Admirals earn Amtrak Rivalry Trophy after 5-2 win over Chicago Wolves

ROSEMONT, Illinois -- Kevin Fiala and Trevor Murphy each recorded three points and Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Wolves Sunday afternoon, March 6th at the Allstate Arena.

The win clinched the Amtrak Rivalry Trophy for Milwaukee. The Admirals improved to 7-2-0-0 against Chicago this season with three games left in the season series. Its the first time since the 2012-13 season that the Ads have topped their rivals for the trophy.

Saros earned his 20th win of the season and improved to 6-1-0 against the Wolves this year.

Chicago opened the scoring with a goal at 2:14 of the first period. The Wolves were buzzing in front of Admirals goalie Saros. Saros made a right pad save on a shot from Zach O’Brien but the rebound went into the left circle for Jeremie Blain to blast into the net over Saros’ left shoulder.

Admirals forward Cody Bass tied the game with his second goal of the season at 2:10 of the second period. Murphy sent a long pass from the Milwaukee zone to Chicago’s blue line. Bass crossed the line on the right wing and fired a slapshot that went over the glove of Wolves goalie Pheonix Copley for the marker. Murphy and Taylor Aronson recorded the assists. The point for Bass was his 100th as a professional hockey player (95 in the AHL, 5 in the NHL).

Milwaukee took the lead at 13:35 of the second period. Pontus Aberg sent the puck into the left corner and it took a funny bounce off the boards to the front of the net. Fiala was there to slap the puck into the cage for his 12th goal of the season. Aberg and Murphy were awarded the assists.

Frederick Gaudreau, playing his 100th game with Milwaukee, gave the Admirals a 3-1 lead when he slid the puck from the bottom of the right circle inside the left post for his 14th goal of the season. Max Reinhart and Corey Potter notched the helpers. The assist was Potter’s first point with the Admirals.

The Ads started the third period with a lengthy 5-on-3 power play. Murphy slapped a one-time from the top of the left circle into the net for his ninth goal of the season at 1:06 of the third period to give the Admirals a 4-1 lead. Aberg and Fiala recorded the helpers. It was Murphy’s second power play goal of the year.

Still on the power play, which became a 5-on-4 advantage after the Murphy goal, Reinhart scored his 16th of the season as he moved from the right corner, along the goal line, and sent the puck into the goal. Fiala and Aronson were awarded the assists. It was Reinhart’s third power play goal of the season.

Chicago’s Ty Rattie closed the scoring when he was harassed on a shorthanded breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. Rattie scored on the penalty shot at 5:08 of the third period.

The Admirals visit Rockford Tuesday, March 8th. The team returns home Friday, March 11th to entertain Iowa at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.