ROCKFORD (WITI) -- Michael Latta posted three points and the Milwaukee Admirals held on to a furious third period Rockford rush to defeat the IceHogs 3-2.
It was Latta’s third three-point game of the season.
Admirals goalie Jeremy Smith stopped 35 shots to earn his third straight win, but was injured in a pile at the Admirals net with 13.4 seconds remaining in the game. Magnus Hellberg replaced Smith but didn’t have to face a shot as Mike Moore blocked a Rockford chance and cleared the puck out of the zone as time expired.
The first goal of the game came with 1.1 second left in the first period. Daniel Bang fed a rushing Latta on the right wing. Latta dropped a pass into the slot for Ryan Ellis whose quick wrist shot went over the glove of IceHogs netminder Carter Hutton for his fourth goal of the season.
The Admirals took a 2-0 lead just 11 seconds into the second period. Kevin Henderson’s shot from the left faceoff dot cleared the right shoulder of Hutton for his 14th goal of the season. Mark Van Guilder and Latta recorded the assists.
Latta’s good night continued as he scored a power play goal to give Milwaukee a 3-0 lead at 12:31 of the second period. After Hutton made a few big saves, Latta was able to find the back of the net for his eighth goal of the season (second on the power play). Brad Winchester and Juuso Puustinen were awarded the assists.
Rockford got on the board with 2:01 left in the second period on Brandon Svendsen’s third goal of the season.
The IceHogs got within one when the Admirals failed to clear the zone and Terry Broadhurst fed a wide-open Martin St. Pierre for a deke and St. Pierre’s 22nd goal of the season at 9:14 of the third period.
Milwaukee continues its three game road at Chicago Saturday at 7pm.