Chatterbox March 9, 2016

Chatterbox, Vol. 117

How different would last night’s game had been if Michael Leighton didn’t make the stop on Kevin Fiala’s penalty shot? (Photo Credit: Todd Reicher)

When I made the trek down to Rockford for the first time yesterday things started by me discovering that the quickest route there was to go North… to go South. That essentially set the tone for the proceedings that followed because the Milwaukee Admirals 5-2 defeat to the Rockford IceHogs was a head spinner that all seemingly boiled down to the opening ten-minutes of the second period.

The Admirals had a 1-0 lead through the first period thanks to Vladislav Kamenev echoing the glory days of the Russian space program by unleashing a rocket on the power-play. Inside of the opening thirty-seconds of the second period an Adam Payerl shot was awkwardly dealt with in net by Michael Leighton and his left-side defenseman Viktor Svedberg palmed the puck in the crease to award the Admirals with a penalty shot.

Kevin Fiala was the man pegged with doing the honors. You couldn’t have asked for a better candidate to have been on the ice for the Admirals. Fiala has been tasked with opening for the Admirals in the shootout all but once from the team’s seven shootouts this season. The only man to start ahead of Fiala in the shootout was Stevie Moses, who missed, and was followed by Fiala who scored. Fiala is 5/7 in the shootout this season. Him being given the penalty shot should have nearly been automatic.

That’s where things all went downhill for the Admirals and just never really recovered. Fiala was stopped by Leighton with a blocker save from Fiala’s crafty shootout attempt move, the one he has used all season to perfection, and the IceHogs gained serious momentum off of that moment in the game and proceeded to run the Admirals for three-goals in the space of 4:49 of the second period. By the third period the run for the IceHogs would continue and they’d have four unanswered goals.

What you have from last night’s game is simply a bad taste in your mouth knowing how differently that game could have played out had Fiala scored on the penalty shot to give the Admirals a lightning fast 2-0 lead to start the second period. That didn’t happen. Credit must be given to Leighton for his denial on the penalty shot attempt by Fiala. It was a big moment in the game and really whoever came up trumps on that penalty shot was due to give their team a massive boost. It went the way of the IceHogs. The Admirals couldn’t get their game stabilized or comfortable after that.

Going into last night’s game the eyes were set on an Admirals regulation with to put them into sole possession of first place of the Central Division. After losing? They actually stand in third place behind the Grand Rapids Griffins. It’s crunch time for everyone this time of the season and I feel as if the Admirals enduring a game such as last night before getting some days to process it will be a good thing for them. The Admirals have a three-in-three weekend on the horizon and that’s plenty of points up for grabs to account for the two that went begging last night in Rockford. First, the Iowa Wild at home on Friday. Second, the Chicago Wolves in Rosemont on Saturday. Third, the Wild once again but this time in Iowa to finish the weekend off. Those are favorable teams for the Admirals to get ground back. Against the Wild and Wolves this season the Admirals are 11-3-1-0. …weights and balances… weights and balances…

~Chatterbox~

After last night’s game I did get a chance to catch up with Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason as well as Frédérick Gaudreau to get their take on the game. I was joined by Mario Tirabassi, who also joined in the trip down to Rockford, to ask them both questions. Here is what they had to say:

Comments on the comments? Gaudreau stated that it was “just one of those game” for the Admirals. Would you be willing to write it off due to Leighton’s effort in net or did the Admirals get lost in their own heads a bit after the penalty shot?

Be sure to keep updated with Admirals Roundtable through social media platform of your choice: follow along Twitter, like us on Facebook, get photo updates on Instagram, and listen along on SoundCloud.

Game Recaps March 8, 2016March 9, 2016

Second Period Surge Grounds The Admirals; lose 5-2

The Milwaukee Admirals 5-2 on the road against the Rockford IceHogs Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

Tonight’s game had a crucial point that appeared to change the narrative. The Admirals were leading 1-0 to start the second period when they were awarded a penalty shot. Their main trigger man to lead-off in shootouts, Kevin Fiala, was able to take it but was denied by a blocker save from Michael Leighton. From that moment the IceHogs would score four unanswered goals and receive a hat trick performance from Pierre-Cédric Labrie. The Admirals three-game win streak is over and the gap to the first place IceHogs just broadened.

