Admirals nipped by Griffins in shootout, 3-2

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Admirals lost to the Grand Rapids Griffins in a shootout 3-2 Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Joe Piskula scored his first goal of the season and Patrick Cehlin also found the back of the net for the Ads, but the Griffins Adam Almquist was the only one to score in the shoot-out as Grand Rapids escaped with a victory.

The Griffins struck first with 10:42 left in the 1st period and only 22 seconds left on a Michael Liambas cross-checking penalty. Teemu Pulkkinen received the puck from Calle Jarnkrok at the point and put a slap shot into the top left corner of the net to make the score 1-0.

Milwaukee tied it 50 seconds into the second period when Vinny Saponari received a pass from Miikka Salomaki and brought the puck across mid-ice. He saw Joe Piskula streaking down the right lane, fed it to him, and he drove at the net and put one on goal. The puck hit the pad of Petr Mrasek but snuck past him to tie the game at one and gave Piskula his first goal of the season.

Patrick Cehlin was able to give the Admirals the lead 30 seconds later. Filip Forsberg had the puck at the left circle and attempted to make a behind the back pass to Cehlin. The puck was originally stolen by a Griffins defender but Cehlin gave a stick lift to steal the puck. He then wristed one top left to put the Admirals up 2-1.

With 6:17 left in the 2nd period the Griffens tied the game up at two. Louis-Marc Aubry shot the puck from the left slot and Marek Mazanec made the save with his pad. Aubry got his own rebound and brought it behind the net and put it past Mazanec who couldn't quite get to the post. Andrej Nestrasil and Adam ALmquist were credited with the assists.

No one was able to score the rest of the period or in overtime so the game went to a shootout. Almquist was the only one able to find the net and a fifth shooter was not needed for the Griffins.

The Admirals are off until Wednesday February 5th against the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:00 pm in the BMO Harris Bradley Center.