Admirals win second straight over Rampage in Texas, 2-1

SAN ANTONIO -- Goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 29 shots to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 2-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage Sunday afternoon at the AT&T Center.

The Admirals improved to 2-0 on the season after sweeping the weekend by identical scores against the Rampage.

For the second straight game Saros was nearly perfect. The netminder was busiest in the third period when he stopped 13 shots. Saros and the Admirals had to face seven power play opportunities by the Rampage.

Adam Payerl scored the game-winning goal for Milwaukee at 12:02 of the third period. Felix Girard won a faceoff and then kept the puck alive in front of Rampage goalie Spencer Martin. Payerl swatted a backhander from the top of the crease through Martin’s legs for his first goal of the year. Girard and Jimmy Oligny recorded the helpers.

The Admirals claimed a 1-0 lead at 8:44 of the first period when Justin Florek’s shot from the right circle hit the back of the net for his first goal as an Admiral. After defenseman Matt Irwin forced a turnover in the neutral zone, Florek found the puck and skated into the offensive zone before shooting the puck into the cage. Irwin recorded the sole assist.

The Rampage tied the game with a power play goal at 5:05 of the second period. Rocco Grimaldi received a pass in the left circle and fired a shot high into the net for his first goal of the year.

Milwaukee travels to Chicago to face the Wolves Wednesday. The Ads commence their home schedule on Saturday, October 29 at 6 pm when they host the Iowa Wild at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.