Great news! Mike Liambas is no longer aligned with the baddies. (Photo Credit: Todd Reicher)
With all due respect to the San Antonio Rampage and Chicago Wolves tonight’s game should be a far better barometer on how the Milwaukee Admirals stack up right now. The Rockford IceHogs had a terrific season last season that simply pitter-pattered apart towards the finish. Much has changed in the Chicago Blackhawks organization which impacts how the IceHogs now look -but- they are just as strong of a team as they were a season ago.
Some big hitters are out and moved on, yes, but I feel the IceHogs have filled back out real well. Abbott and Carrick have a combined 249 points (91 goals, 158 assists) from 385 games in their AHL careers. Having well-rounded players such as these to complement an already good veteran group. The IceHogs still have Jake Dowell, Pierre-Cédric Labrie, and received familiar names after the passed through waivers in Brandon Mashinter and Mark McNeill. It’s a very established group of players and that should make the an incredibly tough test for the AHL this season.
Where a question mark can be thrown to the IceHogs this season is in net. Leighton was marvelous for the IceHogs last season: 46 games, 28-8-5-3 record, 2.44 goals against average, 0.918 save percentage, and 5 shutouts. He is now with the Carolina Hurricanes organization where he is with the Charlotte Checkers. Stepping into his place? A tandem between first year North American pro Johansson and a familiar face in Carruth.
Johansson is a 29-year old goaltender who has logged a lengthy career in his native Sweden before making his splash to the North American scene this season with Rockford. Looking at what he accomplished last season with Frölunda HC you can get the idea just why the Blackhawks wanted to bring him in:
Johansson, has played the last three seasons with Frolunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League, posting a 56-27-0 record with 11 shutouts in 93 games. During the 2015-16 season, he recorded a league-leading 1.74 goals-against average alongside a save percentage of .927 while going 27-6-0. Johansson picked up league honors for Goalie of the Year last season as Frolunda captured the league championship. In 10 playoff games last season, Johansson recorded a 1.27 GAA with a save percentage of .934. A native of Avesta, Sweden, Johansson also played professionally in Sweden’s Allsvenskan league with Mora IK (2008-11) and VIK Vasteras HK (2011-13).
As always, the European to North American transition is a different process for all who go through it. But I often find that the biggest trouble area for those going through it come at defenseman or in net. Why? That’s where the pace and style of the game can twist and turn you inside out the most. So far, he has hit the ground running with the IceHogs: 2 games, 1-1-0-0 record, 1.52 goals against average, and a 0.946 save percentage. His first win came last night in the IceHogs’ 2-1 victory of the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Carruth? This season is really his first chance to get a long AHL run. In the Blackhawks organization he has essentially bounced around between the AHL and ECHL 50-50 in his career. He’s been decent enough when given the opportunity for the IceHogs in his career: 28 games, 10-9-2-1 record, 2.53 goals against average, 0.912 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. That stat-line still comes through sporadic playing time and while going through the AHL/ECHL roller coaster. Can he stick and push for first choice goaltender? Or will he struggle alongside a netminder going through the motions of the North American pro game for the first time? That’s the true gray area on the IceHogs season to me.
Expectations for tonight’s game? How do you feel the Admirals match-up against the IceHogs? Will the penalty minutes issue continue to be a problem for the Admirals?
The first Amtrak Rivalry game of the 2016-17 season is upon us. Last season saw the Amtrak Trophy awarded to the Milwaukee Admirals after a successful 9-3-0-0 record over the Chicago Wolves. It was the first Amtrak Trophy the Admirals secured over the Wolves since the 2012-13 season when they were AHL affiliates to the Vancouver Canucks.
With such success against the Wolves last season one wonders what a difference a year makes? The Admirals scored 32 goals in the 12 games against the Wolves last season. There are 19 goals worth of offense not returning to the Admirals lineup from that Amtrak Trophy winning group, namely Max Reinhart (8 goals) and Kevin Fiala (5 goals).
A similar painting can be made on the flipside of the canvas. The Wolves scored 23 goals against the Admirals last season. 14 goals of that aren’t back with sniper Ty Rattie‘s 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 10 games worth of offense no longer at the AHL level this season in the St. Louis Blues organization.
When looking in net for last season’s match up it also sets up a good picture. Juuse Saros made 9 starts out of 12 games against the Wolves and he earned 7 wins with a 1.98 goals against average, 0.934 save percentage, and a shutout.
As for the Wolves, last season it looked like the goaltending position was meant to be their strongest asset after such great 2014-15 seasons for both Jordan Binnington and Pheonix Copley. It looked like Binnington was primed to be the go-to with Copley in camp to really push hard for net time to keep the two razor sharp throughout the season. But that rarely, if ever, manifested itself. It’s probably why 21-year old Ville Husso is still knocking about at the start of this season on their AHL roster as a third choice option in net.
The fall of Binnington last season was one of the more eyebrow raising stories I followed from an outside perspective. It felt like he was one of those glorified Admirals Killers in net and specifically followed in the path of former Wolves goaltender Jake Allen in that respect. In Binnington’s 2014-15 season he was a perfect 7-for-7 against the Admirals and pitched a 1.94 goals against average and 0.930 save percentage. Last season though? 3 wins from 8 appearances with a 2.49 goals against average and 0.915 save percentage. His overall numbers year-to-year fell: 2.35 goals against average, 0.916 save percentage in 2014-15 to 2.85 goals against average, 0.907 save percentage in 2015-16.
I feel if the Wolves are going to amount to anything this season the stability between their pipes is everything. Binnington was very spotty a season ago and Copley, for the lack of a better term, was not good enough nor who he was thought to be when the Blues organization acquired him in a package deal when they sent T.J. Oshie to the Washington Capitals.
Elsewhere on the Wolves roster this season you find noteable losses from a season ago as well as returning or familiar names. Pat Cannone, who I felt was one of their most consistent and polished players the last three seasons, is now a member of the Iowa Wild. His absence, along with prospects that have migrated to St. Louis, left a rather big hole to fill. That’s where I suppose all these blokes step in: Brett Sterling (former member of the Wolves), Landon Ferraro (former member of the Grand Rapids Griffins), Kenny Agostino (Stockton Heat), Andrew Agozzino (former Lake Erie Monsters and of getting shown up by Fiala after an overtime winning goal fame), Wade Megan (former Cincinnati Cyclones product), and Brad Hunt (former Wolves, Barons, and Condors defenseman).
