Admirals fall to the Checkers, 3-2

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Admirals lost to the Charlotte Checkers 3-2 Friday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. It was just the second regulation loss at home all season for the Ads, and their first since November 15th.

The Checkers got the first goal of the game and it only took 59 seconds for them to find the back of the net. Aaron Palushaj had the puck in the right corner when he made a pass along the boards to Brody Sutter. Sutter fought for position, got the puck and made a short chip pass back to Mathew Corrente at the point. Corrente held the puck for a second and the wristed one towards the net. The puck trickled through the legs of a screened Magnus Hellberg to put the Checkers up 1-0.

The Admirals were able to tie the game up when Mark Van Guilder picked up his fifth goal of the season at 7:37 of the first period. It all started when Taylor Beck skated the puck behind the net of the Checkers. Falling down and trying to get past a defender, Beck flung the puck in front of the net. It found the stick of Mark Van Guilder carried it past the defender and wristed it top shelf for the tally.

The Admirals claimed the lead with 10:41 remaining in the first period. Brian Rodney had the puck at the right point and took a slap shot towards the net. The shot never made through and wound up on the tape of Mathieu Tousignant just to the right of Charlotte goalie John Muse. Tousignant made a fancy move between his legs and found Zach Budish in front of the net. Budish mishandled the puck for a second, but once he got control he shot it and snuck one past Muse to put the Admirals up 2-1.

With 3:03 left in the second period the Checkers were able to tie the game up. The goal came off a deflected shot from Mathew Corrente. It was his second goal of the game and of the season. Brett Sutter was credited with the assist.

The Checkers scored the game-winning goal six minutes into the third period on Phillippe Cornet's third goal of the year. Cornet grabbed the reboun of a Justin Shugg shot and lifted it over the glove of Hellberg at 6:18 of the third. The goal led to a goalie change for the Admirals sending Hellberg to the bench and bringing on Scott Darling.

The Admirals had multiple chances with under a minute to go after Darling went to the bench for the extra attacker, but they couldn't come up with the equalizer and fell to the Checkers.

The Admirals are on the road the next three games. They start off in Iowa Sunday night and then head to Lake Erie for back-to-back games on January 3rd and 4th. The Admirals next home game is Monday January 6th at 7 pm against the Iowa Wild.