Author: Daniel Lavender

Game Recaps April 5, 2016April 5, 2016

Managing The Gap; Ads Hold Off Moose to 4-2 Win

The Milwaukee Admirals 4-2 on the road against the Manitoba Moose Tuesday night at the MTS Centre.

A strong second period helped see the Admirals get over the hump tonight against a Moose team that has had their number this season. Managing a two-goal cushion was a key to tonight’s game as the Moose twice, including late with their net emptied, rallied back to make it a one-goal deficit. The Admirals would never allow the Moose to rally back and level the score and Kevin Fiala marked his return to the lineup with an empty netter to end the Moose’s late theatrics tonight. The Admirals point streak is now up to nine-games.

It wasn’t the greatest of starts for the Admirals but they did a solid job on damage control by escaping the first period at a scoreless draw. Once the second period began it looked like the Admirals were a different team. They tilted the ice and, after Kevin Fiala drew a tripping call, scored with a delayed penalty against the Moose allowing for the extra attacker situation to make a different. Fiala threw a puck towards the net and Jimmy Oligny rushed up from the blueline and nearly scored off of a backhanded shot. Connor Hellebuyck made a great save on Oligny’s shot but left the rebound right in-line with Adam Payerl who popped it home for his eleventh goal of the season to give the Admirals a 1-0 lead.

Brendan Lemieux, the son of four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, was making his professional playing debut tonight for the Moose. Unfortunately for him, his first penalty taken as a pro came back to cost his team. As Lemieux sat for a hooking minor Patrick Mullen put a puck into Pontus Åberg’s wheelhouse and he unleashed a howitzer of a one-timer that rifled near post and into the top shelf. Hellebuyck has zero chance of stopping the shot by Åberg and it gave the Swede his first twenty goal season of his professional playing career.

Lemieux would redeem himself early in the third period by drawing a penalty against Taylor Aronson to get the Moose to a power-play where they would cash in. Jansen Harkins delivered a low shot from the left wing that Juuse Saros stopped with the pads but kicked the rebound out to the right wing where Brandon Denham was able to smack in his first career AHL goal to make it a one-goal contest with 16:18 remaining in regulation.

After Jordan Hill was called for tripping the Admirals answered the Moose’s power-play goal with one of their own. Mullen was able to pick out Max Görtz who was all alone at the right side of Hellebuyck. It was a quick trigger shot for Görtz to capitalize on the surprise element for the Moose penalty kill and goaltender who lost sight of him and the second Swede to score for the Admirals on the power-play on the night pushed his goal total to seventeen.

With 2:01 remaining in regulation Hellebuyck made his way to the Moose bench for the extra attacker to hop on and look for a late rally. This nearly all paid off. The Moose were able to score quickly into their first bid with an extra attacker on to make it a 3-2 game. John Albert’s shot from the left point took a harsh deflection or two in front of Saros and bounced past him with 1:47 remaining in regulation. Chase De Leo was credited with the goal. It was his seventeenth scored this season and his fifth goal from seven games against the Admirals.

The next wave of attack for the Moose with their net emptied didn’t have the same story pan out. Instead the Admirals were able to get a puck out to Kevin Fiala who skated the puck into the empty net to seal the game off with his seventeenth goal of the season.

This game marked the third consecutive start in net for Saros and his hot run continued. He has won nine of his last ten games with a 1.56 goals against average and 0.941 save percentage during this recent run. Saros has played in three games against the Moose this season and won all three starts. These two sides lock up for the last time in the 2015-16 season tomorrow night, once again, in Manitoba.

A look to the AHL’s Central Division standings right now will show that all teams in the top four have now played seventy-games this season. The Admirals currently hold a five-point lead to the second placed Grand Rapids Griffins who are now tied with the Lake Erie Monsters. The Rockford IceHogs, who lost in overtime tonight to the fifth placed Charlotte Checkers, are now seven-points back of the Admirals.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played on Saturday there were a pair of roster moves made. The Nashville Predators recalled Cody Bass from the Admirals and reassigned Stefan Elliott to the Admirals from his emergency recall assignment. Elliott was unable to arrive to Manitoba in time for the start of tonight’s game but is expected to take part tomorrow. Tonight’s line combinations were: Reinhart-Gaudreau-Åberg, Fiala-Kamenev-Payerl, White-Girard-Görtz, AJ-Pendenza-Devane, Oligny-Potter, Näkyvä-Aronson, Murphy-Mullen. Tonight’s scratches were: Cody Hodgson (upper-body), Stefan Elliott (traveling), and Johan Alm (lower-body).