Long story short, too late, it is very much hit the nuke and reset button for the Chicago Wolves AHL roster. It is rather remarkable, really. How has it fared in their first two-games of the season? Well, not being a hard judge here, they lost two straight games to the Grand Rapids Griffins in a home-and-home series. They lost 3-1 on Grand Rapids followed by a 4-2 loss on home ice in Chicago. They were outshot 62-53 by the Griffins, went 7/10 on the penalty kill, and 1/7 on the power-play.
Much like the Admirals, the Wolves will be looking to improve off of those season opening mistakes and tightening up the details in their play. My hope is for minimized trips to the penalty box for the Admirals as well as making better use of their chances on the power-play. For all the Admirals looks on the power-play in San Antonio, which included some extended five-on-three time, they still only scored on their first power-play opportunity of the season. They went on to squander the next 12 power-play opportunities. That’s something that just can’t be allowed to fester on and on with a group of skilled scoring talent that the Admirals possess.
Expectations for tonight’s game? What do you think of the Chicago Wolves massive overhaul for the 2016-17 season? Do you feel like the Wolves have progressed or degressed because of those changes?
19 February 2016: San Antonio Rampage F Mikko Rantanen (96) during the second period of the AHL hockey game between the San Antonio Rampage and Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Lake Erie defeated San Antonio 4-3 in overtime. (Photo Credit: Frank Jansky // Icon Sportswire)
The 2016-17 AHL season has arrived. It’s going to be a special season for the Milwaukee Admirals with the venue change into the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. That said, the Admirals start the year off with a five-game road trip. Heck, in October the Admirals only have one home game from seven-games.
The funny thing is that the AHL schedule always manages to balance itself out nicely over time. If I had a preference? I actually really like that the Admirals have a heavy road trip to start the season off. Rather that get comfortable in the home surroundings the Admirals will be out as a team spending more time together during all this early travel. Everyone can start to really get to know each other away from the rink and bond. While the impacts of this might not necessarily be seen ASAP the importance of having a chance to group up early with these road games could prove well in the long run.
Standing in the Admirals way for this weekend’s opening games are the San Antonio Rampage. The Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate finished last season with a record of 33-35-8-0 (74 points, 0.487 points percentage) which placed them in dead last of the AHL’s Pacific Division. Head-to-Head the Admirals more than took the edge over the Rampage last season. The Admirals won all four-games while outscoring the Rampage 17-7.
Curious about the season-to-season roster turnover? Well, yes, a decent amount of that team spills back into the fold for this season. Yet, the headline talent that you’ll recognize off the bat for obvious reasons isn’t one of those returning names. The Rampage will begin this season with former Admirals goaltender Jeremy Smith as part of the organization. The 27-year old will look for a far less dramatic season than he suffered a season ago with the Boston Bruins organization and will be side-by-side with 21-year old Spencer Martin who played in 18 games for the Rampage at the AHL level last season.
The real standout names from last season’s fixture won’t play a part in this weekend. Mikko Rantanen, last season’s leading scorer for the Rampage, was recently assigned by the Avalanche to the Rampage but the soon to be 20-year old Finn is fresh off an early season injury and it isn’t clear whether or not his reassignment is an indication that he will play. Borna Rendulic, who scored the most points and goals (3) in the head-to-head match up for the Rampage against the Admirals is now a member of the Vancouver Canucks and Utica Comets organizations. And Colin Smith was traded last season to the Toronto Maples Leafs organization.
Who picks up the slack then? Will it be former Stanley Cup winner Ben Smith? The eleventh overall selection of the 2011 NHL Draft, Duncan Siemens? Superior, Wisconsin native Mike Sislo who arrived from the Albany Devils? Or a returning face to the Rampage by the name of Rocco Grimaldi who scored 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 64 games in the 2014-15 season?
The answer there is a murky one. While the Admirals really have three lines that could be considered the top line it’s hard to look at the Rampage and feel they have the depth that will see them and an AHL Calder Cup Playoffs caliber team this season. They will need to rely heavily on quality characters within the locker room and on the bench as well as tight defense to back-up their above average goaltenders. That’s all really needed to just keep things close with an offense that is a massive question mark. They scored 213 goals last season to sit right in the mid-pack of the AHL in that category at fourteenth. With who is on-board? That number should decline. At the very least, though, so too should their 240 goals allowed… which was the sixth most goals allowed in the AHL last season.
If you are the Admirals the hope is for last weekend’s exhibition games to have sunk in as a learning tool. The Admirals passing in those games was sloppy, execution lacking, and they conceded an opening minute goal in each game while losing to both the Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Wolves to a 4-1 loss. This week’s practices were passing drill heavy with an emphasis on maintaining pace in attack. We should all know just what sort of a game this could be if the Admirals start missing passes left and right in the opening few minutes of the period tonight.
Expectations for tonight’s season opener? How will the Admirals handle the San Antonio road trip this weekend? Should Juuse Saros start both games in net for the Admirals?
Play Together. Win Together. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
When you look at the organization right now the entire system finds themselves with their backs up against the walls and in must win situations. Last night the Nashville Predators won Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 to force Game 7 on Wednesday night in Anaheim. Also happening last night the Cincinnati Cyclones lost in Game 6 to the Fort Wayne Komets 2-1 (OT) having had a chance to close out the series and now finding themselves in a Game 7.
The Milwaukee Admirals aren’t in a Game 7. They can’t be. It’s a best-of-five series in the opening round of the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs. That doesn’t mean that isn’t their mentality tonight. The Admirals lost both games on home ice to open the series against the Grand Rapids Griffins and now need to win out to see themselves through to the second round.
