It was a tough weekend for the Power as the Rochester Grizzlies came to town for a two-game series looking to avenge their only loss of the season to the Power just two weeks prior. Ty Barnhill started the first game against the Grizzlies with two goals getting by in the 1st period and one early in the 2nd which put Joey Greilich into the game in relief. Greilich would give up three goals as well in what turned into a 6 to 1 loss with a lone power-play goal for Milwaukee from the Nathan Walker assisted by Nico Piehl, early in the 3rd frame. Nick Roberts was named the Doral Hard Hat Player of the Game as he fought back from injury to stay in the game.Joey Greilich would start the second game of the weekend, but Rochester came out firing in the 1st scoring 3 goals, one short-handed. Logan Drolet would score his 3rd goal of the season early in the 2nd, assisted by Chad Larsen and Garrett Alton, but Rochester would respond with another short-handed goal late in the period. The Grizzlies would add one more tally in the 3rd followed by Walker’s 2nd goal of the weekend, 4th of the season, assisted by Wesley Knutson. The final score was 5 to 2 in favor of the Grizzlies. Rookie Oliver Nienas was named the Doral Hard Hat Player of the Game for his efforts on the penalty kill unit.
One positive to take away from the weekend for Milwaukee is that they did not give up any power-play goals in either game after having given up 12 in the first eight games of the season. On the other side of special teams, the Power were only able to capitalize on one power-play chance out of eight and to rub salt in the wound gave up two short-handed goals. Special teams could be the difference maker as the Power head into October looking for that early spark in games to shift the momentum in their favor as they try to find the same energy that helped them top the Rochester Grizzlies and the St. Louis Jr. Blues once already this season. Coming up this weekend the Alexandria Blizzard come to Milwaukee for a two game series. It's youth hockey night on the 5th, anyone that wears their youth hockey jersey will get free admission to the game and bring your helmet and skates for a skate with the Power after the game!
