikka Salomäki – who remains sidelined with an upper body injury. Joe Piskula was back on the ice skating and could be a week or so away from making a return to the team. The good news for him and the Admirals is that there is no rush to get Piskula back on the ice now that so many bodies are back on defense. I think it would be best for the Admirals captain to fully heal before returning to game action. Early projection on him was four to six weeks. Doubt it even makes four weeks. But I think it best for the team that
Interested in what the lines looked like? Some lines really kicked around wildly – especially on defense. These are more-or-less what they looked like throughout the practice:
And you’re usual suspects were both in net. Garrett Noonan cycled a few times. Joe Pendenza also played a bit of center and wing with that fourth line. I get the impression those two will be the odd men out tomorrow night.
Interview with head coach Dean Evason (2/26/15):
Expectations for tonight’s game? Was this time off what the Admirals needed as a team to regroup and get back to winning games? How will the re-introduction of Alm, Oligny, White, and Bitetto go on defense?
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From the ECHL to the NHL, Anthony Bitetto has enjoyed quite the ride this season being able to play games for the Nashville Predators. That includes a game that had him starting in his home state of New York to play the Islanders.
Ahead of tonight’s Nashville Predators game at home against the Colorado Avalanche they’ve made a roster move. Anthony Bitetto will be returning to the Milwaukee Admirals. Our defensive core is starting to get its numbers back and bodies healthier all of the sudden.
Bitetto has played 7 games in the NHL this season with the Predators. He hasn’t picked up points on offense yet but has a plus/minus rating of -1 and 7 penalty minutes – all of which came from his fight with Brett Connolly in his Nashville home playing debut. I would go as far as to say that his highlight so far would be getting the start in the Nassau Coliseum against the New York Islanders. Had to be quite a cool moment for a guy from Island Park, New York to be able to do that.
With Bitetto back the Admirals defensive numbers just went up. Jimmy Oligny is expected to return this weekend. There’s a good chance Ian White also rejoins the team. And Johan Alm should be closing in on a return from his lengthy injury as well. Jared Nightingale‘s services were no longer required. Jaynen Rissling was returned to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. If the bodies keep getting healthy, looking at you now Joe Piskula, it could mean seeing Garrett Noonan returning to Cincinnati. I feel as if the team would rather keep guys on the outside looking in to play big minutes in the ECHL rather than not at all. How the team pans out once Oligny, Alm, and Piskula are all back to game shape is a tricky question to figured out actually. Good problem to have that depth, though.
How big of a boost will it be to have the names mentioned above returning to the Admirals soon? How big of a loss was Johan Alm to the Admirals this season and will having him return fresh for the playoff push be a massive bonus to the team? Is Ian White possibly an odd man out with the names above due to return?
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Jared Nightingale provided the Admirals a veteran touch on defense in a desperate time. That’s basically been the story of his entire season as he’s played for four different AHL teams on PTO contracts. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Milwaukee Admirals defense looks set to be getting bodies back soon. Jimmy Oligny has been cleared for game action and was actually a healthy scratch last game with the team electing it best to give him this current week off to prepare for his return back Friday night against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Johan Alm has also returned to skating and could be coming back soon enough, as well.
The result of these updates, combined with a potential Ian White and Anthony Bitetto return to the Admirals at some point, are probably what signaled the moves that followed Saturday night’s game. Jared Nightingale was released from his PTO contract with the Admirals and Jaynen Rissling was reassigned to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL.
Nightingale made the Admirals his fourth AHL pit stop of the 2014-15 season. He had previously played with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Norfolk Admirals, and Grand Rapids Griffins in addition to some time with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. In his time with the Admirals he played in 6 games, didn’t score a point of offense, had a plus/minus rating of -2, and 4 penalty minutes.
Rissling paired with the veteran Nightingale during his first ever taste of the AHL. Rissling had spent his entire 2014-15 campaign with the Cyclones until the injury spell in the organizations up top got him the look up here in Milwaukee. He played in 5 games, didn’t score, also had a -2 rating, and -also- had 4 penalty minutes.
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Photographic proof that yesterday’s game was like watching a car crash. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Last night’s 4-2 loss meant that the Midwest Division currently stands with three teams locked in first place of the division with 66 points. As far as tie-breaks go: With more overall wins the Grand Rapids Griffins are out in front for the first time all season. The Milwaukee Admirals sit second. And the Rockford IceHogs, having played a game more than both the Griffins and Admirals, are third.
I don’t even think there is much to say at this point when it comes to Admirals performances against the Iowa Wild. It is mind cripplingly savage to understand the question of how the AHL’s worst team, consistently all season, is so successful against the Admirals – a top four Western Conference team. The Wild have won 18 games all season and have won 5 games against the Admirals… that’s 27.7% of their overall win total coming at the expense of the Admirals.