The Admirals haven’t won in Grand Rapids all season. The Admirals haven’t won in Grand Rapids in their last seven-games at the Van Andel Arena. The last time the Admirals won in the Van Andel Arena they had a 26-save shutout from Magnus Hellberg in net during a 4-0 win on 1/31/15. In fact, there are so many “haven’t done this since” or “the last time the Admirals did this” that I compiled a ton of them last Chatterbox. It all paints a bad picture with the lasting image of the Admirals, in the entirety as a franchise, have never overcome a 2-0 playoff series deficit and last won consecutive games in Grand Rapids in the same season back in 2012-13.
I’m not here to give the usual Scouting the Enemy blurb on players or goalies. You can get as much basically from the initial playoff edition here with the exception being the Grand Rapids curveball of Tom McCollum in net over Jared Coreau. Instead of doing that I’m going to focus in on two specific games that these two teams have played and I want you all to focus in on the video highlights from them.
The first thing I want you to do is ignore who was on the ice. I don’t want you to wag a finger and say, “Well we don’t have Cody Hodgson or Taylor Aronson right now so it doesn’t matter.” Ignore the names and numbers and simply look at the two teams. What did you notice of those games relative to Game 1 and Game 2 of this playoff series between the Admirals and Griffins?
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
There is a lot different from the Admirals and Griffins that played those games that are playing these playoff games. The biggest difference is speed. The Admirals ability to get through the neutral zone to have space opened up in the offensive zone was blindingly obvious from those videos as opposed to these playoff games, right? That’s because the Griffins have been putting on a master class at the second half of neutral ice to really interfere with the Admirals on zone entry to either force dump ins, which the Admirals may or may not get, or physically stop them in their tracks by brute force. In the photo above you see just that. Frédérick Gaudreau, a great skater, being zeroed in on as he’s attempting to start the Admirals offense from blueline. He’s being physically slowed and the puck side defenseman is cutting his angle down so that he can either be the first to retrieve the puck or camp the front of the net should a trailing forward be tracking Gaudreau. The Admirals, throughout the two-games at home, died time and time again right there with an attack that could never truly generate the speed that the Admirals want to play with. The Griffins force them into small gaps that they can control and are constantly pressuring the Admirals out from the center of the ice into these board battles where the Griffins are finding tremendous amounts of success.
So, how do the Admirals look to counter that? They need to less pressurized into being sucked into the Griffins numbers and looking to get the puck side-to-side more often because the Admirals focus of North-South is getting blocked off hard by the Griffins. Playoff hockey is a marathon. It isn’t a sprint. So just because you have puck control doesn’t mean you have to go for a home run pass or some blitzkrieg rush down the boards. Rather, the Admirals should be getting these Griffins to start thinking laterally and getting them to be the ones freezing in place. It worked for the Admirals in those games above. It can work for the Admirals tonight. The Admirals asset of speed can be welcomed back into this series if they’re able to connect intelligent passes to the wings on their races down the ice. You can still get North with smarter angles of attack East-West. It will get the Griffins out of their sheep herding mode on defense and more into a panic over blindside attacks.
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Another huge element that the Admirals shouldn’t shy away from is the willingness to throw pucks to the net for the sake of throwing pucks to the net. McCollum has looked alright in this series, sure, but he’s looked at his best when the defense in front of him is making the shots coming his way more predictable. Even when that has been the case he hasn’t been perfect at allowing a rebound or two that could be sitting right on a plate for those fighting for ground in front of the goal mouth. If the Admirals find themselves winning a neutral zone battle, cycling the puck into the attacking zone, or are on the power-play – the shot is always there and it should be taken. The Griffins have been masterful at making the Admirals passing and shooting lanes dirty so why not dirty up the shots? How many highlight reel pristine goals do you usually see come playoff time? The better majority are rebounds or bad angle shots getting in thanks to traffic. Don’t hesitate. Don’t allow yourself to be pasted to the boards or pass into traffic and sticks. Rather pass a puck to the net and see if you get a stick, get a skate, or get a rebound.
A last major talking point, something that Admirals head coach Dean Evason has brought up, is battling through the Griffins “in the regular season this was called interference but we’re not calling it now” obstruction plays throughout the ice. Evason brought up terms like needing more “will” or “desire” in the “battle areas” of the ice. That to me translates to fight through it anyways. The Admirals will either wear down the Griffins by pushing back or earn penalties by keeping their wheels turning. If there was ever a time to truly fight for your space it is in moments like tonight when the Admirals are the ones with nothing to lose. They’re the ones on the brink of elimination. Run through those walls that the Griffins are building. If they’re not calling interference consistently throughout this series than playing into that isn’t going to stop them from doing that. Run through them and make them pay for blocking off space.
I know that tonight could well be the last Admirals game of the 2015-16 season. The team knows it – coaches and players. There is a lot to fight for tonight but it is done with memories erased. The “No Goal” call didn’t happen. There are no “what if” scenarios to question. The only thing that matters is tonight. Win tonight and play for tomorrow.
What are your expectations for tonight’s game? Will the Milwaukee Admirals be able to survive tonight? Will a fast start for the Admirals be key to shutting up the crowd in Grand Rapids or would it be in their best interest to ride out the storm?
The time has finally arrived. The Milwaukee Admirals are back in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs. It may have only been a year’s absence but, after twelve straight seasons of playoff hockey in Milwaukee, that simply felt like a decade ago. Fortunately for everyone they get to voice their appreciation and welcome playoff hockey back at the BMO Harris Bradley Center tonight and tomorrow with the Admirals, as Central Division champions, controlling home ice against the Grand Rapids Griffins in the first round of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.
~Kind of Grand, Sort of Rapid, Flock of Griffins~
The Grand Rapids Griffins finished the regular season with a record of 44-30-1-1 (90 points). In their second to last game of the season they found themselves in a tie for the third seed of the Central Division with the Rockford IceHogs and in a showdown against them to really help dictate how the playoff picture was going to look. The Griffins lost that game on the road 4-0 and then proceeded to lose on home ice 3-2 the following night to the Bakersfield Condors. They finished with a 0.592 points percentage and claimed fourth place of the Central Division.
There was a time where it looked like the Griffins were going to be the team to beat in terms of winning the Central Division crown. They set a franchise record winning streak by putting together fifteen straight wins and would pull off another winning streak of thirteen-games roughly two months later.
