Latest news with #CentralDivisionSemifinals
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Milwaukee Admirals rise back up, force a game four against the Rockford IceHogs
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Milwaukee Admirals didn't win the AHL's Central Division by accident. The Admirals reminded everyone Wednesday night how good they are by defeating the IceHogs 6-2 in game three of the AHL's Central Division Semifinals. The Admirals struck for three goals in the first period by Grigori Denisenko, Kieffer Bellows and Spencer Stastney. They added two more in the second by Bellows and Joakim Kemell to boost their lead to 5-0. The five goals were all scored on IceHogs goaltender Drew Commesso. Commesso had allowed only four guys total in the IceHogs previous four playoff games. The IceHogs got on the board in the final minute of the second period on a shorthanded goal by Zach Sanford. Samuel Savoie added another IceHogs' goal in the final period. Bellows had a hat trick for Milwaukee. He scored a goal in each period. There were a total of 80 penalty minutes assessed in the game. The IceHogs served 48 of them on 12 penalties. The IceHogs still have the series edge two games to one. They'll try again for the clincher Friday night in Rockford. The Admirals will try to even things up and force a game five on Sunday in Milwaukee. For highlights, watch the media player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockford IceHogs amp back up for another playoff series against a veteran Milwaukee Admirals team
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The IceHogs breezed through their first playoff series sweeping the Chicago Wolves in two games. Now they face a bigger challenge in the Central Division Semifinals. They'll face the Milwaukee Admirals starting Thursday first task facing the IceHogs for this series is putting the Chicago series behind them.'We want to know what we did, but we also want to turn the page and focus on a new opponent,' said IceHogs forward Cole Guttman after a voluntary practice Tuesday morning. 'I think that was just a new standard for us, and we know our ceiling is high.'The Admirals are the Central Division champions. During the regular season the IceHogs record against them was only 3-7. The IceHogs managed only 2.2 goals per game against the Admirals in regulation. The Admirals win with defense. They allowed the third fewest goals in the AHL in the regular season. Their penalty kill also ranked third best in the AHL.'They box out hard. I think that's a big thing,' said Guttman. 'It's hard to get to their net fronts. They've got some big D-men that they push you to the outside. So, a big thing for us is we want to get to the inside. We want to take the goalie's eyes away.'That goalie for the Admirals is Matt Murray, one of the best in the league. He made the AHL's postseason All-Star Second Team. He led all AHL goalies in wins with 28. His .932 save percentage also led the league, and his goals against average of 2.07 ranked fourth in the IceHogs counter in goal with Drew Commesso. He was sensational in the series against the Wolves. In the two games he allowed only one goal, and he had 66 IceHogs will have another offensive weapon on the ice for this series that they didn't have in the Chicago series. Colton Dach is ready to play. He missed the last month of the Blackhawks' regular season with a shoulder injury, but he's back and ready to roll now. He says he won't hold back.'My game is very physical, so it's not really going to be too much of a change. I'm coming back from injury, but I'm not going to try and be something I'm not, so I'm going to go out there and play my game, and I think I've been skating a lot, doing a lot of cardio, doing a lot of battles to try and make sure I'm ready.'Guttman is happy to welcome Dach back. 'He brings a ton of value to our group. He's obviously big, strong, and can move. He kind of does it all. So, I think adding him to our group will be really important against a big team like Milwaukee.'NOTE:The IceHogs and Admirals haven't met in a playoff series since first two games of this series Thursday night and Saturday night will be in Milwaukee. Games three and four will be played in Rockford at the BMO next Wednesday and Friday. If a fifth game is needed, that will be played a week from this Sunday in Milwaukee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
