Losing doesn’t happen that often in Milwaukee. Since joining the AHL in 2001, there have been only three postseason misses for the Admirals. They have had 22 consecutive seasons, finished above .500 and won eight division titles.
However, this season has brought its fair share of frustration, including nine consecutive defeats in a grueling December.
But big wins against powerful opponents can set a team back.
Tuesday night, the Admirals were in the middle of a back-and-forth matchup on home ice against the league-leading, record-breaking Grand Rapids Griffins.
Tied at 4-4 when extra time started, Zach L’Heureux charged along the right boards and past the Grand Rapids blue line before cutting 90 degrees to the left. Finally he cut across the slot to the inside edge of the left circle. A shooting range opened up and L’Heureux fired past a low shot Sebastian Cossawhose name tops the AHL goaltending charts.
It was a 5-4 Milwaukee win just 23 seconds into OT.
The admirals needed it. The two points for sure, but above all they had to continue to feel good again.
L’Heureux, who had also scored an overtime winner against the Griffins on New Year’s Eve, completed a three-point night after surrendering a goal and three assists in a win over Manitoba a game earlier.
The Admirals, who started 12-4-2-0, now have points in five of the seven games since those nine games. Their wins over Grand Rapids are two of six losses the Griffins have suffered all season, and they visit Van Andel Arena to keep the momentum going tonight – and again on Wednesday.
Magnus Crona ended Milwaukee’s skid on December 30 when his 31-save shutout against Rockford – the first of his AHL career – gave them their first win in 27 days. After registering just one point during a two-game visit to Texas, the Ads swept Manitoba for a 7-3 win on Jan. 8.
After a last-minute 5-4 loss to Chicago on Friday night, Milwaukee sits fourth in the Central Division, just one point ahead of the IceHogs and Stars. It would only take a brief stumble for the Admirals to slip out of a playoff position.
One major change will be the return of the 22-year-old L’Heureux to the lineup on December 30 after missing 18 of the previous 20 games. L’Heureux has four goals and six assists in the last eight games, and the 2021 first-round draft pick always brings his trademark ornery play, but he has managed to stay flawless over the past six games.
“I liked that we continued with it,” said head coach Charles Taylor said after Tuesday’s win over the Griffins. “Pretty proud of the group for finding a way.”
Taylor, who has been behind the bench in Milwaukee since 2018, will never be one to panic. He won’t be one to look too far ahead either. If the adage is true that a team adopts the personality of its head coach, then a calm, steady demeanor has long determined how things are done in Milwaukee – good or bad.
“Good signs,” Taylor admitted, “but we still have a lot of work to do.”
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