Power Play Helps Ads Defeat IceHogs 7-3

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Admirals took major advantage of the powerplay Monday night scoring on five of their seven opportunities and beat the Rockford IceHogs, 7-3 Monday night at the Bradley Center. Mark Van Guilder led the Ads with two goals in the contest earning him player of the game honors, but the wealth was spread wide as Milwaukee had seven players with two or more points in the contest.

Within the opening minutes of the game the Admirals had a few good scoring chances, tallying 6 shots in the first three minutes, but could not capitalize against the IceHogs. However, with the Ads on the power play, Teemu Laakso broke the scoreless tie on a snapshot that went top shelf goal over the shoulder of Carter Hutton giving the Ads a 1-0 lead.

The IceHogs answered back big in the second period scoring two goals within a minute of each other. Rockford took advantage of two odd men rushes against the Ads as Jimmy Hayes scored the first goal for the IceHogs assisted by Rostislav Olesz. Fifty-eight seconds later the IceHogs scored again, this time by Ben Smith, assisted by David Gilbert and Brian Connelly.

The lead did not last long as the Ads answered right back. With 8:52 left in the second period Mark Van Guilder found the back of the net on a rebounded shot from Juuso Puustinen. Later in the period Milwaukee would take the lead back when Puustinen scored on a one-timer from the top of the left circle on a pass from Victor Bartley. The Ads were not done yet. After an IceHogs turnover behind their net Gabriel Bourque found Van Guilder for his second goal of the night giving the Ads a 4-2 lead.

The offensive onslaught continued for the Ads in the third period. Chris Mueller happened to be in the right place at the right time as the puck deflected to his stick and he beat Hutton giving the Ads a 5-2 lead. Milwaukee kept the scoring going after Laakso intercepted a clearing attempt by Hutton and found Stortini breaking to the net which ended with him scoring his fourth goal of the year and extending the Ads lead to 6-2.

The Ads added their seventh goal and fifth on the power play late in the third period when Ryan Thang corralled the rebound and beat Alec Richards, who replaced Hutton earlier in the game. The IceHogs scored a late goal by Byron Froese as he beat a sprawled out Jeremy Smith and trimmed the lead to 7-3.

The Admirals return to the ice Wednesday, December 28 at 7:00 p.m. when they square off against their Amtrak Rival Chicago Wolves.