Remember when Patrick Cehlin channeled his inner Admirals/Predators fandom and dropped the gloves with Jonathon Blum? Me too! (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
The Iowa Wild are entering tonight’s game with a record of 26-32-6-4 (62 points). They are at the bottom of the Midwest Division and Western Conference. The only two teams in the AHL that are worse in terms of points this season are the Portland Pirates (58 points) and Adirondack Phantoms (56 points).
Iowa’s last game played was on Wednesday in Grand Rapids where they were beaten up 6-1. It marked the ninth time this season where they allowed five or more goals in a game. It also provided one of the most gruesome selfies you’ll see any time soon courtesy of Mitch Callahan of the Griffins. I’ll be honest – graphic – click here if you are so inclined – update from their team on his condition as well.
That loss to the Griffins was the team’s second straight loss and seventh defeat from their last ten games played. They have had a rough season – and playing the Admirals hasn’t exactly been great for them either.
Nov. 3 @ Iowa: W, 5-2
Nov. 16 @ Iowa: W, 1-0
Dec. 29 @ Iowa: W, 4-0
Jan. 6 vs. Iowa: W, 4-3 (SO)
Jan. 31 @ Iowa: W, 3-2 (OT)
Feb. 14 vs. Iowa: L, 3-1
Feb. 28 vs. Iowa: W, 9-1
Mar. 12 vs. Iowa: L, 3-2
In eight games the Admirals have gone 6-2-0-0 (12 points) against the Wild.
Scott Darling, who is freshly removed from a 36-save shutout against the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday, has played the Wild twice and shut them out each time: 65-65 in save attempts. Marek Mazanec has taken part in four games, split them in wins and losses, has a 2.49 GAA, and a 0.902 SV%.
The top two scorers of the match up are Bryan Rodney and Miikka Salomaki. Rodney has tallied 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) and Salomaki has produced 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists). Of the players in camp right now – Austin Watson has the most goals against the Wild with 4 goals from eight games… the other tied with that same total is Colton Sissons.
Meanwhile, the Wild’s top scorer in the season head-to-head with Milwaukee is former-Admiral Brad Winchester. He has played in nine games against the Admirals this season thanks to his move from Rockford to Iowa: 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in seven games with Rockford… 1 assist in two games with Iowa.
Gustafsson has played in thirty-six games this season, has twelve wins, a 2.97 GAA, 0.906 SV%, and one shutout. He has played the most games against the Admirals for the Wild this season: six games, one win, 3.11 GAA, and a 0.884 SV%.
Reichard was signed to a PTO contract from the Orlando Solar Bears yesterday. This season he has played in twenty games in the ECHL, won thirteen games, had a 3.18 GAA, and a 0.903 SV%. He last played in the AHL when this same team was called the Houston Aeros during the 2012-13 season: seven games, three wins, 2.41 GAA, and a 0.910 SV%.
To get an additional bang for your buck to prep for today’s game – check out yesterday’s team practice round up and interviews in the Chatterbox.
Thoughts on tonight’s game? Can the Admirals continue their success against the Wild? Should the Admirals play any of the new faces that were brought in recently against an opponent like the Wild?
An Amtrak Rivalry Moment: Colton Sissons looks at Mike Liambas in amazement as he spearheads the offense. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Chicago Wolves enter tonight’s game with a record of 39-20-5-3 (86 points). They are second in the Midwest Division and fourth in the Western Conference.
It feels as if it has been forever since we’ve seen the Amtrak Rivals. To this point, here is the season series.
Yep. It has been forever hasn’t it? Including tonight, the Admirals and Wolves will face each other four times in the final nine games of the Ads season.
The season series has gone the way of the Wolves so far: 6-0-1-1 (14 points). They have gained a point from every game. What makes this match up so frustrating for the Admirals is – look just how close they are to reversing those defeats or taking a minimum of one point. Every single game of this season’s Amtrak Rivalry has been won by a single goal. Quite remarkable.
Since we’ve last played the Wolves they have competed in sixteen games and have gone an impressive 10-4-1-1 (22 points). Their goal differential from open play, during that span, is +14 (52 GF, 38 GA).
Much credit for such a goal disparity can be given to the goaltending and, in Chicago, they have one of the best in the AHL – Jake Allen. This season he has played in forty-seven games, has won an AHL best twenty-nine games, has a 2.16 GAA, 0.925 SV%, and five shutouts. He is in the top three of almost every single major AHL category for goaltending: wins (1st), goals against average (3rd), save percentage (3rd), shutouts (3rd), saves (3rd), and minutes (1st).
Against the Admirals this season, Allen has played in six games and won five of them. He has a 2.10 GAA and a 0.919 SV% in those games. Interestingly, it is his battery-mate Matt Climie who has the better statistical numbers in the match up: 1.92 GAA and a 0.922 SV% in two games.
They are led in scoring by first year pro Ty Rattie who has 45 points (29 goals, 16 assists in sixty-six games this season. He is coming off of his hottest goal scoring month of the season: 8 goals in twelves games through the month of March. It seems like he is only getting better as his rookie season progresses.
