CLEVELAND -- Kevin Fiala scored a goal, added an assist and scored in the shootout to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 4-3 shootout win over the Lake Erie Monsters Thursday night, March 3rd from the Quicken Loans Arena.
Milwaukee wrapped up the season series with a 5-2-1-0 record against the Monsters. The Admirals remain in second place in the Central Division, trailing Rockford by .011 percentage points.
Admirals goalie Juuse Saros stopped 25 shots in the game and remained perfect in the shootout. Saros has a 4-0 record and has stopped 13 of 13 shots in AHL shootouts. Saros’ record improved to 18-6-0 overall.
Fiala and Matt White scored in he shootout for Milwaukee, which improved to 7-0 in shootouts this season.
Fiala tied the game for the Admirals with a strong move through the slot. With several players trying to hold on to him, Fiala flipped a shot over the right shoulder of Monsters goalie Anton Forsberg at 16:55 of the third period.
Lake Erie scored a power play goal to open the scoring at 5:29 of the first period. Sonny Milano skated around the perimeter from the right circle to the blue line to the bottom of the left circle where he sent a shot under the crossbar for his eighth goal of the season.
The Admirals tied the game with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 17:21 of the first period. Fiala skated with the puck from the slot to the right wing boards where he settled down a bouncing puck. Fiala dropped the puck to Trevor Murphy at the right point and Murphy quickly dished a pass to the top of the left circle for Max Gortz. Gortz uncorked a one-timer that sailed high into the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season and seventh power play goal.
Milwaukee claimed the lead at 5:16 of the second period. Pontus Aberg carried the puck into the offensive zone in a 1-on-1 situation. He shielded the puck by leaning into the defender with his left shoulder and fired a shot from the right circle over the right shoulder of the goalie. Aberg’s 15th goal of the season was assisted by Taylor Aronson and Matt White.
The Monsters tied the game at 12:45 of the second period when Alex Broadhurst stole the puck in Milwaukee’s zone and fed Daniel Zaar for a quick shot into the goal from the bottom of the right circle.
Lake Erie reclaimed the lead when Josh Anderson skated along the right wing boards and crashed to the net. In the process, he slid the puck between the legs of Saros for his 14th goal of the season at 14:54 of the second period.
The Admirals return home Saturday, March 5th to entertain Chicago at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.