2013–14 Milwaukee Admirals season

2013–14 Milwaukee Admirals
Division 3rd Midwest Division
Conference 6th Western Conference
2013–14 record 6–2–2–1 (15 pts)
Home record 3–0–1–0
Road record 3–2–1–1
Goals for 35
Goals against 32
Team information
General Manager Wendell Young
Coach Dean Evason
Assistant Coach Stan Drulia
Captain Scott Ford
Arena BMO Harris Bradley Center
Team leaders
Goals Anthony Bitetto (6)
Assists Miikka Salomäki (7)
Points Anthony Bitetto (10)
Colton Sissions (10)
Penalties in minutes Anthony Bitetto (28)
Plus/minus (+) Joonas Järvinen (+4)
(+) Joonas Rask (+4)
(–) Anthony Bitetto (–7)
Wins Marek Mazanec (5)
Goals against average Marek Mazanec (1.97)
< 2012–13 2014–15 >

The 2013–14 Milwaukee Admirals season is the franchise's 13th season in the American Hockey League, which began on October 11, 2013.

Off-season

The Milawukee Admirals started the 2013–14 season with 17 players who played for the team the prior season,[1] including five of their previous top nine scorers in Taylor Beck, Patrick Cehlin, Mark Van Guilder, Kevin Henderson and Austin Watson. From their Calder Cup playoff the team had goaltender Magnus Hellberg and defensemen Anthony Bitetto, Scott Ford, Joonas Järvinen, Joe Piskula and Scott Valentine.[2] The team had several departures from the previous season, including forwards Brad Winchester,[3] Zach Hamill,[4] Michael Latta,[5] Chris Mueller,[6] and Juuso Puustinen;[7] defensemen Taylor Aronson,[8] Mattias Ekholm,[2] and Mike Moore;[9] and goaltender Jeremy Smith.[10] Newcomers to the team included forwards Mathieu Tousignant,[11] Simon Moser, Miikka Salomäki and Colton Sissons; defensemen Bryan Rodney and Theo Ruth;[2] and goaltenders Scott Darling,[12] and Marek Mazanec.[13]

After a training camp that began September 25, 2013 at Kern Center,[14] the Admirals played three preseason games, winning the first 2–1 against the Rockford IceHogs on September 27. Charles-Olivier Roussel tied the game with a one timer in regulation, and then no one scored in the shootout until defenseman Mathieu Tousignant in the tenth round.[15] Milwaukee followed that game with a 3-0 shutout loss to the Chicago Wolves,[16] and a 2-1 overtime loss to the Iowa Wild in their pre-season finale, despite defenseman Scott Ford opening scoring in the first 1:45 of the game.[17] With their new roster, Admirals coach Dean Evason hoped for a strong start to the regular season, something the team struggled with the two previous years.[2] Jarvinen would miss all of Milwaukee's October games due to an injury.[18] Hellberg, who had ranked fourth in American Hockey League goaltenders last season with a 2.14 goals against average, had hoped to make the Nashville Predators this season, but the signing of Carter Hutton left no room on the roster for him.[19] Defenseman Scott Ford was named Milawukee's new team captain, replacing Moore.[20]

2013–14 Preseason Game Log: 1–1–1–0
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record
1 September 27 Rockford 2–1 Milwaukee SO Hellberg 1–0–0–0
2 September 27 Milwaukee 0–3 Chicago Hellberg 1–1–0–0
2 September 27 Milwaukee 1–2 Iowa OT Mazanek 1–1–1–0

Regular season

October

Through November 3, the Milwaukee Admirals were the only team in AHL without a regulation loss,[21] which Evason attributed to the roster's depth and balance.[22] Their 6-0-2-0 start was the team's second-best in franchise history, and their best since 2002–03.[22][23] Throughout the eight-game point streak, the Admirals were outscored 9–4 in the first period, but outscored their opponents 19-6 in the final two periods.[22] Milwaukee lost their first game of 2013–14, falling 3–2 in overtime to the Abbotsford Heat on October 11. It marked the team’s first season-opening loss since October 2007.[24] The Admirals gave up the first goal in each of their next five games,[18][25] starting with an October 12 shootout win over Abbotsford, in which Beck and Cehlin scored in the shootout and Hellburg stopped all four of the Heat's shots.[26] Milwaukee also won against the Grand Rapids Griffins on October 13, winning 3–2 after the Griffins took a 1–0 lead just 80 seconds into the game. The Admirals scored two goals within 47 shots, and Anthony Bitetto had two goals in the game.[27]

