Goals from Isaac Ratcliffe, Joakim Kemell, and Egor Afanasyev lead Milwaukee to a 4-3 win over the Texas Stars in game three of their Central Division Final series.
Goals from Isaac Ratcliffe, Joakim Kemell, and Egor Afanasyev lead Milwaukee to a 4-3 win over the Texas Stars in game three of their Central Division Final series.
The Milwaukee Admirals traveled to Texas for game three of their Central Division Finals against the Texas Stars. The Admirals won game one while the Stars hung on to defeat Milwaukee in game two.
Tonight the Admirals were without Kiefer Sherwood due to injury. Captain Cole Schneider was a scratch as was Keaton Thompson. Isaac Ratcliffe jumped in the lineup as did defenseman Kevin Gravel. Yaroslav Askarov got the start again in net.
The Stars came out with early offensive pressure. Turnovers in the first part of the opening period by Egor Afanasyev and Marc Del Gaizo resulted in chances for Texas, but Askarov came up with the quick saves.
Milwaukee got on the scoreboard at 14:30 as Isaac Ratcliffe scored his first career postseason goal with assists from Luke Evangelista and Adam Wilsby. With just seconds remaining, Alexander Petrovic committed a crosscheck and headed to the penalty box, and the opening period ended with the Admirals on the power play.
Milwaukee wasn't able to capitalize on the remainder of their power play as the second period began. The Stars's Ben Gleason tied the game at 5:19 as he skated through the neutral zone and right up the middle to score on Askarov.
Joakim Kemell answered back less than a minute and a half later after Jimmy Huntington put in some serious work along the boards to come away with the puck and find Kemell in the slot.
Adam Wilsby spent two minutes in the box for a tripping infraction at 14:46, but the Admirals were able to kill off the penalty. As time wound down, Zach Sanford took a seat in the sin bin for a hold. The period ended with the Stars on the power play but the Admirals holding on to a 2-1 lead.
The Admirals killed off the remainder of Sanford's penalty as the Stars went 0/2 on their power play chances. It was an even strength goal by defenseman Dawson Barteaux at 3:46 that tied the game. Just :26 seconds later Alexander Petrovic sent a shot from the blue line past Askarov to give the Stars their first lead of the game.
Milwaukee had a chance to even the game on a power play at 4:59 but couldn't generate chances in the two minute man advantage. Matt Murray came up with key saves on two high danger chances in front of the net midway through the period.
A smart hockey play by Phil Tomasino found Egor Afanasyev in the circle for the Admirals tying goal at 13:26. Texas pressured Askarov with less than five minutes to go in the game, but the Milwaukee goaltender and the Admirals in front of him were able to keep the puck out of the net.
Luke Evangelista's tenacious play behind the Stars' net eventually resulted in Isaac Ratcliffe's second goal of the game with just 1:01 remaining in the game to give the Admirals the lead once again. Texas went empty net with :40 seconds left, but Milwaukee held them off to win 4-3 and take a 2-1 series lead.
The Admirals will look to close out the series Friday night as they face the Stars in a crucial game four at 7:00 pm CST.
Related Reading:
Late Penalty Cost Admirals, Fall to Stars 5-3
Evangelista, Kemell Score Power Play Goals to Give Admirals Game One Win