Admirals earn comeback win against Americans, 4-2

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Marek Mazanec stopped 28 shots and recorded an assist to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 4-2 win over the Rochester Americans Saturday night.

The Admirals trailed 2-0 after the first period.

The Admirals claimed the lead for the first time in the game at 1:20 of the third period. Mazanec kicked a shot away onto the stick of Brendan Leipsic. Leipsic spied a streaking Sissons and hit him with a long pass up the middle to spring Sissons on a breakaway. Sissons shot from between the circles flew past the left hand of Amerks goalie Andrey Makarov for his eighth goal of the season. Leipsic and Mazanec recorded the helpers. The goal made it 3-2 in favor of Milwaukee.

Rochester claimed an early lead at 3:31 of the first period when Joel Armia backhanded a shot from the slot over the glove of Admirals goalie Mazanec. The shot came after a face-off win for Americans center Phil Varone.

Just 28 seconds later, the Americans made it 2-0 when Zac Dalpe found Tim Schaller all alone in front of the Milwaukee goal. Schaller put the puck past Mazanec for his eighth goal of the year.

The Admirals started to gain some confidence when the team killed a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play in the first period for Rochester when Rich Clune and Jonathan Diaby were in the penalty box.

The Admirals cut the deficit in half with a power play goal at 14:05 of the second period. Viktor Arvidsson sent a pass from the left corner to the right circle for Taylor Aronson, who tipped the pass to Anthony Bitetto. Bitetto slid a pass into the slot that was deflected into the goal by Joe Pendenza. The goal was Pendenza’s fifth of the season and his first career power play tally.

The Admirals tied the game at 16:59 of the second period. The Americans controlled the puck in Milwaukee’s zone for a good chunk of time. Finally, defenseman Ian White was able to move the puck ahead to Leipsic who skated it to the center dot. He slapped a shot in the direction of the goal that deflected off a defenseman at the Rochester blue line and past Amerks goalie Andrey Makarov. The goal was Leipsic’s fourth of the season and White recorded the lone assist. It;s White’s first point as an Admiral.

Austin Watson added an empty-net goal, his 11th of the season, with 40 seconds remaining. Aronson recorded the assist.

Milwaukee was outshot in the game 30-16 and 10-3 in the third period.

The Admirals visit Toronto Sunday afternoon. It will be the last game before the holiday break. Milwaukee’s next home game is against Chicago Friday, December 26 at 7 pm.