The Milwaukee Admirals kicked off their 2012 campaign with a
win on Friday against Grand Rapids.
With two goals in the final period, first year Admiral forward Patrick Cehlin
played the hero in the comeback win. Also in his first year with the team, head
coach Dean Evanson became the third consecutive coach to win his debut game
with Milwaukee.
The Griffins quickly jumped onto the board in both team's
season opener, putting two goals past Jeremy Smith barley into the second
period. The second came on a short-handed breakaway in the neutral zone, as
Landon Ferraro took advantage of a mistimed Admirals line switch.
Griffins Take Over In Second Period
Despite Grand
Rapids controlling much of the remaining second
period, the Admirals managed to halve the deficit with a Chris Mueller break
away goal with just forty-three seconds to intermission. The goal was the
veteran Mueller's seventieth of his career.
As the Admirals took the ice for the final period, it was
clear Evanson had the moxie in the locker room to rally his squad back into the
game. Coming out strong in the third, Cehlin capitalized on a rebound shot off
Jordan Pearce's leg-pad to tie the game with just over sixteen minutes left in
regulation. The Swedish native would again strike four minutes later, putting
the Admirals up for good three-to-two.
Milwaukee opens their home
season slate this Friday against Charlotte at
the BMO Harris Bradley
Center. They then travel
to San Antonio, Houston,
and Texas for four consecutive away games
before taking on the Checkers again in Milwaukee
on October thirty-first.