A harsh reality of the Griffins 2015-16 season is that they are a particularly streaky team. As fantastic as those winning streaks both sound their season began in misery. The Griffins took five-games before finally earning their first win of the season and were a rough 2-8-0-1 (5 points) from their opening eleven-games prior to marching to that franchise record fifteen-game winning streak.
The Griffins currently head into the playoffs on a losing streak which matched a season high. They have lost five-straight games in regulation going into the opening round series against the Admirals. The first time they lost five straight games in the regular season they won 9-1 over the IceHogs on the road before dipping and diving before their then thirteen-game winning streak.
Again, this team is either extremely hot or extremely cold. A major question that should get answered early in this series is whether or not the layoff from the end of the regular season to the first round playoff match-up against the Admirals helped to get these Griffins back on track after squandering away third place in the Central Division with a rough patch to their regular season. What Griffins are going to show up: a refocused group that has corrected its recent faults or more of the same?
~The Playoff Rewind~
There are many names on this season’s Griffins roster who were part of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs. For those in need of having your memories refreshed the Griffins were able to enjoy a solid run one-season ago that ended in the AHL Western Conference Finals.
In the first round the second seeded Griffins faced the seventh seeded Toronto Marlies in a best-of-five round series that went the distance. That series featured something that will not be happening when the Griffins face the Admirals. It was a 2-3 playoff format in which the Griffins, as the higher seeded opponent, was able to chose between starting the series on home ice for the opening two-games or ending it at home for the final three-games. It worked a treat if only to make them earn their home ice as the Marlies won the first two games of the series in Toronto. The Griffins would sweep the final three games that were held in Grand Rapids to advance. This season the Griffins and Admirals best-of-five series will have a more functional 2-2-1 format that sees the Admirals host the first two-games of the series and the possible fifth and decisive game.
In the second round the Griffins advanced to face the fourth seeded IceHogs where they would win the best-of-seven series 4-1. The Griffins claimed the first two-games on home ice, lost the first contest in Rockford, and then snagged the final two-games in Rockford to close out the series before the final two-games held in Grand Rapids were even needed.
The Western Conference Finals last year were between the Griffins and the top seeded, and totally West if you ignore Geography, Utica Comets. The Griffins would push the Comets to six-games but fall 4-2 to the top seed. The Griffins earned a Game 2 victory in Utica but dropped the first and last games they had of their three at home. That opened the door for a Comets finish to the series in Utica where they punched a ticket to the Calder Cup Finals in Game 6.
Of the expected Griffins roster, going into tonight’s game, there will be nineteen returning names from last season’s Griffins playoff roster. That is just a little under 60% of last year’s team that nearly punched a ticket to the Calder Cup Finals that will be available to the Griffins against the Admirals.
~The Stanley Cup Playoffs Effect~
Before the puck has even dropped on this series the Stanley Cup has already made an impact on the way this series between the Admirals and Griffins will be played. The Griffins parent club, the Detroit Red Wings, were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs last night by the Tampa Bay Lightning. This allows for the Red Wings organization to disengage properties that could contribute at the AHL level and bring recent Stanley Cup Playoff playing experience with them.
The Griffins are set to see the return of forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Joakim Andersson to their ranks from the Red Wings. Both players featured in all contests of the five-game playoff series for the Red Wings. Athanasiou scored a goal while Andersson tacked on an assist during their playoff run.
Athanasiou has played 37 games at the NHL level this season and produced 14 points (9 goals, 5 assists). As a member of the Griffins this season he has added 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) in 26 games. Last season in the Calder Cup Playoffs he was able to produce 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) from 16 games.
Andersson’s career split to this point between the NHL and AHL is rather tight in terms of games played. He has logged his entire North American professional playing career under the Red Wings banner but has seen varied to lesser results while playing at the top flight. In his NHL career he has logged 205 games, scored 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists), has a plus/minus rating of -11, and has 27 games of playoff experience where he has 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists). At the AHL level in his career he has logged 208 games, scored 106 points (41 goals, 65 assists), has a plus/minus rating of +8, and has 20 games of playoff experience with 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists).
The Admirals parent club, the Nashville Predators, currently find themselves locked up at 2-2 in their opening round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks. That series now effectively has become a best-of-three series. That might oddly work to the Predators favor should the series trend of no home team having won yet holds to the finish. The Ducks host Game 5 and Game 7 if it is needed.
Should the Predators be eliminated while the Admirals remain active in the Calder Cup Playoffs their returning faces would include team captain Colton Sissons, last season’s top scorer for the Admirals Viktor Arvidsson, and effectively this season’s captain when the true captain wasn’t in the AHL Cody Bass. All three of the possible returning names to the Admirals made their debut to the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the Predators current series against the Ducks.
~All Top Scorers Must End In An “E” Sound~
The Griffins offense this season was the second most potent in the Western Conference. As a team they recorded 238 goals which was only bettered by the Texas Stars (277 goals) and edged out the third closest team -the Admirals- by 14 goals. While the Admirals feature a rather balanced scoring group the Griffins have a few players that do separate themselves from the pack.
Andy Miele was the Griffins leading scorer in the regular season. He managed to follow up what was a highly successful first season with the Griffins in 2014-15 with a rather close effort this year: 62 points (18 goals, 44 assists) in 75 games with 77 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +18.
Miele is followed on the Griffins scoring list by the team’s leader in goal scoring, Eric Tangradi. After bouncing around a few organizations for the past three-seasons Tangradi appears to have found a place of renaissance in the Red Wings organization. He has contributed 56 points (28 goals, 28 assists) in 72 games as a member of the Griffins with a plus/minus rating of +17 which were all career bests.
Third in scoring for the Griffins is Mark Zengerle. In his second professional playing season since finishing up a playing career for the Wisconsin Badgers he set a career high in the scoring department with 47 points (9 goals, 38 assists) in 72 games. His performance this season bettered his first professional season as a member of the Griffins by 10 points.
