Admirals fall to Lake Erie Monsters in OT

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Admirals battled back from a two-goal, third period deficit to force overtime, but eventually fell to the Lake Erie Monsters 3-2 in when former Admiral Hugh Jessiman scored the game-winner with 50 seconds remaining in the extra session.

Jessiman’s tally came while Taylor Beck was in the penalty box for tripping, putting the Monsters on a four-on-three power-play. To make matters worse, defenseman Teemu Laako’s stick broke making it more difficult for the Ads to defend. Jessiman got the tally on a one-timer from the edge of the right circle.

It took some third period heroics by the Admirals just to get to overtime as the Monsters took a 2-0 lead just 2:46 into the third period on a goal by Luke Walker.

Milwaukee started their comeback when Kyle Wilson used a great individual effort for his eighth goal of the year at 4:34 of the third. Victor Bartley passed the puck from the left point. It hit Wilson and he was able to corral it and roof it over Lake Erie netminder Gerald Coleman shoulder while being pushed over from behind.

Still down one towards the end of the game and on the power-play, Ads coach Ian Herbers pulled goalie Jeremy Smith in favor of an extra attacker and give the team a 6-on-4 advantage. The Admirals used that edge when Juuson Puustinen fired a one-timer from the left point at the 18:41 mark of the third to send it to OT.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first period as Smith and Coleman, making his first AHL start of the season, each held their ground. The Ads outshot the Monsters 14-4 and had a golden opportunity to score when Taylor Beck was awarded a penalty shot after a Lake Erie player kicked a stick at him in the Milwaukee zone. However Beck's attempt went wide right and the game remained tied at one.

Lake Erie broke the scoreless tie just 1:44 into the second period when the Monsters came two-on-one into the Milwaukee zone and forward Mark Oliver fired a wrister that clanged down off the cross bar and into the Ads net. It was the first goal of the season for Oliver in just his third game.

The Admirals now embark on a four-game road trip beginning this Wednesday, January 18 when they visit the Hamilton Bulldogs at 6:30 pm. Their next home game isn’t until Friday, January 27th against the Chicago Wolves at 7:00 pm at the Bradley Center.