“Leighton was outstanding,” cited Milwaukee Admirals head coach Dean Evason after the game. “You think about the save on Kamenev. Obviously, the save on the penalty shot – that puts us up two – it’s a different game. He made several key saves in the game and was the difference for sure.”

This game opened with a pair of penalties taken by the IceHogs. At the second chance of asking the Admirals were able to come away with the goods. Vladislav Kamenev took a Stefan Elliott pass first-time and blew it clean past Michael Leighton. The goal for Kamenev pushed him into double digits for his debut season in North America.

In the opening minute of the second period the Admirals were awarded a penalty shot after Viktor Svedberg was called for closing his hand over the puck in the crease following a near chance by Adam Payerl. Kevin Fiala was able to take the penalty shot but his typical shootout move was blockered aside by Leighton to keep terms at 1-0 Admirals.

The IceHogs would get on the board not long after the failed penalty shot to level the game up at 1-1. After blocking a Trevor Murphy slap shot Pierre-Cédric Labrie was in some distress and looked to be making his way to the bench until an odd-man break presented itself. Jake Dowell had the puck in neutral ice and Labrie joined him to make it a two-on-zero facing Marek Mazanec. Dowell held back, allowed Labrie to take the breakaway, and he beat Mazanec to record his sixteenth goal of the season.

It took the IceHogs just 3:02 before they would score again to earn their first lead of the night. Jake Dowell was able to score from a redirect off of a Kyle Baun toss to the net from the right wing corner. Dowell’s shot squeaked in for his ninth goal of the season.

After Jamie Devane went to the box for high sticking the IceHogs made it three goals in the space of 4:49. Matt Fraser was able to snap a quick release wrister from the slot that jumped over the blocker side of Mazanec and in for his fifth goal of the season and first since joining the IceHogs as part of the Andrew Ladd trade.

The run for the IceHogs continued into the start of the third period with a fourth unanswered goal. Jonathan Carlsson was able to find Labrie all alone in the left wing on the back door of the net for a tap in. Mazanec had no chance to make any sort of a post-to-post stop to his glove side and Labrie had his second tally of the night and sixteenth of the season.

It had been sixteen games since Adam Payerl last scored a goal but he made the wait worth it. Payerl was able to generate a turnover and maintain the attacking zone before unleashing a backhander that just looped over the blocker of Leighton and fall into the net. Payerl’s ninth goal of the season made it a 4-2 deficit for the Admirals with 9:57 remaining in regulation.

Perhaps looking to get a spark going Félix Girard decided to drop his gloves against IceHogs captain Dowell shortly after a face-off scrum between the two. There wasn’t much to the fight. Girard appeared to lose his balance before much of anything could be done.

With the net emptied and extra attacker on for the Admirals Labrie would complete his hat trick. That sealed this game at a 5-2 scoreline. The Admirals three-game winning streak was snapped and they now have fallen beneath the surging Grand Rapids Griffins in the Central Division standings.

“Our division is so strong,” said Evason of the current battle for playoff spots within the Central Division. “It’s tough every night. It will be a battle right down to the end and we can’t take anything for granted.”

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals last played on Sunday the lone roster move made was the recall of team captain Colton Sissons to the Nashville Predators. Sissons will be taking part in the Predators upcoming four-game road swing in Western Canada and doing it wearing a new uniform number. He’ll be switching from #84 to #10. Tonight’s line combinations were: Reinhart-Gaudreau-Åberg, Fiala-Kamenev-Payerl, White-Girard-Görtz, Devane-Pendenza-Bass, Oligny-Potter, Murphy-Aronson, Näkyvä-Elliott. Tonight’s scratches were: Cody Hodgson (undisclosed), Patrick Mullen (right hand laceration), Garrett Noonan (healthy), and Johan Alm (lower body).

Thoughts on tonight’s game? How big of a momentum shift was the penalty shot save made by Michael Leighton to this game?

