Milwaukee, WI – The Admirals capped off a thrilling comeback with Anders Bjork’s overtime game-winner to secure a 5-4 victory over the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday night at Panther Arena. The Mequon native recorded his first goal and first assist as an Admiral in his home debut for his hometown team.
The win was the second straight for Milwaukee, who began a five-game homestand with the victory.
After a scoreless first period, Anthony Angello got Milwaukee on the board early in the second. Angello buried a backhand feed from Bjork at the top of the slot, beating Mitchell Weeks blocker side.
A couple minutes later, Turner Ottenbreit added to the lead as he scored his first goal as an Admiral with a snapshot from the point off a quick faceoff win by Angello.
Midway through the period, Rockford responded as Jackson Coates capitalized on a rebound from a delayed penalty to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Rockford found their footing in the third and turned the game around, taking a 4-2 lead with goals from Marcel Marcel, Landon Slaggert, and Matteo Pietroniro within the first 7:11 of the final frame. The Admirals answered right back when Ozzy Wiesblatt capitalized on a quick shot from the side of the crease off a sharp pass from Ryder Rolston, narrowing the deficit to 4-3.
With less than two minutes remaining, Cal O’Reilly delivered some late-game heroics, tying it up with a backhand spin-o-rama that deflected off a Rockford stick and over the shoulder of Weeks to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, Anders Bjork secured the win with a wrist shot glove-side giving Milwaukee the 5-4 victory. Despite the high-scoring night, Matthew Murray was steady in net, making 30 saves to help secure the win, his 11th of the season.
O’Reilly paced the Admirals offense with three points and now shows seven (3g-4a) in his past three contests. Bjork, Angello, and Wiesblatt all contributed a goal and an assist as the Ads scored five goals at Panther Arena for the first time since the home opener.
The Admirals are back in action this Friday and Saturday, January 24 and 25, as they host the Charlotte Checkers.