Thoughts on tonight’s game? Would you chalk up the first period as a lull that was swiftly corrected in the second period? Whether it be Arvidsson, Åberg, or Görtz – how good have those Swedes been for the Admirals from the left wing circle on the power-play?

Be sure to keep updated with Admirals Roundtable through social media platform of your choice: follow along Twitter, like us on Facebook, get photo updates on Instagram, and listen along on SoundCloud.

News April 5, 2016

Stefan Elliott Reassigned to Milwaukee

The Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals are both in action tonight. Ahead of those games the Predators have reassigned Stefan Elliott to the Admirals with Ryan Ellis set to return.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (April 5, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has reassigned defenseman Stefan Elliott to Milwaukee (AHL). He was on recall under emergency conditions.

The Nashville Predators are celebrating the final week of the regular season, Fan Appreciation Week, with hundreds of giveaways and promotions during the two remaining home games. The Predators play their final games of the 2015-16 regular season tonight, Tuesday, April 5 against the Colorado Avalanche (FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game), and Thursday, April 7 versus the Arizona Coyotes (FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). The first 15,000 fans attending the home finale will receive a pair of Preds sunglasses, courtesy of Hermitage Lighting Gallery. For tickets, fans can visit NashvillePredators.com or call 615-770-7800.

Elliott was recalled under emergency conditions following an injury to Ellis and, in his time up with the Predators, played in a pair of games. He logged just under fifteen minutes of ice-time in his last outing and didn’t register a point of offense. It’s unclear at this point if Elliott will make it in time to join the Admirals ahead of their game tonight in Manitoba.

Scouting April 5, 2016

Moose: Scouting the Enemy

Every team seems to have a woeful pest. For example, the Grand Rapids Griffins and all their success this season lost out in regulation in all four-games against the San Antonio Rampage – a team the Milwaukee Admirals swept in their season series. On the Admirals end of the spectrum there is the Manitoba Moose. They’re the second worst team in the AHL this season based on points percentage yet hold a season series record against the Admirals of 4-1-0-1. It’s just one of those oddities isn’t it?

~Tracking The Moose~

The Moose are already long eliminated from playoff contention in their return season to the AHL. They enter this two-game set with the Admirals holding a record of 23-38-4-5 (55 points) for a 0.393 points percentage. The only team lesser than them in the Central Division, Western Conference, and AHL standings are the Iowa Wild who have a 0.386 points percentage.

While the record isn’t anything special it is worth noting that the Moose have been finding a touch of form. Going back to Valentine’s Day the Moose actually have a 0.500 record by rattling off 11 wins from their last 22 games. Every one of those games was decided in regulation. So that means a very blunt 11-11-0-0 record.

~Who What Now?~

The Moose are currently without their leading scorer and one of the top scoring defensemen in the AHL this season, Brenden Kichton. The 23-year old was recalled to the Winnipeg Jets yesterday.

That wasn’t the only roster news for them yesterday. Brendan Lemieux, the son of Claude Lemieux, was assigned by the Jets from the Windsor Spitfires to the Moose where he is expected to make his professional playing debut. Lemieux is coming off of a junior playing season in the OHL where he produced 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 34 games.

The Moose won’t have their top scorer on the season, sure, but the second man in line just so happens to be the top goal scorer for the Moose in this match up. Chase De Leo has 5 points (4 goals, 1 assist) in 6 games against the Admirals this season. That includes scoring a hat trick back on 12/19/15. He has produced 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) from 67 games in his rookie season and has a plus/minus rating of -24 and 32 penalty minutes.

