Juuse Saros stopped 27 shots to lead Admirals to 4-2 win over Manitoba Moose

WINNIPEG -- Kevin Fiala posted three points and Juuse Saros stopped 27 shots to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 4-2 win over the Manitoba Moose Tuesday night, April 5th at the MTS Centre.

The win extended Milwaukee’s points streak to nine games (7-0-0-2). The Ads improved to 3-4-0-0 against the Moose this season.

Saros improved to 11-1-0 in his last 12 decisions. He was sharp early in the game as the Moose outshot Milwaukee 8-1 over the game’s first ten minutes. Saros leads all AHL rookies in Wins (26), Goals Against Average (2.18) and Save Percentage (.922).

The Admirals claimed the lead at 3:17 of the second period. With a delayed penalty coming against the Moose, the Admirals were able to get an extra attacker on the ice. Fiala had the puck on the right wing boards and found Jimmy Oligny all alone in front of Moose goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Oligny’s backhander was stopped but Adam Payerl slapped the rebound into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

Milwaukee’s Pontus Aberg scored his 20th goal of the season at 15:56 of the second frame to give the Ads a 2-0 advantage. The Admirals were on the power play and worked the puck around the perimeter. From the left circle Aberg one-timed a Patrick Mullen pass over the right shoulder of Hellebuyck. It was Aberg’s fifth power play goal of the campaign. Mullen and Vladislav Kamenev recorded the assists.

The Moose cut the deficit in half when Brandon Denham scored on the power play at 3:42 of the third period. Denham was able to bury a rebound of a Jansen Harkins shot for his first professional goal.

Milwaukee scored its second power play goal of the game at 8:13 of the third period. Fiala fed a pass to Mullen at the center point. Mullen skated toward the net and drew the goalie out of the crease. Mullen then found Max Gortz with a feed on the left post and Gortz put the puck into the net for his 17th goal of the season and 10th on the power play.

Manitoba got within one when Chase DeLeo deflected a shot from the left point into the net at 18:13 of the third period, but Milwaukee closed the scoring when Kevin Fiala scored an empty-net goal at 19:01. The goal was Fiala’s 17th of the season and was assisted by Payerl and Kamenev.

Milwaukee continues a four-game road trip at Manitoba Wednesday night. The Admirals return home to host Chicago Tues., Apr. 12 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.