Admirals end nine game skid to Rockford IceHogs

ROCKFORD -- Defenseman Mike Moore scored two goals to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 4-2 win over the Rockford IceHogs Saturday night.

The win gives Milwaukee its first back-to-back wins in the 2012-2013 season and improves the team’s record to 6-6-0-0.

Goalie Jeremy Smith recorded 24 saves for his fourth win of the season.

Milwaukee took an early lead on Chris Mueller’s fifth goal of the season at 1:54 of the first period. Taylor Beck sent a pass from the right wing boards into the slot for Daniel Bang. The puck bounced off Bang’s stick to Mueller who fired a shot from between the circles past IceHogs netminder Alec Richards.

The IceHogs tied the game at 8:39 of the first period when Brandon Pirri’s shot from the right circle found the top of the net for his sixth goal of the season.

Milwaukee’s captain, Moore, gave the Admirals the lead with a power play goal at 3:28 of the second period. Patrick Cehlin passed the puck from the left corner to Moore, whose wrister went over the glove of Richards for his third goal of the season (first on the power play). Cehlin and Michael Latta recorded the assists.

Moore scored his second of the game at 7:21, just as an IceHogs penalty ended. Cehln sent a shot toward the goal from the left circle that bounced off a defender. Moore quickly flicked a backhander between the legs of the goalie for his fourth goal of the year. Cehlin and Victor Bartley had the assists.

Austin Watson’s third goal of the season at 7:57 of the second period gave Milwaukee a 4-1 lead. Watson sent a wrist shot from the left circle past Richards. Kevin Henderson had the helper.

Rockford’s Jeremy Morin stopped the bleeding for the IceHogs with his fourth goal of the season at 13:07 of the second period.

The Admirals play the second game of a season long seven-game road trip Friday night in Oklahoma City. The Ads aren’t home again until they host Chicago on Friday, November 30.