Game Recaps March 25, 2015

Ads Collapse In Third; lose 4-3 in shootout

Austin Watson set a career high for goals in a season tonight. Sadly it came in a crushing shootout loss. (Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)

The Admirals lost 4-3 in a shootout against the San Antonio Rampage Wednesday night. Despite a solid opening two periods of hockey for the Admirals the Rampage overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third period to force overtime before winning tonight via the shootout to extend their winning streak to six-games. The Admirals streak is now a losing variety of three.

“When things happen negatively like they do, and like it has, it’s hard to catch the momentum swing flying the other way,” said Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason. “We did a lot of good things for two periods and once we get a little negative it just keeps snowballing.”

Austin Watson put the Admirals on the board in the first period and, by doing so, set a new career high for goals scored in a season with his twenty-third. Joe Pendenza attempted a wrap-around shot that pushed the puck out in front of Rampage netminder Michael Houser. Watson was able to find and pop in the loose puck to establish a new career high and make it a 1-0 game.

The Admirals power-play drought was nearly snapped within five seconds of their first chance of the night. It was the newest Admiral Gary Steffes who put a wrister into the net but the goal was disallowed because Triston Grant was in the crease. The veteran Admiral was tripped by Jonathan Racine en route to his net front drive. The play around him developed so fast that I doubt Grant new a thing about the Steffes shot and goal. The play was reviewed and waved off for Grant’s presence in the crease.

The first period would still see the Admirals claim a second goal. After absorbing some pressure defensively, the Admirals were able to break out of their zone and beat the Rampage on the rush with Pendenza’s ninth goal of the season. Watson started the play in his own defensive zone and teed up Pontus Åberg through neutral. The Swede delivered a no-look pass square to Pendenza in stride who swooped in down the left wing and beat Houser five hole from a quick wrister to make it a 2-0 Admirals lead. It was the first time the Admirals had scored twice in the first period since 2/15/15 against the Lake Erie Monsters.

“I actually wasn’t sure that [Åberg] saw me there as I was coming up the wing,” said Pendenza. “I was kind of anticipating him maybe dumping it or shooting it. He’s one hell of a passer so I’ll take it.”

In the second period the Admirals third goal of the night gave Houser the hook sign from the Rampage bench to end his night in net. Johan Alm from the left wing corner was able to pick out Colton Sissons who cranked a wicked wrister past Houser for his twenty-second goal of the season. Houser stopped 14/17 shots on goal before giving way to Sam Brittain in net. It was the first time all month that Houser wasn’t between the pipes for San Antonio.

Marek Mazanec’s shutout bid was denied early in the third period after a howitzer of a one-timed shot by Rocco Grimaldi beat him high blocker side. Former Admiral Greg Zanon migrated from the point down behind the net before delivering the primary assist for Grimaldi. It was his twelfth goal of the season.

Just before the halfway point of the third period the Rampage reduced the Admirals lead to one goal. Dany Heatley was camped in front of Mazanec and buried a puck that trickled out from behind the net. It was a quick and easy tap-in finish for Heatley’s seventh goal in the AHL this season.

It took less than three minutes before the Rampage would score yet again and tie the game up at 3-3. Quinton Howden delivered a drop pass for Blake Parlett as the two crossed paths with the defenseman stepping up from the blueline. Parlett beat Mazanec to the near post for his eighth goal of the season. It looked as if Mazanec never expected that shot to go blocker side. And the Admirals lost a 3-0 lead in 8:32 of ice time in the third period.

“We did a great job for like forty-three minutes and then we just fell asleep,” said Marek Mazanec. “Hockey game is sixty minutes and we need to play all sixty minutes.”

The best opportunity from overtime came with Eric Robinson nearly scoring his first career goal as a pro. He had blitzed down the slot looking for a backdoor feed. The pass hit him on the tape and the shot alluded Brittain but hit the right post and out.

The shootout would end after three rounds with the Rampage scoring twice on Mazanec. Grimaldi was the first shooter to take an attempt and he swooped left, came right, and hit crossbar and down for a goal. Next up was Åberg and Brittain stopped him with a glove save. Heatley and Sissons both attempted five hole shots and both were denied. Lastly, with a chance to win it, was Logan Shaw who buried a puck past the blocker of Mazanec to end the shootout and finish the Rampage comeback bid with a win.

