Aeros-Admirals play Game 7 tonight in Milwaukee

Morning.

For the second time in three years, the Aeros and Admirals will play a Game 7 of the AHL West Division Finals tonight in Milwaukee. The game is at 7 p.m. if you're making the trek.

The winner plays Hamilton in the Western Conference Finals.

The Admirals will be loading up, too. Because Nashville was eliminated last night by Vancouver, the Predators are expected to reassign four players, including Matt Halischuk and Blake Geoffrion, who are two key cogs.

I went to Milwaukee the last few days for a sitdown with the impressive Mike Yeo. Here's my feature on the Houston coach. By the way, I get lots of questions on his last name/background. His last name comes from the word, "Yeoman," and it's pronounced, "Yo."

And here's a preview for the game from Houston PR:

MAY 10, 2011
HOUSTON AEROS (2nd seed, West Division)
at MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS (1st seed, West Division)
BEST-OF-7 (TIED 3-3)
BRADLEY CENTER (7 p.m. CST)

HOW THEY GOT HERE
Houston swept Peoria Rivermen 4-0 while the Admirals edged the Texas Stars in six games.

AEROS TEAM NOTABLES
--- Each of the last three games has gone to overtime, which set an Aeros playoff record.
--- In Calder Cup Playoff action, the Aeros are 10-7 in games when they can eliminate an opponent.
--- Since joining the AHL, the Aeros are 4-0 in Game 7 situations. All four wins have been on the road.
--- Houston has outshot their opponents in nine of 10 playoff games including the last six straight
--- Game 5 was the 14th-longest overtime game in Aeros history.
--- Opponents have scored first seven times, but the Aeros have won five of those games.
--- The Aeros are 4-1 in games decided by one goal.
--- Houston is 3-0 when leading after two periods, 2-2 when trailing after two and 2-1 when tied after two.

AEROS PLAYER NOTABLES
--- Robbie Earl's two-goal effort in Game 5 was the 30th time an Aeros player has scored twice in a postseason game. Earl notched three assists in Game 3, just one shy of a team playoff record. He has six assists in the last five games.
--- Patrick O'Sullivan had 12 shots in Game 5 and set a new team record in the process. He has at least a point in all but two games.
--- Colton Gillies scored twice in Game 3 and became the 29th Aeros player to record two goals in a playoff game. No Aero has ever scored a hat trick in postseason play.
--- Carson McMillan has two overtime game-winners this postseason and is the first Aero to ever record multiple OT game-winners the playoffs.
--- Brett Bulmer, Minnesota's second round draft pick in 2010, made his pro debut on April 28 at MIL in Game 1.

NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
West Division Final – Series "L" (best-of-7)
W1-Milwaukee Admirals vs. W2-Houston Aeros
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 29 – Houston 1 at Milwaukee 3
Game 2 – Sun., May 1 – Houston 2 at Milwaukee 0
Game 3 – Tue., May 3 – Milwaukee 5 at Houston 3
Game 4 – Thu., May 5 – Milwaukee 2 at Houston 3 (OT)
Game 5 – Fri., May 6 – Milwaukee 2 at Houston 3 (OT)
Game 6 – Sun., May 8 – Houston 4 at Milwaukee, 5 (OT)
Game 7 – Tue., May 10 – Houston at Milwaukee, 7:00

AEROS GOALIES
--- Matt Hackett went 4-0 in the first round versus PEO with a 1.68 GAA and .932 SV%.
--- Hackett is 3-2 on the road with a 2.42 GAA and .895 SV%. At home, Hackett is 4-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .890 SV%.
--- Hackett's 21-save shutout in Game 2 was his first as a pro in the postseason and Houston's first since May 7, 2009, when the Aeros blanked the Admirals 2-0 at Toyota Center in Game 4 of the West Division Finals. It was their 14th shutout overall.
--- Hackett went 1-1-1 against the Admirals (2-1 SOL, 3-2 OTW, 5-1 L) in the regular season.
--- Josh Tordjman was 4-1-0 in six overall appearances during the regular season.

LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
The Houston Aeros rallied back from a 3-0 deficit, but Kelsey Wilson's goal just 61 seconds into overtime gave the Milwaukee Admirals a 5-4 win over the Aeros on Sunday at Bradley Center in Game 6 of the American Hockey League's West Division Finals. The best-of-seven series is now tied at 3-3 and the teams will square off in a decisive Game 7 on Tuesday at Milwaukee at 7 p.m. The turbulent game saw the Aeros battle back from a 3-0 deficit, take a 4-3 lead in the third period and then allow the tying goal with 4:44 left in regulation.

AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Is 6/30 versus MIL… Went 3/24 in the opening round… Ranked 6th (20.2%) in the regular season… Jon DiSalvatore led the team with 14 PPG… Finished the season with goals in six-straight to set a season-high streak (18/45)…Also had goals in six-straight from Feb. 22-Mar. 4… Had multiple PPG in 16 games and was 12-2-0-2 in those games.

PENALTY KILL --- MIL is 3/26 in the series… The Ads scored a SHG in Game 5… PEO went 3/12 on the PP in the first round… Ranked 22nd (81.0%) in the regular season… Carson McMillan led the team with three SHG… Opponents were 16/46 on the PP in the final eight games of the season… Allowed at least a goal in a season-high seven straight (Mar. 22 – Apr. 2)… Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23.

REGULAR SEASON SERIES NOTES
--- The Aeros went 2-3-0-1 (2-1-0-0 at home, 0-2-0-1 on the road).
--- HOU went 5/30 on the PP while MIL went 7/26.
--- MIL won three games in regulation while wins for HOU came in extra time (one OT, one SO)
--- MIL scored five goals against the Aeros twice while HOU scored four goals once.
--- Five of the six games were decided by one goal, with the lone exception being a 5-2 win by MIL on April 1.
--- Patrick O'Sullivan led the Aeros (5-2-7) in scoring while Chris Mueller (3-4-7) led the Admirals.
--- MIL scored the first goal in four of the six games. HOU was 1-1-0-0 when scoring first.