MILWAUKEE, Wisc – When the Houston Aeros and Milwaukee Admirals last met in the playoffs in 2009, it was Milwaukee who had swept the first round and sat around for too many days. This time, the Aeros got their own taste of that brand of adversity, as a slow start in game one after a 9 day layoff led to a 3-1 loss to an Admirals team that was still cruising from round one. Steve Begin opened the scoring on a delayed penalty midway through the first, ripping a shot past goalie Matt Hackett glove side. Then just 41 seconds later, Taylor Beck backhanded a pass from Gabriel Bourque past Hackett blocker side to put the Admirals up 2-0 early in the game. In the time it took Milwaukee to score twice, the Aeros had just 2 shots on goal, and the period ended with shots 11-6 for Milwaukee. The 2-0 lead held through the second as the pace picked up, though the Aeros lost defenseman Jared Spurgeon after taking a puck to the side of the head. Reports after the game indicate the injury was a cut to the ear. Milwaukee came out fighting in the third and Ryan Thang posted his third goal of the playoffs, cleanly beating Hackett 5-hole. Still, the Aeros started to find their game in the third period, but ultimately, could only get one puck past Ads goalie Jeremy Smith. The lone goal came from Colton Gillies, who scored on a delayed penalty after being elbowed to the ice by Andreas Thuresson. Patrick O’Sullivan and Warren Peters had the helpers on the goal. The Aeros’ game came together late in the third as they battled for goals, but time ran out on the effort. Two notable roster changes for the Aeros were the additions of LW Brent Bulmer, who recently signed with Minnesota and is with Houston on an amateur tryout, and the return of D Marco Scandella, who played in place of Jeff Penner. For Milwaukee, Ryan Ellis made his professional debut and earned an assist in the effort. The teams wrap up in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon before heading to Houston on Tuesday. Contact Heather.Galindo@prohockeynews.com
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