The Admirals enter tonight’s game with a record of 32-22-6-7 (77 points). The are third in the Midwest Division and sixth in the Western Conference.
Though the division leading Grand Rapids Griffins may have ended the Admirals month of March on a down note- it was still a massive month for the team. They went 8-3-0-1 (17 points) from twelve March contests. The offense, which scored 28 goals from twelve games in February, produced 45 goals in March.
I think the major reason for the Admirals’ success in the last month comes down to the cohesiveness of the team’s forward depth. It seems all four lines have really been pounding out great game after great game.
The line combination of Taylor Beck (LW), Francis Wathier (C), and Austin Watson (RW) were a blindingly bright spot for the Ads in March. They combined for 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) last month. Watson alone enjoyed his best points production of the entire season last night playing mostly as a winger – 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) with a point streak that lasted seven-games.
Another combination that always seems to have worked well this season also had a great month of March: Mike Liambas (LW), Mathieu Tousignant (C), and Joonas Rask (RW). They work traditionally as the team’s fourth line -but- generally start the game because their style perfectly sets the competitive tempo for the rest of the lines to follow.
Prior to March, Tousignant had 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists). In March he produced 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists). He’s done well enough to bounce around the lineup during some games – and even factored into the Admirals power-play unit last game as a net front presence. It has been very impressive to see his workmanlike attitude finally find its way to the scoresheet.
UPDATE: This afternoon the Milwaukee Admirals have reassigned Josh Shalla to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. With the Admirals he has played in twenty-six games and scored 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists). As a member of the Cyclones he has played in twenty-two games, scored 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists), and had the greatest blooper ever.
What are your expectations for this game? Is this a possible first round playoff teaser? Would you want to face the Amtrak Rivals in the opening round of the playoffs?
The more I look at this photo, taken earlier this season, the more I smile. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Grand Rapids Griffins enter today’s game with a record of 42-20-2-4 (90 points). They are leading the Midwest Division and are second in the Western Conference. On Friday night the reigning Calder Cup Champs were able to clinch their spot in the playoffs.
Today will mark the tenth meeting of the season between the Griffins and Admirals. The season series so far has gone as follows:
Oct. 18 @ Grand Rapids: W, 3-2
Nov. 13 vs. Grand Rapids: W, 2-1
Nov. 20 @ Grand Rapids: L, 5-0
Dec. 13 @ Grand Rapids: L, 4-2
Dec. 14 @ Grand Rapids: L, 5-0
Dec. 26 vs. Grand Rapids: W, 4-1
Feb. 1 vs. Grand Rapids: L, 3-2 (SO)
Feb. 23 @ Grand Rapids: L, 1-0 (SO)
Feb. 26 vs. Grand Rapids: L, 5-1
Admirals, 3-4-0-2 (8 points), goal differential from open play -11 (14 GF, 25 GA), and 155 penalty minutes. Griffins, 6-3-0-0 (12 points), goal differential from open play +11 (25 GF, 14 GA), and 137 penalty minutes.
I feel as if the Admirals in this match up tend to do one of two things. (1) play above the level of the Griffins compete levels and earn one of their best results of the season or (2) get completely outskated by the hyper-skilled team that are the Griffins.
The top scorer in this match up, for either team, is Teemu Pulkkinen. He has played in each of the previous nine games this season and has averaged a point per contest: 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists). The 22-year old Finn has a wicked slap shot and leads all AHL rookies in goal scoring this season with 28 goals. The lone player to edge him in the rookie scoring race? Curtis McKenzie of the Texas Stars (59 points) who has 6 more points than the Griffins right winger (53 points).
Adding to all the glam from the skaters are two great goaltenders: Petr Mrazek and Tom McCollum. Mrazek has played five games against the Admirals this season, won four games, 1.17 GAA, 0.949 SV%, and two shutouts. McCollum has played four games against the Admirals this season, won two games, 2.18 GAA, 0.924 SV%, and has a shutout to his name as well.
Mrazek played last night for the Griffins in their 4-1 win against the Rockford IceHogs. McCollum was in net Friday for the Griffins 5-4 loss in Rockford. It’s always fun to see just how coaches work goalies in a three-in-three scenario. The rested man will be McCollum but the go-to-guy would be Mrazek for this meeting… expect he played last night in Grand Rapids… late travel night… back-to-back starts. It will be an interesting decision.
The Milwaukee Admirals are now 32-21-6-7 (77 points). They remain in third place of the Midwest Division and sixth place in the Western Conference -yet- this recent string of games has really strengthened that position.
Yesterday’s hot news from the Twitter-verse was that Mark Van Guilder will be recalled. The news first came from an agent and was then retweeted by the Nashville Predators Director of Player Development, Scott Nichol. At the time I’m writing this, 1:15 am CST … I am the night, there has still yet to be an official confirmation from the team. It would appear that myself, and media buddy Dave Boehler of the Journel Sentinel, were the lone people to dive in on the social media buzz. By the time I wake up – perhaps we’ll have an official confirmation from the Predators. Look for Kevin Wilson on Twitter if that ends up being the case.
