Admirals Get by Grand Rapids 3-2
March 18, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release
Milwaukee, WI-Born Callahan Patrick O'Reilly, there's no debate that the Admirals' center has a little bit of Irish in him. But after capping off his long overtime shift with a fancy goal to give the Admirals a 3-2 win over the Grand Rapids, it was clear O'Reilly doesn't have to rely on four leaf clovers to get on the score sheet.
"It was a long [shift]," said O'Reilly. "The boys were calling me off, and I was like, 'No, I want a goal.'"
He got the goal and impressed his coach, Claude Noel, in the process.
"It was a heck of a play," explained Noel of the goal. "He kind of faked like he was going to shoot. The forward [in front of the net] and the goalie both bit on the fake and [O'Reilly] went to his backhand and had the whole net."
Noel was happy to get the win with roughly thirty-seconds left in overtime to avoid the shootout.
"I asked the guys if they could win it in overtime, because our shootout isn't great."
The Admirals lost a pair of shootouts this week, dropping their record to 4-8 in shootout situations.
"I didn't know they'd be able to do it," added Noel with a smile. "I'd like to say that they listened, and did what they were told."
O'Reilly was frank in discussing how his team has faired in the format:
"We struggle in shootouts."
But it was a long road to overtime.
Ville Koistinen gave the Admirals the early lead at 7:38 into the first period when he scored the Ads' only power play goal in nine chances.
Koistinen got an open look at the net from a close distance, when winger Brandon Segal drew the Griffins' defense his way before sending a backhanded pass to the open Koistinen.
But a pair of goals close a minute apart from the Griffin's leading scorer and 17-year pro, Kip Miller, put Milwaukee down by a goal with eight minute left in the second stanza.
Two minutes later, O'Reilly took pass from Koistinen and turned on his jets. Zipping through a whole squad of Grand Rapids players, O'Reilly deked across the net and buried the game tying goal through the space he had created between goalie Jimmy Howard's leg pads.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the final period, but Noel was quick to praise his team's effort in the last twenty minutes.
"I thought we played really well in third," he noted after the game. "We battled hard and we did a lot of small things well."
With the loss of Kevin Klein to injury Saturday night against Chicago and Alex Henry on Friday, the Ads were forced to play one short on defense. That meant extra time and little room for error.
Despite the adversity caused by injury, Noel felt his team held up well.
"I thought they did a really good job," declared Noel with no hesitation. "I was really proud of our group tonight."
American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2007
- Admirals Clinch 2007 Calder Cup Playoff Berth - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Get by Grand Rapids 3-2 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wild third propel Stars to victory - Iowa Chops
- Bridgeport bows to Phantoms - Adirondack Phantoms
- Amerks best Aeros 3-1 - Houston Aeros
- P-Bruins Shutout Monarchs 5-0 - Providence Bruins
- Griffins Fall to Admirals in OT, 3-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Devils Continue to Roll, 2-0 over Hartford - Albany Devils
- Rivermen Blanked by Manitoba 4-0 at Home - Peoria Rivermen
- Phantoms Beat Sound Tigers 7-4 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wilson scores three in a row, Bears crush Sens 6-1 - Hershey Bears
- Monarchs Shutout By Bruins; Remain In First Place - Manchester Monarchs
- Moose to Honor Israel Idonije Tuesday night vs. Aeros - Manitoba Moose
- 'Dogs edged at Bell Centre - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Crunch Announce Details of Full Throttle Energy Drink - Syracuse Crunch
- Canucks Recall Alex Edler - Manitoba Moose
- Kings Extend Ivanans Contract - Manchester Monarchs
- Bears sign new Caps prospect Sean Collins - Hershey Bears
- Capitals sign Steve Pinizzotto to an entry level contract - Hershey Bears
- Bears and Senators square off Sunday - Hershey Bears
- Labatt's Celebrity Bartending Series Concludes at Tully's Good Times - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals to Host Reading Program Kids - Milwaukee Admirals
- Aeros Gameday - Houston Aeros
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