AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Down Peoria 4-3

Published on February 16, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


Milwaukee,WI-Over ten thousand fans turned out for the Milwaukee Admirals Country Music Night, and while everyone was treated to a free Joe Nichols concert courtesy of Miller Lite and FM 106, the opening act headlined by Chris Durno got the fans out of their seats a little early. Dunro recorded a hat trick and an assist, scoring on all of Milwaukee's goals in the team's 4-3 victory over the Peoria Rivermen.

Durno was a top three goal-scorer for the Admirals last season, but had struggled to find the back of the net with Norfolk and Portland (5 goals in 34 games) this year before returning to Milwaukee in a trade after the All-Star break.

Durno scored a goal in his debut with the team on February 1st against the Houston Aeros, and now has six points in six games since joining the team.

"[It helps] being back in Milwaukee and in comfortable situation," said Durno of his recent strides. "Since I've got here I've felt a lot better. Playing with Cal O'Reilly, he's a guy that likes to pass the puck and I like to shoot so it's worked out pretty well.

"Cal set up Durno with some great passes," said a pleased Claude Noel. "He almost had a fourth."

O'Reilly recorded a pair of assists in tonight's contest and his play of late has really impressed Noel.

"I thought Cal was clever player [tonight]. He can get you the puck, and he's a big reason Durno had the success he had."

Despite the impressive work of Durno and O'Reilly on offense, Peoria was never out of reach of the win.

The Rivermen opened up the scoring with goal by Charles Linglet that trickled past Admirals goaltender Pekka Rinne in the fourth minute of the first period. It was Linglet's sixth goal against the Admirals this season.

Durno tied things up eleven minutes later when he took the puck end to end and sent a sizzling shot over the glove of Jason Bacashihua. Durno added two more and recorded his hat trick thirty-seconds into the second half, putting the Ads up 3-1

"I actually had a hat trick last year here in Milwaukee," he told reporters after the game. "But other than that, those are the only two hat tricks I can remember in my career."

The Ads gave up a pair of goals to Kevin Croxton and Ryan Ramsay, tying the game with eight minutes left to play.

"I thought we made a couple mistakes that hurt us," said Noel of his team's play in their own zone.

But his team was able to re-group in the opposition's end.

"We're really using our defensemen well in the offensive zone," Noel explained. "I thought we did that well tonight."

Defenseman Sheldon Brookbank was a shining example of this when he ripped a slap shot for the game-winning goal off a missed wrap around attempt by John Laliberte that turned into a pass with under seven minutes to play.

With two minutes remaining, Peoria put the fans on the edge of their seats as they came close to evening the score on a four-on-four opportunity. Rinne, sprawled on ice, was able to come up with the needed save.

"We made a reverse to their guy and then the fire drills came out," said a sarcastic Noel of the situation. "Pekka had to make a huge save to keep it out of the net."

"They came hard," he continued. "They came physical. It was a man's game. We had to step up." But Noel knew his team could cope.

"We've got guys that can handle themselves."

Rich Peverley proved that even though he's the team's top scorer, he wouldn't need an enforcer to protect him on the ice. In a rare showing, Peverley dropped the gloves with Tomas Mojzis after the final whistle.

Noel gave an obvious reason for the rare occasion.

"I think he had enough of that guy tonight."

The Admirals travel to Iowa for a 7:05 pm game tomorrow night before returning to the Bradley Center on Sunday at 4:00 pm. The first 3,500 fans will receive a bobblehead doll of The Admiral, courtesy of M&I Bank. In addition, five Legands of the AWA will be in attendance to sign autographs at the game, sponsored by Action Power Sports and Midwest Airlines. For tickets fans can call Ticketmaster at (414) 276-4545 or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2007


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