The Bucks may not have brought home another trophy this year – but Milwaukee still has a shot at some hardware in another, colder sport. Right now, the Milwaukee Admirals are down 3-0 to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the American Hockey League playoffs. Thursday’s elimination game at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena could spell the end of the team’s so-far thrilling run, but if the Admirals pull off a four-game winning streak, they can still clinch a trip to the Calder Cup Finals later this month.
Will Milwaukee wrest victory from the icy jaws of defeat?
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The Admirals have been fighting tooth and nail this season. After a hard-fought 3-2 series win against the Texas Stars, the Admirals took on their longtime rivals, the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Central Division Semifinals. Both teams have a storied past going back to the 1996-97 International Hockey League season – they’ve met 220 times in regular seasons, with the Griffins winning 113 of those games, while the Admirals lagging a little behind at 107. But thanks to forward Zach L’Heureux, the Admirals notched another win.
L’Heureux, a rookie this year, has proved himself integral to the team, earning 13 postseason points, the most out of any player in the league. L’Heureux led the Admirals to win 3-2 against the Griffins, cementing the Admirals first place standing in the Central Division and sending the team to the Western Conference Finals, where they’re now facing the Firebirds.
The Firebirds reached the top of the Pacific Division with a 9-1 record. While the Firebirds have won all three games against the Admirals so far, L’Heureux and Milwaukee center Fedor Svechkov haven’t given the Firebirds uncontested victories. L’Heureux scored in the first game against the Firebirds, while Svetchkov assisted forward Ozzy Wiesblatt’s score in game two, with Svetchkov himself scoring in game three.
Tickets for Thursday’s elimination game are available online.