In the less “is this legit or not” news, I can give full confirmation that the Ads are in incredible form this month. 8-2-0-1 (17 points) from eleven games. It’s almost sad to think that today’s contest will be the final contest in March.
Yet, I feel they have finally found their identity at the right time of the season. Today’s game included: there are ten games remaining in the Admirals season. When the Predators season ends – expect to see reinforcements arrive on Monday April 14th – just in time for two more regular season games – and then we’re into Calder Cup Playoff season.
With that sort of mindset. Today’s game should be taken exactly as it is for the Admirals: like a playoff game. The Ads are currently on a four-game point streak, 3-0-0-1 (7 points). The Griffins, who claim to be pesky these days, are 6-3-0-1 (13 points) from their previous ten-games. I am expecting a tightly contested game tonight.
How do you feel the Admirals will play against the Griffins? What are your expectations?
Mike Liambas and Vincent Arseneau are under this pile. Take my word for it. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The last time the Milwaukee Admirals met the Lake Erie monsters they won 6-5. It was their first win over the Monsters since March 16, 2012. Let’s reflect back on some of this season’s history between the two.
Jan. 3 @ Lake Erie: L, 4-2
Jan. 4 @ Lake Erie: L, 6-1
Jan. 12 vs. Lake Erie: W, 6-5
The games in Lake Erie were really -really- rough games for the Admirals. How rough? Scott Darling had enough of it in the second game of the two-in-two and decided to drop the gloves with his counterpart in net Sami Aittokallio.
That set the stage for the rematch in Milwaukee. The tables sort of reversed from the second game to the third. Yet, the Monsters did make a real strong push late to keep things interesting.
If things continue with the norm of the season series – we could be in for a pretty fun show.
The Monsters enter this game with a record of 28-28-0-8 (64 points).
Did you double take reading that like I did? They are the only team in the AHL to not record an overtime loss this season – and they have been 16 games that have occurred in OT or longer: 2 OT wins, 6 shootout wins, 8 shootout losses.
Their record puts them fourth in the North Division and twelfth in the Western Conference. It would be a battle for them to make the playoffs – which makes them all the more dangerous coming into tonight’s game.
They are currently on a run of 3-0-0-2 in their last five games. In those games they have played two games that went into a shootout and lost both. The rest that finished in regulation? Wins. From open play they have outscored their opponents 15-11 in this stretch – including back-to-back shutouts of the woeful Rochester Americans.
Leading the Monsters in scoring is Mark Olver with 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists). Right behind him, only down by one goal in scoring, is Andrew Agozzino.
Other players to keep an eye on are Bryan Lerg and Joey Hishon. Lerg leads the Monsters active roster with most points scored per game with 0.77 Pt/G – 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 35 games. Hishon scored a hat trick in the last meeting against the Admirals – and has 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) from 3 games against Milwaukee this season.
In net for the Monsters include’s Calvin Pickard, Chet’s brother, and Scott Darling’s favorite punching bag. Pickard has played the most games between the two: 38 games, 15 wins, 2.87 GAA, 0.903 SV%, and 2 shutouts. Aittokallio has played in 29 games, won 12 games, 2.57 GAA, 0.912 SV%, and has 4 shutouts.
Aittokallio has made the most recent starts for the Monsters. Last time out he lost in a shootout, 6-5, to the Chicago Wolves. Prior to that he posted back-to-back shutouts over the Amerks.
The Admirals now have a record of 31-21-6-7 (75 points) following their four-game road trip that saw them pull in 5 points out of a possible 8. They remain third in the Midwest Division and sixth in the Western Conference – but – during the last few weeks they have been trending up and gaining a cushion on the likes of the Rockford IceHogs, Charlotte Checkers, and the plummeting Rochester Americans.
Of all that happened during the Admirals road trip I feel the biggest thing that took place was Marek Mazanec finally delivering a game where he allowed less that 2 goals. Despite achieving that and more in the NHL, 2 shutouts, he had a string of 24 consecutive games where he allowed 2 goals or more from his starts. The curse is broken!
There are plenty of skaters we could talk about when it comes to the recent offense. Many players are enjoying their best offensive productivity this entire season right now. Of the two that stand out to me are Patrick Cehlin and Mathieu Tousignant.
Cehlin has only played in 28 games this season and missed the better part of two months due to a concussion. Since he has come back he has slowly worked back up to speed. Right now his pace is phenomenal. In his last 9 games he has scored 11 points (1 goal, 10 assists).
He really seems to be at a great place physically and it’s really helping him on the ice. I actually wonder, with the time missed earlier this season, if he won’t actually be in better condition come playoff time than any other player on the Admirals roster. If he keeps performing like this – that’ll be massive.
At the end of February – Tousignant had 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists). So far in the month of March he has tallied 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 10 games. He’s our fourth line center that plays alongside Mike Liambas and Joonas Rask. That is a line that has done so well that they will often start games because of how well they set the tempo. Our resident hyper-talking French Canadian Tousi has plenty to do with how well that lines gels.
