Author: Daniel Lavender

Chatterbox March 6, 2016

Chatterbox, Vol. 116

Who is the top goal scorer for the Milwaukee Admirals this season? If you guessed Pontus Åberg you’d be correct. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)

You might assume that there are only so many talking points when you see a 1-0 overtime scoreline. And you might be right. But here it goes.

The Milwaukee Admirals once again didn’t have the greatest of starts. Frankly, it wasn’t to say that the Chicago Wolves were by far better than them. They weren’t head and shoulders above them. They weren’t even as hot out of the gate as they were when they matched up in Chicago last weekend. If the Wolves had that high energy of a start as they did then last night the result could have been flipped on its head with a finish coming in regulation on the Wolves side. But, it didn’t.

When I walked down for post-game interviews after last night’s game it almost didn’t dawn on me until the coaches or players were chatting away that Juuse Saros earned a shutout. My defense for that comes with two key pieces of evidence: (1) last night’s game took two hours and thirty-six minutes to complete. For a game with not many reasons to take delays or breaks in action – there were plenty and it was draining on the mind to sit through as a goalless game was played. (2) Most of what Saros did so well actually came in that opening period – the rest of the game the Admirals outshot the Wolves 30-12 in the last 41:29 of ice time. The Admirals outshot the Wolves 21-6 in the third period alone. It’s the first time since 2/21/14 vs. Abbotsford that the Admirals post a 20 shot period. The last time they posted a 21 shot period came on 12/6/13 vs. Oklahoma City. The Admirals third period shooting output was actually more than they had produced in three of other games played this season: 10/10/15 @ Chicago… 11/28/15 vs. Rockford… and 1/5/16 vs. Lake Erie. Saros nearly became the equivalent of a cardboard cutout just chilling out in net for the final period of regulation.

Where Saros was at his best was straight from the opening puck drop until the horn sounded to signal the end of the first period. He was great and sharp to everything being thrown his way. The lone bullet that he dodged, and for that matter the Admirals in that entire game, was an André Benoît shot that ripped past Saros’ on the glove side and spanked off the far post and off into the right wing corner. That’s as close as the Wolves really got all night to a goal and it came in a first period where they outworked and outshot the Admirals 10-9.

Thanks to the rock solid effort by Saros in the opening twenty-minutes the Admirals were able to weather a storm and get momentum built offensively. That all starts with Saros as the foundation in net and a little spark from a Cody Bass brawl that had the 8,409 in attendance making some noise. That’s when the game changed for the Admirals. And there was only so much that Pheonix Copley was going to be able to fend off before the Admirals put a puck past him. It took until overtime before the Admirals did just that with Pontus Åberg -but- job done.

When you ready yourselves for what’s in-store this afternoon in Chicago there should be a question mark floating around immediately. Last weekend the Admirals stormed the first game in Milwaukee and the follow up saw a hot start by the Wolves but a defensively paced slow crawl that they came out on top of. Last night was the slow crawl – by far and away slower of a crawl than last weekend’s game that ended 2-1. So what does that mean for this afternoon? Is the rink going to open up for a track meet where the law of averages that took a day off last night comes back to allow for a goal fest that balances out the weekend or is it simply more of the same? It makes me wonder.

~Chatterbox~

After last night’s game I had the chance to speak with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason as well as Saros, Åberg, and the recently acquired Corey Potter. This is what they had to say following the 1-0 overtime victory.

Comments on the comments? How do you feel today’s game in Chicago is going to play out? Would it be safe to assume the Wolves will look to simply perform within their defensive bubble once again?

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.

Game Recaps March 5, 2016March 6, 2016

The Amtrak Trophy Is In Sight; Ads Win 1-0 in Overtime

The Milwaukee Admirals won 1-0 in overtime against the Chicago Wolves Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

This contest dragged clean through regulation after numerous chances for the Admirals were matched by efforts in net of Pheonix Copley. Thankfully, a well orchestrated overtime goal score after a power-play during four-on-four saw the Admirals through to earn maximum points. The trigger man was Admirals leading goal scorer Pontus Åberg who now has sixteen goals this season. The Admirals are now a win away from securing their first Amtrak Trophy over the Wolves since the 2012-13 season.