Ramblings: Ahead of Wednesday night’s Admirals game the Nashville Predators had recalled Kevin Fiala on emergency basis Tuesday afternoon. He made his NHL debut last night in the Predators 3-2 (OT) win. Fiala logged 11:25 of ice time, had three shots on goal, and was a -1 player in his first career NHL game. In addition to the Fiala news yesterday the Admirals signed forward Gary Steffes to a PTO contract from the Allen Americans of the ECHL. He played tonight for his first AHL contest since 2/17/13 as a member of the Lake Erie Monsters. Tonight’s scratches for the Admirals were Felix Girard (upper body) and Jonathan Diaby (healthy). The Admirals power-play drought has now reached 0/38 over its last ten games.

Thoughts on tonight’s game? What happened in the third period? Where did the Admirals attention to details go? Can the Admirals rebound this weekend against the Chicago Wolves or could they find themselves out of the playoff picture by Sunday?

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Scouting March 25, 2015

Rampage: Scouting the Enemy

Gary Steffes is the forward Milwaukee deserves, but not the one that it needs right now. (Photo Credit: Kevin Pyle // PHOTOPYLE.com)

The question tonight is a familiar one. Is tonight the night that the Admirals get rewarded for their work? Recent games game been positive for the Admirals but, fact remains, they’re still losing games. In March the Admirals have pulled in a record of 3-7-1-0 (7 points) from 11 games. It looks bad but there is lots of good being done. Is tonight the night that things start trending forward?

~Short & Sweet~

The San Antonio Rampage enter tonight’s game with a record of 39-20-5-1 (84 points). They now sit atop the West Division by 2 points over the Oklahoma City Barons. Haven’t looked at the conference standings in awhile? It’s tight all-around and the same can be said for the division leaders battling out for the top three spots. The Utica Comets lead the Grand Rapids Griffins, and the Rampage, by a single point. That’s the gap from #1 to #3 and the same gap can be said from #8 to #11. Admirals need to avoid plummeting into that vortex.

It’s been a hot run for the Rampage. They have won 5 straight games and are 8-1-0-1 (17 points) in their last 10 games. This current winning streak for the Rampage started after they were shutout 4-0 by the Lake Erie Monsters. Since, they’ve outscored opponents 25-12 on this current winning streak including a 9-3 thrashing of the Charlotte Checkers and a pair of overtime victories.

~When Last We Met~

As you might recall, when the Admirals and Rampage locked up in San Antonio it was a tight game and a good game for the Admirals. The game ended with a 4-3 (OT) loss for the Ads but they outshot the home-side 35-24. The problem? That’s been the trend lately. Lots and lots of shots but not enough results coming from them.

It’s not as if the Rampage did any sort of rope-a-dope to the Admirals, either. Huge credit should be given to the Admirals defensively for limiting the Rampage in shots during that game. Looking at San Antonio’s recent winning streak they have only been outshot in a game once. Every other game? It has been all Rampage all the time as far as putting pucks on net are concerned. They’ve averaged 33.8 shots per game while limiting their opposition to 26.8 shots per game during the win streak. That Admirals defense, as I’m sure they did last time, will need to expect a wave of offense looking to wear them out.

~The Usual Suspects~

The top scorers for the Rampage haven’t changed all that much since last time. Bobby Butler still leads the way for San Antonio with 55 points (25 goals, 30 assists) in 62 games. Butler is currently tied for sixth in the AHL in scoring with Nick Cousins (Lehigh Valley Phantoms) and Tim Kennedy (Hershey Bears).

Following Butler in scoring are three other players on the 40+ points plateau: Mark Mancari, 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists)… Brett Olson, 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists)… Connor Brickley, 40 points (21 goals, 19 assists).

~Netminding~

Michael Houser is still the main man in net for the Rampage at this point. He has a record of 17-9-3-1 this season with a 2.80 goals against average, 0.902 save percentage, and a shutout. He has played all 10 games that the Rampage have played this month and has won 8 games with a 2.15 goals against average and 0.923 save percentage. Could we see Rob Madore‘s Cincinnati Cyclones goaltending battery-mate of this season Sam Brittain instead? I doubt it.

~In House~

What will the Admirals forward lines end up being tonight and how will all these recent shots get converted into actual goals? Perhaps recent PTO signing Gary Steffes could help. It is his first chance in the AHL since the 2012-13 season and he has exploded for 73 points (44 goals, 29 assists) in the ECHL this season. Steffes has tallied 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) in 10 games in the month of March alone.

