AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Close Our Regular Season this Weekend

April 13, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


Milwaukee, WI- The Milwaukee Admirals (73 Games Played, 38-29-2-4-82 points, 3rd place Midwest Division, 6th place Western Conference, 12th place AHL) will complete the 2011-2012 regular season this weekend facing a final three games in three nights stretch all against Midwest Division foes. The Admirals final push for the playoffs starts Friday night at Rockford (74 GP, 34-32-2-6-76 points, 5th place Midwest Division, 13th place Western Conference, 23rd place AHL), continuing Saturday night at Chicago (73 GP, 40-27-3-3-86 points, 1st place Midwest Division, 4th best record Western Conference, 9th place AHL), before concluding Sunday afternoon at home against Charlotte (73 GP, 36-28-3-6-81 points, 4th place Midwest Division, 11th place Western Conference, 17th place AHL).

Milwaukee's Friday night showdown at Rockford represents the 12th and final meeting of the season between the Midwest Division foes. The now eliminated from playoff contention Ice Hogs have dominated the season series, winning the past eight matchups and holding a 9-1-0-1 record to date against the Admirals. Milwaukee's last victory against Rockford came all the way back on Dec. 26, a 7-3 win at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The Ice Hogs earned shootout victories in each of the past two meetings, including a 2-1 win in a penalty filled April Fool's Day clash at the Bradley Center. Trailing 1-0 in the third period Admirals forward Mark Van Guilder (Roseville, Minnesota) scored at 2:42 of the final frame to send the game into overtime, but Rockford forwards Terry Broadhurst and Brandon Pirri each beat Milwaukee goaltender Atte Engren (Rauma, Finland) in the shootout. The Admirals could only counter with a shootout goal by Jonathon Blum (Santa Margarita, California), failing to force extra attempts.

Saturday night Milwaukee will complete its road portion of the 2011-2012 AHL schedule and its 12-game Amtrak rivalry with Chicago. Currently the Wolves lead the Midwest Division and have already clinched a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs. In the prior 11 meetings, Chicago leads the season series with a record 6-4-0-1, and won the latest matchup 5-2 at Allstate Arena on March 7. Wolves forward Anton Rodin's second goal of the game 1:43 into the third period stood up as the game winner, while goaltender Chicago goaltender Eddie Lack made 25 saves to earn the victory. Recently recalled Admirals goaltender Jeremy Smith (Dearborn, Michigan) stopped 20 of 23 shots to take the loss. That win came four days after Milwaukee posted its most lopsided decision of the season by blitzing the Wolves 6-0 at the Bradley Center.

On Sunday afternoon Milwaukee will go for its third straight victory against Charlotte in the Admirals' regular season home finale. Last week Milwaukee scored crucial 4-0 and 4-2 victories in North Carolina, helping Milwaukee move back into the Western Conference playoff picture. In the teams' latest battle on April 5, Milwaukee forward Chris Mueller (Buffalo, New York) scored the game winner at 10:46 of the second period, while Engren made 33 saves to earn the victory. Checkers goaltender Justin Peters stopped 19 pucks to take the loss. The win improved Milwaukee's record to 3-3-1-0 against Charlotte this season, meaning that another regulation victory on Sunday clinches the season series in favor of the Admirals.

Key Statistics:

MILWAUKEE's road record: (17th best AHL) 36 Games Played, 17-17-0-2-36 points; home record: (7th best AHL) 37 GP, 21-12-2-2-46 points.

Rockford's home record: (26th) 36 GP, 17-16-0-3-37 points.

Chicago's home record: (13th) 36 GP, 20-14-0-2-42 points.

Charlotte's road record: (T-10th) 35 GP, 18-12-2-3-41 points.

Active Leading Scorers as of April 12:

MILWAUKEE: Chris Mueller (31 goals & 27 assists, 58 points); Kyle Wilson (22 goals & 29 assists, 51 points); Taylor Beck (15 goals & 24 assists, 39 points); Victor Bartley (9 goals & 30 assists, 39 points).

Rockford: Bradon Pirri (23 goals & 32 assists, 55 points); Peter LeBlanc (23 goals & 20 assists, 43 points); Rostislav Olesz (17 goals & 24 assists, 41 points).

Chicago: Mark Mancari (29 goals & 27 assists, 56 points); Darren Haydar (20 assists & 34 assists, 54 points); Jordan Schroeder (20 goals & 23 assists, 43 points).

Charlotte: Chris Terry (15 goals & 42 assists, 57 points); Bobby Sanguinetti (9 goals & 35 assists, 44 points); Zach Boychuk (20 goals & 21 assists, 41 points).

Power play:

MILWAUKEE: (4th best AHL) 55 goals scored in 279 chances, 19.7% success rate, 5 shorthanded goals allowed.

Rockford: (23th) 51 goals scored in 337 chances, 15.1% success rate, 7 shorthanded goals allowed.

Chicago: (26th) 46 goals scored in 314 chances, 14.7% success rate, 5 shorthanded goals allowed.

Charlotte: (5th) 63 goals scored in 321 chances, 19.6% success rate, 7 shorthanded goals allowed.

Penalty killing:

MILWAUKEE: (18th best AHL) 56 goals allowed in 310 times shorthanded, 81.9% success rate, 6 shorthanded goals scored.

Rockford: (26th) 63 goals allowed in 321 times shorthanded, 80.4% success rate, 3 shorthanded goals scored.

Chicago: (7th) 43 goals allowed in 270 times shorthanded, 84.1% success rate, 11 shorthanded goals scored.

Charlotte: (4th) 42 goals allowed in 275 times shorthanded, 84.7% success rate, 6 shorthanded goals scored.

National Hockey League Affiliates:

MILWAUKEE: Nashville Predators

Rockford: Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago: Vancouver Canucks

Charlotte: Carolina Hurricanes

Check out the Milwaukee Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2012


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