After a scoreless opening period the gloves dropped in the second period to give fans something to cheer about. Cody Bass and Emerson Clark matched up off a face-off and the Admirals side of the two wearing the numeral 36 had the best of the exchange. Bass out-muscled Clark and landed several clean strikes before bowling him over into the boards.

Despite countless chances throughout the entirety of regulation this game pushed into overtime at a scoreless draw. The plus side of the overtime period for the Admirals was they headed into the frame with fifty-eight seconds of power-play time spilling over from the end of regulation. As the power-play came and went the two sides remained at four-on-four which is where the game finally had a breakthrough.

1:29 into the overtime frame, Kevin Fiala put in a tremendous shift that ended with a drop pass to cycle Trevor Murphy down the left wing and create a two-on-one wing to wing with Pontus Åberg crashing down the right wing. Murphy’s lightning pass connected and Åberg’s tap in beat Pheonix Copley beneath the pads for the Swede’s team leading sixteenth goal of the season.

Nearly lost in all the numerous chances had by the Admirals late in tonight’s game was the third shutout of the season for Juuse Saros. While he wasn’t tested anywhere near his counterpart on the evening, Copley made a season best thirty-eight saves in the overtime loss, Saros did what he needed to do early to give the Admirals a foundation to build from in the second period forward. Saros stopped all twenty-two shots he faced and earned his nineteenth win of the season.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played on Thursday the team recalled Joe Pendenza from the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL). Tonight’s line combinations were: Reinhart-Gaudreau-Åberg, Fiala-Kamenev-Payerl, White-Girard-Görtz, Devane-Pendenza-Bass, Oligny-Potter, Murphy-Aronson, Näkyvä-Elliott. Tonight’s scratches were: Colton Sissons (healthy), Cody Hodgson (undisclosed), Patrick Mullen (right hand laceration), and Johan Alm (lower body).

Thoughts on tonight’s game? Despite the lack of goals generated tonight can you look at the Milwaukee Admirals performance as a strong one that was matched by an equally outstanding effort from Pheonix Copley? What’s to be expected in tomorrow’s game in Chicago?

Scouting March 5, 2016

Wolves: Scouting the Enemy

When the regular season comes to an end that incredible individual effort goal by Kevin Fiala to equalize late against the Lake Erie Monsters might be a moment worth remembering should the Milwaukee Admirals respond big off of that result. The Admirals offense hasn’t been playing up to its capabilities lately and those struggles caught up with them in Lake Erie on Tuesday when they were shutout 2-0. The Admirals were floundering again Thursday but Fiala’s goal forced overtime and the Admirals went on to win 4-3 in a shootout. This weekend’s slate of games against the Chicago Wolves will go a long way in showing just what that comeback performance meant for the Admirals. Did it snap them out of the recent funk or will they revert to regularly scheduled programming?

~Amtrak Rivals~

The Chicago Wolves enter tonight’s game with a record of 25-25-4-2 (56 points). Their 0.500 points percentage has them in sixth place of the Central Division and twelfth place of the Western Conference standings.

The Wolves are 3-5-2-0 in their last 10 games. After beating the Admirals 2-1 a week ago the Wolves have only played one game since and that was a 4-3 overtime loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Unlike the Admirals who clawed back late to force overtime and win – the Wolves allowed a 3-1 third period lead to crumble and let the Griffins score three unanswered goals to snag the win. That result has been hanging over their head since Sunday. They have had the whole week to let that game stew on the mind.

~The Amtrak Rivalry~

This season the Admirals lead the head-to-head against the Wolves with a record of 5-2-0-0. Coming into this weekend there are still five-games to be played in the Amtrak Rivalry. Should the Admirals sweep the weekend it would clinch the team’s first Amtrak Trophy since the 2012-13 season. That season the Admirals won the season series 10-2-0-0. They have yet to claim an Amtrak Trophy since the Wolves became the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.

