The Milwaukee Admirals relinquished a two-goal first period lead, but managed to earn a point with a 3-2 shoot-out loss to the Lake Erie Monsters Friday night at the Bradley Center. Milwaukee netminder Mark Dekanich kept the Ads in the game, stopping 29 shots, including 15 in the third period and overtime, but allowed three goals in five Lake Erie shootout attempts.  The Monsters are now 30-28-0-5 and three points out of fourth place.

Brian Willsie notched both the game-tying goal and the shootout winner to lead the Monsters to victory.

The Admirals got on the board early when Hugh Jessiman recorded his 17th tally of the season at 12:43 of the first period. Jessiman caught a pass from Cody Franson near center ice, charged into the Monster zone, and attacked the net. With a defender draped all over him, Jessiman pulled the puck to his backhand and sent a shot past Lake Erie goaltender John Grahame.

With less than a minute to play in the opening frame, the Admirals received a power play opportunity and made the most of their chance. Dave Scatchard moved the puck to Alexander Sulzer at the far point and he promptly sent the puck to Franson who ripped a quick snap shot past a screened net minder, giving Milwaukee a 2-0 lead with 17 seconds to play in the period.

Lake Erie cut into the Admirals lead when Brock Bradford picked up his ninth goal of the season at 6:22 of the second. Monster defenseman Tom Fritsche dished the puck to Harrison Reed in the far corner who proceeded to send a no-look, backhand pass through the slot to Bradford. As he was falling down, Bradford one-timed a shot past Mark Dekanich to make the score 2-1.

The Monsters were able to knot the score midway through the third period on a power play goal by Willsie. The forward corralled the puck at the far blue line and darted to the net, stick handling through two Admiral penalty killers and firing a wrister past Dekanich to knot the score at two.

Both teams were held in check for the remainder of regulation and the game went to overtime. In the extra session each squad had a couple of chances to take the game, but neither side was able to find the elusive third goal, forcing a shootout.

Down 3-2 in the shootout, Milwaukee’s Dave Scatchard had an opportunity to send the break away battle to an extra round, but his wrist shot clanged off the crossbar and gave Lake Erie the victory.

Story courtesy of MilwaukeeAdmirals.com