MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Admirals tamed the Chicago Wolves during a come from behind victory defeating them 4-3 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center Friday night. Milwaukee's rally was fueled by Matt Halischuk, who is currently down for a conditioning assignment from Nashville, as he scored two of the Ads three third period goals.
The Admirals took an early lead just 2:35 into the first period off a Kevin Henderson goal. Michael Latta was the sole creator of the opportunity when he bobbed and weaved around a Wolves defender and passed it off to a wide-open Henderson right before he was checked by a Chicago player. Henderson fired a wrister past Matt Climie’s stick to light the lamp.
The Wolves squared it up at one when Mark Matheson put one past Admirals netminder Jeremy Smith at 9:47 in the first. The play began when Bill Sweatt put a shot toward goal from the blue line that hit Wolves Eric Kattelus. The puck was settled by Kattelus who then passed it off to an open Matheson.
The Wolves pounced on the Admirals early into the second period taking a 2-1 lead off of a Darren Archibald goal just 2:01 into the frame. Andrew Ebbett found Archibald at the top of the left circle, Archibald then took a slap-shot beating Smith stick side.
Despite outshooting the Wolves 26 to 20 the Admirals trailed Chicago 2-1 heading into the third stanza.
The Ads tied it up just 43 seconds into the final period off a Halischuk power play goal. Halischuk fought in front of the net and after multiple attempts the puck pinballed past Climie. Latta and Juuso Puustinen added helpers on the goal.
Halischuk’s second goal of the game gave the Admirals a 3-2 lead with 9:40 left in regulation. Halischuk took a pass from Admirals center Chris Mueller and ripped a slapper from just above the goal line that snuck past Climie's left shoulder for the goal.
The Admirals got their fourth goal when Cam Reid fired a shot off the cross-bar during a rush into the offensive zone. Climie never gained control of the rebound and Juuso Puustinen knocked it past him with 5:08 left in regulation.
The Wolves crept closer with just 30 seconds left off of an Ebbett power play goal while their net was empty, but it was too little too late for Chicago as Milwaukee held on to win.
The Admirals victory was due in large part to three players (Latta, Puustinen and Halischuk) tallying two points in the contest. Jeremy Smith came up big, making many key stops on his way to 27 saves and the win.
The Admirals are back in action tomorrow night against the same Wolves at 7:00 pm at the Allstate Arena.
The team returns to Milwaukee this Wednesday March 13th at 7 pm against the Peoria Rivermen.