~Who What Now?~

The scoring leaders for the Wolves hasn’t changed much since these two last played but there will be an important returning face that wasn’t on-hand a week ago. Ty Rattie makes his return to the Wolves lineup after a two-week spell with the Blues. Rattie has now played 13 games in the NHL this season and has scored 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists). At the AHL level, Rattie has played 42 games and had produced 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists).

There is a slight eyebrow raise when you look at Rattie’s AHL numbers tapering off the last three-seasons. As a rookie Rattie scored 31 goals. As a sophomore he scored 21 goals. And, right now, he is sitting on 10 goals. The game is of course far more than just one individual out on the ice being able to hammer darts into narrow pockets of space for goals – but Rattie’s numbers have dropped off hard in particular this season. His individual production level, from his rookie season to this season, might well be enough to have turned the Wolves goal differential around. The Wolves are -22 as a team this season (149 GF, 171 GA).

In net the Wolves do have both of their top gun options available: Pheonix Copley and Jordan Binnington. That might be important with the game tonight in Milwaukee and the follow-up tomorrow night in Chicago. There is a good chance the Admirals face both and both have reason to be confident coming into the weekend.

Copley has been up, down, and around at the NHL/AHL level the past month. Despite only having a record of 1-1-0-1 in February for the Wolves his numbers were sharp: 2.58 goals against average and a 0.920 save percentage. It all culminated on 2/27/16 when he made his NHL debut as a member of the Blues. It was a relief appearance that saw him enter for Jake Allen and match up against none other than the Nashville Predators. He faced 6 shots on goal and allowed a goal to Colin Wilson.

Binnington was an Admiral Killer leading into this season, hit a wall, but came back last time out. When including the first game played of the 2015-16 season – he had made 8 career appearances in the Amtrak Rivalry for a perfect 8-0-0-0 record while stopping 202/217 of the Admirals shots on goal for a 0.931 save percentage to go along with a 1.82 goals against average. That was followed by a stretch of 0-3-0-1 against the Admirals where he stopped 115/129 for a 0.891 save percentage and a 3.66 goals against average.

That changed for Binnington last time out though. In fact, it even changed the game prior despite being a losing effort. Last weekend Binnington started both games against the Admirals and stopped 63/68 for a much more respectable 0.926 save percentage. He picked up the win in Chicago last Saturday where he only allowed a Colton Sissons goal from 27 shots. He performed so well last weekend that the Wolves opted to ride him through the entirety of their three-in-three and he stopped 39/43 shots on goal against the Griffins in an overtime loss.

What are you expectations for this weekend’s spin on the Amtrak Rivalry? Could these games play out precisely as they did one week ago?

News March 4, 2016March 4, 2016

Joe Pendenza Recalled to Milwaukee

Once again the Milwaukee Admirals are in the roster move business with the team recalling Joe Pendenza from their ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones this morning.

Press Release via Cincinnati Cyclones:

Moline, IL- The Cincinnati Cyclones have announced that forward Joe Pendenza has been recalled by the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), while forward Andrew Yogan has signed a pro tryout (PTO) with the St. Johns Ice Caps of the AHL.

Pendenza has skated in six games since rejoining the Cyclones from the Admirals on February 19, accounting for four goals and two assists in that time. Prior to his most recent Cyclones stint, Pendenza suited up in 27 games for the Admirals, registering three goals and two assists.

Overall, the Wilmington, MA, native has appeared in 21 games this season with Cincinnati, totaling 10 goals and nine assists.

This will be the fourth AHL call-up of the season for Yogan, who has already seen two separate stints with the Syracuse Crunch, and one with the Iowa Wild. Yogan has been one of the offensive leaders for the Cyclones this season, tallying 14 goals and dishing out 26 assists for 40 points in 32 games played, which places him third on the team.

The 24-year-old has seen action in 24 AHL games this season, accounting for five goals and eight assists.

The 2015-2016 season is underway! Your Cyclones are on the march towards another Kelly Cup Championship, and want you along for the ride! Be sure to check out one of our 2015-16 Ticket Packages, available NOW! Call 513.421.PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Instagram, and our website, http://www.cycloneshockey.com!

