Admirals edged by Wolves in Chicago, 2-1

CHICAGO -- Rookie forward Justin Crandall scored the game-winning goal to lead the Chicago Wolves past the Milwaukee Admirals 2-1 Saturday night.

Crandall scored his first AHL goal at 5:07 of the third period. Crandall received a pass from behind Milwaukee’s goal from Evan Trupp and lifted a backhander from the left post past Marek Mazanec’ glove.

The Admirals pulled Mazanec with 1:30 remaining in the game but couldn’t find the equalizer despite 12 shots on goal over the course of the third period.

Colton Sissons gave the Admirals a 1-0 lead with a goal just 14 seconds into the second period. Max Gortz was able to wrestle the puck from a Wolves defender in the neutral zone and tipped the puck to Max Reinhart. Reinhart and Sissons went toward the goal on a two-on-one break. Reinhart fed a pass to Sissons in the slot and he redirected it off his backhand into the net for his eighth goal of the season. The goal was the fastest goal scored by the Admirals from the start of a period this season.

The Wolves tied the game when Chicago captain Pat Cannone sent a shot from the high slot past the glove of Mazanec at 2:00 of the second period. The goal was Cannone’s 20th of the season.

The loss dropped Milwaukee into second place with 69 points, one point behind Central Division-leading Rockford.

Milwaukee is off until Tues., Mar. 1 when it begins a two-game series in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters.

The Admirals return home Sat., Mar. 5 to entertain Chicago at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.