Jake Moreland made 32 saves for just his second career American Hockey League victory as Milwaukee advanced to the West Division final with a 4-1 win over Iowa in Game 7 at the Bradley Center on Sunday afternoon.
Darren Haydar and Simon Gamache, the Admirals’ top two scorers in the series, each had a goal and an assist in the game. Haydar leads the AHL with 12 playoff points, while Gamache is tied for first with six goals.
Milwaukee avoided squandering a 3-1 series lead for the second year in a row, and will open the next round at home against Houston on Thursday night.
Moreland, pressed into service with Brian Finley injured and Pekka Rinne on recall to the Nashville Predators, was making the second start of his AHL career, and his first in the postseason. He was named the game’s first star, missing out on a shutout by just 93 seconds.
Jordin Tootoo returned to the Admirals lineup after playing three playoff games with Nashville and scored Milwaukee’s first goal 4:49 into the game. Defenseman Kevin Klein also scored for the Admirals.
Loui Eriksson netted the lone goal for the Stars.