Pendenza has played 27 games this season as a member of the Admirals where he has produced 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) with a plus/minus rating of -1 and 6 penalty minutes. As a member of the Cyclones in the ECHL he has played 21 games, scored 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists), has a plus/minus rating of +3, and 14 penalty minutes. His most recent spell with the Cyclones lasted the month of February where he scored 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in 6 games.

Why was Pendenza recalled? That’s where the speculation can simply begin. Cody Hodgson missed last night’s game against the Lake Erie Monsters which was his second absence from the last three-games. He was the lone forward scratches last night so, if there is a nagging injury, it could be that Pendenza was recalled to help keep numbers and options up for the Admirals forward group.

Feature March 4, 2016

Fifteen with Jimmy Oligny

The NHL Trade Deadline this season was a quiet one. It was especially quiet in regards to the Nashville Predators organization but, with that, came the realization for many that the true strength of the team wasn’t out on the market but in its own stability.

When you look at the make-up of the Predators roster the team is so largely home grown with several individuals who made their professional debuts as members of the Milwaukee Admirals. In recent weeks many of those faces have seen their hard work be rewarded with brand new contracts. Players such as Anthony Bitetto, Colton Sissons, and Miikka Salomäki. While it wasn’t an NHL level contract the same such news was seen on NHL Trade Deadline Day when the Admirals signed defenseman Jimmy Oligny to a new two-year contract. The philosophy behind the new contract echoes the names of those signing for Nashville. Hard work was being rewarded.

Oligny signed with the Admirals as an undrafted free agent in late-June of 2014. He was removed from a junior playing career in the QMJHL that spanned across two different teams, Prince Edward Island Rocket and Rimouski Océanic, where he played 302 games, scored 123 points (29 goals, 94 assists), and accumulated 531 penalty minutes.

In his first season of professional hockey Oligny maintained a role with the Admirals at the AHL level for the whole of the season: 53 games, 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists), plus/minus -2, and 46 penalty minutes. He impressed well enough that the Admirals penned him to a second professional contract last summer. While he might have dipped a toe slightly into the ECHL waters with the Cincinnati Cyclones this season, just one-game, it wasn’t for a matter of ability or form. Oligny has quite possibly been the Admirals top defenseman in the 2015-16 season.

As a second-year pro, Oligny has looked and played a much more dominant game from the blueline. While his offensive numbers have improved from last season, 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) in 54 games, it is his defense that has been even more impressive to see evolve – and that was already his strong suit. Oligny has been a shutdown level defenseman for the Admirals and have in many ways taken up the spot left by the likes of Joe Piskula these last two seasons. As a rookie a season ago he was able to watch and learn from the likes of Piskula and Bitetto. Now he’s the man playing anchor on defense and succeeding. Oligny has the best plus/minus of any Admirals defenseman this season (+11) and is doing that while assigned to neutralize high threat offensive lines. It’s no wonder then why the Admirals took note and signed him not only for next season – but the season after than to make sure the new anchor was firmly dropped in Milwaukee.

When you listen to this latest Fifteen feature I think this all ends up becoming a full-circle story because two things come up that I would never have known if not for talking with Oligny. The first thing is that, as an undrafted hockey player, he was preparing himself to hit the books and go to school. This professional playing career that he’s experiencing wasn’t a serious reality to him once his time playing in his native Quebec was over. The second thing, and the best thing, was that this interview was conducted days before he had actually signed his new contract and he name dropped playing hockey in Europe in his future plans. I’m not sure even in that moment that he truly realized just how good of a season he has been experiencing. And that I feel speaks to the truly humble nature of Oligny.

The day I went in for this interview was shortly after the Admirals thumping defeat to the Rockford IceHogs where they lost 6-4. The most noteworthy moment of that game may have come when Oligny’s daughter was seen on the jumbotron late in the game to a great response from the fans in attendance. His long-time girlfriend and daughter, or as I refer to them as The Oligny Clan, just so happened to be on hand at practice the day I did this interview. His daughter cheered on every player as they entered the rink at the start practice and even had some fun with Marek Mazanec. I’m going to go on record in saying this group might be among the happiest people I’ve come across with the Admirals and I gladly take their background noise in this interview to that of the bombardment of Pink Floyd that took place in Félix Girard‘s edition.

