In the first month of 2012, the Admirals struggled. A lot. The team posted a 3-9-1-0 record (.269 points percentage) in the month. In those 13 games, Milwaukee scored just 27 goals (2.08 per game) and allowed 37 (2.85 per game). Two of the goals allowed were empty-netters.

 

If one were to take out the month, Milwaukee has a 27-13-2-2 record (a .659 points percentage). In those 44 games, the team averaged 3.07 goals per game and allowed an average of 2.5 per contest.

 

The team converted 22% of its power play chances (11-50). The penalty kill was not very good, killing just 74.6%. That means the team only allowed 19 even strength goals in that span (16 on PP and 2 empty-netters).

 

However, that penalty kill rate is on par to what the PK was the first three months of the season.

 

The Admirals scored only 16 even strength goals in January, just 1.23 per contest. The team allowed 1.46 per game.

 

If you erase January, Milwaukee scored 2.36 even strength goals per game and allowed 1.70 per contest.

 

The defense was the same, for the most part, while the 5-on-5 play was not up to standards.

 

If Milwaukee goes 6-7 in those 13 games, the team is in first place in the Midwest Division.

 

If anyone has access to a DeLorean and a flux capacitor, please notify the Milwaukee Admirals.

 

Moving on…

 

Kyle Wilson tied with Grand Rapids Chris Minard (briefly an Admiral) for the AHL lead in February with eight goals. Since 2005, only one other Admirals player has been a monthly leader in goals. Can you name him? The answer will appear at the end of the column. DON’T LOOK AHEAD, CHEATERS!

 

Since 2005, Mike Santorelli holds the team record for goals in a month. He scored 11 in March 2009. Scottie Upshall tallied 10 goals in seven games in January 2006. (Is Santorelli the correct answer for the trivia question?)

 

Clear Day rosters will be announced tomorrow. Don’t expect any real surprises for the Admirals. The 22 players listed on that roster will be the only 22 allowed to play the rest of the season and in the playoffs, with the exception of players coming in under an ATO. The only way a non-ATO player will be able to play is if three players on the Clear Day roster are not with the team or injured. It takes three to add one, four lost players to add two, and so on.

 

The answer to the trivia question from above is Linus Klasen. He finished in a six-way tie when he scored seven goals in October 2010.