If we get to playoff time sitting second, third, or -heaven forbid- lower in the Midwest Division you’ll end up gawking back at the should haves on the season. Every single defeat to the Iowa Wild has been a should have. There’s really no excuse as to coming up empty and doing the better majority of it on home ice, to boot.
January was the rebound month for the Admirals. Things got back on track after a horrific month of December. Right now the Admirals have won just one game in their last six while pulling back four points from a possible twelve. It’s actually quite fortunate that the IceHogs have been hit and miss along with us. It’s allowed the Griffins, who are hot, to jump into the mix.
What the Admirals may need more than anything is their “want to get away” time off from playing. That’s precisely what the schedule will allow for this next week. The Admirals don’t play again until Friday. The bodies will get a good rest. The minds can check out for a little bit. And the team can get back to it with their sights firmly planted on the newly first placed Griffins in front of a big time concert night crowd.
Kevin Fiala had a hand in both the Admirals goals but the team came on the wrong side of the Iowa Wild yet again at home. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
The Admirals lost 4-2 against the Iowa Wild Saturday night. It was an all-around sloppy performance for the Admirals who, yet again, find themselves on the losing end of a game against the AHL’s worst team by record the Wild. The Admirals have lost three out of four times to the Wild on home ice this season.
“They’re kind of our Achilles heel or kryptonite,” said Austin Watson. “They work. We know that no matter what they’re situation is with their players, who is up – who is down, that they’re going to come out and work. Unfortunately we haven’t met that work quite enough.”
Iowa got the game’s opening goal in the second period. Brady Brassart appeared to enter the zone slightly offside as he fed back to Kurtis Gabriel. The pass back allowed Brassart to skate around Jaynen Rissling and receive the return feed with only Marek Mazanec in front of him. Brassart’s shot to the near post fooled Mazanec and beat him for his fifth goal of the season.
The middle of the second period became scramble mode for the Admirals. They faced back-to-back five-on-three power-plays for the Wild and conceded from the first opportunity. After Austin Watson blocked a shot in a place that no man wants to block a shot, the puck fell forward to Zack Mitchell on the left wing side of the net and he had a clean passing lane for a tap-in shot by Tyler Graovac on the back door of Mazanec. It was Graovac’s seventeenth goal of the season.
In need of some type of jolt to the system Rich Clune took things into his own hands. With the second period winding down Clune ran into Justin Falk after a whistle and Ian Schultz made the breakup leading to a fight. I give the edge in that bout firmly to Clune. Both were swinging wildly, pun not intended, but Clune got some in with the takedown. He left the ice waving his arms up and getting the crowd the life it was lacking through two frames.
After a stiff arm styled high stick from the young upstart Ruslan Fedotenko – the Admirals were able to draw back a goal on the power-play to make it a 2-1 game. Kevin Fiala made a perfect wing-to-wing feed that Viktor Arvidsson unleashed his wrath upon with a slap shot. Johan Gustafsson had no chance on the blocker side to prevent Arvidsson’s seventeenth goal of the season.
Having read my quip, Fedotenko decided to score his first goal since joining the Wild on a PTO contract and restore Iowa’s two goal cushion. Greg Wolfe was able to jar a puck free on the forecheck and skate in-behind the net and deliver a pass to Fedotenko on the doorstep of goal on the left wing. It was the Ukrainian’s first goal in North America since 4/6/13 as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.
With the third period dragging towards its finish the Admirals were given successive chances on the power-play. On the latter chance, Iowa managed to break in numbers shorthanded. It would turn to be an awful mistake for them as the Admirals broke straight back with a three-on-one. Colton Sissons and Viktor Stalberg managed to juggle around the puck before Fiala popped home his seventh goal of the season to close the gap back to a one goal game with five minutes remaining in regulation.
The Admirals pulled Mazanec in favor of the extra attacker with a minute and a half remaining. Still not liking my snarky comment, Fedotenko scored the empty netter to seal this game at its 4-2 final. The defeat for the Admirals is their third straight and the win for Iowa snaps their seven game losing streak.
Ramblings: The Iowa Wild were without John Curry to back up tonight so it meant an emergency goaltender was needed. Jeff Dotson, goalie coach to the Junior Admirals, was their man. Tonight’s scratches for the Admirals were Joe Piskula (lower-body), Ian White (family), Miikka Salomaki (upper-body), Jimmy Oligny (right knee), and Johan Alm. The good news was that prior to the game Oligny participated in pre-game warm ups and is close to making his return to game action.
Thoughts on tonight’s performance? What is it with the Iowa Wild? Why are the Admirals unable to secure points against them on home ice?
