Marlies get the best of the Admirals

TORONTO -- Nazem Kadri’s goal with 3:06 left in the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Toronto Marlies bested the Milwaukee Admirals Saturday in Toronto.

Mike Zigomanis, who finished the game with three assists, carried the puck into the Admirals zone on the left wing to set up the game-winner. He spied Kadri streaking toward the net and fed a pass that bounced off Kadri’s stick and trickled past Admirals goalie Atte Engren.

Engren finished with 23 saves.

The Marlies scored the first goal of the game, on the power play, at 13:51 of the first period. Philippe Dupuis skated toward the goal from the left corner with the puck. His shot went off the side of the net to Ryan Hamilton in the left circle. Hamilton slapped the puck into the net for his 23rd goal of the season.

Toronto grabbed a 2-0 lead at :45 of the second period. Kadri slapped the puck into the net from the right circle for his 12th goal of the season.

Milwaukee got on the board when Brodie Dupont scored his third goal of the season from just above the crease. Admirals forward Ryan Flynn controlled the puck behind Marlies goalie Jussi Rynnas. He moved to the left post of Rynnas for a backhanded wraparound attempt. The puck went off a few skates before Dupont slammed it past Rynnas. Chris Mueller also recorded an assist. The goal was Dupont’s third in the last two games after not scoring in his first 25 games played after his return from an Achilles injury.

The Admirals tied the game at 7:43 of the third period. From behind his own goal, defenseman Jon Blum fired a pass up the middle of the ice to Toronto’s blue line where Kyle Wilson had snuck behind the Marlies defense. Wilson went in on the breakaway and slid a backhander into the net for his 18th goal of the season. Engren recorded the secondary assist.

Milwaukee returns to the Bradley Center Friday, Mar. 23 to host Hamilton at 7 pm.