In net right now the Moose have their top two guys stationed in camp. Connor Hellebuyck has played in 27 games for the Moose this season, has a 11-14-1-0 record, 2.43 goals against average, 0.924 save percentage, and 4 shutouts. He also has played in 26 games for the Jets at the NHL level this season where he held a 13-11-0-1 record, 2.34 goals against average, 0.918 save percentage, and 2 shutouts. He is followed by the man who really stepped up in his absence for the Moose, Eric Comrie. The 20-year old’s first full-season of pro hockey has seen him earn an AHL All-Star selection and be up among the top rookie goaltenders this entire season. Comrie has played in 43 games, sports a 12-23-7-5 record, has a 3.12 goals against average, 0.908 save percentage, and a shutout.

Expectations for these games in Manitoba? Are you worried that the Admirals, after experiencing the sensation of clinching a playoff spot, might take their eyes off the ball when playing the Moose?

News April 4, 2016

Cody Bass Recalled by Nashville

Ahead of tomorrow’s contests for both sides the Nashville Predators have recalled Cody Bass from the Milwaukee Admirals. The Predators will be playing against the Colorado Avalanche at home tomorrow night while the Admirals will be on the road facing the Manitoba Moose.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (April 4, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has recalled forward Cody Bass from Milwaukee (AHL).

Bass, 29 (1/7/87), has appeared in 14 games with the Predators in two recalls this season, his first in the organization (0 pts, 12 PIMs), and has 63 career NHL games to his credit with Nashville, Ottawa (where he was a teammate of Mike Fisher) and Columbus, posting five points (2g-3a) and 83 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 205-pound winger has also played 39 games for the Division-leading Admirals this season, posting nine points (4g-5a) and 84 penalty minutes. The Owen Sound, Ontario, native was Ottawa’s third choice, 95th overall (fourth round), in the 2005 Entry Draft, and helped the Binghamton Senators win the 2011 Calder Cup as AHL champions, in addition to winning the 2011 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as presented annually to the AHL’s man of the year for service to his local community.

The Nashville Predators conclude their home slate of regular-season games this week, playing the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday and Arizona Coyotes on Thursday (both on FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). Fans can still take advantage of the team’s Playoff Bound Pack. Under the promotion, fans can purchase tickets to the remaining two regular-season home games and guarantee seats for Round One of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. For more information, visit NashvillePredators.com or call 615-770-7800.

Bass has been every part the leader for the Admirals that you would expect out of a captain. With Colton Sissons enjoying an extended stay in the NHL Bass has reallt stepped up as part of the Admirals leadership group during the playoff push at the end of this season. The Admirals clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage. This season with the Admirals the 29-year old Bass has produced 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 39 games. He has also played for 14 games with the Predators at the NHL level. He has 63 career games of NHL experience upon this recall.

If you are wondering where this recall leaves the Admirals the forward group is just fine. Kevin Fiala was left out of the Tuesday night showdown against the Grand Rapids Griffins due to a violation of team rules. The team then signed forward A.J. White from UMass-Lowell to an ATO contract. White made his professional playing debut on Saturday night over Fiala who was a healthy scratch on the evening. The expectation now would be to see Max Reinhart or Joe Pendenza return to center with Fiala rejoining his linemates of Vladislav Kamenev and Adam Payerl with White probably playing on the lower tier lines for the Admirals. With White’s UMass-Lowell history, playing on a line with Pendenza, it would be a fun sight to see that reform with both in Admirals colors.

Feature April 4, 2016

Fifteen with Taylor Aronson

The Fifteen series is back in your life. Apologies from myself for the layoff between new editions of the series but, with an AHL team fluctuating between roster moves and road trips, it can be tricky to lock down certain players for interviews. With the Milwaukee Admirals set to embark on a road trip for this week that will see them travel to Manitoba and then Charlotte I have two to share for this week. The first one is one I’ve been meaning to do for awhile because I think this guy deserves a spotlight.

Taylor Aronson was a third round draft pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2010 NHL Draft. That came after his debut season playing in the WHL with a Portland Winterhawks program that has developed and continues to develop very notable talent for the Predators organization. In the time that Aronson was in Portland the California native played alongside the likes of Ryan Johansen and Brendan Leipsic. His career with the Winterhawks lasted two-seasons where he played 142 games, scored 67 points (10 goals, 57 assists), and lost out in the 2011 WHL Finals to the Kootenay Ice.

