Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Pickard gets first pro win

Goalie Chet Pickard was nearly perfect in his second professional appearance as he led the Milwaukee Admirals to a 2-1 win over the IceHogs in Rockford on Saturday night.

Pickard, who allowed seven goals in his debut at Abbotsford, stopped 24 of 25 shots to earn his first professional win. The win marked the first time the Admirals won back-to-back games in 2009-2010.

Cal O'Reilly's first goal of the season, scored on the power play, gave the Admirals the game winner at 5:59 of the third period. Standing at the right faceoff dot, O'Reilly's wrist shot went through the legs of IceHogs goalie Corey Crawford while Hugh Jessiman provided the screen. Jon Blum and Robert Dietrich recorded the assists.

Milwaukee struck first when Mark Matheson tallied his first of the season just 71 seconds into the second period. Controlling the puck at center ice, Matheson dumped the puck toward the left wing glass. Rockford's goalie, Crawford, left the crease to play the puck behind the net. The puck bounced off a seam and trickled into the empty net giving Matheson his first goal of the season.

Rockford tied the game when former Admirals center Bracken Kearns fed a pass from behind the Milwaukee net to Matt Keith for a one-timer from the left circle at 2:01 of the third.