What are your expectations for tonight’s game? Can the Admirals successful road stint spill over to home ice?
The last time the Rochester Americans and Milwaukee Admirals played against one-another a kid named Pekka Rinne was in net. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
The Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game with a record of 30-25-64 (70 points). They are second in the North Division behind the Toronto Marlies (83 points) and eighth in the Western Conference – trailing the Rockford IceHogs (71 points) and leading the Charlotte Checkers (69 points) while sitting in the last available playoff spot.
Yesterday morning, as in the opening puck drop took place at a “coffee is is in the Gatorade bottles” 10:10 am CST, the Americans battled in Toronto and came up short with the Marlies, 3-1.
In that game, Kevin Porter scored the opening goal in the first minute of the second period for the Americans. They went on to concede two second period goals and an empty netter to cap off an early morning divisional battle. You can view the video highlights of that game right here.
Granted, they have had some time to rest up and travel much earlier than if that game was played at night. Yet, it could still be an advantage to the Admirals having a team that played the day prior and traveled back to Rochester. The Admirals have been in town practically following Sunday’s game in Utica – so they are rested and ready to go.
One of the major focal points from this game comes in net for the Americans. With the Buffalo Sabres, their parent club, in a bind following the Ryan Millertrade and an injury to his would-be replacement Jhonas Enroth, it has led to the recall of both AHL goalies the team has used throughout this season: Nathan Lieuwen and Matt Hackett.
That means the Admirals will be squaring up with one of two fresh faces to the Americans roster: Connor Knapp or Andrey Makarov. The two have played in 3 games this season and have allowed a combined 10 goals between the two of them.
Knapp took part in their two-game battle with the Lake Erie Monsters, started both games, and allowed 8 goals from shots on goal (0.873 SV%). Makarov made the start in Toronto yesterday morning and allowed 2 goals from 35 shots in the loss. Who gets the net? Either way, I feel it could be advantageous to the Admirals that the Americans lost both of their top netminders in camp – and now find themselves with two goalies who are experiencing the AHL for the first time in their playing careers.
The team leader in scoring is Phil Varone with 50 points (14 goals, 36 assists). He has also played in 9 games with the Sabres this season in the NHL where he scored some career firsts: a goal and an assist. He is currently with the Americans, though. In his last six games he has failed to score a point. It is his longest drought of the season.
Their top goal scorer, Luke Adam, was a member of this year’s AHL All Star Classic and has 45 points (27 goals, 18 assists). He is tied for fifth in the AHL for goal scoring trailing: Colton Sceviour (32)… Travis Morin (31)… Mike Hoffman (30)… and Zach Boychuk (29).
The Admirals are 30-21-6-7 (73 points) entering the final contest of a four-game road trip. They are third in the Midwest Division and sixth in the Western Conference. The cushion now sits at 2 points over the Rockford IceHogs – with a game in hand for the Ads. They are also 3 points ahead of the Americans in the Conference standings – also with a game in hand.
Yesterday’s roster shuffle included two moves down. Filip Forsberg, who was recalled under emergency conditions, was returned to the Admirals. The addition of Forsberg should give the team that extra dimension that, perhaps, cost them that extra point in Sunday’s shootout defeat in Utica.
The counter move that followed was an interesting one in my opinion. Zach Budish ended up being the odd man out heading to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL with Josh Shalla and Paul Crowder remaining on the AHL roster. It’s the second ECHL stint this season for Budish – and he should be ready to join the Cyclones tonight on the road in Orlando.
While we’re talking Cyclones, let’s mentioned the name Magnus Hellberg and see what he’s been up to in his return to game action. He has played in one game out of a possible two opportunities. He made a start on 3/21/14 against the Elmira Jackals. He was pulled from the net following 4 goals allowed from 13 shots. The following game, the next day, Rob Madore made the start. I wouldn’t take that as an injury setback. I wouldn’t take that as a knock on a bad performance the previous night. I actually take that for what it is: two-in-two scenario, two goalies per game, stick to the gameplan. Hellberg should get his second start with them tonight alongside Big Head in Orlando.
The current hottest Admiral at the moment is the new man on wing, Austin Watson. When I spoke with Mark Van Guilder regarding what he has seen from Watson in his transition from center to a wing role he said the following:
“[Austin Watson] hasn’t played much wing but he looks good there. It seems like he has a little more jump in his step – a little more free to kind of roam. I think he likes it there. Which is huge. And he’s kind of accepted that and he’s played really well there so far.” Mark Van Guilder
Watson is currently on a 7 game point streak (2 goals, 5 assists). While the switch from center to wing may point to a boost in his gameplay – I point to what happened at the NHL Trade Deadline as another major impact on him springing to life these last few games.
This point streak for Watson started one game after Calle Jarnkrok‘s Milwaukee Admirals debut in which he scored 2 goals against the Rockford IceHogs. Watson didn’t produce a point that night – but has scored at least one ever since. I feel that the thought seeped into his mind that, with young centers such as Colton Sissons and Jarnkrok leapfrogging him this season, he needs to do something big to breakout and get back on the NHL radar. This move to the wing has really emphasized that and, as Van Guilder said, I think he likes it there.