What I like about the Steffes signing is that it is a short term solution to the current Nashville Predators injury bug that has taken two of the Admirals more active offensive skill players. While Steffes might not be a Kevin Fiala or Viktor Arvidsson he is also not Fiala or Arvidsson. He hasn’t had the proper chance to really prove himself at the AHL level and this could be the icing on the cake for Steffes in an ECHL season that has been massive from him. He’ll be eager to please the Admirals and hungry to earn an AHL spot here, there, or anywhere and the Admirals are the possible launch pad for him to do that.

He could only be here for a few games or more. Who knows. But he is here now and that’s more AHL daylight than he’s seen in a long time. Can his play translate with the Admirals? We’ll just have to wait and see.

It should also be yet another chance for Eric Robinson to show his value to the Admirals. Personally, it has been a small sample size of 2 games but I’ve really liked what I’ve seen out of Robinson. He moves around really well. Last time out he had a few really nice looking scoring chances and appeared that the coaching staff felt more than happy to keep giving him ice time. He hasn’t looked overwhelmed or out of his depth yet. Like Steffes, he’s also trying to prove himself worthy of an AHL level contract. Having a pair of hungry competitive players should be a nice boost despite some of the bigger names getting recalled on emergency basis.

Expectations for tonight’s game? What are the keys to the Admirals earning a win over a hot San Antonio Rampage team tonight? Who would you feel more confident starting in net tonight, Magnus Hellberg or Marek Mazanec?

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News March 24, 2015March 24, 2015

Fiala Recalled, Admirals Sign Steffes to PTO

Fiala-RookieGame-JDiamond — Kevin Fiala will be joining Viktor Arvidsson as the next emergency call up made by the Nashville Predators. It is Fiala’s first career NHL recall. (Photo Credit: Jim Diamond)

The banged up Nashville Predators are in need of more reinforcements from the Milwaukee Admirals. The latest call up under emergency conditions will be none other than the first round selection by the Predators in the 2014 NHL Draft, Kevin Fiala. That also comes with the news that the Admirals will be signing forward Gary Steffes to a PTO contract.

Press Release via Milwaukee Admirals:

Milwaukee, WI–Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Tuesday that the club has recalled 2014 first-round selection (11th overall) Kevin Fiala from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions.

Fiala has amassed 17 points (9g-8a) in 26 American Hockey League games since making his North American professional debut with the Admirals on Jan. 21. The native of St. Gallen, Switzerland, started the 2014-15 season with HV-71 of the Swedish Hockey League, posting 14 points (5g-9a) in 20 games – tied for the fourth-most goals and assists, and sixth-most points among SHL junior players – before being assigned to Nashville’s AHL affiliate on Jan. 15. Fiala also represented Switzerland at the 2015 World Junior Championship, being named one of the nation’s three best players for the tournament while tying for fifth among all skaters in goals (4g-1a-5pts, 6gp).

In addition, the Admirals have signed forward Gary Steffes to a professional try-out contract (PTO). Steffes has played this season with the Allen Americans of the ECHL where is his second on the team with 73 points via a club-best 44 goals and 29 assist in 63 games. The Grand Blanc, MI native is also an impressive +31 while raking up 59 penalty minutes.

Steffes will join the Admirals for their game on Wednesday night when they host the San Antonio Rampage at 7 pm at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Fiala’s recent play has been spectacular to watch with the Admirals. I feel as if his comfort level to the North American game has improved game-by-game. At first, the speed in which the game and defense closed on Fiala seemed to catch him off guard and he’d either loose the puck from a stick check or pass lightly to nowhere in particular and turn the puck over that way. These last few weeks he has been producing some solid performances all-across the board. He’s looked better defensively. He gets involved in some of the more physical play. And, of course, has amazing stick skills.

Fiala will make his NHL debut tonight in Nashville when they go head-to-head against the red hot Montreal Canadiens. He’s getting his first look up in the NHL and joins Viktor Arvidsson as the second emergency recall made by the Predators in the past week. Fiala will be playing on a line with Mike Fisher and Craig Smith.

Meanwhile, this recently injury spell up top has put the Admirals in a slight bind. Félix Girard is still hurt. Mike Liambas is still nursing through a lower-body injury but has played through it. Eric Robinson was signed to an ATO and thrust into his first two career games as a pro. And now a new PTO signing is needed. That’s where Steffes comes in.

