AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Fall to Iowa 6-2

Published on March 31, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


Milwaukee, WI-The Milwaukee Admirals would have liked to make a strong statement in their last game against the Iowa Stars this season as both teams jockey for playoff positions. But an unlucky bounce and some defensive miscues cost the Admirals, as they lost 6-2 Saturday night at the Bradley Center.

"They always put up a good challenge against us," noted Alternate Captain Pat Leahy. "They play tough and they play hard. They got a lucky bounce on the second goal and that seemed to turn the tide."

Leahy is referring to the goal scored by Francis Wathier at 3:46 into the second period when Pekka Rinne went behind his net to play a puck zipping around the boards. But the puck hit a seam in the dashers and went flying right in front of the net where Wathier was waiting.

Rinne was protecting the net for five of Iowa's goals. The most he's allowed in a game this season. But Leahy wasn't willing to put the loss on Rinne.

"He's playing unbelievable. You're not going to win every game. That's just the way it is. He didn't have his best game tonight, but the rest of us didn't have our best games either."

Giving Rinne a vote of confidence Leahy added, "He's a good goalie. He's going to carry us the rest of the way."

The Admirals finish the season series against the Stars with a 1-7-2 record.

But Coach Claude Noel claims his team pays no attention to that stat and they don't let the past affect them.

"We don't focus on it. I don't think that enters our mind."

Noel noted that he wasn't concerned with whether Iowa made the playoffs or not. He didn't mince words in stating what his team is most preoccupied with.

"I know that we want to get in."

The Admirals looked strong to start the game. They got on the board first thanks to the first of John Laliberte's two goals on the night when he took a shot off Cal O'Reilly's face off win 2:21 into the opening period.

The team matched the Stars speed in first with smart play and some gritty checks that left some of the Stars dazed along the dashers.

But as the tide turned on the Stars' fluky goal off the boards, Iowa used the momentum to add three more goals that capped off a forty-minute scoring run that saw them record five straight goals against the home team.

Former Admiral Shane Endicott registered three assists in tonight's action, tying the amount of points he scored with the Admirals this season in the twenty-six games he played in Milwaukee before being sent to Anaheim for Chris Durno.

The Admirals now stand four points away from clinching a playoff spot and will hope Friday's contest at home against Chicago, a team they've had success against, will get them half way their.

Noel knows where he wants his team to be by the end of the season, and he is well aware of what they have to do to get there.

"Your preparations for the playoffs come on the details. It is not only details in your play, it's your details in your head. Your players have to be mental mentally tough. What's coming is [not only] the playoffs but the coach. That's me, and I know where I'm going and I'm trying to get them to where I'm going, and I'm going to get them there, because that's what I do."

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American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2007


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