Scouting March 8, 2016March 8, 2016

IceHogs: Scouting the Enemy

Here we are once again. The Milwaukee Admirals and the Rockford IceHogs in a battle between the top two teams of the Central Division. Both have been in this position for quite some time now but they do have a surging Grand Rapids Griffins waiting in tow with a current eight-game winning streak. The Admirals enter Rockford tonight on a three-game winning streak while the IceHogs have a four-game point streak.

This should have all the makings of a playoff atmosphere as well as set the stage for when this same fixture takes place next time. When the Admirals and IceHogs next play, after tonight’s contest, it will be the regular season finale. The Central Division or the best record in the Western Conference might be on the line that night. Don’t think that isn’t a talking point for both teams entering tonight’s contest. This is the second to last meeting of the season and an incredibly important pair of points are on the line.

~Oink Oink~

The IceHogs enter tonight’s game with a record of 32-14-7-4 (75 points). Their 0.658 points percentage has them ahead of the Admirals (0.647) for first place in the Central Division and they trail only the Ontario Reign (0.686) for the best record in the Western Conference standings.

Considering the Admirals locked up the Amtrak Trophy last time out against the Chicago Wolves you’re probably wondering just where they stand against the IceHogs. From 10 games played this season the Admirals have the edge over the IceHogs by going 6-3-1-0 against them. That includes a 3-0-1-0 mark in Rockford this season with three of those games pushing into overtime or longer.

One thing that the Admirals will not need to worry to much about is being a footnote in the AHL history books because that role went to the Lake Erie Monsters on Saturday night. Michael Leighton officially broke Johnny Bower‘s near 59-year long AHL record for career shutouts by stopping all 35 shots on goal that the Monsters threw at him to earn his 46th career shutout in the AHL.

While the Admirals won’t be on the wrong end of history tonight they still have every reason to fear the form that Leighton has possessed this entire season. He has played in 43 of the IceHogs 57 games played and garnered a record of 27-6-8-3 in net. He has a 2.38 goals against average, 0.920 save percentage, and 5 shutouts this season.

Specifically when looking at Leighton’s efforts against the Admirals this season he has been good – but not as great as his overall season numbers. He has made seven appearances (six starts) for a record of 4-0-1-1 while stopping 160/177 for a 0.904 save percentage with a 2.80 goals against average. In his last two starts he has allowed 4 goals to the Admirals both times out.

~Those Other Little Piggies~

One of the more surprising moves that didn’t happen at the NHL Trade Deadline was seeing the Chicago Blackhawks off-load Bryan Bickell to anyone willing to eat some of his salary. That didn’t happen. And the IceHogs will now stand to benefit from that. Bickell has the best points per game average on the IceHogs roster (0.94) by having produced 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 31 games.

Speaking of trades, the Blackhawks were still active in the trade market and did have moves that impacted the IceHogs lineup. Marko Dano was packaged to the Winnipeg Jets in the Andrew Ladd trade which also saw the likes of Matt Fraser and Jay Harrison move from the Manitoba Moose to the IceHogs. It didn’t stop there, either. They acquired former Admirals goaltender Drew MacIntyre from the Carolina Hurricanes organization in exchange for defenseman Dennis Robertson.

At the moment the IceHogs have four players with 30 points or more of offense on the season: Mark McNeill, 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists)… Vinnie Hinostroza, 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists)… Ryan Hartman, 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists)… Ville Pokka, 32 points (6 goals, 26 assists).

~Roundtable on the Road~

I will be making my first road trip since starting my tenure on Admirals Roundtable for tonight’s game. Idea being, if the Admirals and IceHogs have the regular season finale in Rockford with the division or conference at stake – it might be nice to be there. I’ll be adventuring on down and trying to get to know the building a bit ahead of the game. From there you’ll be getting home style coverage from myself including a Chatterbox that should be ready by tomorrow morning. If any of you Admirals fans will also be making the trip be sure to give a wave!

Expectations for tonight’s game? The Milwaukee Admirals have managed to win their last two games without Colton Sissons or Cody Hodgson. Are you confident they could keep that momentum going?

