Jan. 8, 2020

MILWAUKEE – The Grand Rapids Griffins concluded their four-game road trip with a 3-2 victory over the division-leading Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday night at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Dominic Turgeon scored the game-winner on a shorthanded tally at the 15:34 mark in the second period. The Admirals (24-7-4-2) held the Griffins to five chances on net in the final frame, but Calvin Pickard saved all 10 shots he faced in the period to earn his 11^th victory of the year. Milwaukee has lost seven games in regulation this season with three of those coming to the hands of the Griffins (15-19-2-2).

Grand Rapids will return to Van Andel Arena on Friday night to face the Manitoba Moose at 7 to start an eight-game homestand.

The contest went back-and-forth during the opening 10 minutes as the Griffins held a 5-4 shot advantage. However, the Admirals got on the board first when Daniel Carr scored his 14^th of the year with 7:22 remaining. From the end boards on the left wing, Frederick Gaudreau dropped the puck to Carr waiting at the left circle. Carr fired a one-timer that sped over the blocker of Pickard and into the left corner of the net.

The Griffins were able to tie the game just before the first intermission when Joe Hicketts netted his second of the season with 39 seconds remaining. Kyle Wood sent a pass from the right boards through the Milwaukee zone toward Hicketts near the blue line. From the left point, Hicketts hammered a shot on goal that was deflected by an Admiral defender and through the five-hole of Connor Ingram.

Milwaukee regained its lead at the 4:54 mark of the second period when Steven Santini’s shot from the right boards found the back of the net. Carr fired an initial shot that went wide, but took a fortuitous bounce to Santini open on the right wing. Santini’s shot ricocheted off the mask of Pickard and sat on the goal line where Hicketts tried to clear the puck, but sent it off Pickard’s skate and into the goal.

With 10:50 remaining in the period, the Griffins tied the game once more when Turner Elson extended his point streak to two games (1-2—3). Chris Terry tallied his third assist in two contests when he sent a pass from the left boards to Elson at the right faceoff circle. Elson smashed a one-timer that thread the needle and snuck just inside the right goalpost.

Dylan McIlrath’s slashing penalty turned out to be beneficial as the Griffins took a 3-2 lead on a shorthanded opportunity by Turgeon with 4:26 left in the second. Elson fired the puck from the left-wing boards to Turgeon skating through the middle of the Admirals’ zone. Turgeon worked around the right side of the net and his wraparound shot beat the stick of Ingram for his seventh goal of the year.

Scoring opportunities were hard to come by for the Griffins in the final period with their best chance coming off a one-timer from close range by Turgeon in the opening five minutes. Pickard made some big saves down the stretch, especially during Milwaukee’s lone power play of the third frame.

The Admirals pulled Ingram for an extra attacker with 2:05 remaining but to no avail as the Griffins finished off their four-game road trip with a 2-2 record thanks to the 3-2 victory.

Notes: Milwaukee outshot Grand Rapids 31-25…The Griffins power play went 0-for-2 while the penalty kill went 2-for-2…Turgeon’s tally was the first shorthanded goal for the Griffins since April 6, 2019 at San Jose.

Three Stars: 1. GR Elson (goal, assist); 2. MIL Carr (goal, assist); 3. GR Pickard (W, 29 saves)

Photo by Jeff Hanisch/Admirals