Admirals Top Rivermen 6-3
October 24, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release
Milwaukee, WI- Rookie netminder Mark Dekanich made 22 saves to earn his first professional win and 11 Admirals got on the scoresheet as the Ads topped the Peoria Rivermen 6-3 Friday night at the Bradley Center.
The Ads started the scoring just 4:50 into the first period on a power-play when rookie Stephen Werner took his first AHL shot of the season when diving at a loose puck in front of the net. After it bounced off the leg pad of netminder Marek Schwarz, veteran Cal O'Reilly was quick to grab the puck and pass it to Kelsey Wilson who was alone in front of the net. It was an easy tap in that put Wilson on the scoresheet, the Admirals in the lead, and the fans on their feet.
The second half of the period proved to be even more exciting as the team stepped it up another notch to put them up 3-0. The second goal came with a bit of luck as defenseman Scott Ford ripped a slap shot from the point after receiving a pass from Josh Gratton in the corner. It took a lucky bounce off a Peoria skater in front of the net and slipped under the shoulder of Marek. It was his first point of the season. Andreas Thuresson received his second point of the season on the play as well with an assist.
Admirals star Antti Philstrom dazzled the crowd as he always does at the 5:41 mark of the period with another power-play goal. The Finnish speedster flew down the right side of the offensive zone after getting a pass from Nick Spaling, and then he blazed a wrister top-shelf over the glove of the Schwarz. It was his sixth goal of the season, putting him first on the team in points.
Peoria wouldn't go into the locker room without a bit of vengeance, as Jim Jackson netted his first goal of the season when he fired a fluttering wrist shot from the blue line. The puck somehow found its way into the net on a screen. Nikolay Lemtyugov and Julian Talbot notched assists on the play.
The second period seemed uneventful for all but assistant captain Geoff Peters. After a fight in the first period, he got on the scoresheet by capturing his first goal of the season as well. About seven minutes into the period, defenseman Mark Matheson took his time skating down the left side of the offensive zone. After deciding several times to pursue his route all the way around the net, he finally found Peters in front of a wide open net. Peters glided a snap shot into the twine to make it a 4-1 game.
Just ten seconds into the third period the Admirals went up 5-1 when Andreas Thurreson fired a centering pass from the right corner that deflected off the skate of Rivermen defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and past Schwarz.
Despite the fact they were down four in the third, Peoria didn't quit and found themselves within two at 5-3 after goals by Lemtyugov at 8:41 and Nicholas Drazenovic at 10:17. However an interference penalty by Jackson at the with just over eight minutes to go in the game seemed to stem any momentum the Rivermen had.
Cal O'Reilly snuffed out any chance at a Peoria comeback when he easily backhanded the puck past a Rivermen defenseman into an empty net at 18:08 in the third after Schwarz was pulled in favor of an extra attacker.
Rookie netminder Mark Dekanich picked up his first win of the season and the first of his professional career, stopping 22 Rivermen shots. Andreas Thuresson and Cal O'Reilly each posted a goal and an assist, while Nick Spaling and Josh Gratton each chipped in a pair of assists.
The Admirals are back in action Saturday night when they host the Chicago Wolves at 7:30 pm at the Bradley Center. To purchase tickets fans can call Ticketmaster at (414) 276-4545 or go online at www.milwaukeeadmirals.com. Group of ten or more people receive a minimum of $2 off the regular price ticket. Fans looking for group tickets can call the Admirals office at (414) 227-0550.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2008
- Admirals Top Rivermen 6-3 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Moose Hand Aeros First Loss In 3-1 Win - Houston Aeros
- Crunch Power Past Binghamton in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Drew Miller's three points, game-winner propels Chops to win - Iowa Chops
- IceHogs Down Admirals in Shootout - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Freeze Penguins While Skating On Thin Ice - Manchester Monarchs
- Moose Edge Aeros, 3-1 - Manitoba Moose
- Pirates Rally Past Sound Tigers - Portland Pirates
- Falcons Beat The Rats 3-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Powe Becomes Third Phantom This Season To Make NHL Debut - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wiikman, Pack hold off Philadelphia - Connecticut Whale
- Phantoms Nipped By Wolf Pack - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bruins take revenge in 3-1 victory over Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- Flames Lose 5-4 In Rochester - Abbotsford Heat
- Springfield Edges Albany By A Beak - Albany River Rats
- Bouck's goal with less then three minutes to play caps Pirates' comeback - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Defeat Sharks 3-1 - Providence Bruins
- Penguins assign Bill Thomas to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sarah Palin to receive Iowa Chops jersey Saturday - Iowa Chops
- Houston Aeros Bobblehead Election Night on Sunday, November 2 - Houston Aeros
- Marlies Present Tomas Kaberle Bobblehead Day On Sunday - Toronto Marlies
- Barnes and Jamtin Reassigned from Wolf Pack to Charlotte - Connecticut Whale
- Bulldogs Relaunch Website - Hamilton Bulldogs
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Houston Aeros invade Moose Country tonight at 7:30 p.m. - Houston Aeros
- Falcons Host River Rats Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- River Rats Introduce "Rowdy's" Rink Rats Kids Club - Albany River Rats
- Amerks Host Flames Tonight At The Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Moose assign Ramsey to Victoria for conditioning - Manitoba Moose
- Griffins Host Opening Weekend at the Van - Grand Rapids Griffins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
