The Golden Eagles haven't always been able to maintain their cool, but Sunday night, that was mandatory. And it won them a game.

"We were undermanned, and we knew what kind of physical tactics they'd try," said Eagle Coach Bob Francis of the opposing Milwaukee Admirals, the most penalized team in the IHL. "It was imperative that we initiate and don't retaliate, and we did an outstanding job of that."While the Admirals spent much of the night trying to kill their own penalties - nine minors, a major and a match - the Eagles stayed out of the penalty box and took a crisp 4-1 victory.

It was only Salt Lake's second win against Milwaukee in seven tries, and it moved them into a third-place tie with the Admirals in the IHL West.

For the second straight game, the Eagles had only 14 skaters, two under the IHL dress limit, because of four injuries and three callups by the Calgary Flames. They were down to four defensemen again and couldn't afford to have anybody sitting out penalties.

Milwaukee averages 10 more penalty minutes per game than anybody else in the league. "They're not a difficult team to read," said Francis, whose players were prepared as the Admirals tried in vain to draw them into infractions. Milwaukee paid the price.

"When it's obvious what the other team is trying to do," said Francis, "you're a little more motivated (on the power play)."

The Eagles were 2 for 7 on power plays, scoring their third and fourth goals with the man advantage to put the game out of reach. While Salt Lake was scoreless in the first period, it outshot Milwaukee 16-9 because of three power plays.

Former Eagle Peter Bakovic scored the only goal of the first period, but the Eagles began getting to the net to start the second and scored their first three goals on rebounds in front of Frank Caprice. Caprice was playing his first game for Milwaukee since returning from the American League.

Mark Holmes notched his second goal of the season on a rebound of a Bryan Deasley shot at 2:23 of the second to tie 1-1. Randy Smith scored his second goal as an Eagle at 5:27 - the game-winner - on a rebound of Kevin Grant's shot, and Stephane Matteau jammed in the third rebound of a power-play opportunity at 10:32 of the second for a 3-1 lead.

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Rich Chernomaz goaled unassisted at 18:09 of the third period on another power play.

Goalie Steve Guenette picked up his fifth one-goal game of the season. It was the first time he'd held an opponent to one goal since a 1-0 loss at Indianapolis Dec. 1; that was the week the Eagles' current injury siege began in earnest.

"He shut the door on them," said Francis of Guenette. "He was obviously outstanding."

The Eagles were to return home today for a two-game homestnad against Peoria Tuesday and Thursday.

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