Admirals top the Wolves in OT, 2-1

CHICAGO -- Chris Mueller’s 32nd goal of the season gave the Milwaukee Admirals a 2-1 overtime win over the Chicago Wolves Saturday at Allstate Arena.

Admirals defenseman Jon Blum forced a turnover against Chicago forward Darren Haydar at Milwaukee’s blue line and was joined by Mueller in a 2-on-0 rush against Wolves goalie Eddie Lack. From the top of the crease, Blum fed a pass to Mueller at the left post to bury the winner.

Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith stopped 22 shots to earn his 30th win of the season. He is just the fourth goalie to win 30 for Milwaukee in a single season since the team joined the AHL in 2001. It was the fifth occurrence of 30 wins for the franchise in that span.

It took a while for either team to get on the scoreboard. The teams played a scoreless first period with Chicago outshooting the Admirals 10-7.

Milwaukee finally got the puck in the back of a net when Ryan Thang was credited with his 16th goal of the season. The puck was sent to the Admirals blue line and Chicago attempted a line change. Milwaukee defenseman Blum was able to move the puck quickly to Thang who skated into the Wolves zone with two teammates against one Chicago defender, Jordan Henry. Thang tried to lift a pass in the air to the left wing but Henry blocked it. The deflected puck went from Henry’s stick into the net past goalie Eddie Lack at 15:27 of the second period.

The Wolves tied the game with 6:33 left in the third period when Anton Rodin’s shot from the right circle eluded Smith.

Milwaukee concludes the regular season with a home game Sunday, Apr 15 against the Charlotte Checkers at 3pm.