~Fifteen~

Editor’s Note. You’re probably wondering what we were talking about in regards to that Taylor Aronson photo. Well, sorry Taylor, but reality is reality. You looked absolutely mortified and it is hilarious. That photo was taken by Jamie Wahl as are many of the ones you see me specifically turn into a meme of some kind. I can’t help it. And apparently the team can’t either.

Thanks very much to Jimmy Oligny for taking time to do this interview. As of right now I am literally out of Fifteen interviews in the backburner which means more need to be conducted and hopefully that takes place on Saturday morning after practice. The goal to get all players featured before the season ends is a tough one – but we’re almost there!

Game Recaps March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

FialaMania Runs Wild; Ads Win 4-3 in Shootout

The Milwaukee Admirals were able to claim a 4-3 shootout victory on the road over the Lake Erie Monsters Thursday night at the Quicken Loans Arena.

Similar to last season’s finale in Cleveland between the Admirals and Monsters a little bit of magic by Kevin Fiala was required for the Admirals to squeak away with a victory. Fiala scored with 3:55 remaining in regulation to force overtime through an incredible individual effort. From there, overtime flew by and the Admirals mastery of the shootout continued. The Admirals have won all seven games they have played in the shootout this season and Juuse Saros has still not allowed a shootout goal.

This game opened with a rapid fire chance for the Admirals to get the ball rolling the right way tonight. Only thirty-four seconds into the game Kevin Fiala drew a tripping minor against Sonny Milano to put the Admirals to the power-play. The best chance of the quick opportunity was a Max Görtz shot that rang iron and trickled back out before getting cleared from the net. The Admirals would again be left begging for a finish.

A heavyweight tilt broke out between Cody Bass and Brett Gallant at center ice not too long after the Admirals opening power-play. Both men talked about it for a bit, they removed their buckets, and proceeded to absolutely throttle one-another with hard right hands again – and again – and again. Gallant had the final strike to get Bass down, giving him the edge on the fight cards, but that was by far one of the most exciting fights this season.

On the flipside of the scrap the Monsters were able to score the game’s opening goal from their first power-play opportunity. Milano was able to score from a near impossible angle as he shimmied down the left wing and down below the goal-line before unleashing a wrister that surprised Juuse Saros top corner of the near post and in. The goal for Milano was his eighth of the season and second in two-games against the Admirals.

As the first period was grinding to a halt the Admirals found themselves earning an extended five-on-three power-play chance. Trent Vogelhuber was called for a hook and, just fourteen seconds later while attempting to fend off Pontus Åberg, Josh Anderson also took a hooking minor to give the Admirals 1:46 of five-on-three power-play. All that was required from there was a pass from Trevor Murphy over to the left wing face-off circle where a howitzer of a one-timer by Görtz signaled the end of the Admirals scoreless streak of 117:07 of ice time. The goal for Görtz was his twelfth of the season and seventh scored on the power-play.

Pontus Åberg was able to give the Admirals a 2-1 lead in the second period thanks to his fifteenth goal of the season. The Swede was able to fight off the defensive effort of Dillon Heatherington and, in the process, catch Anton Forsberg guarding the near post too much. Åberg labeled a wrister from the right wing that went against the grain and into the top shelf past the blocker of Forsberg.

The Admirals lead would be short lived as less than eight minutes after Åberg’s goal Daniel Zaar had an equalizer. The Monsters’ Swede was able to one-time a pass by Alex Broadhurst past Saros from close-range in the low right wing face-off circle to tally his seventeenth goal of the season. This was followed closely by a go-ahead goal for the scored by Anderson who beat Trevor Murphy with pace, alluded a poke check of Saros, and deposited five-hole to score his fourteenth goal of the season and make it a 3-2 Monsters lead.

As the game dipped below four minutes to play in regulation the Admirals saw a moment of sheer individual brilliance from Fiala. The 19-year old forward cut through multiple members of the Lake Erie Monsters, drew a penalty, managed to keep puck control as he plowed towards the net, and still had the ability to flick a puck up and over the right pad of Forsberg to equalize for the Admirals on his eleventh goal of the season.