Milwaukee next started a four game homestead, dropping their first home game on October 19 against Chicago. They lost 3–2 in overtime after coming back from trailing two goals, with Simon Moser tying the game in regulation. The audience of 6,667 was the largest crowd for a Milwaukee home opener since 2004.[28] The Admirals lost their goaltender on October 24 after Hellberg was called up to the Nashville Predators,[29] but back-up goalie Marek Mazanec, who previously had only one professional start,[18] led the team to their next four consecutive wins,[18][25] including two against the Texas Stars on October 26 and 30 in which they came back from 2–0 deficits.[23] Colton Sissons scored two goals in the first game,[30] after which Bryan Rodney received a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Texas' Travis Morin.[31] Milwaukee won the second game against the Stars in overtime, after Mark Van Guilder scored the game-winner with 59.4 seconds remaining in the extra period.[23] Mazanec made 33 saves, marking his third straight start without allowing a first period goal.[18] The Admirals struggled on the power play throughout their October games, and went 1-for-14 in their last three games. Their power play ranking 26th out of 30 teams in the league by the end of the month with an 11.1 percent success rate.[18]

November

After coming back from behind in their last five games, Milwaukee scored first in each of their next two match-ups.[25] Mazanec made 28 saves in each of the Admirals' next two wins, including a 5–2 victory over Iowa on November 3 in which Cehlin, Rodney, Van Guilder and Miikka Salomäki each had multi-point games. After allowing only two goals in his five starts of the season,[25] Mazanec was one of only three goalies in the league with a goals against average record below 2.00 (1.97) and a save percentage above .930 (.933). After the first two games of November, Nashville recalled Mazanec and Beck, and sent Hellberg and winger Filip Forsberg back down to Milwaukee.[32][33] The Admirals' eight-game point streak ended with a 7–4 loss against the Texas Stars on November 8, the first of three losses in three days.[34] Texas also won the next day 5–4 despite a three-goal rally, including one goal in the final 41 seconds with the goaltender pulled.[35]

Standings

Divisional standings

    		 Midwest Division[36] GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA
    1 Chicago Wolves (SLB) 76 45 21 5 5 100 239 191
    2 Grand Rapids Griffins (DRW) 76 46 23 2 5 99 238 187
    3 Milwaukee Admirals (NAS) 76 39 24 6 7 91 215 199
    4 Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 76 35 32 5 4 79 234 262
    5 Iowa Wild (MIN) 76 27 36 7 6 67 169 235

    Conference standings

     y–  indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
     x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
     e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

      		 Western Conference[37] Div GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA
      1 *y– Texas Stars (DAL) WT 76 48 18 3 7 106 274 197
      2 *y– Chicago Wolves (STL) MW 76 45 21 5 5 100 239 191
      3 *y– Toronto Marlies (TOR) NT 76 45 25 2 4 96 223 202
      4 x– Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) MW 76 46 23 2 5 99 238 187
      5 x– Abbotsford Heat (CGY) WT 76 43 25 5 3 94 237 215
      6 x– Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) MW 76 39 24 6 7 91 215 199
      7 x– Rochester Americans (BUF) NT 76 37 28 6 5 85 216 217
      8 x– Oklahoma City Barons (EDM) WT 76 36 29 2 9 83 239 256
      9 e– Rockford IceHogs (CHI) MW 76 35 32 5 4 79 234 262
      10 e– Utica Comets (VAN) NT 76 35 32 5 4 79 187 216
      11 e– Charlotte Checkers (CAR) WT 76 37 36 1 2 77 228 241
      12 e– Lake Erie Monsters (COL) NT 76 32 33 1 10 75 197 232
      13 e– Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) NT 76 33 35 1 7 74 182 224
      14 e– San Antonio Rampage (FLA) WT 76 30 37 3 6 69 206 235
      15 e– Iowa Wild (MIN) MW 76 27 36 7 6 67 169 235

      * = Division leaders are seeded 1, 2, and 3 in Conference standings.
      The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.