There are then a few hot shots worth keeping an eye on in the series. Anthony Mantha, who has scored 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games. Martin Frk, who has scored 44 points (27 goals, 17 assists) in 67 games. Mitch Callahan, who has scored 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 62 games. Robbie Russo, who was the Griffins top scoring defenseman this season with 39 points (5 goals, 34 assists) in 71 games. And the oddity that is Louis-Marc Aubrey who has scored 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 75 games this season which includes being the Griffins top scorer against the Admirals in this season’s head-to-head with 7 points (6 goals, 1 assist) in 8 games.
~Solving The Coreau Woes~
The Griffins possible secret weapon to this series could come in net in the form of Jared Coreau. This season he appeared in 47 games, held a record of 29-15-2-1, 2.43 goals against average, 0.922 save percentage, and locked down 6 shutouts.
In his career he has faced the Admirals Coreau has played in 12 games, made 11 starts, holds a record of 8-3-0-0, has stopped 273/293 shots on goal for a 0.939 save percentage, has a 1.94 goals against average, and has earned 3 shutouts over the course of three-seasons. He has played in two-games against the Admirals that have spilled past regulation and won each of them (once in overtime, once in a shootout). He has also been yanked from a start once against the Admirals this season.
If there were any question mark to Coreau it would be the simple fact that he has played in only one career AHL playoff game and lost. It came in last season’s Calder Cup Playoffs in Game 2 of the Griffins opening round series on the road against the Marlies. He stopped 21/24 shots on goal for a 3.10 goals against average and 0.875 save percentage.
What are your expectations for this first round series for the Milwaukee Admirals? What is the most concerning thing to you about the Grand Rapids Griffins? Does the fact that both teams had less than ideal finishes to the regular season, Admirals losing their last two-games and the Griffins losing their last five-games, make a difference in the form that these two teams enter the playoffs with?
The 2015-16 regular season ends today for the Milwaukee Admirals. Don’t let last night’s result skew things. This season has been nothing short of special.
This time a year ago the Admirals were set for an early off-season. The string of twelve consecutive playoff appearances ended with a last place finish in the Midwest Division and a record of 33-28-8-7 (81 points, 0.533 points percentage). Now, the Admirals are Central Division champions with the second best record in the Western Conference standing at 48-22-3-2 (101 points, 0.673 points percentage).
The Admirals loss last night, combined with the Ontario Reign winning on the road against the San Diego Gulls, means that the Western Conference crown has been handed to last year’s Calder Cup champions who played a lesser schedule against questionably lesser opponents. The regular season was about achieving the best points percentage. And now that portion is over. What’s there to play for today now that the Western Conference title isn’t to be had? Simple: today’s game. Because no one, and I mean no one, wants to head into the playoffs on a sour note.
~Oink Oink~
The Rockford IceHogs enter tonight’s game after having won in 4-0 shutout fashion on home ice against the Grand Rapids Griffins. The two teams entered last night’s game tied for third place in the Central Division with the Griffins owning the tiebreaker over the IceHogs. By taking down the Griffins last night the IceHogs elevated themselves away from a potential first round match-up against the Admirals. That is, unless, the following happens tonight.
The IceHogs have a record of 39-22-10-4 (92 points, 0.613 points percentage). The Griffins have a record of 44-29-1-1 (90 points, 0.600 points percentage). If the Admirals defeat the IceHogs in regulation tonight and the Griffins, who are hosting the Bakersfield Condors, win in any fashion what so ever then the Admirals first round opponent would be the IceHogs. Both the Griffins and IceHogs would have a 0.605 points percentage and the Griffins, just as they did heading into last night’s showdown, would own the tiebreak.
So, the fun of today’s game is a mixture of the one-ice product in Rockford and what is happening in Grand Rapids. Who will the Admirals be hosting next weekend for the first round of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs? We will find out tonight.
For what it’s worth: the Admirals record against the IceHogs this season, entering tonight’s finale, is 6-4-1-0 with five-games that went past regulation… the Admirals record against the Griffins is 3-5-0-0 with all games ending in regulation and the Admirals getting held to one-goal or less four times.
~Who What Now?~
The IceHogs have three players coming into tonight’s game with 40+ points: Vinnie Hinostroza, 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists)… Mark McNeill, 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists)… Ville Pokka, 43 points (10 goals, 33 assists). They’re followed closely by Tanner Kero who has averaged 0.64 points per game this season: 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 59 games.
According to Elite Prospects right now the IceHogs have a merry band of goaltenders. Out of all of them though the one to really put your sights on is Mac Carruth who has stepped up in place of Michael Leighton who is currently stationed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a certified practice goalie for their playoff run. Carruth has played in 16 games with the IceHogs this season. Since 3/20/16 he has made 10 appearances and has a 1.97 goals against average, 0.939 save percentage, and 2 shutouts.
Expectations for tonight’s game? Should certain players be getting the night off for the Milwaukee Admirals or would it be better to keep the throttle down en route to the playoffs next weekend?
Tonight is a slight ending of an era. The Milwaukee Admirals are playing their final regular season game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. There will still be playoff hockey and, hopefully, many more home games to come. Yet, this is the regular season finale of the Admirals home for the last 28 seasons of hockey. If there were ever a night where you can really let those feelings bleed out it should be tonight. The playoffs are emotional enough as it is without the reminder that the building that the Pettits placed downtown with pro hockey in mind isn’t going to be around much longer.
~Bradley Center By The Numbers~
So, what of the Admirals and the Bradley Center itself? There are many facts, figures, and notes that are worth having as you enter the building for the last regular season game.
The Admirals record at the Bradley Center is 634-357-17-32-73 from 1,112 games. Their playoff record is 48-49 from 97 playoff games. As of the Admirals last home game the total attendance at the Bradley Center is 7,784,884. The first ever Admirals game took place on October 2, 1988 with the Admirals losing a 5-4 exhibition contest against Team Canada. The first official regular season game happened on Friday, October 7, 1988 against the Salt Lake Golden Eagles which ended with a 6-5 Admirals win under the watch of head coach Rick Ley.
Who were the Admirals individual leaders at the Bradley Center? Games Played: Mike McNeill, 442 (1992-98)… Points: Tony Hrkac, 320 (1994-97, 2003-05)… Goals: Gino Cavallini, 139 (1993-96)… Penalty Minutes: Ken Sabourin, 1233 (1993-98).