Thoughts on tonight’s game? Can the Admirals finish off this road trip on a high note? How much do you think yesterday’s game for the Rochester Americans can impact them tonight? How do you expect Filip Forsberg to play after a brief NHL stint? Can Austin Watson extend his point streak?
In the first ever meeting of the Milwaukee Admirals and Utica Comets – Miikka Salomaki was given a match penalty for boarding Peter Andersson. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Utica Comets enter today’s game with a record of 28-28-3-4 (63 points). They are currently third in the North Division and eleventh in the Western Conference. In their last 10 games they have gone 6-4-0-0 (12 points).
Remember when the Comets started the season off by not earning a win in their first 10 games? I’m sure the Comets don’t because they’ve vaulted themselves up from the cellar of the Conference and into shouting distance of a playoff spot. It would take plenty of stumbling from others, plenty of wins on their part, but the AHL can be a theater of the absurd – why not? And that’s precisely why they make a deadly opponent to match up with.
When the Admirals met the Comets in February it was one of the worst performances from the Ads all season. Miikka Salomaki was given a match penalty for boarding Peter Andersson. The offense failed to get a grip of the game following the Salomaki dismissal. And the Comets shutout the Admirals at home 3-0.
By now, I’m sure that game is a distant memory in the eyes of the Admirals. And, if it was for you as well, sorry to be a downer by reminding you of that clunker.
To go back to the home/away stats like yesterday, it is pretty fascinating to see just how poor the Comets have been in Utica versus playing on the road.
The Comets road record is above .500 with a 17-13-2-1 (37 points). Yet, at home this season they are 11-15-1-3 (26 points), have a goal differential of -15 (73 GF, 88 GA), and the twenty-sixth ranked penalty kill at 79.4%.
Pascal Pelletier leads the Comets in scoring with 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists). The 30-year old veteran has 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in the month of March – including points in his last 2 games: 1 goal, 1 assist.
Their second placed scorer, Benn Ferriero, leads the team in goals. He has 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists). He hasn’t played since 3/7/14 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Including that game, he has only scored 3 goals from his last 13 games.
Former-Admiral Cal O’Reilly sadly didn’t take part in the first meeting this season between the Ads and Comets. He missed that contest due to an upper body injury. He has since returned to the shuffle – and now has played in 39 games with Utica.
In limited work O’Reilly has produced the team’s second best points per game total, trailing only Pelletier, with 0.85 Pt/G: 33 points (3 goals, 30 assists). His month of March has been brilliant as well: 9 assists in 8 games. He’s the cog I’d like to see the Admirals shutdown in this one.
Joacim Eriksson started in net against the Admirals back in February. This season he has team highs in all major goaltending categories for the Comets: 43 games played, 20 wins, 2.56 GAA, and a 0.915 SV%.
His battery-mate, Joe Cannata, has logged 23 games this season while winning 8 contests, picking up a 2.92 GAA, and 0.902 SV%. He has won his last two games in net – including yesterday’s 2-1 win in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
I’d love to see yesterday’s winning netminders square off today. Though, it is anyone’s guess who Dean Evason will roll with: Marek Mazanec or Scott Darling. Who would you chose for the last of this weekend’s three-in-three?
It should also be all-hands on deck today as far as the Admirals roster is concerned. Yesterday the team went with seven defensemen by giving Michael Young his AHL debut and healthy scratching Zach Budish. Sadly, Young took a knock in the middle of the game – and probably will not take part in today’s game. Expect Budish in – and a stretched Admirals lineup that could even need a helper from Cincinnati by Wednesday’s game in Rochester.
Thoughts on today’s game? Can the Admirals pull off the double at the end of this three-in-three? Do the Admirals need the security of an extra body in camp from the Cincinnati Cyclones?
With the offensive flair of Calle Jarnkrok and Colton Sissons in Nashville camp – the team could use some production from Miikka Salomaki. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The Toronto Marlies are 37-19-2-3 (79 points) which puts them at the top of the North Division and third overall in the Western Conference.
In their last ten games they have gone 7-2-0-1 (15 points). During that span they have scored 34 goals and allowed 22 goals from open play. They had three games spill into overtime including two that made it into the shootout. In those games only the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were able to grab the extra point, 3/9/14.
Part of what has made the Marlies one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season has been their play on home ice. They have a home record of 20-8-1-1 (42 points) and have a goal differential of +26 (95 GF, 69 GA).
While their home power-play might be rather average, thirteenth in the league with a 19.2 PP%, it is their penalty kill that buzz-saws games for them in Toronto: second best in the league – killing 130 of 147 chances for an 88.4 PK%.
In their previous ten home games they have gone 7-2-0-1 (15 points). The Admirals in their previous ten road games have gone 3-5-0-2 (8 points) – four of those games went to overtime or a shootout – and, in those three wins, only one wasn’t decided in overtime.