Steffes is an undrafted 27-year old native of Michigan who has spent this season playing for the Allen Americans in the ECHL. His stats there this season have been ridiculous: 73 points (44 goals, 29 assists) in 63 games. He has only ever had one spell in the AHL prior to this PTO contract from the Admirals and that came with the Lake Erie Monsters during the 2012-13 season where he scored 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 16 games. He played the following season with the Bakersfield Condors in the ECHL before exploding this season.

Thoughts on the moves? Do the recent call ups of younger Admirals signal anything for some of the more tenured guys in Milwaukee? What is your take on the signing of Steffes and can his offensive output in the ECHL translate to the AHL?

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Chatterbox March 22, 2015March 25, 2015

The Chatterbox, Vol. 75

Since the month of February the Milwaukee Admirals are 7-11-3-1 with only one win from their last eight games. Think about it. Eleven regulation losses. That is as many as the Admirals suffered the entirety of the 2014 portion of this season.

The real reason why this stretch has been so difficult to watch is that there have been so many positives accomplished during these games but the results are not coming. With the Admirals 4-3 loss last night there was yet another case of the way things have been going lately. The Ads score not just an equalizing goal but a highlight reel goal that made the crowd explode.

It was a phenomenal goal. Individual brilliance. And then the puck drops. The Stars are instantly in attack mode. Goal allowed in less than a minute. It’s a crushing thud of disappointment.

The Admirals outshot the Stars 41-23. They’re putting pucks to the net and generating offense but the team isn’t finishing or generating second and third chance opportunities off of those shots. The offense is coming up empty and the power-play is a hot mess. The Admirals are 0/35 in their last nine games on the power-play. The way that the Admirals make mistakes and get burned off of them? That’s precisely what a power-play is designed for and the Admirals are earning these chances on the power-play (good) but not converting (bad). As I said. It’s a hot mess. The chances are there though. They just need to be capitalized on.

After the game there was a story that developed which I will either find out later on or not at all. This is all that I know that happened. Typically, we media folks jog on down outside of the locker room for the post-game interview with Admirals head coach Dean Evason before going into the locker room for player interviews. Evason was outside the locker room the moment I arrived after walking across the ice. Not unusual, but staying there as long as he did was. He then proceeded to walk behind the curtain and, as far as I heard, went to the AHL officials room and had a conversation with league officials. I’m certain that I saw the on-ice officials leave during the time I waited. And I waited for just about an hour before getting the polite request to call it quits for post-game interviewing.

I’d have loved to hear from Evason as to what was discussed because I have no idea what could have been discussed at an hour’s length in regards to last night’s game. We media types generally get around five minutes of a Q&A with Evason after the game to dissect the game and all its intricacies. I can’t even begin to speculate what happened, what was said, or what was being discussed. I’d love to find out. Though, I wouldn’t be that surprised if I never do either.

In place of the Admirals head coach tonight it was the assistant coach Stan Drulia stepping in at the hour waiting’s mark on Dean Watch 2015. Also, Austin Watson and Kevin Fiala were able to chime in. Here is what everyone had to say following the game.

Continue reading “The Chatterbox, Vol. 75” →

Game Recaps March 21, 2015March 25, 2015

Late Drama Not Enough; Admirals lose 4-3

The Admirals lost 4-3 against the Texas Stars Saturday night. This was another just another game in which the Admirals did all the right things that they needed to get the result but ultimately lost.

After Triston Grant and Austin Watson were both sent to the box, the Texas Stars were able to score from a five-on-three power-play via Greg Rallo’s twenty-first goal of the season. The Stars were cycling the puck heavily along the right wing before Travis Morin passed to his opposite wing for Rallo who buried his one-timed shot past Magnus Hellberg.

Kevin Fiala threw his name in the hat for the Admirals Goal of the Season in the first period. Fiala was matched up one-on-one with Jamie Oleksiak and burned him with a crafty move that turned the defenseman inside out and put Fiala in all alone on Jack Campbell. The finish was just as good as the deke before it. Fiala calmly out-waited Campbell off the left wing before pulling in a shot on the forehand for his ninth goal of the season.