Upon becoming pro in 2011-12 Aronson spent his first two seasons fluctuating between the AHL and ECHL. He had 26 games of AHL experience with only 3 assists to show for it upon entering his third pro playing season. That season of 2013-14 was spent entirely with the Cincinnati Cyclones and he performed very strongly. He was the Cyclones top scoring defenseman with 38 points (6 goals, 32 assists) in 65 games. His plus/minus rating of +28 ranked him tied for fourth in the entire ECHL that season and he and his Cyclones team would fall in the Kelly Cup Finals to the Alaska Aces.

When the 2014-15 rolled in it did so with an opening for Aronson. The Admirals defense offered no other right-handed shots from the defense other than him. But, that wasn’t the real reason why he ended up earning a spot. His work throughout the season proved exactly why he was brought up from the ECHL ranks. He went from becoming the top scoring defenseman in Cincinnati the previous season to the top scoring defenseman in Milwaukee: 32 points (3 goals, 29 assists) in 73 games.

Of note for Nashville readers, you might recall a situation last year in which a certain Shea Weber was questionable with an illness and another certain kid by the name of Aronson was called up under emergency conditions. All things said, that story didn’t end with Aronson getting an NHL game. Weber played that night. It could have been considered a brief whirlwind moment in the life of an AHL hockey player but for those around the team last season it was a quick wave from the brass topside to a player deserving of an NHL look. He didn’t get the game. But they game him the recognition. That’s something a player who spent the better part of three pro playing seasons in the ECHL doesn’t often get. When that player does it is more of a sign of the player and the man sticking with the program and forcing the big wigs to take note of consistent performances. That same reasoning behind the choice of Aronson as the emergency call up probably came back when the Predators re-signed Aronson to a one-year two-way contract last off-season.

Aronson may have been in the discussion once again with the recent knock to Ryan Ellis but the recall under emergency conditions assignment this time went to Stefan Elliott. That’s not to say Aronson was the lesser of the two options but more so that the Predators have plenty of options should they need them. Aronson is enjoying his best professional playing season in 2015-16 having grown leaps and bounds as a two-way defenseman. He is the Admirals current top scoring defenseman and has career highs across the board: 37 points (4 goals, 33 assists) from 60 games.

The lone thing that I’m sure Aronson would like to see change is the script of his career so far. Before leaving the Winterhawks his team lost in the 2011 WHL Finals. Before being elevated to the Admirals his final season with the Cyclones saw him losing in the 2014 Kelly Cup Finals. After this season Aronson’s contract is up. There are no guarantees as to where he goes from here. Should you believe his story to date the Admirals could well be on their way to a 2016 Calder Cup Finals appearance. The only thing I’m sure he’d like to change is getting to raise some silverware on the back of a hard season’s work.

~Fifteen~

Cheers to Taylor Aronson for taking the time to do this interview. Programming note for this week will be as follows: Fifteen with Corey Potter (Thursday) and new Cyclones Report on Friday with a guest appearance from Sin Bin Cyclones.

Chatterbox April 3, 2016

Chatterbox, Vol. 123

The year long odyssey of a world without the Milwaukee Admirals being a playoff hockey team is over. The Admirals took care of business last night with a 2-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage to complete a season sweep of the Rampage, extend their point streak to eight-games, and lock themselves up into a playoff spot.

This season marks the Admirals fifteenth season as members of the AHL. Their inaugural season in the league came and went without a playoff run. The Admirals then proceeded to go to the playoffs for twelve straight seasons. That streak ended last year and, at that time, so much chaos was taking place. The Admirals did more than just sputter to the finish line last season they crawled to it while on fire. So many things that could go wrong did go wrong and they finished in last place of their division for the first time since that inaugural 2001-02 season. To put it lightly, this season has been massively different and it all boils down to consistency of solid team play yielding results. A season removed from being last in their division the Admirals are out in front of their division with a legitimate chance of winning it. What a difference a year makes, eh?

