CAPSIZED BY CAL AND KARL
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Cal O’Reilly popped a rebound into the top of the net 52 seconds into overtime to squash the Grand Rapids Griffins’ comeback and lift the Milwaukee Admirals to a 3-2 win on Friday at Van Andel Arena.
The Griffins (6-5-2-1) rallied with two third-period goals to force the extra session and earn a point, but they nevertheless saw their winless streak reach three games courtesy of a Milwaukee team that vanquished them in last season’s Western Conference Finals.
Despite being out-shot 10-5 in the opening period, Milwaukee scored the lone goal on the power play with 1:14 remaining in the frame. Rich Peverley drove the left side and slid the puck across the crease, where it bounced off Jimmy Howard and a crashing Brandon Segal and landed in the back of the net.
The Admirals turned the shot tables in their favor by a count of 16-7 during the middle frame, but the Griffins withstood the onslaught – including 1:18 of a 5-on-3 Milwaukee advantage – until surrendering another late power play goal. With just four seconds remaining before intermission, Patrick Leahy banged home a rebound from the slot to spot the Admirals a 2-0 lead.
Leading scorer Kip Miller finally put the Griffins on the board 2:49 into the third, taking a pass from Ryan Keller and beating Karl Goehring with a wrist shot from just outside the paint. The linemates reversed roles to net the equalizer on a similar play at the 13:07 mark, with Miller feeding Keller for the latter’s first goal of the season.
The Griffins had a chance to take the lead after being granted a power play with just 3:30 remaining, but their scoreless streak with the advantage reached 21 consecutive opportunities. Grand Rapids has gone without a power play goal in three straight games for the first time since April 1-3, 2005, while allowing its opposition to convert nine of 34 chances (26.5%) over the last four games.
Howard finished with 24 saves while sustaining a second straight winless decision for the first time in two seasons as a Griffin. Goehring also turned away 24 shots to earn his first win of the season and help Milwaukee (3-4-1-0) snap its own three-game skid.
Following the game, the Griffins released defenseman Jon Insana from his PTO and announced that Brad Norton has been assigned by the Detroit Red Wings.
The Griffins (6-5-2-1) rallied with two third-period goals to force the extra session and earn a point, but they nevertheless saw their winless streak reach three games courtesy of a Milwaukee team that vanquished them in last season’s Western Conference Finals.
Despite being out-shot 10-5 in the opening period, Milwaukee scored the lone goal on the power play with 1:14 remaining in the frame. Rich Peverley drove the left side and slid the puck across the crease, where it bounced off Jimmy Howard and a crashing Brandon Segal and landed in the back of the net.
The Admirals turned the shot tables in their favor by a count of 16-7 during the middle frame, but the Griffins withstood the onslaught – including 1:18 of a 5-on-3 Milwaukee advantage – until surrendering another late power play goal. With just four seconds remaining before intermission, Patrick Leahy banged home a rebound from the slot to spot the Admirals a 2-0 lead.
Leading scorer Kip Miller finally put the Griffins on the board 2:49 into the third, taking a pass from Ryan Keller and beating Karl Goehring with a wrist shot from just outside the paint. The linemates reversed roles to net the equalizer on a similar play at the 13:07 mark, with Miller feeding Keller for the latter’s first goal of the season.
The Griffins had a chance to take the lead after being granted a power play with just 3:30 remaining, but their scoreless streak with the advantage reached 21 consecutive opportunities. Grand Rapids has gone without a power play goal in three straight games for the first time since April 1-3, 2005, while allowing its opposition to convert nine of 34 chances (26.5%) over the last four games.
Howard finished with 24 saves while sustaining a second straight winless decision for the first time in two seasons as a Griffin. Goehring also turned away 24 shots to earn his first win of the season and help Milwaukee (3-4-1-0) snap its own three-game skid.
Following the game, the Griffins released defenseman Jon Insana from his PTO and announced that Brad Norton has been assigned by the Detroit Red Wings.