AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Top Hamilton 3-2

Published on March 9, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


Milwaukee, WI-After getting the best of the Hamilton Bulldogs last Friday night, the Admirals were looking get another despite being down marquee players to the parent club in Nashville this time around. Thanks to last second heroics by Cal O'Reilly and Pat Leahy the Ads were able to recover from an early two-goal deficit to win the game 3-2.

Milwaukee got a shootout victory against the Bulldogs in their last meeting and as the remaining time fell off the game clock it seemed that tonight's game would have to be settled in a similar manner.

In the spirit of playing to the final whistle, O'Reilly challenged Hamilton defenseman Dan Jancevski as he tried to play the puck the in his own corner. The result was a steal and with a quick flick of O'Reilly's wrist the puck was on the stick of Leahy, and the Admirals forward redirected the shot through Hamilton goaltender Yann Danis's legs and into the back of the net.

With ten seconds remaining, the goal brought the Bradley Center fans to their feet and capped off the thrilling comeback.

"I was on the forecheck, and he [Jancevski] kind of fanned on it," said O'Reilly describing his game-winning play. "It's nice to win one in regulation."

"It's incredible," said an ecstatic Coach Claude Noel. "We really gave it a heck of an effort."

Milwaukee's record in one goal games now stands at an impressive 20-7-4-6.

But the opening moments of the game weren't as impressive.

Eight minutes in, the situation was dire as Admirals goalie Pekka Rinne allowed two goals on four shots drawing comparisons to his last start when he was pulled after allowing three goals in six shots in the first period Monday night against San Antonio..

Cory Urquhart and Mathieu Biron registered the goals for Hamilton.

Surprisingly, it was a pair of turnovers in the offensive zone by defenseman Ville Koistinen that seemed to turn the game in the Ads' favor.

Both giveaways broke the Bulldogs for breakaways that were stifled by Rinne who was trying to find his grove as the second period opened. The saves awoke the quiet crowd and gave the team the momentum to begin a rally.

"To me, that was the difference," said Noel of the saves.

"There's a gut feeling you have as a coach," Noel explained of decision to keep Rinne in the game despite his struggles.

"You have to let a goalie get his own game down. Part of growing as a goalie is battling through [adversity]."

Milwaukee used the second period momentum to outshoot the Bulldogs 12-5 and score two goals to tie the game.

The Ads first goal came off a Chris Durno shot from the point at 15:13.

With a minute remaining the third period Milwaukee defenseman Kevin Klein used some great anticipation to intercept a Bulldog pass deep in Hamilton's zone. Klein quickly dumped the puck to Brandon Segal streaking across the net for the game tying goal 18:43.

"It was a good read on [Klein's] part," said Noel. "It was an equally great play by Segal who went top shelf."

After allowing two goals in the first, Rinne stopped the next twenty-two shots he faced as both teams went scoreless in third until Leahy's last second game-winning goal.

Tonight's win is twice as sweet as the team's looking to oust Milwaukee from the playoffs, Peoria and Iowa, both suffered regulation losses.

"Every chance we can get two points," said Noel after the game, "is always great for us."

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American Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2007


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