MILWAUKEE, WI - When two teams with the same number of points face each other, it is not suprising when the score stays close. It was the same situation as the Milwaukee Admirals played host to the Manitoba Moose Friday night at the Bradley Center with each team at 54 points on the season.

All 11,674 fans took in a game that at times looked more like a battlefield than a hockey game. Through the hits, shoving, and multiple fights, the Moose were able to escape with a 3-2 victory.

Milwaukee was welcomed back to the Bradley Center after a tough road trip dropping their last two games away from the BC, but had won four straight at home. On this night, the Admirals had their share of chances outshooting the Moose 28-14, but were unable to finish on a number of loose rebounds. .

The Admirals were able to get on the board first during a four on four situations. With the puck deep in the Milwaukee end, defenseman Cody Franson flipped the puck off the side boards to center Cal O’Reilly. O’Reilly found a streaking John Vigilante on a breakaway. With Manitoba netminder Cory Schneider on his feet, Vigilante stopped at the top of the crease and jammed the puck past Schneider’s stick at the 7:09 mark of the first period.

Manitoba would eventually strike back midway though the second frame as Moose winger Colby Genoway made a nifty move past a Milwaukee defenseman and cut straight for the Milwaukee goal. After a quick hesitation, Genoway was able to catch Admiral goalie Maxime Daigneault off-balance before shooting it past Daigneault’s stick and tying the score.

The Moose would strike twice more in the third period. The first goal came off of an errant Milwaukee clearing pass that was intercepted by Moose winger Jannik Hansen, who got around Admiral blueliner Cody Franson and beat Daigneault. A much needed insurance goal came at the 8:20 mark as Manitoba defenseman Shaun Heshka gathered up a long rebound by Daigneault and ripped a shot through traffic into the back of the net.

Milwaukee would close the gap as they buzzed around the Manitoba net for the last few minutes. With Daigneault pulled, defenseman Janne Niskala fired a wrist shot that sailed beyond Schneider’s stick and into the net. Milwaukee kept the puck in the Manitoba end for the final minute and it looked like Milwaukee might push it to overtime, but the clock was not on Milwaukee’s side.

O’Reilly’s assist marked his ninth consecutive game with a point, extending his team high assist and point streak. Vigilante picked up a goal and an assist for Milwaukee.

Milwaukee will look to break their three game slide as they travel to Chicago tomorrow night to take on the Wolves for a 7:00 pm tilt. There is no rest for the weary as the Ads return back to the Bradley Center Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm for a battle against division foe Peoria.