~Playoff House Keeping~
Before getting further into tonight’s game specifically let’s address the developments of last night in the AHL. The Lake Erie Monsters beat the Charlotte Checkers by a final score of 3-1. By doing that the Monsters elevated themselves in such a way that they cannot possibly fall to fourth place to become the Admirals opening round playoff opponent. This means it all comes down to the Grand Rapids Griffins and Rockford IceHogs who are currently tied for third place in the Central Division and actually play against each other tonight.
As a result, the Admirals were able to announce dates for the first two games of their opening round:
Lake Erie’s win tonight means the Ads first round playoff opponent has been narrowed to Grand Rapids or Rockford where there will be a 2-2-1 playoff format. The Admirals will host the first two games and the possible fifth game with the opening two games taking place next Friday and Saturday at 7pm.
~The Last Dance Partner~
As far as being titled the final regular season opponent for the Admirals at the Bradley Center goes there is something odd about it being someone such as the Bakersfield Condors. They aren’t a storied rival. They aren’t even a potential playoff opponent. Instead, they’re really just an irritated passenger kicking your backseat crying out for, “are we there yet, while waiting for their regular season’s curtain to drop.
The Condors enter tonight’s game with a record of 29-28-7-2 (67 points). Their 0.508 points percentage has them in fifth place of the Pacific Division and tenth place of the Western Conference standings. They have been eliminated from playoff contention as the last two remaining teams competing for the eighth and final playoff spot from the Western Conference comes down to the San Jose Barracuda (0.538) and Charlotte Checkers (0.533) in that flex spot of fourth in the Pacific Division.
As the Condors swoop into Milwaukee they do so on a slight high note having beaten the Stockton Heat on home ice by an electric 6-3 final scoreline. That being said, the Condors have been crawling to the finish line of the 2015-16 season in agony. They have 6 wins from their last 21 games. All that’s left in their regular season are a pair of road games against the Admirals and Griffins. So, it doesn’t get much better for them.
~Who What Now?~
The Condors leading scorer is Matthew Ford who has collected 49 points (26 goals, 23 assists) from 62 games.
Right behind Ford on the team’s scoring list for this season is actually someone no longer with their team, Andrew Miller. If you remember the Condors and Checkers actually got involved in something of an AHL trade that saw Miller get loaned for the rest of the season to the Checkers with noted fan of Admirals Roundtable Zach Boychuk loaned from the Checkers to the Condors for the rest of the season. This move has been a bit of a bust for both as neither has found the same level of form with their new clubs. Boychuk has accumulated 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 14 games with the Condors and Miller has 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 10 games.
In net the Condors have been given a boost thanks to the Oilers season being over. Laurent Brossoit was reassigned to the AHL after the completion of the NHL season. The 23-year old has done supremely well for himself this season and saw that rewarded with a two-year contract extension in late-February.
Brossoit’s season to date includes 29 games at the AHL level with the Condors where he has posted a 16-9-3-2 record with a 2.70 goals against average, 0.919 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. At the NHL level this season for the Oilers he hasn’t tasted that same level of success: 5 games played, 0-4-1 record, 3.60 goals against average, and a 0.873 save percentage.
~The Reinhart Family Reunion~
One thing that should be plenty of fun to watch tonight is how often there will be a brother against brother match-up on the ice. Max Reinhart will be going up against his younger brother Griffin Reinhart who plays as a defensemen in the Edmonton Oilers system. Griffin was a fourth overall draft selection of the New York Islanders at the 2012 NHL Draft but was traded to the Oilers for draft picks. He has split his debut season to the Oilers organization between the NHL and AHL in 2015-16: Oilers (NHL), 29 games, 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist), 20 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus rating of -6. Condors (AHL), 28 games, 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists), 16 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus rating of +2.
This will be the first time the two brothers have played against each other as professional hockey players. They did play junior hockey against one another eight times with Max and Griffin both playing in the WHL. Their first head-to-head in juniors came back on 10/19/10. Max that first season produced a 5 point night (3 goals, 2 assists) against Griffin on 1/12/11. They then both scored in the same game against one-another on 1/18/11. Then the two played against each other in the opening round of the 2012 WHL Playoffs where Griffin’s Edmonton Oil Kings swept Max’s Kootenay Ice. On 3/28/12 of that playoff series Sam Reinhart suited up for the Ice alongside Max playing against Griffin. Quite the hockey family, eh Paul Reinhart?
~About Yesterday~
I did get the chance to attend practice yesterday morning to get a further look at the Admirals ahead of this weekend’s games – I will be attending both tonight’s home game and the season finale on the road in Rockford. As far as how the line combinations looked it wasn’t anything new as far as the Admirals last game was concerned:
It’s worth noting that those (located here) were not your go-to options during line drills. That meant A.J. White was favored to the likes of Anthony Richard who is currently nursing a lower-body injury at the moment. The two young guns on defense, Jack Dougherty and Aaron Irving, both paired together with Irving operating on the left-side and Dougherty to his stronger right-side. I get the impression both wouldn’t be tabbed to play seeing the main defensive nucleus is there just as it was when the Admirals defeated the Chicago Wolves 3-1 on Tuesday.
Other bits and bobs to discuss: Taylor Aronson has yet to rejoin the Admirals since the team cited personal reasons for his absence. Cody Hodgson, who has been out for the Admirals last 19-games, is also not with the team at the moment as he is seeing treatment for back spasms which have plagued him this season. Johan Alm, who has missed the Admirals last 22 games since injuring his right knee, is with the team but purely on-hand in a supporting role as he slowly rehabs his way back to full-fitness.
Expectations for tonight’s game? Do you feel like the Admirals should shake up the defense to allow for the newbies to log some ice time or would you prefer the Admirals main core of players keep motoring on en route to the playoffs?
When thinking about tonight’s game, and really the remaining games, it might well feel like there isn’t much to play for anymore. The Milwaukee Admirals clinched the Central Division on Sunday and have three games left in the regular season. There are a lot of new names being kicked into the system and playing time is there to be afforded to allow for the newbies to get a run out. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to play for.
