MILWAUKEE -- Kevin Fiala and Trevor Murphy tallied goals for the Admirals but it wasn't enough as they dropped a 6-2 decision to the Rockford IceHogs on Friday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The loss snapped a brief two-game winning streak for the Admirals and was their first loss to Rockford in their past four contests.
After a scoreless first period, Fiala staked the Admirals to a 1-0 lead with his second goal in as many games just 43 seconds in the second period. Fiala took a cross-ice pass from Frederick Gaudreau and then stick handled above the left circle to freeze Rockford goalie Michael Leighton before firing a wrister that clanged off the cross-bar and into the net.
The Milwaukee lead was rather short-lived and Rockford scored the next four goals to make the score 4-1 by the time the third period was less than 30 seconds old.
The Hogs first goal came by PC Labrie at 5:55 of the second and was followed just nine seconds later by Vinnie Hinostroza's first of the year. A power-play goal Marko Dano with 3:19 left in the middle frame gave the Hogs a 3-1 advantage and only 20 second into the third Labrie got his second of the night.
Murphy tried to start an Admirals rally as his canon from the left point beat Leighton glove side for his fifth tally of the year 1:24 into the final period.
Milwaukee had its chances down the stretch, including three power-play opportunities in the third period, but a shorthanded goal by Mark McNeil at 15:48 sealed the game for the IceHogs.
The Admirals look to get back on the winning track when they host the Manitoba Moose at 7 pm on Saturday night at the BMOHBC.