      Schedule and results

      2013–14 Game Log – Regular season
      November: 2–2–0–1 (Home: 1–0–0–0 ; Road: 1–2–0–1)
      # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet
      7 November 1 Rockford 2–4 Milwaukee Mazanec 4,142 5–0–2–0 10 Gamesheet
      8 November 3 Milwaukee 5–2 Iowa Mazanec 3,042 6–0–2–0 12 Gamesheet
      9 November 8 Milwaukee 4–7 Texas Hellberg 4,889 6–1–2–0 12 Gamesheet
      10 November 9 Milwaukee 4–5 Texas Hellberg 5,961 6–2–2–0 12 Gamesheet
      11 November 10 Milwaukee 2–3 San Antonio SO Hellberg 7,117 6–2–2–1 13 Gamesheet
      12 November 13 Grand Rapids Milwaukee
      13 November 15 Chicago Milwaukee
      14 November 16 Milwaukee Iowa
      15 November 19 Abbotsford Milwaukee
      16 November 20 Milwaukee Grand Rapids
      17 November 22 Chicago Milwaukee
      18 November 27 Milwaukee Rockford
      19 November 30 Milwaukee Charlotte

      Legend:       Win (2 points)       Loss (0 points)       Overtime/shootout loss (1-point)

      Player statistics

      Skaters

      Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
      Updated as of November 10, 2013[38]

      Regular Season
      Player GP G A Pts +/- PIM
      Bitetto, AnthonyAnthony Bitetto 11 6 4 10 −7 28
      Sissons, ColtonColton Sissons* 11 5 5 10 −1 2
      Salomäki, MiikkaMiikka Salomäki* 10 2 7 9 −1 8
      Watson, AustinAustin Watson 11 3 4 7 3 2
      Van Guilder, MarkMark Van Guilder 11 2 5 7 −1 8
      Moser, SimonSimon Moser 11 2 4 6 1 2
      Rask, JoonasJoonas Rask 11 0 6 6 4 8
      Beck, TaylorTaylor Beck‡ 8 3 2 5 0 6
      Cehlin, PatrickPatrick Cehlin 7 2 3 5 2 0
      Rodney, BryanBryan Rodney 9 2 3 5 1 2
      Forsberg, FilipFilip Forsberg* 3 1 4 5 1 0
      Piskula, JoeJoe Piskula 11 0 5 5 2 8
      Shalla, JoshuaJoshua Shalla 10 2 1 3 −6 2
      Tousignant, MathieuMathieu Tousignant 11 1 2 3 −2 17
      Budish, ZachZach Budish* 11 1 2 3 −2 17
      Liambas, MichaelMichael Liambas 9 0 2 2 2 26
      Valentine, ScottScott Valentine 11 0 2 2 −1 13
      Järvinen, JoonasJoonas Järvinen 4 1 0 1 4 6
      Roussel, Charles-OliverCharles-Oliver Roussel* 8 0 1 1 2 2
      Ruth, TheoTheo Ruth‡ 4 0 0 0 0 0
      Henderson, KevinKevin Henderson 6 0 0 0 −2 0
      Ford, ScottScott Ford 11 0 0 0 −1 12

      †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining team. Stats reflect time with the team only.
      ‡Left the team mid-season
      *Rookie

      Goaltenders

      Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time on Ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SV = Saves; SA = Shots Against; SV% = Save Percentage; SO = Shutouts; G = Goals; A = Assists; PIM = Penalty Minutes
      Updated as of November 10, 2013[39]

      Regular Season
      Player GP TOI W L GA GAA SV SA SV% SO G A PIM
      Mazanec, MarekMarek Mazanec 5 303:53 5 0 10 1.97 140 150 .933 0 0 0 0
      Hellberg, MagnusMagnus Hellberg 6 325:48 1 5 16 2.95 157 173 .908 0 0 0 0
      Darling, ScottScott Darling 2 45:25 0 0 2 5.28 26 30 .867 0 0 0 0
      Totals 675:06 6 5 30 2.67 323 353 .915 0 0 0 0

      ‡Left the team mid-season
      *Rookie

      Milestones

      Player Milestone Reached
      Simon Moser 1st AHL Goal October 19, 2013[40]