When looking at the new names that the Admirals have seen introduced recently you’re seeing players that as seeking to seize an opportunity and test themselves. A.J. White, Jack Dougherty, Anthony Richard, and Aaron Irving all have the chance to make solid early impressions as newly christened professional hockey players. While the Admirals may have been fighting, as a team, for their placement in the standings the individual aspect of moving to the next level spills into exactly what these youngsters will be providing in the coming games.
Tonight’s game against the Chicago Wolves marks the last Amtrak Rivalry contest of the season. It’s also the final meeting between these two teams at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Regardless of how different these two teams’ 2015-16 seasons there is still much to play for. For the Admirals they’ll be looking to keep this incredible momentum storming forward as they return to the playoffs after a season removed for playoff hockey. For the Wolves there will be plenty of individuals looking to treat each game like a job interview. One of those aspects is eyes looking forward. Another of those aspects is on the here and now. This game shouldn’t be taken lightly.
~Amtrak Rivals~
The Wolves enter tonight’s game with a record of 31-34-5-3 (70 points). Their 0.479 points percentage has them in sixth place of the Central Division and thirteenth place in the Western Conference standings. The lone two teams separating the Wolves from the bottom of both categories are the Manitoba Moose (0.399) and Iowa Wild (0.397).
It’s been incredible following the Wolves this season but incredible for all the wrong reasons. Their 2015-16 season reminds me of the 2014-15 season of the Admirals. All the right pieces are there. They just can’t get the consistent results. The Wolves have gone from a team that had a goal differential of +12 a season ago to that of -35 this season with three-games remaining. It’s almost beyond belief that they’ve fallen backwards so hard.
This season the Wolves will not be featuring in the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. At that time they were the AHL affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks but it’s worth noting their then iteration the Peoria Rivermen, as these Wolves are affiliates to the St. Louis Blues, also missed the playoffs. That Rivermen team of 2012-13 lost 35 games in regulation from 76 games. If the Wolves lose tonight in regulation they match that.
~Who What Now?~
The Wolves leading scorer this season is team captain Pat Cannone who has managed to enjoy a career season despite all the woes for the team. In 71 games he has produced 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) and is one of the few players having logged more than half the Wolves game played this season to have a positive plus/minus rating.
It might be unfair to point fingers at anyone specific individual but, if there was any one player I feel sums up the Wolves struggles this season, it would be Ty Rattie. This is Rattie’s third season of AHL hockey. In that time he hasn’t improved he has actually regressed. Take a look:
Rattie, 2013-14: 48 points (31 goals, 17 assists) in 72 games while averaging 2.9 shots on goal per game… Rattie, 2014-15: 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) in 59 games while averaging 3.3 shots on goal per game… Rattie, 2015-16: 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists) in 59 games while averaging 2.5 shots on goal per game…
For awhile it always felt like Rattie was the igniter to the Wolves offense. Now he takes less shots with less finishes to his shots on goal. Despite his drop in performance, and his lack of explosiveness, he is still third on the Wolves in scoring. A struggling and faltering sniper is still third on the Wolves in scoring. That just about sums up their offensive struggles to me.
In net the Wolves feature Pheonix Copley and Jordan Binnington. The man with the most appearances for the Wolves was the man who had the Admirals number all last season, Binnington.
The follow-up to a great first full season to the AHL for Binnington hasn’t been matched to say the least. In 2014-15 Binnington had 25 wins from 45 appearances with a 2.35 goals against average, 0.916 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. This season he has more losses than wins (16-17-5-3 record) in 39 appearances with a 2.89 goals against average, 0.905 save percentage, and a single shutout.
Copley’s play alongside Binnington on the Wolves has also seen a drastic drop off from last season to this season. As a member of the Hershey Bears in the Washington Capitals organization Copley posted a 17-4-3-1 record from 26 appearances in 2014-15 with a 2.17 goals against average, 0.925 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. He also had a strong playoff run for the Bears by winning 3 games from 5 appearances with a 1.83 goals against average and 0.946 save percentage. As part of the Wolves this season Copley’s numbers have fallen off largely: 14-16-3-0 record from 36 appearances, 2.82 goals against average, 0.907 save percentage, and 3 shutouts.
~Head To Head~
The Admirals secured the Amtrak Trophy earlier this season and lead the season series with a record of 8-3-0-0. This season the Amtrak Rivalry has only had two-games spill past regulation. In those games the Admirals won both times, once in overtime and another in a shootout. The Admirals have won the last four-games straight in the season series.
As far as the head-to-head scoring goes the top scorer in this year’s Amtrak Rivalry is none other than Mr. Rattie of the Wolves who has scored 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 9 games. That’s quite impressive to consider he has scored one-third of his goals this season against the Admirals.
The other side of that coin sees two Admirals tied for the top slot on scoring against the Wolves. Max Reinhart has 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists) from 11 games. Kevin Fiala has 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) from 10 games.
In net, Juuse Saros has won 6 games from 8 appearances against the Wolves but it has been Marek Mazanec with the better numbers in the Amtrak Rivalry this season. Mazanec has appeared in 3 games against the Wolves this season and has a 1.34 goals against average with a 0.951 save percentage.
~Pre-Game Interviews~
This morning I raced in, braved all the nasty road construction around the ol’ barn, and got some pre-game interviews from morning skate. Hear from head coach Dean Evason as well as the two newbies on defense Jack Dougherty and Aaron Irving.
Some notes from morning skate: Taylor Aronson is not with the team as he is out due to personal reasons at the moment. Both Dougherty and Irving, as well as forward Anthony Richard, are not going to play in tonight’s game. Richard is nursing a leg injury right now and the hope is to see him get a game at some point. A.J. White will return to the Admirals lineup after having sat out as a healthy scratch the last three-games. He will be placed on the wing of former linemate at UMass-Lowell Joe Pendenza tonight.
Expectations for tonight’s game? Can the Admirals twelve-game point streak continue? There are a lot of names potentially making their debut to the Milwaukee ice. Who excites you the most?
