MILWAUKEE, WI – The Milwaukee Admirals jumped out to a one game to nothing lead in their first round series, dropping the Texas Stars 5-2 in front of 2587 fans at the Bradley Center. The game was expected to be a tight defensive battle, but Milwaukee had other ideas.
Both teams followed the expected script during the first ten minutes of the game; each team only putting three pucks on net. Texas opened the scoring with a power play goal by Aaron Gagnon at 9:48. Milwaukee tied the game on a Gabriel Bourque goal at 14:22, and then took a 2-1 lead minutes later when Chris Mueller scored on the Admiral’s only power play of the game.
“We started the game really strong, and even scored the first goal” Stars’ defenseman Max Fortunus said. “But when they got their chances, they put them in (the net). And their goalie made some really big saves.”
The Admirals added two more goals in the second period by Ryan Thang and Bourque, knocking Stars’ goaltender Richard Bachman out of the game. Bachman was replaced by Tyler Beskorowany who stopped all but one shot that he faced.
Mathieu Tousignant tried to get the Stars back in the game with an early third period goal, but was matched by Mueller at 9:26.
Bourque and Mueller each had two goals and two assists, and were the game’s first and second stars respectively. Admiral goaltender Jeremy Smith stopped 22 of 24 shots and was the game’s third star.
“It was frustrating,” Stars’ forward Ray Sawada said. “We weren’t going to the right places at the right time. It’s just one game, but I thought some of those goals were preventable.
Game two is Saturday night in Milwaukee.
In other first round action, Portland, Manchester, Charlotte and Hamilton all won and all lead their first round series one game to none.
Contact the writer at: mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com
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