Mentioned in the rant column of today’s “Scouting the Enemy” was a section on Admirals mistakes. Allowing teams to answer back so quickly after scoring was one of those mistakes and it struck again after the crowd was in a frenzy for Fiala’s highlight reel goal. Only forty-three seconds after the Admirals scored a defensive breakdown had Devin Shore alone in the slot for a one-timer that knuckled through Hellberg to put the Stars right back into the lead. It was Shore’s first career goal as a pro.

In the second period Stars captain Maxime Fortunus scored his eighth goal of the season to make it a two-goal game. A puck kicked out from the left wing faceoff circle right back for Fortunus who hammered a shot immediately. The puck fluttered clean past Hellberg on the glove side.

The Admirals third period push would come in the closing minutes with an extra attacker on the ice. With 3:03 remaining they emptied their net. With 2:07 remaining they used their timeout. And then, with 1:52 remaining, Austin Watson scored his team leading twenty-second goal of the season as the Admirals crashed numbers on Campbell in net.

It felt like when Scott Glennie put away the empty net goal with a minute remaining in the game that the drama was all over. That just wouldn’t be the case. Mark Van Guilder batted a puck out of the air in front of Campbell to score his ten goal of the season with 0:44 seconds remaining in regulation to make it a one-goal gap yet again.

For all the pressure that the Admirals put on the Stars in the closing seconds they had one last chance to send this game into overtime. Watson very nearly sent this game past regulation with a wrist shot that buzzed through traffic and narrowly missed hitting its intended target. It didn’t. And the Admirals, who once again performed quite well, fell short.

Ramblings: Tonight’s scratches for the Admirals were Felix Girard (upper body) and Jimmy Oligny (healthy). Jonathan Diaby made his return to the ice after being a healthy scratch for the Admirals last three games. Tonight marked the return to Milwaukee ice for Scott Ford for the first time since game two of the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs when the Admirals lost to the Toronto Marlies 5-2 on 4/26/14. After the game Kevin Fiala received five stitches after a skate hit him high on the neck. The Admirals power-play went 0/6 tonight and are currently on a run of 0/35 over their last nine games. The Grand Rapids Griffins point streak of nineteen games finally came to an end with a 4-3 loss on the road to the Lake Erie Monsters.

Thoughts on tonight’s game? What is wrong with this Admirals power-play? Is it safe to tip your cap to Jack Campbell in net and move on to the next game?

Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.

Chatterbox March 21, 2015

The Chatterbox, Vol. 74

Fordo-BOX-1 — The Sheriff is back in Milwaukee tonight. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)

How about a pre-game treat? Prior to tonight’s game I spoke with the newbie from Dartmouth Eric Robinson and the relie from Fort St. John Scott Ford. Rather than wait through tonight’s game and tag them ahead of the post-game audio I say instant satisfaction! Here is what both had to say prior to tonight’s game.

Continue reading “The Chatterbox, Vol. 74” →

Scouting March 21, 2015

Stars: Scouting the Enemy

This is Scott Valentine. Hi Scott Valentine! (Photo Credit: Christina Shapiro)

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig. The Milwaukee Admirals season long six-game road trip is finally and -mercifully- over. With the Admirals going 1-4-1-0 on that road trip a return to home ice out to be a sight for sore eyes.

~Rant~

I would really like to stress something on the Admirals before going into this very brief edition of Scouting the Enemy (we only just played these Texas folks a week ago). I don’t think the Admirals have played all that bad during the road trip. The power-play is something I certainly won’t attempt to defend. It’s woeful. Yet when it comes to five-on-five play I think the Admirals have performed very well. They’ve wanted badly to generate shots and have goaltenders working for their saves. On the road trip they outshot teams 188-172.

The problem there? Goaltenders who were up to the task with defenses forcing Admirals out of the garbage areas around the net that minimized follow-up opportunities. The result was the record above and a road trip scoreline of Admirals 13 – Opponents 23. At least that’s the “offensive” issue.

If there was any other issue that detracted from the solid play of the Admirals during the road trip it was the amount of mistakes that took place that led directly to goals. Let’s run those down in order of appearance as they took place on the six-game roadie: (1) Falling asleep defensively and allowing the Oklahoma City Barons to score fifty-three seconds after they had taken their first lead of the game to make it a two-goal lead. (2) Joe Piskula and Kevin Fiala botch defensive zone exit that instantly gets converted to a Barons goal. (3) Shorthanded goal allowed to the San Antonio Rampage for the game’s opening goal. (4) Taking a retaliation penalty, failed penalty kill clearance, and opening goal allowed off a Texas Stars power-play. (5) Another failed/soft defensive zone clearance that put the defense in scramble mode before allowing a quick goal. (6) Equalizing the Stars opening goal only to concede another goal fifty-nine seconds later. (7) Defensive brain lapse allowing Stars to score forty-nine seconds after scoring another goal. (8) Johan Alm falls asleep and allows Barons to nullify icing to score late to make it a one-goal game. (9) Taking a penalty with under four minutes remaining in a tied game.

