ROSEMONT, Illinois – The Milwaukee Admirals overcame an early deficit to produce a 5-2 win over the Chicago Wolves on Sunday afternoon in an Amtrak Rivalry game at Allstate Arena.
Left wing Kevin Fiala and defenseman Trevor Murphy each posted 1 goal and 2 assists as Milwaukee (36-19-3-0) clinched the Amtrak Rivalry trophy that goes to the team that accumulates more points in the Wolves/Admirals 12-game series.
Defenseman Jérémie Blain and right wing Ty Rattie scored for the Wolves (25-26-5-2), who received just 4 power-play opportunities compared to Milwaukee’s 10.
“It kills your team,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “It just sucks the life out of them killing all those penalties. We deserved some of them – I have no problem with that.”
After Saturday’s game that was scoreless heading into overtime, the Wolves wasted little time opening the scoring Sunday as Blain delivered 2:14 into the game. Zach O’Brien’s shot from the slot was kicked away by Milwaukee goaltender Juuse Saros, but the rebound went directly to Blain in the lower left circle and he roofed a shot over Saros’ glove.
Milwaukee made it 1-1 on center Cody Bass’ blast from the right point at 2:10 of the second period. The Admirals took a 2-1 lead at 13:35 on left wing Kevin Fiala’s goal from just outside the crease. Pontus Aberg tried to ring the puck around the end boards, but the puck took an abrupt turn toward the slot to set up Fiala’s top-shelf marker.
Milwaukee pushed the margin to 3-1 at 15:23 on Frederick Gaudreau’s goal from the bottom of the right circle. He collected a pass from Max Reinhart and steered a soft shot between Wolves goaltender Pheonix Copley’s skates.
The Admirals benefited from a 5-on-3 advantage to move the lead to 4-1 at 1:06 of the third. Ryan Murphy launched a slap shot from the left point that zipped through traffic. Milwaukee added another power-play goal at 2:30 when Max Reinhart followed up his own rebound and swatted it home from just outside the crease.
Rattie stemmed the tide when he drew a penalty shot on a breakaway at 5:08, then buried a backhand flip over Saros’ blocker to make it 5-2.
Saros (20-6-0) posted 28 saves to win for the second night in a row while Copley (12-13-3) notched 25 saves.
The Wolves travel to Charlotte for two crucial Central Division games before returning to Allstate Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday to face Milwaukee in an Amtrak Rivalry game. To find the best ticket deals, visit ChicagoWolves.com or call 1-800-THE-WOLVES.
ADMIRALS 5, WOLVES 2
Milwaukee 0 3 2 — 5
Chicago 1 0 1 — 2
First Period—1, Chicago, Blain 3 (O’Brien, Barbashev), 2:14. Penalties—Rattie, Chicago (cross-checking), 10:45; Harrold, Chicago (cross-checking), 14:53; Gortz, Milwaukee (hooking), 16:48.
Second Period—2, Milwaukee, Bass 2 (Murphy, Aronson), 2:10; 3, Milwaukee, Fiala 12 (Aberg, Murphy), 13:35; 4, Milwaukee, Gaudreau 14 (Reinhart, Potter), 15:23. Penalties—Caron, Chicago (tripping), 8:49; Nightingale, Chicago (fighting), 8:49; Devane, Milwaukee (fighting), 8:49; Veilleux, Chicago (interference), 16:15; Blain, Chicago (cross-checking), 18:46; Veilleux, Chicago (slashing), 19:43, Chicago (bench minor – unsportsmanlike conduct, served by Trupp), 19:43.
Third Period—5, Milwaukee, Murphy 9 (Aberg, Fiala), 1:06 pp; 6, Milwaukee, Reinhart 16 (Fiala, Aronson); 2:30 pp; 7, Chicago, Rattie 11 (unassisted), sh, ps;
Penalties—Blain, Chicago (hooking), 3:34; White, Milwaukee (interference), 6:09; Oligny, Milwaukee (slashing), 7:04; Cannone, Chicago (interference), 7:48; Crandall, Chicago (tripping), 9:02; Devane, Milwaukee (goaltender interference), 10:59; Caron, Chicago (slashing), 15:33; Oligny, Milwaukee (roughing), 15:33;
Shots on goal—Milwaukee 8-11-11—30; Chicago 5-11-14—30. Power plays—Milwaukee 2-10; Chicago 0-4. Goalies—Milwaukee, Saros (28-30); Chicag
