Admirals end road streak with win over Monsters

CLEVELAND -- Chris Mueller scored the game-winning goal on a penalty shot in overtime as the Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland, OH Thursday, 3-2 snapping a six-game road losing streak for  the Ads.

Mueller skated past the Monsters defense and received a pass from Ryan Thang. As Mueller skated into the slot, Lake Erie defenseman Cameron Gaunce dove and tripped him. Mueller was awarded a penalty shot and fired a wrister past the stick of goalie Trevor Cann with 1:27 to go in overtime.

This was the first time in Admirals franchise history that they have been awarded (or scored, for that matter) a penalty shot in overtime.

Milwaukee started the scoring with a power play goal at 7:29 of the first period. Brodie Dupont sent a pass from the right post to Jon Blum in the slot. Blum’s shot was stopped but Kyle Wilson put the rebound into the net for his ninth goal of the season, fifth on the power play. Blum and Dupont notched the assists. For Dupont, it was his first point with the Admirals.

Lake Erie tied the game at 1:23 of the third period when Justin Mercier slapped a shot into the net from the right faceoff dot. Milwaukee soon reclaimed the lead when Scott Valentine’s blast from the right point made it past Cann for his third goal of the season, first on the power play, at 4:25 of the third period.

Lake Erie forced the overtime on a goal from Gaunce who floated one to the net from the right point. Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith never saw it as it went into the net to tie the score with 5:27 left in regulation.

Smith stopped 23 shots to earn his AHL-best 18th win of the season.

Milwaukee has scored a power play goal in eight straight games (10 for 33 in that span).

Milwaukee travels to Rockford to take on the IceHogs Sunday afternoon. The Admirals next home game is Friday, Jan. 27.