Alright, that is a laundry list of bad. No doubt about that. But here is the counter. Those are all avoidable mistakes and they are all mistakes that need to be part of this team’s learning process. I much prefer the Admirals have a stretch as they’ve been on now than in the playoffs. There’s plenty to be ironed out but they are more niggling here and there lapses within games than major glaring unsolvable problems. Learn from the mistake. Get on with the game. Sights set on the next game. Simplicity is the Admirals greatest strength when they’ve been successful this season. The cure to their mistakes bug shouldn’t be any different.

~Short & Sweet~

The Texas Stars enter tonight’s game with a record of 30-18-13-1 (74 points). They are third in the West Division and, since we last played them, have leapfrogged the Admirals in the Western Conference standings. The Stars are sixth and the Admirals are seventh with a single point separating the two but the Ads having played an extra two-games at this point.

Since we last met the Stars have been rolling. They won 3-2 in a shootout over the Lake Erie Monsters and then secured a 3-0 road shutout in Rosemont over the Chicago Wolves. The Stars are currently on a six-game point streak and are 6-1-3-0 in their last ten games.

Expectations tonight? Will home ice cure some of the recent road woes or will the Stars keep bringing the pain like last weekend? How important is this homestand to restore confidence?

Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.

Game Recaps March 20, 2015March 20, 2015

Late Power-Play Goal Sinks Admirals; lose 3-1

Magnus Hellberg put in another solid night’s work. Sadly for him and the Admirals that effort wasn’t translated into a winning result. (Photo Credit: Mark Newman)

The Admirals lost 3-1 on the road against the Grand Rapids Griffins Friday night. Despite a solid effort for the Admirals it is yet another game on this road trip where a mistake came back to haunt them. The Griffins had a late power-play and scored with under two minutes remaining to see the Admirals off on their season long six game road trip with a record of 1-4-1-0. I imagine that bus can’t get from Grand Rapids to Milwaukee fast enough.

Joe Pendenza scored his eighth goal of the season to kick off the scoring in the first period. Austin Watson’s work on the forecheck was key as he freed up a puck, passed to the low right wing faceoff circle, and allowed Pendenza to get a quick shot off in a prime scoring position. Tom McCollum made the initial save on Pendenza’s shot but the puck flipped up and off of his back and in for the goal.

With 1:38 remaining in the first period the Griffins were able to level the game at 1-1. Andreas Athanasiou broke down the right wing, cut across Jimmy Oligny, and then passed off to Martin Frk on the opposite wing for the one-timed finish. It was an impressive shot for Frk. The Athanasiou pass was skipping the entire way and alluded the intercept of Taylor Aronson before getting to the tape of Frk who scored his fourth goal of the season.

The game wouldn’t get another goal until late in the third period and it would turn out to be the game-winner. With 3:12 remaining, Johan Alm flipped a puck up into the stands and was called for a delay of game. Then, with 1:57 remaining in regulation, Athanasiou hammered a slap shot low along the ice that had enough force on it to keep on motoring through the wickets of Hellberg and slide in. It was Athanasiou’s fourteenth goal of the season.

The Admirals emptied their net and brought on the extra attacker at the 1:30 mark. Yet, Kevin Porter was able to jar loose a puck off of Kevin Fiala on the high right point off of a faceoff win for the Admirals. Porter proceeded to race down and throw in the empty net tally from the Admirals blueline to close this game at 3-1 on Porter’s twelfth goal of the season.

There can certainly be finger wagging after a game like this. Truth be told, the Admirals played an outstanding game. As has been the story of this road trip though it was a mistake that overshadowed the great effort produced by the Admirals. The Griffins went 0/2 on the power-play in the first period. They were then given a chance late in the game and capitalized off of it. The Admirals on the other hand went 0/5 on the power-play tonight and have a current run of 0/29 over its last eight games. Mistakes get punished. The Admirals missed their chance to do so tonight. And the Griffins late power-play gave them all they needed to steal a game from the Admirals tonight.