News March 7, 2016March 7, 2016

Nashville Predators Recall Colton Sissons

This isn’t the most surprising of roster moves given how the Milwaukee Admirals games this weekend played out. The Admirals team captain Colton Sissons has been recalled by the Nashville Predators ahead of their upcoming four-game road trip in Western Canada. Sissons was a healthy scratch for the Admirals in both games this weekend as a preventative measure with this move in mind.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (March 7, 2016) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has recalled forward Colton Sissons from Milwaukee (AHL).

Sissons, 22 (11/5/93), has appeared in 19 games for the Predators in 2015-16, notching a pair of points (1g-1a) and a 59 percent success rate in the face-off circle, best among all NHLers taking at least 100 draws. He has also served as the youngest captain in Milwaukee Admirals history this season, amassing 19 points (8g-11a) in 38 games. Now in his third professional season, the North Vancouver, B.C., native has six points (2g-4a) in 36 career NHL games.

The Nashville Predators will look to extend their franchise-record point streak to 13 games on Tuesday night when they play the Winnipeg Jets at 7 p.m. (TV: FOX Sports Tennessee; Radio: 102.5 The Game). The team is on the second game of a five-game road trip that sees them playing the Colorado Avalanche (5-2 win on Saturday), Winnipeg Jets (Tuesday), Calgary Flames (Wednesday), Vancouver Canucks (Saturday) and Edmonton Oilers (March 14). The team returns to Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, March 17 against the New York Islanders, when fans can take advantage of the team’s March to the Playoffs ticket plan. Through the Johansen or Neal pack, fans can buy three games and get a complimentary fourth game, saving up to 40 percent off of the gate rate. For more information click here or call 615-770-7800.

Sissons has played 19 games at the NHL level with the Predators this season. During that time he has produced 2 points (1 goal, 1 assists) while going 58.5% in face-off dot. That last stat is an important one because the man Sissons is likely going up to fill in for is Paul Gaustad whom missed a decent chunk of the Predators last game.

Since Sissons last time up with the Predators he has logged 26 games with the Admirals and has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists). I had given him the nod for Admirals Roundtable’s Admiral of the Month award for his contributions in February due to his high level work rate and raising the performances of those playing alongside of him. He’s been sharp. So he rejoined the Predators at a great time for not only that team but for himself personally. Sissons is a British Columbia native so this upcoming road swing for the Predators is ideal for him. Should he remain up with the team long enough I’d expect a good family contingent for the game against the Vancouver Canucks this coming Saturday.

UPDATE: In a fun uniform related note, Sissons has officially ditched rookie numeral of #84 and been given the #10 to wear for the Predators. I assume this comes as added reward considering the Predators recently penned the Admirals captain to a new three-year contract two weeks ago.

Game Recaps March 6, 2016March 6, 2016

Ads Clinch The Amtrak Trophy; Win 5-2 in Chicago

The Milwaukee Admirals won 5-2 on the road against the Chicago Wolves Sunday afternoon at the Allstate Arena.

A run of five unanswered goals was enough for the Admirals to clinch their first Amtrak Trophy since the 2012-13 season this afternoon. The Wolves may have had a hot start in which they scored the opening goal but not much went their way after that opening period. They lost their composure, garnering twenty-seven penalty minutes, and then the game itself. This is the first time since the Wolves became the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues that the Admirals have claimed the Amtrak Trophy.

As was the case last weekend, the Wolves took to home ice in the first period and were fast right out of the blocks. Their hot start provided them with something they weren’t able to figure out how to do last night which was to get a puck behind Juuse Saros.

Yannick Veilleux was able to jar a puck from the right wing pocket away from Trevor Murphy and fall in-line with Ivan Barbashyov who rushed to the net but lost the handle. The puck came out into the slot where Zach O’Brien smoked a shot off the right pad of Saros which was kicked over to Jérémie Blain who shot high glove side on the rebound to score his third goal of the season.

