Milwaukee Admirals rookie helps push team over Bakersfield BCondors, 7-3

BAKERSFIELD, Cali. --Trevor Murphy posted six points with a hat trick and three assists to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 7-3 win over the Bakersfield Condors Friday night.

The win extended Milwaukee’s points streak to six games (5-0-1-0).

Due to injuries and illness, defenseman Murphy was moved to left wing for the night. He didn’t disappoint as he posted Milwaukee’s first game of more than three-points this season and of his career. Murphy had 13 points in his pro career (28 games) heading into the contest.

It was Milwaukee’s first game in the state of California since Apr. 1, 2000 when the Ads played at Long Beach as members of the International Hockey League. It was the Admirals first win in California since Dec. 9, 1995 at San Francisco, also in the IHL.

Bakersfield scored the first goal of the game as Jujhar Khaira scored a shorthanded goal at 9:18 of the first period. Khaira chased down a Matthew Ford clearing attempt and scored with a backhander after a short breakaway.

Milwaukee’s Colton Sissons tied the game at 9:58 of the first period. Trevor Murphy skated the puck from behind the Condors net to the left corner and fed a pass to Sissons atop the crease for the goal. Sissons’ sixth goal of the season was assisted by Murphy and Max Gortz.

Murphy scored his sixth goal of the season at 17:50 of the first period to give the Admirals a 2-1 advantage. Joe Pendenza was moving with the puck in the right corner and tapped it toward the net. Murphy pounced on it and was able to slide the puck into the net for the tally. The goal was assisted by Pendenza and Jimmy Oligny.

Murphy scored his second goal of the game as he received a long pass from Gaudreau and skated to the top of the right circle in the Condors zone. Murphy’s wrist shot went through the legs of goalie Laurent Brossoit and into the net at 1:18 of the second period to push Milwaukee’s lead to 3-1. The goal ended the night for Brossoit as he was replaced in net by Eetu Laurikainen.

California native Matt White gave the Ads a 4-1 lead as he deked around Khaira at the middle of the Condors blue line and went to the net on a breakaway. White’s shot found the net for his sixth goal of the season at 6:44 of the second period. Patrick Mullen and Kristian Nakyva recorded the helpers. The assist was Mullen’s first point as an Admiral.

Stefan Elliott scored a power play goal at 12:34 of the second period to give Milwaukee a 5-1 lead. Murphy fed the puck to Taylor Aronson at the right point. Aronson slid a pass to Elliott in the left circle for a one-timer that beat Laurikainen for his third goal of the season, all on the power play.

Bakersfield’s Josh Currie scored a goal at 6:07 of the third period to cut the deficit to 5-2 but Murphy completed the hat trick soon thereafter. Murphy received a pass from Felix Girard and fired a shot from the slot that beat Laurikainen at 8:59 of the third period.

Murphy recorded his sixth point of the night with an assist on Adam Payerl’s eighth goal of the season at 14:17 of the third period which brought the score to 7-2. Sissons also recorded an assist.

Bakersfield’s Matthew Ford closed the scoring with a goal at 18:41 of the third period.

Admirals goalie Marek Mazanec stopped 22 shots to earn his 13th win of the season.

Milwaukee’s next game is Sat., Feb. 6 at San Diego. The Admirals return home Fri., Feb. 12 to host Rockford at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.