AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Fall to Marlies, Home Win Streak Snapped at 10

January 9, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


Milwaukee, WI-Milwaukee Admirals forward Nick Spaling forced overtime with a game-tying goal with 55 seconds left in regulation, but it was not enough as the Admirals saw their ten-game home winning streak snapped in a 3-2 shoot-out loss to the Toronto Marlies Thursday night at the Bradley Center.

Spaling's tally, his ninth of the season, came after Admirals center Cal O'Reilly centered the puck from the right corner to Patric Hornqvist in front of the Toronto net. Hornqvist put a shot on net and the rebound came right to Spaling, who slipped the puck through Toronto netminder Justin Pogge's five-hole.

After a scoreless overtime session, the Marlies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the shoot-out when Admirals forward Stephen Werner missed his attempt and Toronto center Tim Stapleton fired a wrister that beat Milwaukee goalie Mark Dekanich. Hornqvist would even the shoot-out when he converted his try in the third round, but Bates Battaglia put the Marlies back up 2-1 when he followed Hornqvist's goal with one of his own. The Admirals Hugh Jessiman had an opportunity to extend the shoot-out, but his attempt in the fifth round was smothered by Pogge, along with the Admirals home-win streak.

Milwaukee still earned a point in the game and has now collected at least a point in nine consecutive outings.

The Admirals actually got on the board first when Andreas Thuresson notched his sixth goal of the season at 5:05 of the second stanza. Thuresson took a pass from Triston Grant and beat Toronto defenseman Juha Uotila around the corner and then flipped a backhand over Pogge's blocker pad. Grant and Nick Spaling assisted on the play.

Toronto would even the score on a highlight reel goal by Jiri Tlusty at 9:54 of the second. The Marlies winger got behind the Admirals defense and put a backhand on net. Dekanich made the initial save, but the puck caromed up in the air and in one continuous motion Tlusty swatted the puck out of mid-air and into the Milwaukee net.

The Marlies grabbed a 2-1 lead with just under two minutes to go in the second period when the rebound of Anton Stralman's shot went right to Battaglia, who had a wide open net. That would be the game's last goal until Spaling got the equalizer in the third.

Spaling paced the Milwaukee offense on the night with a goal an assist and he also posted +2 rating. Mark Dekanich turned aside 31 of 33 Toronto shots despite suffering the shoot-out loss. It was the 11th consecutive game that Dekanich has allowed two or fewer goals.

The Admirals will hit the road for five straight games, beginning tomorrow night in San Antonio. The team will return to the Bradley Center on Sunday, January 18th at 4:00 pm against the Quad City Flames. Fans can order tickets by calling Ticketmaster at (414) 276-4545 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Groups of ten or more people receive a minimum of $2 off of each ticket. For more information or to order group tickets call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2009


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