During the previous ten road games for the Admirals they have a goal differential of -2 (23 GF, 25 GA) from open play. They have the league’s fourth worst power-play on the road: 18 power-play goals from 138 opportunities, 13.0 PP%. With offense already lacking in the absence of Colton Sissons and Calle Jarnkrok – things have to change in that department if the Admirals are going to find success during the rest of this road trip.
The Marlies are led in scoring by 25-year old Spencer Abbott. In 58 games this season he has 68 points (16 goals, 52 assists). He currently leads the entire AHL in assists – besting the next closest to him, Travis Morin, by 5 assists.
Their top goal scorer is defenseman T.J. Brennan. He’s been a force for them at the blue line – and currently is running away in AHL scoring by a defenseman with 61 points (21 goals, 40 assists). He holds a 12 point cushion to the next d-man in line Adam Clendening of the Rockford IceHogs – who has played in two extra games than Brennan as well.
Where things get that little bit interesting for them is between the pipes. This season they’ve wheeled out former Admiral Drew MacIntyre for 72.1% of their games. Yet, he is currently up with the Maple Leafs and that’s allowing Garret Sparks and Christopher Gibson a shot in net.
Sparks was in net for the Marlies when they lost to the Admirals 3-2. In that contest he was brilliant: making 43 saves from 46 shots – and all 3 goals were scored on the power-play by the Admirals.
In Sparks last three appearances he has stopped 86 of 91 shots and won each of those three games. I fully expect him to get the start in net this afternoon against the Admirals.
Thoughts on this game? Can the Admirals get a season sweep of the Toronto Marlies? Who needs to step up for the Admirals on offense?
The last time the Milwaukee Admirals played against the Hamilton Bulldogs – Vinny Saponari did this. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
Before we go anywhere with today’s Scouting the Enemy – let’s set the mood for this post with some appropriate music:
There we go! Much better.
Anyways, there is plenty to discuss when it comes to the Milwaukee Admirals in tonight’s game. Calle Jarnkrok up. How will the forward lines look as a result? Will the offense be as potent with him and Colton Sissons in Nashville?
The Admirals currently have a record of 29-20-6-6 (70 points). That’s good enough for third place in the Midwest Division and sixth in the Western Conference. In their last seven games they have gone 6-1-0-0 (12 points) while scoring 37 goals.
Who has been contributing to the offense during that span?
Pretty even. Pretty balanced. In fact, with all the attention put towards Jarnkrok and Sissons, it is pretty incredible to look back and realize how productive Piskula and Rodney have been in this stretch for the Admirals.
Still, with Nashville nursing some banged up bodies, it means a depleted center spot for the Ads – as well as the subtraction of its top two points producers: Jarnkrok and Sissons. How will the lines end up looking tonight? If I had to hazard a guess I would expect the following lines.
I think it is a pretty safe bet we end up going with this – but there is no given. Remember, when I visited with the team before they traveled up to Canada, Dean Evason told me that Beck was questionable for tonight’s game. He is traveling with the team, unlike Jarvinen, but is still considered questionable.
Should Beck be a scratch tonight with that hand injury of his – I wonder if the team would be willing to roll with Valentine on the Tousignant line and then a rotation on the right wing. That would look like this:
If Beck is indeed out of the mix – I could see this working. It would also give a quickfire introduction to the recently signed ATO defenseman Michael Young. He was limited in practice on Tuesday but did spend the majority of Wednesday’s practice at the Kern Center playing alongside Ford. Perhaps they had that in mind with the “no Beck” scenario possibly playing out.
Will either of these lines produce to the same level as the ones used during the last seven games? Unlikely, but I do feel it still offers a glimmer of the same depth that has been the key standout for the Ads during the run: two skill lines up top, two checking lines down low, and a defensive group with two-way balance throughout.
Let’s go back to that music from the top of the story and jump into today’s enemy.
The Hamilton Bulldogs are 27-30-1-4 (59 points) and sit at the bottom of the North Division and are second to last, cheers San Antonio Rampage, in the entire Western Conference. The Bulldogs are one of only two other teams (Toronto Marlies and Oklahoma City Barons) to have more penalty minutes (1177 PIMs) than the Admirals (1029 PIMs) in the Western Conference.
In the previous encounter between these two, on 2/5/14 in Milwaukee, the Admirals came out with a 4-2 win. It looked a little something like this:
In that game Marek Mazanec got the call in net and is more than likely the man getting the start tonight. In that game he stopped 28 of 30 shots on goal in his ninth win of the season. The game also saw goals scored by Van Guilder, Watson, Roussel (PPG), and Sissons (EN).
The leading scorer for the Bulldogs is ex-Rockford IceHogs forward Martin St. Pierre. This season he has 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) and is a full 10 points clear of the next closest scorer on the team: Sven Andrighetto 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists).
St. Pierre was a thorn in the Admirals side last season with the IceHogs. In twelve games against Milwaukee he scored 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists). No one in last seasons match up, Admirals or IceHogs, scored more goals than St. Pierre.
Additionally, during the 2007-08 season with the IceHogs – matched up against the Admirals, St. Pierre had 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) in ten games. The only other player in that season on his level in scoring: Rich Peverley 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists).
