Admirals earn point in shoot-out loss to Stars

Austin, TX -- The Texas Stars scored three power play goals to power past the Admirals in a shootout 5-4 Saturday night at the Cedar Park Center.

Brendan Ranford scored two power play goals for the Stars and was the only shooter for either team to score in the three-round shootout.

Despite the loss, the Admirals earned a point and remained in first place in the Central Division. The Admirals now have a point in six straight games (4-0-0-2).

Milwaukee defenseman Patrick Mullen allowed the Ads to get to overtime after the Stars scored four unanswered goals. Mullen carried the puck to the bottom of the right circle and fired a shot over the left glove of Texas goalie Jack Campbell at 17:46 of the third period. Kevin Fiala recorded the lone assist.

The Admirals had a 3-0 lead over the first 27:06 of the game before the Stars scored the next four goals.

Milwaukee scored a power play goal to open the scoring at 7:34 of the first period. Defenseman Stefan Elliott fed a pass into the left circle for Mullen. Mullen sent a pass through the slot to the right circle for a one-timed slapshot by Vladislav Kamenev that made it into the net. It was Kamenev’s 12th goal of the season and his sixth on the power play.

While the Ads were on a power play to close the first period, goalie Marek Mazanec made a huge left pad save on a mini-break by Curtis McKenzie to keep the Admirals in front.

The Admirals extended the lead to 3-0 in the second period. First, Cody Bass deflected a Kristian Nakyva shot into the net at 4:09 to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. The goal was Bass’ fourth of the season. Nakyva and Joe Pendenza recorded the assists.

Pontus Aberg scored his 19th goal of the season with a shot from the slot that sailed over the right shoulder of Texas goalie Maxime Lagace at 7:06 of the second frame. Nakyva and Taylor Aronson, again, notched the helpers. The goal for Aberg was his 35th career goal for Milwaukee, tying him for 20th on the Ads AHL list with Ryan Thang and Antti Pihlstrom.

After Aberg’s goal, the Stars replaced Maxime Lagace in goal with Campbell. Campbell faced only one shot the remainder of the second period.
The Stars scored a pair of power play goals to close out the second frame and get within one. Ranford scored off the rush into the offensive zone with a low wristshot from the slot at 16:08. Then, Curtis McKenzie converted a pass from behind the Admirals goal at 18:22 to make it a 3-2 game.

Ranford tied the game with another power play goal at 5:03 of the third period as he deflected a shot from the point by Mattias Backman.

Milwaukee returns home to host Grand Rapids Tues., Mar. 29 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.