Ads take a pair at Des Moines

The Milwaukee Admirals opened the American Hockey League 2017-18 campaign with back to back road wins against the Wild at Wells Fargo Arena at Des Moines, IA this past weekend.

The Ads hit the five-goal plateau in both contests, winning the first 5-2 and holding off a late surge for a 5-4 edge on Sunday.

Scoring was spread out well for the Ads in both games, Bobby Butler, Trevor Smith and Emil Petterson leading the way in the opening contest with a goal and assist apiece. Other goals came from Yakov Trenin and Anthony Richard while Vladislav Kamenev notched a pair of assists. Anders Lindback turned aside 23 of 25 Wild shots to collect the win in goal.

For the Wild, Cal O’Reilly and Gerald Mayhew each scored and Niklas Svedberg made21 saves in goal.

In the Sunday game, the Ads owned a 3-1 cushion entering the third period and extended that lead to 5-2 with just 3:23 to play. The Wild made things interesting though with two goals in the final three minutes, pulling to within a shot with 32 seconds still on the clock.

Frederick Gaudreau led the Admirals with a goal and assist while Harry Zolnierczyk, Tyler Kelleher, Richard and Kamenev scored one each. Trevor Murphy set up a pair and Lindback picked up another win with a 22 save effort.

Pat Cannone scored twice for the Wild while Luke Kunin and Brennan Menell added a goal and assist apiece, Colton Beck setting up a pair and Svedberg making 18 saves in goal.

The Admirals have just a single game this coming weekend, traveling to BMO Harris Arena in Rockford Sunday to face the IceHogs while the Wild will be on home ice against the Ontario Reign Friday and at Rockford on Saturday.