At the moment the Admirals have been playing smart, defensive, well-rounded, and playoff style hockey for the better part of a month. The upcoming schedule will have them getting fairly out of a normal routine with a road trip to Manitoba followed by a journey to Charlotte all the way from Canada. If there were to be a nice test for the Admirals I’d say this upcoming jolt to the system over the next week could be it. This coming week could go a good ways in deciding if the Admirals could do more than just push for a divisional crown but even go as far to overstep the Ontario Reign for the best record in the Western Conference. The Admirals will need a solid finish to the season to leapfrog them. Any small bumps in the road could squash that. In fact, with the teams in the Central Division being who they are, it could hinder that bid for a divisional title. The games in Manitoba and Charlotte shouldn’t be taken lightly. They should be taken as these last few weeks of games have been: as playoff style games.

~Chatterbox~

After last night’s game I had the chance to speak with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason. I also spoke with: Jamie Devane, the man with the game-winning goal last night… A.J. White, who made his professional hockey debut with the Admirals last night… and Max Görtz who is always up for a fun and honest interview on the team. Here is what everyone had to say after last night’s win.

Comments from the comments? How excited are you to have playoff hockey back here in Milwaukee? What are some of the significant changes that you have noticed from last year’s team to this year’s team?

Game Recaps April 2, 2016April 3, 2016

Playoff Hockey Is Back In Milwaukee; Ads Clinch With 2-1 Win

The Milwaukee Admirals won 2-1 against the San Antonio Rampage Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Admirals have officially punched their ticket for the 2016 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. Their run of twelve consecutive AHL playoff appearances came to an end last season but, with the win tonight, they’re right back in. The Admirals are just the second team in the Western Conference to clinch a spot. The Ontario Reign were the first Western Conference team to clinch and did so on 3/27/16.

“It was frustrating last year,” said Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason of returning to the playoffs. “I think everybody remembers it. A lot of guys were here, a lot of guys weren’t, but we certainly were. It’s nice. We’re clearly a proud franchise. It’s nice to get back for sure.”

It wasn’t the best of starts for the Admirals. The Rampage quickly earned three power-play opportunities to rack up shots on goal early. Juuse Saros and the Admirals penalty kill were able to weather the early storm and the first period ended on a high note with Max Reinhart polishing of a breakaway on the backhand to score his team leading twenty-first goal of the season. The goal was eerily similar to the one Reinhart scored against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday night.

Midway through the second period the Admirals got on the board from an unlikely source. Pontus Åberg rifled a puck low to the net but was aiming for the backdoor run of Jamie Devane who got the easy tap in while both skates were in the blue of the crease. The goal for Devane was just his fifth of the season and ended a goal drought of fifteen games.

Under the three-minute mark, down a pair of goals, the Rampage sent Reto Berra to the bench to bring on the extra attacker. With 2:32 remaining the Admirals burned their timeout ahead of an in-zone face-off and the Rampage would score from a behind the net play by Mikko Rantanen to tee up Borna Rendulic for a shot that stayed low and got underneath Juuse Saros to deny the Finn’s shutout bid. The tally for Rendulic was his fourteenth of the season.

The game would end right there and it was yet another brilliant effort in net for Saros. He stopped 25/26 shots on goal to earn his twenty-fifth win of the season. His best work came in a first period that saw the Rampage mount a hot start with three power-plays that ended in eleven first period shots.

“He won the hockey game for us,” said Evason of Juuse Saros performance in net. “Simple as that. We weren’t good in the first. They were real good. Juuse kept us in the hockey game, not only in the first, but all throughout.”

The road ahead for the Admirals is a length road trip and one with a solid travel schedule. Monday morning the Admirals will travel to Manitoba where they will play on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will then travel to Charlotte for games on Saturday and Sunday.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals played on Tuesday defenseman Stefan Elliott was recalled by the Nashville Predators under emergency conditions. The Admirals also signed forward A.J. White from UMass-Lowell to an ATO Contract. He made his professional hockey debut tonight wearing Mark Van Guilder’s old #29. Tonight’s line combinations were: Reinhart-Gaudreau-Åberg, A.J.-Kamenev-Payerl, White-Girard-Görtz, Devane-Bass-Pendenza, Oligny-Potter, Näkyvä-Aronson, Murphy-Mullen. Tonight’s scratches were: Kevin Fiala (healthy), Cody Hodgson (upper-body), Johan Alm (lower-body).

