MILWAUKEE, WI – Facing elimination and down three games to two in the series the Milwaukee Admirals had something to prove in Game 6 of the West Division Finals. And prove something they did in their 7-0 whitewashing of the hapless Houston Aeros on Monday night. While the Admirals put on 60 minutes of solid, hard-working hockey, the game never really started for the Aeros. The shots were 12-5 and 12-6 in favor of Milwaukee in the first two periods and in both frames, the Admirals scored three times. Aeros starting goaltender Anton Khudobin was yanked after just 13 minutes and two goals against in favor of Nolan Schaefer, who had to knock off some rust after being out of game action since late March due to an injury. Schaefer let in five goals but looked steadier as the game went on. “It wasn’t really a goalie switch because of a bad goalie,” said Houston head coach Kevin Constantine. “Sometimes you change goalies just to try to change momentum, something, karma… It didn’t work very good, but that’s what we were trying to do.” After allowing Houston to score three power play goals in three chances on Saturday, Milwaukee held the Aeros off for all eight man advantage opportunities in this one. The absence of spark-plug forward Krys Kolanos due to a lower body injury was felt throughout the game but especially on special teams, though he is expected to return on Wednesday. All seven Milwaukee goals came from different players, though defenseman Robert Dietrich had a stellar night with the second goal of the game, unassisted off a Marco Scandella turnover at the Aeros blue line, and three assists. Hugh Jessiman opened the scoring at 7:34 in the first with a short side goal that surprised Khudobin. Patric Hornqvist got the helper on that goal and potted one of his own when he banged a rebound in blocker side on Schaefer near the end of the first period. Bryan Smolinski, the hero of Saturday’s win, nabbed the only power play marker of the game on a Mitch Love roughing penalty. He shot a rocket from the point past a screened Schaefer to put the game up 4-0. Then Mike Santorelli and Cody Franson wrapped up the second period with the fifth and sixth goals, both on plays that got Schaefer on the move and slightly out of position. The only third period goal came from Ryan Maki who scored his first goal of the playoffs. Nick Spaling got his second assist of the night on the goal, with another helper to Triston Grant. Constantine tends to lean on his hottest goalie at the moment, which leaves Wednesday’s starter in question, as neither are particularly hot. “We’ll talk it over as a staff and try to let the goalie know by (Tuesday) so he can be ready for Game 7,” he said after Monday’s game. The teams meet in Milwaukee a final time for Game 7 on Wednesday.
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