Tonight marks the end of the regular season for both the Nashville Predators and Cincinnati Cyclones. Not the Milwaukee Admirals, though, as they will be facing the Charlotte Checkers tonight and tomorrow at the 11am hour our time. This will be followed by the Admirals returning home for games against the Chicago Wolves and Bakersfield Condors before ending their regular season one week from today on the road against the Rockford IceHogs.
As far as what the Admirals are hunting down in these final games there are a few possibilities:
(1) The thing that will need the most help, and probably winning out, would be bumping the Ontario Reign for the best record in the Western Conference. The Admirals have a 0.669 points percentage to the Reign’s 0.685 point percentage.
(2) The Admirals have five points of wiggle room between themselves and the second placed team in the Central Division the Grand Rapids Griffins. The most points the Griffins can secure by winning out the rest of their season is 100 points. That’s the number to keep an eye on as the Admirals already have 95 points this season. Wins this weekend would put them to 99 points meaning a win on the returning home game Tuesday could clinch the Admirals first divisional title since the 2010-11 season. Any losses for the Griffins only helps that number drop that much more and they will be facing the Wolves tonight after having beaten them last night in a tight 4-3 contest.
(3) As far as the Admirals record goes the last time they reached the 100 points plateau was that West Division Championship season of 2010-11. That season the Admirals secured 102 points but did it back when the AHL held an 80 game season. Other previous seasons in which the Admirals have eclipsed 100 points on a season also game during the 80 game schedule: 102 points (2003-04), 103 points (2004-05), 108 points (2005-06), and 107 points (2008-09).
(4) Another feat that is still a possibility would be if the Admirals could win out the rest of the season to reach 50 wins in a season for the first time in the franchise’s history in the AHL era of the team. The Admirals record right now is 45-21-3-2. The previous high for wins in an AHL season for the Admirals came during the 2005-06 season when they ended just one win shy of 50 wins by ending the 80 season campaign off with a record of 49-21-6-4.
~Checkers or Wreckers~
The Checkers come into this weekend’s games against the Admirals with a record of 36-28-3-5 (80 points). Their 0.556 points percentage has them in fifth place of the Central Division and in eighth place of the Western Conference.
In regards to the upcoming playoff picture the Checkers are putting themselves into a very amusing place. Allow me to explain and expand on why I get a laugh out of all of this because it is a bit choppy and I’m not sure how many realized that the actual playoff format changed this season.
Right now four teams in the Central Division have clinched playoff spots: Admirals, Griffins, Monsters, IceHogs. The Pacific Division, which features Californian teams that are playing eight less games than everyone else during the regular season, features a flex spot in their final season standings that states that if the fifth place team of the Central Division has a higher points percentage than the fourth placed team of the Pacific Division they will supersede the team from the Pacific Division’s place and enter the Calder Cup Playoffs as the fourth seed of the Pacific Division.
The Texas Stars are struggling here and there but it looks like they should be finishing in third place of the Pacific Division. They just haven’t clinched their playoff spot as of yet because the San Jose Barracuda have a near enough points percentage to keep things interesting. The points percentage right now all comes down to this: Checkers (0.556), Barracuda (0.546). If the season ended today the Checkers would supersede the Barracuda and become the Pacific Division’s fourth seed.
Where this all becomes funny, and at the same time maddening for myself, is that the playoff format isn’t about a match up of: #1 vs #8, #2 vs #7, #3 vs #6, #4 vs #5. It doesn’t work that way this season. Instead, the playoff format will see the top team in the division play the fourth team in their division with the second and third place teams pairing up. The winner of the first round faces the winner of their own divisional bracket in the second round before seeing the top two remaining teams from respective divisions clash in the Conference Finals.
Speculation on my part leads me to believe this was another way to cater to Californian teams and the possibility of wild traveling arrangements. Which is hilarious to then think that the Reign could now draw the Checkers as their opening round opponent. That’s a distance of 2,427 miles from Citizens Business Bank Arena to the Bojangles’ Coliseum, a 34-hour car trip, or a 6 hour and 35 minute flight. If points percentage hasn’t been stupid enough for most of this season, if playing less games isn’t a black eye enough for the AHL, then I take that as a small piece of karma. And wouldn’t it be spectacular if the Reign get roughed up in round one due to the games and travel right out the shoot and flame out fast?
~Who What Now?~
Before the Checkers possibly play wreckers to the Reign’s plans they’ll be looking to possibly spoil some of the momentum the Admirals have built up with this current ten-game point streak. They have the squad to do it as well. The Checkers are 5-3-0-2 from their last 10 games and are coming off of a 2-1 regulation loss to the IceHogs that was played Wednesday night in Charlotte.
The Checkers leading scorer this season is not with them at the moment. Derek Ryan has a team best 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) but he is currently up with the Carolina Hurricanes. This means the second best scorer on the Checkers roster is one that actually did most of his damage for a different team, Andrew Miller. This season for Miller is split between the Condors and Checkers. He totals 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) from 53 games but has 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) from 9 games since joining the Checkers.
At the blueline the Checkers have a pair of great offensive minded defensemen, Trevor Carrick and Jake Chelios. Carrick is tied for eighth among AHL defenseman this season for scoring with 40 points (9 goals, 31 assists). Chelios has 30 points (7 goals, 23 assists). Of note, the two combine for a plus/minus rating of -28.
Between the pipes the Checkers have a goaltending duo of John Muse and Daniel Altshuller. Muse returned to his ol’ Checkers team after being part of the Texas Stars for the first half of the season. The splits for Muse returning the Checkers have been alarmingly better for him. With the Stars: 19 games, 3.02 goals against average, and 0.904 save percentage. With the Checkers: 15 games, 1.88 goals against average, and 0.925 save percentage. Needless to say he has been the backbone for the Checkers while the first-year pro Altshuller continues to have spotty performances after a high quality start to his AHL career.
Expectations for these games against the Checkers? Are you excited for the debut of Jack Dougherty? If Dougherty does debut which defenseman sits for the evening? Do you think the Admirals have a chance to win out the rest of the season to earn their first 50 win season?
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?
Admirals Roundtable 