Admirals beat the Heat 4-1

Abbotsford forward Kris Chucko (left) and Milwaukee forward Dave Scatchard (right)  (Photo by Scott Paulus)

MILWAUKEE- The Milwaukee Admirals avoided the season sweep from the Abbotsford Heat Thursday night, winning the game 4-1. The game marked the fourth and final time the 2 teams would meet in the regular season, putting Abbotsford up 3 game to 1.

The Admirals scored a textbook goal at the 8:57 mark of the first period. The goal, scored by Admirals F Dave Scatchard and assisted by D Scott Ford and F Cal O'Reilly, was thanks in part to quick thinking and keeping a step ahead of the Abbotsford defense. O'Reilly caught the puck at the blue line and passed it down ice to Ford, who was positioned behind the Abbotsford net. Scatchard, who was reassigned to Milwaukee this morning after playing 9 games with the Nashville Predators, received the puck in front of Abbotsford goalie Leland Irving and was able to score with a quick wrist shot.

Things weren't as pretty towards the end of the period. With 2:10 to go while Milwaukee was on a power-play, Abbotsford was awarded a penalty shot after Heat F Carsen Germyn was tripped up by the stick of a Milwaukee player while on the breakaway. Germyn scored, tying the game up 1-1. Germyn's penalty shot was the first penalty shot awarded at the Bradley Center this season (previous to tonight the last penalty shot was awarded on March 11, 2008  vs. Hamilton).

The second period certainly made up for the the last two minutes of the first frame, as the Admirals headed into the second intermission with 3-1 lead over the Heat. The Admirals were able to score 2 even strength goals within 25 seconds of each other. The Admirals 2nd goal was scored by F Triston Grant (F Guite and D Dietrich were credited with the assists). Milwaukee swarmed the net, overwhelming G Leland Irving and sneaking the puck in past him. Just 25 seconds later, Milwaukee struck again with a breakaway goal from F Hugh Jessiman (D Jonathan Blum was credited with the assist). 

Milwaukee put a 4th and final goal on the board 4:21 into the 3rd period. Defenseman Mark Matheson beat Heat netminder Leland Irving glove side with a slap shot fired from the blue line (assisted by F Guite and F Grant). With his assist on the 4th goal, Triston Grant tallied himself a Gordie Howe hat trick and earned himself 2nd star of the game. Milwaukee F Hugh Jessiman earned 3rd star of the game, and goaltender Mark Dekanich earned 1st star of the game after stopping 22 of 23 shots. Also note that a total of 22 infractions were called on the game (including 8 fighting majors), resulting in 76 minutes of penalty time. Thursday nights game was the final home game in the month of November, as the team begins an 8-game roadtrip tomorrow in Grand Rapids.

Click here for the full game summary on theahl.com.

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