MILWAUKEE, WI – The smooth-sailing Milwaukee Admirals hit choppy waters tonight suffering their first loss in nine games as they went down 2-1 to the Houston Aeros in the first game of the West Division finals.
Both teams stressed playing a disciplined game in their preparation, but it only took 1:29 into the game before those plans went out the window for the Admirals and they found themselves looking down the barrel at two solid minutes of a five-on-three penalty kill.
The penalties started racking up when Milwaukee’s Kelsey Wilson cross-checked Aeros forward Robbie Earl, who then retaliated. Both were given coincidental roughing calls and Wilson got an extra two for the cross-check. Then Admirals captain Nolan Yonkman started a scrap with Aeros captain Clayton Stoner an d got an extra two for roughing on top of coincidental fighting penalties for both players.
And the Aeros wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity as Aeros defenseman Tomas Mojzis lobbed a shot past Drew MacIntyre almost 1:30 into the penalty to put the first point on the board. The helpers came from Maxim Noreau and Corey Locke, who earned his tenth point of the playoffs on the goal.
The Aeros dominated play during the first two periods and outshot the Admirals in the second period 11-4, finally capitalizing on a wrap-around goal by Krys Kolanos 16:36 into the second period to put the Aeros up by two. Tony Hrkac and Stoner were given the assists.
MacIntyre was spared a third goal against as the buzzer ending the second period sounded a split second before Marco Rosa picked a corner over MacIntyre’s shoulder.
Milwaukee came out fighting in the third and kept the Aeros back in their defensive zone much of the period. Milwaukee tested goalie Anton Khudobin, who had his best game of the playoffs thus far, ultimately stopping 27 of 28 Admirals attempts.
Shots were 13-3 in the third period in Milwaukee’s favor and Andreas Thuresson finally potted one of those chances at 17:14 in the third to bring the game within one. Thuresson’s rocket from the point was set up by Mark Matheson and Cody Franson.
It looked like the Admirals might have caught a break at 19:23 when, with MacIntyre pulled for the extra attacker, Hrkac was called for hooking. But referee Shaun Davis called a coincidental “too many men” penalty against Milwaukee and kept the man advantage at a five-to-four ratio. Ultimately, Khudobin and the Aeros defense fought off the Admirals final push to secure the upset.
The teams return to Bradley Center Saturday night for Game 2.
Contact heather.galindo@prohockeynews.com
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