WILD EDGES ADMIRALS 3-2 IN OVERTIME
Dec 15, 2017Iowa Visits Chicago Saturday at 7 p.m.
MILWAUKEE, WI – Iowa Wild winger Sam Anas scored his second goal of the contest, just 55 seconds into overtime, as the Iowa Wild (13-8-5-1; 32 pts.) picked up a 3-2 overtime win over the Milwaukee Admirals (12-11-2-0; 26 pts.) on Friday night.
Skating through center ice, Anas took a drop pass from forward Justin Kloos and carried into the Admirals slot before firing a shot which ricocheted off the crossbar, and just over the goal line. It was the second-year forward’s seventh goal of the season, and his third career game-winner. The road victory allowed the Wild to remain unbeaten in regulation in the month of December (3-0-3-1).
The Admirals scored first, tallying just 3:53 into the opening period on a power play goal by center Trevor Smith. Forwards Bobby Butler and Emil Pettersson grabbed the helpers. That goal ended a run of five straight games where the Wild earned the opening tally.
Just about 10 minutes later, Iowa pulled even off a scramble to the right of Admirals goaltender Anders Lindback (35 saves). Winger Christoph Bertschy got credit for his sixth goal of the season, as he and forward Colton Beck poked away at the loose puck near the goal line. The even-strength goal was assisted by Beck and defenseman Zach Palmquist.
After one period of play, the game was tied, 1-1, and the shots favored the Wild, 9-8.
Late in the second period, the Wild took their first lead when Anas rifled a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Lindback high, glove side. The power play goal came at 18:38 of the stanza.
On the play, Palmquist picked up his second assist of the game, while winger Kyle Rau also got an assist.
At the second intermission, the Wild led, 2-1.
Milwaukee tied the game just past the midway point of the third period, when Pettersson deflected defenseman Trevor Murphy’s shot past Wild goaltender Niklas Svedberg (21 saves). Frederick Gaudreau also recorded a helper on the even-strength goal.
That goal eventually sent the game to overtime, where Anas gave Iowa its third, extra session win of the year.
The Wild finished one-for-five on the man advantage, while the Admirals were one-for-six. Shots favored the Wild, 38-23, as Iowa outshot its opponent for the first time since November 28 (which also came against the Admirals).
With the win, the Wild now have a seven-game point streak on the road, which is tied for the longest such stretch in the AHL this season. As for Anas, he now has back-to-back multiple point efforts and 10 points in his last nine games.
The Wild get right back at it Saturday night when they head to Allstate Arena to play the Wolves at 7 p.m. Central.
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