Admirals top Rochester in OT, finish perfect weekend

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Austin Watson scored the game-winning goal with 2:02 left in overtime to lead the Admirals to a wild 6-5 OT win over the Rochester Americans Sunday afternoon, February 8th at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Admirals won for the third time in three night and extended their Midwest Division lead to four points.

Watson's goal started when he took a pass in the Amerks zone from Taylor Aronson. Watson then centered himself between the circles and blasted a slapper past the glove of Matt Hackett for his AHL leading eighth game-winner of the season.

The Americans opened the scoring early with 4:40 gone in the first period as Mark Pysyk's shot goes off Joe Piskula's skate and past the stick of Magnus Hellberg.

The Admirals then scored three straight powerplay goals giving them a comfortable 3-1 lead over the Amerks. Ian White had the first of those goals with 14:02 gone in the first with a shot that was rocketed through traffic and through the pads of starter Andrey Makarov.

Next it was Kevin Fiala's turn. He received a nice pass across the ice from Anthony Bitetto and then shot. Makarov made the save but the rebound came to the top of the crease for Triston Grant who tallied his 7th goal of the year after gaining control of the rebound and burying the puck in the back of the net with 2:53 left in the first.

Brendan Leipsic scored the third powerplay goal 3:36 into the second period after getting a pass from Viktor Stalberg in the right circle and shooting on Makarov, who was unable to control the shot and the rebound came right back to Leipsic who flipped it in the net for his 6th goal of the year.

Less than a minute after Leipsic's tally with 4:31 gone, Rochester cut the lead in half as Zach Dalpe blasted a shot from above the right circle that deflected off Felix Girard and past Hellberg.

Rochester proceeded to tie the game with 7:25 left in the second on a Phil Varone tally.

Milwaukee regained the lead when Leipsic posted his second goal of the night with 5:55 left in the second. Leipsic picked the pocket of Rochester's Jake McCabe and skated in uncontested on Makarov. After a quick deke to force Makarov out of position, he lifted a forehand that beat the Amerks goalie stickside.

After Zach Dalple tied the game for the Amerks, Mark Van Guilder looked like he would get the game-winner when he scored on a heads up play with just 3:02 left in the game. It started when Viktor Arvidsson elevated a shot over the net, but the puck ricocheted off the glass and landed in the crease, where only Van Guilder saw it and he had an easy tap-in for a goal.

Unfortunately for the Admirals McCabde atoned for his earlier turnover with the game-tying goal just 48 seconds later.

This all a set up for Watson's heroics as he scores his 18th game-winning goal in his 200th game as an Admiral.

The Admirals will renew the Amtrak Rivalry on Wednesday night, February 11th in Chicago before returning home on Friday night for another game against the Rockford IceHogs.