LOST AT SEA

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 1 at Milwaukee Admirals 4

Dec. 26, 2013

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Admirals put a damper on the Grand Rapids Griffins’ holiday spirit when they defeated the Griffins, 4-1, on Thursday at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

For the first time this season, the Griffins (21-7-1-1) lost back-to-back regulation games, but they still hold a strong lead over the Midwest Division with 44 points. The Admirals (15-7-5-1) follow in second place with 36 points.

The teams played a scoreless first period, despite the Griffins leading 12-7 in the shot column. However, the second frame made up for the lack of scoring in the first as the Admirals scored three quick goals and Teemu Pulkkinen scored the Griffins’ only tally.

Just 44 seconds into the period, Joe Piskula sent a shot toward Tom McCollum and Taylor Beck was at the top of the crease to redirect it into the net.

Joonas Jarvinen fed a pass to Colton Sissons at the left post and Sissons tapped it in to double the Admirals’ lead at 6:41. Sissons has found success against the Griffins this season, scoring four of his 11 goals against Grand Rapids.

Less than two minutes later at 8:02, Miikka Salomaki entered the ice from the penalty box after a slashing call. He found himself on a breakaway, and he backhanded the puck over McCollum’s catcher hand to make it 3-0.

With 3:25 remaining in the period, Pulkkinen put the Griffins on the scoreboard. Cory Emmerton won a faceoff in the Admirals’ zone and sent the puck back to Pulkkinen, who buried a one-timer.

At 1:56 of the third period, Austin Watson sent a shot sailing over the net, and the puck rebounded onto the stick of Kevin Henderson. Henderson scored, and Jared Coreau took the net in relief of McCollum. McCollum made 12 saves.

Coreau stopped 8 of 8 shots in the loss, and Scott Darling turned away 29 shots.

The Griffins return to the ice at 8 p.m. ET on Friday at BMO Harris Bank Center against the Rockford IceHogs.

Three Stars: 1. MIL Henderson (goal, assist) 2. MIL Darling (W, 29 saves) 3. MIL Beck (goal)