Meanwhile in Milwaukee: Admirals Keep Pace at Second in Central Division

Hockey holidays from Milwaukee, Smashville.
Now 27 games into the 2022-23 campaign, the Nashville Predators' AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals are holding steady near the top of the Central Division standings with 34 points and a 16-9-2 record.
As the Admirals' season continues to unfold, there are a number of narratives to follow.

Consistency is Key
The Ads have managed to remain consistent in a number of areas so far this season, despite having what is essentially a brand-new roster and several call ups to their parent club in Nashville.
That challenge has kept Milwaukee's young roster on their toes as they've navigated what is still a relatively fresh season and found themselves struggling in December - winning just three of their last nine contests.
"That's what the American League is for," Admirals GM and Predators Assistant GM Scott Nichol said. "You get tons of different scenarios thrown at you and it's all about how you can respond to it. Some guys are going to get called up before the game, some guys are going to get sent down and it's just a learning experience for them."
Still, Milwaukee remains one of the least penalized teams in the AHL, with 236 total penalty minutes to show for - just 16 more than the leading Rochester Americans.
The Ads have gone shorthanded just 74 times thus far - the least of any AHL club - and have the seventh-best penalty kill in the league at 83.8 percent.
Despite the ebbs and flows of an ever-changing lineup, the Admirals offense - which has netted 97 goals in 27 contests - remains top 10 in the league as well, with a number of regular contributors in the lineup night after night.
Young Scoring Talent
One such contributor is Luke Evangelista, who is shining bright in his first full professional season with Milwaukee after leading the OHL in goals (55) and his London Knights club in goals, assists (56), points (111) and plus-minus (+29) the season prior.
Evangelista, selected by Nashville in the second round (42nd overall) at the 2020 NHL Draft, currently leads the Admirals in points with 20 (4g-16a) through 27 games and leads all league rookies in assists.

The 20-year-old forward has found consistent production in a top-six position through most of his 27 games, playing right wing to Admirals veteran centerman and recent Predators call up Tommy Novak.
"Luke came in and you don't know how he's going to respond to the league and we put him with Tommy Novak and they found chemistry right away," Nichol said. "And they both think the game in the same way. Maybe they're both not the fastest skaters, but they've been driving our team offensively and on a really consistent basis. So you want to put these kids in a position to succeed and insulate them with like-minded players that can drive them or create offense and so far it's been good."
Milwaukee's fanbase and front office aren't the only groups to have taken notice of the young winger's talent.
"I think that maybe in the last few games the secret is out on him," Nichol said. "Other teams play him a lot harder. They finish their checks on him all the time, and he still makes nice slick plays, but he also leans on Cole Schneider and Novak as the older guys… The level of play is going to wear on him and the league is going to catch up to him a little bit, but he's a great teammate that the guys all like, so he's got a bright future."
Askarov's Growth
Another Ads rookie who continues to trend in the right direction is goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, now 12-4-3 after 19 games.
The 20-year-old netminder has received the starter's crease in the majority of Milwaukee's contests and as a result leads all AHL rookie goalies in wins (12), games and minutes played (1,107).
"He just loves playing," Nichol said. "He's a little bit of a showman out there, like he's got a good personality, but he does back it up with his play. I think he's been really calm in the net, he handles pucks extremely well. And that's his confidence. He's been really good for us for a 20- year-old kid. [It's his] first year over here, he's learning all our cultures and practices… All this stuff is new. And it's not even just the game, it's everything that leads up to the game."
In December, Askarov received league recognition after two games that saw the rookie netminder stop 61 of 62 shots faced and earn his first career shutout.

Days later, Askarov was named AHL Player of the Week.
"He just seals the ice and moves laterally so well," Nichol said. "I think our D has done a much better job, but he's learning how to fight through traffic, how to play the puck, how to make big saves… His timely saves are getting better. At the beginning of the year, those timely saves probably would have gone in. So, he's feeling it, he's confident and he's been a huge part of our success down there."
It's not just Askarov's prowess between the pipes that's made the Russian goalie such an exciting prospect to watch.
Askarov's personality and showmanship - on full display when he pulled the net down over his crease following the shutout or dashed a breakaway chance with a flying poke check - have made him a quick fan favorite among the Ads' faithful as well.

"That's him in a nutshell," Nichol said. "That's all part of everything leading up to how he plays the game. So we're not going to take it out of him. I think that's why he's a good goalie, and that's why he has a great future."
On the Horizon
After snapping a four-game losing streak in a 5-2 decision against the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday evening, the Admirals will take a well-deserved, five-day holiday break before returning to game action against the Wolves on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
They'll then turn their attention to the Central Division rival Grand Rapids Griffins for a home-and-home to close out 2022.
You can follow all the Ads action on AHLTV with a subscription or by following the team's social media platforms.
Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Admirals