The goal by the Wolves was scored 2:14 into the first period. On the flipside in the second period the Admirals were able to better that by four-seconds when a Cody Bass slap shot from distance beat Pheonix Copley’s glove for his second goal of the season and the one-hundredth point of his professional playing career. Bass stepped in down the right wing and smacked his slapper from just inside of the blueline. Copley simply fanned on the save attempt with his glove.

The temperature crept up a bit after a nasty looking tripping minor taken by Jordan Caron sent Kristian Näkyvä hard into the end-boards. This caught the attention of Jamie Devane who went after Caron who wanted no part of that fight. Thankfully, Jared Nightingale was willing to account for his teammate’s no-no and engaged in an evenly matched heavyweight tilt that could really be scored in the fight cards either way.

Kevin Fiala’s hot run of form continued with yet another maximum effort goal. Fiala was being hooked up on a rush to the net but continued to battle in on Copley before smacking a shot through space on the blocker side of Copley and the post. The goal for Fiala was his twelfth of the season and fifth scored in his last thirteen games.

Frédérick Gaudreau was able to mark his one-hundredth game as a member of the Admirals with a goal in the second period to make it a 3-1 Admirals lead off of three unanswered goals in the frame. Max Reinhart was able to slip a pass through to Gaudreau in front of the net and the Admirals AHL All-Star delivered a low change-up shot that caused Copley to open up the five hole. The shot went in clean underneath the pads and Gaudreau scored his fourteenth goal of the season. Also of note, Corey Potter set that play in motion by carrying the puck up into the rush and earned the secondary assist on the play to earn his first point as a member of the Admirals.

Towards the end of the second period the Wolves appeared to completely lose their composure and the end result were two carry-over five-on-three power-plays for the Admirals to start the third period. Trevor Murphy uncorked a slap shot that whistled past Copley high glove side for his ninth goal of the season. That was followed by Reinhart charging towards the front of the net from the right wing pocket at putting a puck in around the right pad of Copley for his sixteenth goal of the season. Murphy’s goal was scored on a five-on-three power-play and Reinhart’s was followed with the Admirals a man-up.

On yet another Wolves penalty they actually managed to work a prime scoring chance for themselves. Ty Rattie was able to corral a puck on the penalty kill and beat Murphy with speed to get a breakaway. Murphy put a stickblade in on the hands of Rattie on his approach to Saros. That signaled a penalty shot to be called. Rattie beat Saros on a backhander to record his eleventh goal of the season on a tally listed as a shorthanded penalty shot. That would see the game to its final scoreline of Admirals 5, Wolves 2.

In net for the Admirals Saros picked up his second win in less than twenty-four hours against the Wolves. The win is also the Finn’s twentieth of the season to stretch his AHL lead for wins by a rookie goaltender. He stopped twenty-eight of the Wolves thirty shots on goal today.

Ramblings: Since the Milwaukee Admirals played last night there were no roster moves made. In fact, today’s line combinations were exactly the same as last night: Reinhart-Gaudreau-Åberg, Fiala-Kamenev-Payerl, White-Girard- Görtz, Devane-Pendenza-Bass, Oligny-Potter, Murphy-Aronson, Näkyvä-Elliott. Today’s scratches were: Colton Sissons (healthy), Cody Hodgson (undisclosed), Patrick Mullen (right hand laceration), Garrett Noonan (healthy), Johan Alm (lower body). Today was the second consecutive game in which Colton Sissons was scratched due to a potential call up with the Nashville Predators who next play on Tuesday in Winnipeg.

Was this game wacky with all its penalty calls or what? Beyond the penalty box shuffle what was your take from the Milwaukee Admirals win today?

Chatterbox March 6, 2016

Chatterbox, Vol. 116

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Chatterbox~

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

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

Game Recaps March 5, 2016March 6, 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scouting March 5, 2016

Wolves: Scouting the Enemy

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

~Amtrak Rivals~

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

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

~The Amtrak Rivalry~

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

~Who What Now?~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News March 4, 2016March 4, 2016

Joe Pendenza Recalled to Milwaukee

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

Press Release via Cincinnati Cyclones:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feature March 4, 2016

Fifteen with Jimmy Oligny

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Fifteen~

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

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

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