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Rich Clune has been spending his time in Milwaukee wisely and it’s getting results for both himself and the team. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Prior to tonight’s game I stopped off for practice at the MSOE Kern Center. When I found out that only Johan Alm, Jimmy Oligny, and Magnus Hellberg were there (it was an optional practice) I decided it be best to turn back to the locker room and hear from the rest of the team.
First things first there are some small notes: Ian White will not be with the team again today as he remains with family following the passing of his grandmother. Anthony Bitetto was a scratch in today’s Nashville Predators game and will therefore not be with the Admirals tonight either.
Dear Iowa: Look away. Viktor Arvidsson is coming. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
I’m not sure if I want to tempt fate by saying this -but- after the Milwaukee Admirals have suffered two pretty rough results it is pleasant that we’ll be seeing a team like the Iowa Wild tonight. They are entering this game on a seven game losing streak and are the worst team in the AHL by a firm 10 points. What could possibly go wrong?
Yeah, it’s not been a kind head-to-head at all. In fact I would go as far to say that the Wild look on par with the Admirals each and every time we’ve seen them play this season. So odd considering their 17-36-1-1 (36 points) record. It wasn’t until last time out that the Admirals managed to beat the Wild on home ice and, even then, it was a tight contest.
~The Current Run of Form~
This seven game losing streak that the Wild are on right now matches the one that the Admirals had back in December. Fortunately for them, the top honor for a losing streak is still out of reach. The Toronto Marlies had a nine game losing streak in November.
During the losing streak the Wild have been outscored 25-11, their power-play has gone 5.3% (1/19), and their penalty kill has gone 78.9% (15/19). They have been onwards and upwards in shots per game though: averaging 31 shots per game in the losing streak while allowing an average of 27 shots per game.
When looking in net during this time you’ll have seen three different goalies: Darcy Kuemper, John Curry, and Johan Gustafsson. Kuemper has since been brought back up to the Minnesota Wild leaving the usual tandem of Gustafsson and Curry for Iowa.
~Missing Pieces~
The team that has given the Admirals some problems here and there will be without some key figures on the ice tonight. Injuries up top have meant Iowa have lost out on players such as Michael Keränen, Jordan Schroeder, Matt Dumba, and their team captain this season Stéphane Veilleux.
Not having Schroeder and Keränen is pretty big in this match-up. Schroeder leads the Wild in scoring against the Admirals this season with 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists). Keränen has had 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists). This will mean big nights required for Tyler Graovac, Zack Mitchell, and Danny Syvret.
~The Admirals End of the Equation~
Ian White missed the last game due to the loss of his grandmother. This meant Mike Liambas stepping into an old role he hadn’t played in a long time, defense. He looked actually pretty good back there but I’m sure the team would prefer keeping a core of six defensemen. I’m not certain on White’s status heading into this game but, with Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson now with the Nashville Predators, there is a good chance that Anthony Bitetto should be set to re-join the ranks soon enough. Perhaps even by 7pm tonight enough. That would be a nice addition as Bitetto’s 7 assists against the Wild lead the Admirals in head-to-head scoring.
Speaking of which, Viktor Arvidsson may have only seen this Wild team 7 times this season but he has scored 6 goals against them – including a hat trick. Austin Watson follows him up in head-to-head scoring with 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists).
Colton Sissons‘ current scoring binge has been huge. If you were looking for players to step up following Brendan Leipsic‘s trade out to Toronto take a gander at the work of Sissons of late. Since the calendar turned to 2015 Sissons has produced 17 points (11 goals, 6 assists) in 21 games.
Another name that’s stepping up since the Leipsic trade is Kevin Fiala. Why? A combination of his comfort level improving and him being directly slotted into Leipsic’s role on the ice. He’s getting solid power-play time on Leipsic’s spot on the right wing half-wall and has 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in his last three games.
In net against the Wild this season it has been all Marek Mazanec. The Czech has played seven games against Iowa to the lone appearance by Magnus Hellberg. Mazanec has a 2.50 goals against average, 0.911 save percentage, and a shutout. Hellberg’s lone game against the Wild resulted in an 18/19 save performance in an overtime loss.
I’ll be attending morning skate ahead of today’s game. It’s at 8:30am at the MSOE Kern Center – which means open to the public. There will be no Frédérick Gaudreau in attendance as he was returned to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL since last game. Expect an update on line combinations and other ramblings prior to puck drop tonight.
~Update~
Practice this morning was optional and only Johan Alm, Jimmy Oligny, and a single netminder – Hellberg – participated. White will not be with the team tonight and nor will Bitetto. This means another game with Liambas on defense.
Expectations for tonight’s game? Why have the Iowa Wild played the Admirals so tightly this season?
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