The goal for Fiala would help force overtime which saw a frantic frame of three-on-three in which pucks were hopping everywhere. The game would spill into the shootout where once again the Admirals would get the job done.

Fiala was the first man up and fired a snapshot to the blocker side of Forsberg. Milano would follow up for the Monsters and miss the net entirely. Frédérick Gaudreau was next man up and he would get caught in too tight to Forsberg who gloved the shot down. Kerby Rychel had the chance to level things 1-1 in the shootout but he completely flubbed up his shot and it meant match point with Matt White next up for the Admirals. White dangled in on goal with speed before letting the puck glide clean through the wickets of Forsberg for the game-winner in the shootout.

The Admirals are now a perfect seven-for-seven in the shootout this season. Saros has not allowed a single shootout goal from thirteen shootout attempts. He stopped twenty five of the Monsters twenty-three shots on goal tonight to earn his eighteenth win of the season from twenty-five appearances.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals played Tuesday night there were no roster moves made throughout the organization. Tonight’s line combinations were: Reinhart-Sissons-Åberg, Fiala-Kamenev-Payerl, White-Gaudreau-Görtz, Devane-Girard-Bass, Oligny-Potter, Näkyvä-Elliott, Murphy-Aronson. Tonight’s scratches were: Cody Hodgson (undisclosed), Patrick Mullen (right hand laceration), Garrett Noonan (healthy), and Johan Alm (lower body).

While it might not have been the cleanest of games for the Milwaukee Admirals can a comeback result like this be just the boost the team needs?

Feature March 3, 2016

Fifteen with Félix Girard

With the Milwaukee Admirals set to face the Lake Erie Monsters once again tonight my plan isn’t to plunge back into pre-game material but keep going with Fifteen. There will be plenty to keep your eyes peeled for information wise on our social media during the build up to game-time but, for now, let’s have some fun with a member of the French Fries!

Félix Girard‘s junior playing career was entirely spent with Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team was a five-hour trek North-East of where Girard grew up in Lévis, Quebec, Canada. He was named team captain for the 2012-13 season and was drafted by the Nashville Predators the next summer as the ninety-fifth selection of the 2013 NHL Draft.

After signing his three-year entry level contract in mid-April of 2014 Girard was primed for his debut season of professional hockey. His 2014-15 season was spent entirely with the Milwaukee Admirals at the American Hockey League (AHL) level where he would play 61 games, score 9 points (4 goals, 5 assists), hold a plus/minus of -9, and total up 54 penalty minutes.

As far as Girard’s growth from his rookie to sophomore season is concerned the best word to use would be consistency. Girard was one of the Admirals top penalty killers a season ago but would come and go during the run of even strength play. This season he has transcended his incredible work rate on the penalty kill and has been a go-to option for the Admirals whenever they need a win from a defensive zone face-off. He has been money in that respect.

It looks as if Girard plays the game more direct this season. He is a very no nonsense player, is highly responsible and intelligent on and off the puck, and has been a great table setter for the forward groups behind him as he is typically stationed on the lower lines for the Admirals. Girard has already eclipsed his points total from last season by tallying 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) from 55 games and has also seen improvements to both his plus/minus (-1) and penalty minutes (35). In short, there hasn’t been any sort of sophomore slump.

Girard is of course part of one of the tightest knit group of friends on the Admirals team which is entirely comprised of Quebec natives. The merry band known as the French Fries is consisted of Girard, Frédérick Gaudreau, Jimmy Oligny, and Jonathan Diaby. Right now there are three of the French Fries within the Admirals camp as Diaby, aka the Big Fry, currently finds himself logging minutes with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL).

I was expecting some sort of an interview bomb during this interview with Girard and I have to admit there is one. It isn’t exactly from the source I was expecting though as neither Gaudreau or Oligny got in on the fun. Instead, someone at the BMO Harris Bradley Center decided it would be a perfect time to get paperwork done while listening to a Pink Floyd playlist using the full force of the arena’s sound equipment. So, apologies for the audio bombardment as we’re ticking away the moments that make up the dull day. Let’s instead have some fun with Mr. Girard.