Thoughts on tonight’s game? Is Juuse Saros starting to cement himself as the Admirals first choice netminder? What did you think of A.J. White in his professional playing debut?

Scouting April 2, 2016

Rampage: Scouting the Enemy

There was a chance for the Milwaukee Admirals to clinch a playoff spot all while relaxing last night. The Admirals needed the Texas Stars to defeat the Charlotte Checkers on the road in regulation. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen as the Checkers won by a final score of 6-3. That leaves the business end of things to the Admirals tonight as well as the variety of games that are going to take place. Easiest thing to do though? For the Admirals to just take care of who is in front of them and not worry about what the Grand Rapids Griffins, Rockford IceHogs, or Lake Erie Monsters are up to.

With that thought in mind let’s look at some in-house news. I attended practice yesterday and got a good look at possible lines for today’s game:

Reinhart-Gaudreau-Åberg
A.J.-Kamenev-Payerl
White-Girard-Görtz
(Fiala) Devane-Bass-Pendenza

Just so you folks don’t get confuse because there are now two players with the last name White, Matt White and A.J. White, I have made things easier for all of us to come to grips with. I’ll further that in answering the other question you probably asked when looking at the lines, “why is Kevin Fiala bracketed out of his normal line with Vladislav Kamenev and Adam Payerl? Well, that is because Fiala was skating on his own yesterday with the newbie from UMass-Lowell taking his place.

So, there is a slight chance that what you see up top are the lines for tonight’s game with Fiala missing a second straight game after violating team orders. Do I know what he did? No, and it isn’t something that the team publicizes as it happens. In due time the reality of the situation may come to light but that’s not the case for what happened to Fiala right now. This was his first instance of a team violation this season. Stevie Moses, Pontus Åberg, and Max Görtz have all been slapped on the hands with a violation of team rules and those came down to being late to or missing a practice or team meeting.

What of the newest White in town then? Well, lucky for us, I stopped by to get to know a bit more about the newest member of the Admirals yesterday as well as had a conversation with the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month Juuse Saros.

~The Other Guys~

The San Antonio Rampage enter tonight’s game with a record of 29-33-8-0 (66 points). Their 0.471 points percentage has them in last place of the Pacific Division and thirteenth in the Western Conference ahead of only the Manitoba Moose (0.393) and Iowa Wild (0.377).

The Rampage might be a lowly team but right now they are on a five-game winning streak having collected wins at home over the Grand Rapids, Bakersfield, Texas, and last night on the road in Rockford. They have outscored teams during this five-game streak 15-5 with two shutouts from Spencer Martin who has since seen himself be rewarded with a swift demotion to the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL).

Now, the winning streak is no joke. They’re on a roll. But this also happens to be a Rampage team that lost eight-games straight prior to this current winning streak. All of those losses came in regulation and in that time they had been outscored 28-16. Of note, that span included five straight losses on home ice. The Rampage fair much better on the road (0.542) than they do at home (0.397). But, in saying that, their road goal differential is still -16 (101 GF, 117 GA). That is the ninth most goals allowed by an AHL on the road this season. For comparison’s sake the Admirals have only allowed 82 goals on the road this season having played one less road contest than the Rampage.

~Season Series~

If you’re like me you probably feel like it has been ages since the Rampage last visited Milwaukee. And you’d be right. The first game between these two came back on 11/24/15 in Milwaukee and ended with a 6-3 Admirals win. The two then met up in San Antonio when the new look Admirals defense, with Patrick Mullen and Stefan Elliott, formed and made their debuts to the team. On 1/15/16, Mullen made his debut and the Marek Mazanec recorded a shutout for a clean 3-0 win. 1/16/16 saw Elliott make his debut and the offense explode early for what would be a cruise controlled, and yet another, 6-3 Admirals win. Dating back to last season, when the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate was Lake Erie, the Admirals hold a four-game winning streak against this outfit.

