Kwiatkowski hat trick in 4-3 win over MAds

Milwaukee—A hat trick by Joel Kwiatkowski allowed the Chicago Wolves to hold on and win, 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Admirals at the Bradley Center Friday night. It was the 23rd win this season by the Wolves.

Kwiatkowski scored his eighth, ninth and tenth goal of the season on Nashville Predators prospect Pekka Rinne in a matter of just nine minutes of the second period to lead the Wolves from a 2-1 deficit to a 4-2 lead.

The defenseman was backing up the Wolves first line of Darren Haydar, Jason Krog and Brett Sterling. All three goals were power play goals. The Wolves went three for seven on the power play against what Coach John Anderson called the best penalty kill in the American Hockey League.

“The guys played well, especially against the third period final onslaught,” Anderson said, “and the power play worked well tonight.”

The Wolves penalty kill worked well too, breaking the Admirals power play in six of seven attempts including a 5:3 in the second period. But a third period fight in front of the Milwaukee goal almost turned the tide on the Wolves as Scott Lehman was given a minor and a game misconduct, Chad Painchaud was given a major and Jesse Schultz was given a minor, allowing the Admirals to go on the power play. [Edit: originally this sentence had stated that Lehman had received a major and a game misconduct. A tip of the hat to Milwaukee Admirals fan and eagle eye Steve (CreedFeed) Caponetto for spotting the error.]

The Wolves started the penalty kill disorganized and only leading by a single point. However, a key save by Ondrej Pavelec that was cleared to the Milwaukee end of the ice revived the team and it was able to hold on.

But other problems plague the Admirals. The Milwaukee set play for power plays of bringing two men forward on the goalies right as the puck man moves through them to behind the net and attempts to drop pass it in the slot seemed too complicated. Plus, Rinne still seems to be having problems with the upper glove portion of the net.

Further, this is a team known for finishing its checks. Many of the same players are on the ice. But the physical play has left town.

Anderson, who received a penalty at the end of the game said he was upset that the referee, Chris Ciamaga did not call Nolan Yonkman during the third period fight. “No penalties were called on Milwaukee in the third period,” Anderson said, “I don’t mind the calls, it’s the missed calls that bother me.” [Milwaukee player Kelsey Wilson received a minor and a major due to the fight in the third period.]

Chicago 1 3 0 -- 4
Milwaukee 1 1 1 -- 3


First Period---1, Milwaukee, Santorelli 8 (Langfeld, O'Reilly), 11:40 pp; 2, Chicago, LaVallee 9 (Martins, Crabb), 19:39. Penalties---Sterling, Chicago (hooking), 0:18; Sulzer, Milwaukee (holding), 2:12; Peverley, Milwaukee (slashing), 5:40; Niskala, Milwaukee (hooking), 9:12; Pilar, Chicago (holding), 10:16.

Second Period---3, Milwaukee, Peverly 7 (Sulzer, Vigilante), 1:59; 4, Chicago, Kwiatkowski 8 (Pilar, Haydar), 7:40 pp; 5, Chicago, Kwiatkowski 9 (Krog, Haydar), 10:12 pp; 6, Chicago, Kwiatkowski 10 (Haydar, Krog), 16:40 pp. Penalties---Fahey, Chicago (fighting), 2:33; Wilson, Milwaukee (fighting), 2:33; Peverely, Milwaukee (tripping), 6:35; Yonkman, Milwaukee (roughing), 9:29; Fahey, Chicago (holding the stick), 10:58; Kwiatkowski, Chicago (hooking), 12:11; Thuresson, Milwaukee (tripping), 14:53; Bench, Milwaukee (too many men), 18:14; Fahey, Chicago (tripping), 19:44.

Third Period---7, Milwaukee, Langfeld 5 (Niskala, O'Reilly), 4:11. Penalties---Lehman, Chicago (roughing, game misconduct), 8:19; Painchaud, Chicago (fighting), 8:19; Schultz, Chicago (roughing), 8:19; Wilson, Milwaukee (roughing, fighting), 8:19; Fahey, Chicago (cross-checking), 19:09; Bench, Chicago (game misconduct), 20:00.

Shots on goal---Chicago: 9-9-11--29. Milwaukee: 7-9-15--31. Power plays---Chicago: 3-7. Milwaukee: 1-7. Goalies--Chicago, Pavelec (28-31). Milwaukee, Rinne (25-29). A---6,504. Referee---Chris Ciamaga. Linesmen---Chris Allman and Roger Behling.