The goaltending situation in Hamilton right now is a fun one. We have Devan Dubnyk, Dustin Tokarski, and Robert Mayer to round out a trifecta of netminders.
Dubnyk was acquired by the Nashville Predators from the Edmonton Oilers this season in exchange for Matt Hendricks. With the Predators he only saw the net twice, sported a 4.35 GAA, and a 0.850 SV%. He was then put on waivers, cleared waivers, traded to the Montreal Canadiens on NHL Trade Deadline day for future considerations, and promptly sent to the Bulldogs of the AHL.
I guess you could say it has been a rough season for Dubnyk – and his three starts since the move to the AHL hasn’t really changed that: 3/7/14 vs. Oklahoma City, L, 38 saves, 2 GA, 0.950 SV%… 3/9/14 vs. Lake Erie, L, 21 saves, 4 GA, 0.840 SV%… 3/14/14 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, L, 10 saves, 4 GA, 0.714 SV%, and was pulled after 35:16 minutes in net and replaced by Mayer.
It was all Mayer after the game in which Dubnyk was pulled up until their last game. Tokarski had the net on 3/19/14 vs. Abbotsford and came away with the win while stopping 27 of 28 shots on goal.
Who should we expect to get the start in net for the Hamilton Bulldogs? Your guess is as good as mine – but I’d say Mayer, who played in the previous meeting, probably gets the nod.
Thoughts on tonight’s match up? How do you see the forward lines being worked – with or without Taylor Beck? Does an opponent like the Hamilton Bulldogs help get this road trip started on the right foot or could it be a trap game? How would you work the Admirals goalies for the weekend three-in-three?
The last time the San Antonio Rampage entered our barn – Joonas Rask thought he would intimidate them by doing this. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)
The San Antonio Rampage enter today’s game with a record of 25-26-3-6 (59 points). That puts them at the bottom of the West Division and a distant 12th place in the Western Conference playoff picture.
This will be the final meeting of the season with the Rampage. The Admirals have taken a point in each game this season but have also lost out on an extra two from shootout defeats:
Nov. 10 @San Antonio: L, 3-2 (SO)
Dec. 20 vs. San Antonio: W, 4-0
Jan. 16 @ San Antonio: L, 5-4 (SO)
The previous three contests were fairly high-octane affairs. The Rampage have outshot the Admirals in all three of the previous games: 46-33, 34-33, and 40-37. The man in net for the bulk of those shots was Magnus Hellberg – who last played against these same Rampage. The other man in net for the Admirals, Scott Darling, earned a 34-save shutout as he powered along his CCM/AHL award winning month of December.
No matter who the man in net will be for the Admirals, Marek Mazanec or Darling, there is a great chance he’s going to get a work out. In the month of March so far, 5 games, the Rampage have averaged 36.8 shots on goal per game.
The Rampage are led in scoring by Vincent Trocheck 41 points (16 goals, 25 assists). Luckily, he’s up with the Florida Panthers so the Admirals will be up against a Rampage side who have been without their top scorer for over a week.
That means your top two scorers on the team in Trocheck’s absence are Bobby Butler and Admiral pest Mark Mancari. Butler this season has 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists). Mancari, who was acquired by the Rampage from the Chicago Wolves for Eric Selleck, has scored a total of 33 points (9 goals, 24 assists). Since joining the Rampage he has played in 4 games and has just 2 assists. Yet, with the Wolves this season, Mancari scored 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 7 games. He’s the man you’ll want to see neutralized tonight.
The current goaltending duo for the Rampage features Michael Houser and Scott Clemmensen. Considering the NHL time for Clemmensen this season, playing in 16 games with the Florida Panthers, you’d have expected the veteran netminder to have come down and tightened the lid for the Rampage. Not true at all. Clemmensen has played in 4 AHL games this season, lost 3 of them, and has a 4.01 GAA to go with an 0.874 SV%.
I would anticipate the man in net to be the younger alternative, Houser. The 21-year old has played in 19 games this season for the Rampage, has 10 wins, 2.67 GAA, and a 0.912 SV%. In the last game for San Antonio he was in net as they won, in a shootout, 2-1 over the Grand Rapids Griffins – making 26 saves and stopping all 3 Griffins shootout attempts.
The Admirals enter tonight’s game with a record of 28-20-6-6 (68 points). They remain in 4th place of the Midwest Division and in 8th place of the Western Conference. With last night’s shootout victory in the bag – they now trail the Rockford IceHogs by a single point in the divisional standings. They also still have 3 games at hand over the IceHogs. Something that comes in handy tonight because the IceHogs don’t play again until next Friday – so, with a win, the Ads can leap Rockford tonight and keep raining down the misery on them.
