Scouting

Wild: Scouting the Enemy
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)

The only thing separating the Milwaukee Admirals from being eliminated from playoff eligibility last night was a three-goal third period by the Texas Stars to give them a 4-3 victory over the Rockford IceHogs. The Admirals 5-2 loss to the Chicago Wolves meant that both the Wolves and Manitoba Moose clinched a spot last night. The Grand Rapids Griffins 4-1 win over the Tucson Roadrunners with the Admirals loss meant they clinched a spot last night.

All that remains is a single point of space. There is no more wiggle room. If the Admirals do not run the table it is over. As that needs to happen they need the IceHogs to lose out in regulation for the rest of the season. So much as the Admirals taking an overtime loss and it is done. They have no ability to take the tiebreak. They need to maintain that magic number for the IceHogs at one.

Continue reading “Wild: Scouting the Enemy” →

Game Recaps

Hanging By A Thread; Admirals Fall 5-1 in Chicago
(Photo Credit: Dale Woltman)

The Milwaukee Admirals lost 5-1 on the road against the Chicago Wolves at the Allstate Arena on Saturday night.

Thanks to a three-goal comeback that saw the Texas Stars rally back in the third period to defeat the Rockford IceHogs: the Admirals remain alive by the slimmest of margins.

Tonight’s game saw the Wolves demonstrate drive in their pursuit of the Central Division crown. The Admirals remain alive by a single point. They must now run the table and hope the IceHogs don’t gain a point until the end of the regular season.

Continue reading “Hanging By A Thread; Admirals Fall 5-1 in Chicago” →

Scouting

Wolves: Scouting the Enemy
(Photo Credit: Ross Dettman)

The window for the Milwaukee Admirals to make the 2018 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs narrowed to an extreme last night. The Rockford IceHogs earned a 3-2 shootout victory on the road against the Texas Stars. That result, paired with a 3-0 shutout defeat from the Grand Rapids Griffins on the road to the Tucson Roadrunners, pushed the IceHogs into third place based on head-to-head record against the Griffins.

The IceHogs and Griffins magic number to clinch a spot is down to 3. If both win tonight and the Admirals lose – the Admirals will be officially eliminated from playoff contention.

With the IceHogs win last night we have reached the point where that fourth placed team can’t win for the rest of the season while the Admirals must run the table. The Admirals will never be able to take the first tiebreak scenario or regulation/overtime wins (ROW) so a loss of any kind tonight with wins from both – that will be enough. The Admirals need to win out and receive huge amounts of help to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Continue reading “Wolves: Scouting the Enemy” →

Chatterbox

Chatterbox, Vol. 271
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)

The Milwaukee Admirals Tuesday-Wednesday setup was always going to a test following their 6-2 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday. I expected some push back on the Admirals part. What I did not expect was seven first period goals scored in those contests against the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters. The Admirals, when they get it right, are so much fun to watch play. Their pace out of the gates on defense and offense to beat the Monsters 6-3 was outstanding.

The only buzzkill came down in the state of Texas where the Rockford IceHogs won again to make things that much more difficult. There are five-games remaining for both the Admirals and IceHogs and the difference remains five points for the fourth spot in the Central Division. The Admirals might be playing their best hockey of the season -but- so might the IceHogs. It is beginning to feel like the Admirals will run out of time.

Continue reading “Chatterbox, Vol. 271” →

Game Recaps

Not Dead Yet; Admirals Win 6-3
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus. Game Recap: Nicholas Hatch)

The Milwaukee Admirals won 6-3 against the Cleveland Monsters at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Wednesday night.

A four-goal first period by the Admirals kicked-started the offensive attack en route to a 6-3 win to keep their playoff hopes alive. With a six-goal performance from the offense, and a solid showing from Troy Grosenick, the Admirals find themselves maintaining pace with a Rockford IceHogs team that won tonight in San Antonio.

“The first period was real good,” stated Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason after the game. “It could have been a game where we maybe weren’t as up as we should be for. But we knew that [Cleveland] were going to play loose and play hard. They always do. So we were happy with our start.”

Continue reading “Not Dead Yet; Admirals Win 6-3” →

Scouting

Monsters: Scouting the Enemy
(Photo Credit: Scott Paulus)

The Milwaukee Admirals earned a 4-3 shootout win last night on the road against the Chicago Wolves. It’s important to take as many points as possible at this point. Last night it was against the top team in the Central Division. Tonight it’s a game against the bottom team in the Central Division. That said, the Cleveland Monsters are coming off of a 4-0 shutout on the road last night against the Iowa Wild. There are no push overs or guarantees in this division. The Admirals need to keep running the table to give themselves a chance.

Continue reading “Monsters: Scouting the Enemy” →

Game Recaps

Shooting It Out Again; Admirals Outlast Wolves 4-3
(Photo Credit: Ross Dettman)

The Milwaukee Admirals won 4-3 in a shootout on the road against the Chicago Wolves at the Allstate Arena on Tuesday night.

After a frantic six-goal first period between the Admirals and Wolves: this game ended up needing a shootout. It has oddly been the Admirals bread and butter this season. The lone shootout goal would be picked up by the Admirals captain Trevor Smith as Anders Lindbäck denied all three attempts. The Admirals are now 11-1 in the shootout in 2017-18.

Continue reading “Shooting It Out Again; Admirals Outlast Wolves 4-3” →

News

Predators Sign Niclas Westerholm to Entry-Level Contract
(Photo Credit: YLE Urheilu)

The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Niclas Westerholm to a three-year entry-level contract. This news follows yesterday’s entry-level signing of Tanner Jeannot by the Predators. Westerholm, a Finnish native, now joins Troy Grosenick as a goaltender under contract for next season who could potentially be in the Milwaukee Admirals net for the 2018-19 season.

Continue reading “Predators Sign Niclas Westerholm to Entry-Level Contract” →

Scouting

Wolves: Scouting the Enemy
(Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch)

The Amtrak Rivalry is about to burst into life. The Milwaukee Admirals will see the Chicago Wolves for three of the next five contests. The Admirals suffered a massive setback last time out when they lost 6-2 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. They can not afford to slip up anymore if they are to make it into the Calder Cup Playoffs this year. The Wolves are looking to punch their ticket and pull a fast one on the Manitoba Moose by winning the Central Division with a strong last season push. These two have a lot to play for. These games will be extremely intense.

Continue reading “Wolves: Scouting the Enemy” →