~Fifteen~

Thank you very much to Félix Girard for taking the time to do this interview. Giant stink-eye to the pillock blasting Pink Floyd with no rhyme or reason directly following an Admirals practice. Tomorrow will be part-deux of the French Fries as Jimmy Oligny steps up for Fifteen. Beyond that, the list is at a standstill and the reserves of interviews is bare. The goal is to get every player featured first but, if that gets tight during the amount of road games this month, many have suggested front office staff they would like to hear from. That can – and will be done.

Feature March 2, 2016March 3, 2016

Fifteen with Johan Alm

When getting to this edition of Fifteen I feel the need to remind you all of the realities of this feature series venture. I’m attempting to feature every player on the Milwaukee Admirals roster by the end of the 2015-16 season and doing that, with a hefty road schedule such as March presents, means going into practices in downtown Milwaukee long in advance of road trips to showcase them down the line – such as today.

At the time I recorded this interview with Admirals defenseman Johan Alm he was enjoying quite possibly his best run of form since arriving to North America from his hometown team in Sweden Skellefteå AIK. He was fully fit and looking to finally put all the pieces of his game together that he couldn’t have done last season when injuries heavily impacted his first year of pro development in North America. Things were looking upbeat for once.

When the Admirals played against the Rockford IceHogs on 2/24/16 the injury bug bit Alm once again. The big Swede took a nasty fall into the boards and was helped off the ice. He hasn’t played a game since and indications suggest that he could be gone for awhile.

“You know what, I don’t want to say anything because I don’t know what has been,” hesitated Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason when asked about Alm’s injury status on 2/26/16. “Nothing has been dictated to me but I can tell you that it’s not positive.”

Speculation talking here -BUT- if this injury is in fact a long term one for Alm it could mean far more than just the end of his 2015-16 season for the Admirals – it might effectively be the end of the Swede’s North American pro playing career. This season was the last year of his two-year entry level contract that he signed back in late-May of 2014. With two injury plagued seasons in North America as a member of the Admirals, and the likes of Jimmy Oligny and Trevor Murphy in the fold for the 2016-17 season, the Predators would probably be more likely to re-up with Garrett Noonan this off-season than they would with Alm.

It isn’t the most upbeat of intros to a Fifteen feature that I’ve done this season but it’s just the harsh reality of both the game and pre-recording these interviews to catch these guys before going out on long road trips. For what it’s worth, as you’ll no doubt hear, Alm is a tremendously positive and fun person to talk to and I feel his positivity can transcend the setbacks he has gone through since leaving Sweden in the pursuit of an NHL dream. Alm was a two-time champion with his hometown team Skellefteå AIK where he was teammates with Viktor Arvidsson. Alm can get back on his feet and get back to the ice. All he needs to do is keep his head up and be himself.

~Fifteen~

Cheers to Johan Alm for taking the time to do this interview. Fifteen will be back tomorrow as the pre-game story and will feature Félix Girard with an interview bomb by Pink Floyd. You read that correctly.

Game Recaps March 1, 2016March 1, 2016

No Bite; Admirals Shutout 2-0 In Lake Erie

(Photo Credit: John Saraya // Lake Erie Monsters)

The Milwaukee Admirals lost 2-0 on the road against the Lake Erie Monsters Tuesday night at the Quicken Loans Arena.

This game was really lacking serious energy from both sides as far as the first and third periods of play were concerned. Even the second period, which saw some chances created, only saw a taste of finishing quality in the dying seconds of the frame. In the end the Monsters really only ever needed the lone goal lead but would add a late secondary tally in the third period as Anton Forsberg shut the lights out on the Admirals – stopping all thirty-six shots on goal that he faced. The Monsters winning streak is now up to four-games and their point streak has extended to six-games.

The game’s opening goal wouldn’t come until late in the second period. Following their second penalty kill of the period the Monsters were able to get a two-on-two rush into the zone and score with 22.7 seconds remaining in the frame. Alex Broadhurst’s pass from the left wing cleared Taylor Aronson and hit Sonny Milano skating ahead of Colton Sissons. Milano would finish off in style past Marek Mazanec with a backhanded flick to record his seventh goal of the season.