      References

      1. ↑ Owczarski, Jim (October 11, 2013). "Admirals look for quick start in 2013-14". OnMilwaukee.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      2. 1 2 3 4 Karnosky, Jason (October 10, 2013). "Admirals Poised for Big Things in 2013-2014". Nashville Predators. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      3. ↑ "Blackhawks sign veteran forward Winchester". Chicago Tribune. July 24, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      4. ↑ Caswell Jr., Mark (September 20, 2013). "Canucks Add Three More to Comets Roster". Utica Comets. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      5. ↑ Leone, Tim (September 12, 2013). "Michael Latta, Garrett Mitchell eye challenge of Washington Capitals training camp". The Patriot-News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      6. ↑ Heika, Mike (September 29, 2013). "Veteran Chris Mueller in unfamiliar place at start of season: An NHL roster". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      7. ↑ "Contract Status: Kurtis McLean and Juuso Puustinen transferred to HIFK" (in Finnish). HIFK. May 22, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      8. ↑ "Scorecard 9 30". Cleveland Daily Banner. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      9. ↑ "The Signing of Iginla Highlights B's Transactions on 7/5". Boston Bruins. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      10. ↑ Remillard, Jason (October 5, 2013). "Springfield Falcons open 20th American Hockey League season with 3-2 shootout win over Manchester Monarchs". The Republican. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      11. ↑ "Scoreboard -- Aug. 17, 2013". The American News. August 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      12. ↑ "Scorecard -- September 12, 2013". The American News. September 12, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      13. ↑ "Transactions". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      14. ↑ "Training Camp Begins Wednesday". Milwaukee Admirals. September 23, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
      15. ↑ "IceHogs Drop Preseason Finale". WREX. September 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      16. ↑ "Admirals fall to Wolves". September 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
      17. ↑ Metcalf, Bobby (October 4, 2013). "Iowa Wild win exhibition game at iWireless Center". Quad-City Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Boehler, Dave (October 31, 2013). "Admirals at a glance". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      19. ↑ Boehler, Dave (October 17, 2013). "Admirals' Magnus Hellberg returns for more seasoning". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      20. ↑ "Wednesday sports briefs". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 9, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      21. ↑ "The A-List: 10 things you need to know". American Hockey League. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      22. 1 2 3 Boehler, Dave (November 7, 2013). "Admirals' point streak the second best to open a season". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      23. 1 2 3 Docter, Cary (October 31, 2013). "Milwaukee Admirals edge Texas Stars in OT, 3-2". WITI. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      24. ↑ "Admirals Fall to Heat in Opener". Milwaukee Admirals. October 11, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      25. 1 2 3 4 "Admirals calm Wild, 5-2". WITI. November 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      26. ↑ "Magnus Hellberg impresses teammates as Milwaukee Admirals beat Abbotsford Heat 2-1". National Hockey League. October 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      27. ↑ "Tony Bitetto lights it up". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 18, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      28. ↑ Boehler, Dave (October 20, 2013). "Admirals coach finds goal in home opener". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
      29. ↑ "Nashville Predators recall Goaltender Magnus Hellberg from Milwaukee Admirals due to injury to Pekka Rinne". Clarksville Online. October 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      30. ↑ Boehler, Dave (October 26, 2013). "No Magnus Hellberg, no problem for Admirals". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      31. ↑ "Texas Ends 10-Day Road Trip with Blowout Win at Iowa". Texas Stars. November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      32. ↑ "Nashville Predators recall Marek Mazanec from Milwaukee Admirals, reassign Magnus Hellberg". Clarksville Online. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
      33. ↑ "Nashville Predators recall Taylor Beck from Milwaukee Admirals, reassign Filip Forsberg". Clarksville Online. November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      34. ↑ "Admirals' poitn streak ends". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. November 8, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      35. ↑ "Texas Stars hold on to 5-4 victory". Austin American-Statesman. November 9, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      36. ↑ "2013–14 Regular Season – Division". American Hockey League. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
      37. ↑ "2013–14 Regular Season – Conference". American Hockey League. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
      38. ↑ "Skaters – 2013–2014 Regular Season – Milwaukee Admirals". American Hockey League. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      39. ↑ "Goalies – 2013–14 Regular Season – Chicago Wolves". American Hockey League. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
      40. ↑ Docter, Cory (October 20, 2013). "Admirals fall to the Wolves in OT at home opener, 3-2". WITI. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.

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