By scoring a goal last night, Calle Jarnkrok jumped Colton Sissons as the Admirals top scorer on the season. Jarnkrok has 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) on the season. Since joining the Admirals after the NHL Trade Deadline – he has played in 4 games with the Admirals and scored 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists). For those who caught last night’s Chatterbox – this is what the head coach had to say about him:
“I don’t know if I can like him anymore than I like him now because, boy, he’s a hockey player. He just does everything well. He’s just a pro. When we first got him we thought maybe his size – strength – is gonna hurt him and maybe he’s got to get that to get to the next level, a little bit, maybe. But, he is so crafty and so intelligent. Plays both ends of the rink. Plays all three zones extremely well. We won’t have him here too long.” Dean Evason on Calle Jarnkrok
High praise – and certainly deserved. For those that watched his effort on the Admirals power-play last night you’ll have spotted the #19 darting all over the zone. Jarkrok would be at the point supporting Bryan Rodney, something I’ve wanted to see a lot out of the power-play set up, and basically quarterbacked from the point and right wing faceoff circle. When he was off the puck – he was very static and kept moving – he forced the IceHogs penalty kill to take stock of where he was and lose space on other available passing targets. As Evason said – he won’t be here for too long. It’s something as simple as intelligent off-puck movement and creativity on it that has put Sissons to the NHL. Jarnkrok probably isn’t far behind.
Barring anything wild happening with the Admirals lines from last night – I expect the exact same line combos and defensive pairings from the shootout victory over Rockford:
There seemed to be a good chemistry and balance from this mix in last night’s game. It seemed like all had moments where they shined together – especially those top two forward lines. I’m also a massive fan of that third forward line. It felt like a work-in-progress a bit last night but, with time, that’s a perfect combination of size, strength, and two-way players that sets the table for the skill lines to play their game.
What should we expect tonight from the San Antonio Rampage? Can the Admirals leap the IceHogs tonight? Who should start in net, Marek Mazanec or Scott Darling? Would you like to see any changes in the line combos or defensive pairings?
The last time these two played in Milwaukee it was a bit intense. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)
Last weekend the Milwaukee Admirals soundly put a beat down on the Rockford IceHogs: winning two games in two days and outscoring them 14-5. There was also the underlying nasty factor courtesy of some vicious hits that caused injuries to Admirals players.
The first of those nasty hits came from Brad Mills who targeted Patrick Cehlin with a blindsided check to the head last Friday. Of all the hits that I saw over last weekend – this was the one that stood out to me as the worst of the bunch because of (1) the targeting factor (2) the point and selection of impact (3) there wasn’t even a call made for the hit on the play.
It has been a frequently asked question this week: has Brad Mills been suspended? Well, it is now one week since the incident and the league has made suspensions for games that have taken place long after the Admirals and IceHogs weekend of fun. That tells me that, not only was the initial call for an illegal check to the head missed on the ice, the AHL has completely ignored this play and let Mills enter tonight’s game as the human target that I suppose he wants to be.
Considering Mills was also assessed a major penalty for boarding the following night that temporarily put Mathieu Tousignant out of action in the game – I had assumed he had a death wish to be suspended. With how stingy the NHL is regarding hits to the head, and rightly so they should be, I had my full expectations for a decent suspension to Mills given the nature of the hit, the circumstances in which he delivered it, and his devil-may-care boarding major the very next night. The AHL’s response? Listen to the magic conch shell.
The flashpoint for the last time these two played in Milwaukee, the play that triggered the near line brawl, was Bobby Shea‘s blindside check in neutral ice that injured Simon Moser. While it wasn’t as dirty of a hit as the one put on by Mills – the blindside mentality was still there. To boot, at that point in the hockey game – the IceHogs were far more interested in the dangerous and vicious than the competitive and sporting.
Keep in mind that this hit from Shea happened with just over four-minutes remaining in the game – Cehlin was already targeted – and the IceHogs were trailing by five goals. It was an attempt to make a big hit for the sake of a big hit – and nothing else. While I still don’t buy that the end game for Shea was to injure Moser – I also don’t think that changes the fact that he was aiming for a big open ice hit no matter the consequences. He landed his check. And he was greeted by three Admirals players with their gloves dropped.
In those two games last weekend the Admirals and IceHogs combined for 152 penalty minutes. There were six fights: Brad Mills vs. Mike Liambas (1), Brandon Mashinter vs. Scott Ford, Jeremy Morin vs. Anthony Bitetto, Mark McNeill vs. Charles-Olivier Roussel, Brad Mills vs. Mike Liambas (2), Bobby Shea vs. Scott Valentine, and Garret Ross vs. Mathieu Tousignant.
Goodness knows these two always play each other physical and things have the capacity to brew up that sort of heat. I only wonder if the heat, provided with the frenzy if a week ago, hasn’t been stirring in the mind of the IceHogs who haven’t played a game since that two-night whooping at the hands of the Admirals. Whether or not that gets implemented in the way the Iowa Wild chose to respond – we’ll see later tonight.
UPDATE: Patrick Cehlin will make his return to the lineup tonight after missing two games following his check to the head by Brad Mills. He will be creating the Super Swede line of Forsberg-Jarnkrok-Cehlin in his return.
How will this game play out? Are cooler heads going to prevail or can we expect some more nastiness out of the IceHogs? How do the Admirals rebound from a somewhat flat outing on Wednesday night?
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