Admirals Defeat Moose in Game Five, Advance to Division Finals

The Milwaukee Admirals won the last two games of the best of five series to defeat the Manitoba Moose and advance to the AHL Central Division Finals.

After avoiding elimination Friday night in game four, the Milwaukee Admirals took the ice tonight for the winner takes all game five against the Manitoba Moose. The admirals went with the same line up as in game four including Yaroslav Askarov in net.

The temperature of the game early was again spicy between these two teams, and Michael McCarron and Jansen Harkins headed to their respective penalty boxes after a dust up at 3:47. Both teams got offensive looks on the four on four, but the teams returned to five a side without a score. Milwaukee had another power play chance late in the first period as McCarron was clashed on a breakaway chance. The Ads couldn't capitalize right away and the opening period ended with :32 seconds remaining on the power play.

Manitoba killed off the remaining time left on Milwaukee's power play, and the teams played back and forth. Mark Jankowski finally opened the scoring with a five hole goal at 11:24 to give the Admirals the lead. A crosschecking penalty sent Jordan Gross to the sin bin at 13:10, and then Yaroslav Askarov's clearing attempt on the power play went over the glass, giving Manitoba a brief five on three. The Admirals penalty killers did a great job limiting chances, and the Moose couldn't convert on the opportunity.

The first half of the final period saw Adam Wilsby and Anthony Angello taking turns in the penalty box, but Milwaukee's penalty kill and Askarov managed the shorthanded time effectively. With time winding down, goaltender Oskari Salminen headed to the bench with 3:37 remaining in the game. Manitoba pressured with the extra attacker, and at 17:03 Jansen Harkins scored his fourth goal of the series to tie the game at 1-1.

Just as it looked like the teams would head to overtime, a collision between two Moose players at center ice pooped the puck free. Zach Sanford scooped up the loose puck and made a nice pass to Spencer Stastney who gave the Admirals the lead back with :27 remaining. Milwaukee held on to win the game and the series but a score of 2-1.

Friday night the Admirals will welcome the Texas Stars for game one in the Central Division Final Series.