The Milwaukee Power were back at home last weekend to take on the undefeated Rochester Grizzlies in a two game series. The Power were coming off of a road trip to Alexandria and were looking to bounce back after dropping two games to the Blizzard. The Grizzlies were coming off of two close games with the Oregon Tradesmen. The last time these two teams met it was a difference of one goal in Rochesters favor at the final buzzer.
Saturday afternoon would see Milwaukee start Spencer Northway in net for the second game in a row. Rochester would roll with their veteran goaltender Zach Wiese. The Power would hold the Grizzlies without a shot on net for the first five minutes of the 1st period. Milwaukee and Rochester weren’t able to crack the scoreboard as they exchanged quality chances and a few penalties.
The 2nd period would start with a Milwaukee power play but they were unable to capitalize as the Grizzlies came out ready to compared to their slow start in the 1st. They would grab the lead less then three minutes on a goal from Adam Johnson. The Rochester offense wasn’t done in the 2nd as they would increase their lead on a goal from Logan Schwartzhoff. The Grizzlies would carry a two goal lead into the locker room after outshooting the Power 13 shots to seven.
The Power offense found a spark to start the 3rd as Max Erstad would burry a rebound chance just 14 seconds into the period, Jack Wojnowski and Gavin Reidy would get the assists. The Grizzlies would stretch their lead back to two just shy of the periods halfway point on a Kyle Bauer tally. Teddy Marion would draw a tripping penalty on Max Breon to give Milwaukee a power play with 7:20 remaining. The Bolts power play unit would capitalize on point blank goal from Easton Nick to cut the deficit back to one, Wojnowski and Kundinger would get the assists. Milwaukee would pull Northway to get the extra attacker on the ice but were unable to get the tying score and the Grizzlies Kade Shea would score on the empty net.
The final score would be 4-2 as the Grizzlies stayed unbeaten in what was a hard fought 60 minutes. Northway faced 34 shots from the Grizzlies while Wiese faced 20 from the Power.
Sunday’s contest looked to be another tough battle as both sides changed their starting goalies. Milwaukee would start their veteran Austin Bartell while Rochester would go with their rookie Kaleb Bents. The Grizzlies offense came out swinging as they took the lead just 38 seconds into the 1st as Bauer scored his second of the weekend. The Power would outshoot the Grizzlies in the 1st but they would trail at the intermission.
The 2nd period would see some quality chances for Milwaukee and they even drew iron but couldn’t get a bounce to go their way. Rochester would take a penalty late in the period and managed to flip the script to score shorthanded from Jameson Folden. The Grizzlies would lead by two for the second night in a row against the Power.
The Power were hoping to cut the deficit to one in a hurry but were unable to replicate their quick score from the night before. Milwaukee struggled to create chances as they were limited to seven shots in the period. Trailing by two late in the frame the Power would pull Bartell for the extra skater to no avail as the Grizzlies Austin Meers would score on the empty net to put the game away.
A final of 3-0 for Bents first career shutout allowed Rochester to stay perfect through 11 games. Bartell stopped 35 out of 37 shots faced and gave Milwaukee a chance to split the series but needed more help from the offense.
The Power have a short bus ride next Saturday, October 30th, as they head to Oregon for one game against the Tradesmen. Milwaukee looks to cut their losing streak at four games to start climbing back up the Central Division standings but they will have to best the second place Tradesmen to do so. The puck drops at 7:30PM and you can catch all the action on Hockey TV.
