CHICAGO -- Anton Rodin recorded his first career two-goal game to lead the Chicago Wolves to a 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals Wednesday night at Allstate Arena.
The loss snapped a personal five-game winning streak for Admirals goalie Jeremy Smith, who stopped 20 of 23 shots in defeat.
It also gave the Wolves the series victory. Chicago will take the Amtrak Rivalry Trophy with 13 points to Milwaukee’s 10. There is one more game in the series this year. The Admirals fell to 5-6-0-0 vs. the Wolves. Chicago improved to 6-4-0-1 against Milwaukee.
Milwaukee struck first with a power play goal at 9:48 of the first period. Chicago forward Darren Haydar was whistled for a tripping penalty at 9:41. Seven seconds into the man advantage, Taylor Beck fired a high wrist shot from the top of the right circle. Wolves goalie Eddie Lack got a piece of it, but it fell to the ice and trickled across the goal line. The goal was Beck’s 11th of the season, second on the power play. The assists went to Jon Blum and Chris Mueller.
The Wolves tied the game at 15:51 of the first period. Bill Sweatt dished a pass from behind the Milwaukee goal into the slot for Jordan Schroeder for a one-timer that beat Smith. The goal was Schroeder’s 16th of the season.
Chicago grabbed the lead with 32.4 seconds remaining in the first period. Wolves forward Anton Rodin carried the puck on the left wing into the Admirals zone. He attempted to pass to Byron Bitz in the right circle. However, Milwaukee’s Kevin Henderson tipped the intended pass from the slot into his own goal. Rodin was credited with the goal, his sixth of the season.
Rodin gave the Wolves a two-goal advantage when he scored his second of the game at 1:43 of the third period. Mark Mancari won a battle for the puck behind Milwaukee’s net and passed to the left circle. Rodin’s wrist shot bounced off Smith’s glove into the net.
Mike Duco scored an empty-net goal with 2:21 to play to give the Wolves a 4-1 lead. However, Milwaukee responded just 26 seconds later when Henderson slammed his third goal of the season with assists to Zack Stortini and Victor Bartley.
Haydar added an empty-netter with five seconds left to ice the victory for Chicago.
Milwaukee returns to the Bradley Center Saturday, Mar. 10 to host Rockford at 7 pm. This is the final Saturday night home game of the regular season. Making a special appearance at Saturday’s game is Disney Channel star, Caroline Sunshine as well as Girl Scout Troops from all over Wisconsin.
In addition, as part of our special Girl Scout Night, Milwaukee Admirals players will wear original Girl Scout jerseys that will be auctioned off via silent auction during the game to benefit the Admirals Power Play Foundation. Fans can bid on the game-worn jerseys online until Friday at noon as well as during the silent auction which will occur in the West atrium and concludes with five minutes left in the 2nd intermission. All participants must register for the auction by the start of the 2nd period.