Ramblings: Prior to tonight’s game the Nashville Predators recalled Viktor Arvidsson under emergency conditions. In addition, the Milwaukee Admirals signed Dartmouth right winger Eric Robinson to an ATO contract. Tonight’s scratches for the Admirals were Felix Girard (upper body) and Jonathan Diaby (healthy). The win tonight for the Griffins extended their current point streak to nineteen games, 15-0-3-1. The Admirals, with results from yesterday and today, are now seated seventh in the Western Conference behind the Texas Stars.

Despite the result, are you pleased by the performance that the Admirals put in tonight against the Griffins? What is the problem with the power-play? Are you getting worried about the Admirals playoff chances at the moment?

Be sure to follow Admirals Roundtable on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and see our photos on Instagram.

News March 20, 2015March 20, 2015

Admirals Sign Eric Robinson to ATO

Eric Robinson should be the first of a few Milwaukee Admirals ATO signings at the tail-end of this season. (Photo Credit: Melissa Wade)

With the season grinding along towards the finish one, myself included, could almost forget that it is ATO season. The college and junior playing seasons are coming to an end. That means bringing in new recruits. It worked well for the Milwaukee Admirals and Joe Pendenza last season. And we have our first ATO signee this season with Dartmouth College right winger Eric Robinson.

Robinson was selected in the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft by the St. John’s Fog Devils. Rather than go the junior route he opted for a lengthy five-year stay in college. In his time at Dartmouth he played 124 career games and scored 79 points (35 goals, 44 assists), had a plus/minus of +15, and 76 penalty minutes.

There hasn’t been official word on this signing as of yet but Aaron Sims has said as much and will have him on tonight’s pre-game show. That’s good enough for me.

~Update~

Darmouth College has now confirmed the move with a lovely article that also gives some more insight on Mr. Robinson.

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News March 20, 2015March 20, 2015

Viktor Arvidsson Recalled By Nashville

Welcome to Smashville, Viktor Arvidsson. (Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)

Ahead of tonight’s game the Nashville Predators have announced that Viktor Arvidsson has been recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals under emergency conditions. It is Arvidsson’s first career NHL call up.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (March 20, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the Predators have recalled forward Viktor Arvidsson from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions. He will wear No. 38.

Arvidsson, 21 (4/8/93), currently leads the Admirals, is tied for the AHL rookie lead, and tied for 10th among all AHL skaters in points (20g-31a-51pts) while playing in all 63 of the team’s games this season. The Kusmark, Sweden, native is also second among all rookies in goals and fourth among first-year players in assists, as well as ranking second among rookies in power-play goals (7), and tied for fourth in game-winning goals (4). He also leads the entire AHL in shots by 28 (237).

A 5-11, 176-pound right wing, Arvidsson – selected 112th (fourth round) by Nashville in the 2014 Draft – ranked ninth in the Swedish Hockey League in points (16g-24a-40pts) during the 2013-14 season, then helped Skelleftea win its second consecutive SHL title by tying for second in assists (12) and ranking third in points (16) during the postseason. During the title-winning season of 2012-13 he tied for fourth in playoff goals (6) and was named Swedish junior player of the year and a finalist for the SHL rookie of the year award.

Arvidsson tied for eighth in goals (4) at the 2013 World Junior Championship, helping Sweden to a silver medal, and also earned silver at the 2011 Under-18 World Championship, playing alongside Predators forward Filip Forsberg on both squads.

The Nashville Predators, who have an 11-3-0 record versus Eastern Conference opponents on home ice this season, take on the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena (7 p.m. CT, FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). Saturday’s game is the second of three consecutive home games for the Preds; Nashville closes out the home stand on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Without Arvidsson this move could well signal yet another game in which an Admirals defenseman has to play the forward role. Félix Girard has missed the Admirals last two games after getting injured in his fight with Scott Valentine. And, as far as call ups go, Josh Shalla was placed on reserve yesterday by the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. Jonathan Diaby is healthy. He could come back and push a defenseman out on a third or fourth line capacity for tonight.

~Update~

I love when I go into full-on speculation mode only to find out there is another solution. That solution turns out to be the Admirals first ATO signing of the season: Eric Robinson of Dartmouth College has just signed.

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