~Who What Now?~

The Rampage have high end prospect Mikko Rantanen leading the charge of their offense. The 19-year old from Finland, who beat Kamenev’s Team Russia in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships Gold Medal Game back in January, currently has 55 points (22 goals, 33 assists) in 46 games with a plus/minus rating of +21 and 40 penalty minutes. He is the top scoring rookie in the AHL this season. The next closest to him is Austin Czarnik of the Providence Bruins who has 52 points (15 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games. It might be worth noting Czarnik’s rookie teammate on the Bruins Frank Vatrano who has a ridiculous 49 points (33 goals, 16 assists) in 33 games.

Rantanen is followed in team scoring for the Rampage by Maxim Noreau who has 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in 58 games. He is currently tied for fifth place among the highest scoring defensemen in the AHL.

In net, the Rampage currently have a tandem of Reto Berra and Roman Will. Berra has spent most of his time this season in the NHL with the Avalanche where he logged 14 games, earned 5 wins, and commanded a very respectable 2.41 goals against average with a 0.922 save percentage with 2 shutouts. In the AHL, Berra has played in 10 games and not found entirely the same individual success: 3.36 goals against average and 0.905 save percentage. He was the goalie of record in the Rampage’s win in Rockford last night stopping 26/28 shots on goal. Should they see fit to ride him again it would make sense. His battery-mate Will has a 3.42 goals against average and 0.896 save percentage from 29 games of AHL work this season.

What are your expectations for the Milwaukee Admirals tonight against these currently streaking San Antonio Rampage? Not to be out-done themselves – the Admirals do currently have a seven-game point streak. Will that streak continue on and see the Admirals get their playoff spot clinched this weekend?

News April 1, 2016April 1, 2016

Juuse Saros Named AHL Goaltender of the Month

First came the Admiral of the Month distinction. Now comes one from the league itself. Juuse Saros has just been named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for his performance in the month of March.

Press Release via AHL:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins right wing Carter Rowney, Providence Bruins center Frank Vatrano and Milwaukee Admirals goaltender Juuse Saros have been selected as the league’s award winners for March.

Rowney, the CCM/AHL Player of the Month, tallied seven goals and 10 assists for a league-high 17 points along with a plus-8 rating in 12 games for the Penguins, who closed in on a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Rowney notched all 17 points during a nine-game scoring streak that ran from Mar. 5-25. He recorded his first career hat trick on Mar. 6, scoring once at even strength, once on the power play and once shorthanded to lead Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 5-4 win over Hershey. On the morning of Mar. 9, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced they had signed Rowney to his first NHL contract; he celebrated that night with two goals and an assist – including the overtime winner, in Wilkes-Barre’s 6-5 defeat of Lehigh Valley. Rowney later registered two assists on Mar. 12 vs. Bridgeport for his third consecutive multiple-point effort, picked up three helpers in a 6-5 OT win at Hershey on Mar. 20, and scored the game-winning goal in a 5-0 shutout of Binghamton on Mar. 23.

A third-year pro from Sexsmith, Alta., Rowney has set career highs in goals (21), assists (31) and points (52) for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, and his plus-26 rating ranks second among all AHL forwards. Rowney, who played four seasons at the University of North Dakota, has skated in 158 career regular-season games in the AHL, totaling 34 goals and 54 assists for 88 points, and has added two goals and four assists in 15 Calder Cup Playoff contests.

In recognition of his achievement, Rowney will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Penguins home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Month

Vatrano, the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month, found the scoresheet in all eight AHL games he played last month, totaling eight goals and five assists for 13 points while maintaining his remarkable scoring pace for the season.

Vatrano’s month was highlighted by his performance vs. Portland on Mar. 6, when he became just the third player in AHL history to score three unassisted goals in a single game; he completed the hat trick – his third in the AHL and fourth overall this season – with the winning goal in a 4-3 overtime decision. On Mar. 11 vs. Hartford, Vatrano scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation, and he picked up a goal and two assists on Mar. 13 vs. Utica. He scored again on Mar. 19 at Toronto and Mar. 20 at Rochester before earning another recall to the parent Boston Bruins on Mar. 22.

