The Aeros, apparently rusty after nine days off, dropped the first game of their seven-game series against the Milwaukee Admirals, 3-1, tonight. Bad first period, an early goal in the second and a great goaltending performance from Jeremy Smith doomed the Aeros.
Defenseman Jared Spurgeon left the game in the second period after taking a puck to the ear. No update yet from GM Jim Mill, but Spurgeon didn't return.
From the Aeros:
AEROS POSTGAME REPORT
APRIL 29, 2011: MIL 3, HOU 1
MILWAUKEE --- Ryan Thang and Steve Begin each registered a goal and an assist for the Milwaukee Admirals while Colton Gillies scored the lone goal for the Houston Aeros as the Admirals took a 3-1 victory in Game 1 of the American Hockey League's West Division Finals at the Bradley Center on Friday night.
Milwaukee opened up a 2-0 lead midway through the first period with goals 49 seconds apart. Begin scored first at the 9:49 mark and was followed with the eventual game-winner by rookie Taylor Beck at 10:30
Thang, who assisted on Begin's goal, was set up by Begin just 32 seconds into the third period to give Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.
Houston finally broke through later in the final period on Colton Gillies' third playoff goal at 6:53. The goal came during a delayed penalty on Milwaukee's Andreas Thuresson. Warren Peters and Patrick O'Sullivan assisted and O'Sullivan extended his post season scoring streak to five games with the helper.