With the Admirals pressing with the net emptied and extra attacker on a neutral zone face-off forced Mazanec back on the ice. The Monsters would pounce off of the draw and get a silky smooth backhanded goal from Daniel Zaar that went underneath the pads of Mazanec and in with 31.1 seconds remaining to make it a 2-0 Monsters lead from Zaar’s sixteenth goal of the season.

The Monsters only ever needed the lone goal from Milano the way they were defending. The Admirals may have registered a high number of shots on goal tonight but not many of those were from high quality scoring areas. It made for a rather calm night in net for Anton Forsberg who stopped every shot to earn his first shutout of the season and fourth of his AHL career.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played the NHL Trade Deadline took place. During the deadline the Nashville Predators acquired defenseman Corey Potter from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for future considerations. Potter had been playing this entire season at the AHL level with the Springfield Falcons where he played 52 games, had 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists), a plus/minus rating of +4, and 32 penalty minutes. The Predators also did a paper transaction that saw Viktor Arvidsson be reassigned to the Admirals prior to the NHL Trade Deadline in an effort to make him eligible to be part of the Admirals playoff roster. Not too long after the official deadline had passed the Predators immediately recalled Arvidsson from the Admirals roster. Tonight’s line combinations were: Reinhart-Sissons-Gaudreau, Fiala-Hodgson-Åberg, White-Kamenev-Görtz, Payerl-Girard-Bass, Oligny-Elliott, Noonan-Aronson, Näkyvä-Murphy. Tonight’s scratches were: Jamie Devane (healthy), Patrick Mullen (right hand laceration), Corey Potter (yet to join team), and Johan Alm (lower-body). As noted on the Admirals pre-game show via Aaron Sims, defenseman Corey Potter has yet to join the team but the expectation is for him to meet up with his new teammates for practice tomorrow in Cleveland.

Thoughts on tonight’s game? Is the Milwaukee Admirals inability to generate consistent offense becoming a major issue? What are teams specifically doing to the Admirals to squash their offensive chances?

News March 1, 2016

Predators Sign Miikka Salomäki to Two-Year Contract

The re-signing and new contract news keeps coming out of the Nashville Predators organization. First there was Colton Sissons signing a new three-year contract with the Predators. That was followed by Anthony Bitetto signing a new two-year contract with the Predators. Yesterday, the Milwaukee Admirals re-signed Jimmy Oligny for two-years. And now today the Predators have re-signed Miikka Salomäki to a new two-year contract.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (March 1, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has signed forward Miikka Salomaki (MEE-kah SA-loh-MA-kee) to a two-year, $1.225 million contract that will see him receive $575,000 in 2016-17 and $650,000 in 2017-18.

Salomaki, 22 (3/9/93), has seven points (4g-3a) in 45 games this season and eight points (5g-3a) in 46 career NHL games since scoring in his Predators debut on Jan. 8, 2015, vs. Dallas. The 5-foot-11, 208-pound left wing spent the majority of his first two North American professional seasons with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals from 2013-15, amassing 70 points (28g-42a) in 117 games. He posted a team-leading 50 points (20g-30a) as a rookie in 2013-14, good for a tie for fifth among first-year AHLers.

Nashville’s second choice, 52nd overall (second round), in the 2011 Entry Draft, the Raahe, Finland, native has represented his country internationally on seven occasions, most recently helping the Suomi to a silver medal at the 2014 World Championship. Salomaki played for Karpat’s Under-18, Junior and Elite League teams from 2009-13, winning a junior league title and being named league rookie of the year in 2009-10.

What a difference a year makes for Salomäki. This time last year the Finn was officially labeled as out for the rest of the season due to suffering a second shoulder injury of the season that would require surgery. Now, the 22-year old finds himself nestled into his home at the NHL level with the Predators doing all the incredible things that fans in Milwaukee came to know and love him for.

This season Salomäki started out with the Admirals and played 4 games while scoring 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist). After those first two weeks of the season he would be recalled by the Predators and perform well enough where not only has he come back – he’s earned a new two-year contract. In 45 games at the NHL level this season he has produced 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) to go along with a plus/minus rating of +2 and 22 penalty minutes.

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