Vatrano leads the American Hockey League with 33 goals despite appearing in just 33 games for Providence this season, and his 49 points are tied for sixth among AHL rookies. The 22-year-old native of East Longmeadow, Mass., is also pacing all AHL rookies in power-play goals (12) and shots on goal (172), and owns a team-best plus-17 rating as well. Vatrano signed as a free agent with Boston on Mar. 13, 2015, and has seven goals and three assists in 34 NHL games this season.

In recognition of his achievement, Vatrano will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bruins home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Rookie of the Month

In eight appearances last month, Saros, the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month, went 7-1-0 with a 1.61 goals-against average, a .936 save percentage and two shutouts, lifting the Admirals into first place in the tight Central Division.

Saros began the month by stopping 25 shots and both shootout attempts in Milwaukee’s 4-3 win at Lake Erie on Mar. 3, then made 22 saves as the Admirals shut out Chicago, 1-0, in overtime on Mar. 5. Saros earned his sixth consecutive winning decision on Mar. 11, turning aside 23 of 25 shots in a 4-2 win over Iowa, and earned his fourth shutout of the season on Mar. 23 with 28 saves in the Admirals’ 2-0 victory at Texas.

A 20-year-old rookie from Forssa, Finland, Saros has appeared in 32 games with Milwaukee this season (24-7-0) and ranks fourth in the AHL with a 2.22 goals-against average to go with a .920 save percentage and four shutouts. Saros was a fourth-round pick by Nashville in the 2013 Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut with the Predators on Nov. 28, 2015, vs. Buffalo.

In recognition of his achievement, Saros will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Admirals home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Goaltender of the Month

I spoke in great length about Saros’ month of March during the Admiral of the Month award talk yesterday but the short and sweet of it is this. In March the Admirals logged fourteen games to match a season high for games played in a month. During that time Saros took eight of the Admirals fourteen games in net and responded with a 7-1-0-0 record, 1.61 goals against average, 0.936 save percentage, and 2 shutouts. He was lights out and played his most calm and composed hockey to date in his first full-season of professional hockey in North America.

Of note, I attended practice this afternoon and just so happened to be conducting interviews as this news was about to be announced. I had the chance to speak with Saros and this is what he had to say:

News March 31, 2016

Admirals Sign A.J. White to ATO Contract

For those looking around the rest of the AHL you’ve probably noticed that the term ATO has been getting thrown around a lot lately. An ATO is an amateur try-out and that’s coming in bunches lately with both the college and junior hockey playing season coming to an end. This morning the Milwaukee Admirals have made their first ATO signing by bringing aboard forward A.J. White from UMass-Lowell.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI—The Admirals announced today that the team has signed forward AJ White to an Amateur Try-Out Contract (ATO).

White joins the Admirals after finishing an impressive four-year career at UMass-Lowell where it totaled 79 points (28g-51a) in 153 career games. During his senior season he was tied for third on the team with 11 goals and fourth with 25 points and served as an alternate captain. The Dearborn, MI native was teammates with current Admirals forward Joe Pendenza for two seasons with the River Hawks.

White, who will wear number 29, will look to make his Admirals debut when the team hosts the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday night at 7 pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

As noted above, White was a teammate at UMass-Lowell with current member of the Admirals roster Joe Pendenza. The two were teammates from 2012-14 during which time UMass-Lowell won the NCAA (Hockey East) Championship and had the best regular season record in 2012-13.

White is a 23-year old native of Dearborn, Michigan. A home to former Admiral John Vigilante and Wisconsin Badgers defenseman Brian Rafalski. During White’s four-year career with UMass-Lowell he played 153 games, produced 79 points (28 goals, 51 assists), had a plus/minus rating of +42, and 28 penalty minutes. He is coming off of a 2015-16 season in which he produced career highs for goals and assists: 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) from 40 games. When he joins the team he will wear Mark Van Guilder‘s old #29.

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