Admirals fall in heartbreaker to Griffins, 2-1

MILWAUKEE -- A late offensive flurry fell short as the Admirals find themselves on the precipice of elimination after a 2-1 loss to Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

This was the 13th straight playoff game dating back to the 2011 post-season that the Admirals have scored two or fewer goals. Milwaukee now trails the best-of-five series 2-0 with game three set for Grand Rapids on Tuesday night.

The Griffins got both of their goals with the man-advantage as they went 2-for-5 on the power-play on the night. Anthony Mantha picked up the first just 5:44 into the game with a backhander from the left circle after a scramble in front of the Milwaukee net.

With Max Reinhart in the box for interference, Tyler Bertuzzi picked up his third goal of the series and it was 2-0 Grand Rapids at the 8:53 mark of the second period.

It took the Ads until 11:32 of the third to finally crack goalie Tom McCollum. Vladislav Kamenev did the trick with a power-play marker that he slipped five-hole on the Griffins netminder after taking a pass from Freddy Gaudreau to the right of the crease and spinning clock-wise to the net.

Milwaukee turned up the pressure the rest of the game, but couldn't get the equalizer despite nearly two minutes with an empty net at the end of the game.

The best-of-five game series now shifts to the Van Andel Arena for game three on Tuesday night at 7 pm. Game four, if necessary, would be in Grand Rapids on Wednesday and a potential game five comes back to the BMOHBC next Saturday, April 30.