There was a somewhat surprising announcement before last night's Milwaukee Admirals game against the Coachella Valley Firebirds as head coach Karl Taylor decided to start Devin Cooley in net for game three at home.
Yaroslav Askarov had a rough start to game two in Palm Springs on Saturday night, and the Admirals dropped that game by a score of 5-3 giving the Firebirds a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series. The Admirals looked a step behind in their first two games on the road, but the return to UWM Panther Arena - and perhaps the change in net - helped spark the Admirals return to the style of play that helped them get to the Western Conference Finals. Milwaukee defeated the Firebirds 3-1 to take game three.
Despite two power play opportunities for Milwaukee in the first period, neither team got on the board until Shane Wright scored at 4:08 to give Coachella Valley the lead early in the second period. Just over three minutes later Marc Del Gaizo evened the game up with a shot through traffic that bounced past Firebird goaltender Joey Daccord. Joakim Kemell gave Milwaukee the lead at 16:08 in the second with a shot from the high slot, and Keaton Thompson scored from the blue line at 5:39 in the third period to earn the Admirals the 3-1 victory.
Cooley played well in net, coming up big in the third period on three quick shorthanded chances and saving 28-29 shots in the game. He credited the non-game players and coaching staff for providing the intensity in practices that kept him ready to start in net after backing up Askarov for nearly five weeks.
The Admirals weren't able to convert four power play opportunities this game, but their overall performance was the best of this series so far.
"I thought we played a heck of a hockey game today, and the guys were ready to play from the start," head coach Karl Taylor said after the game. "I thought we kept our foot on the gas. I thought we played an excellent game."
The win comes after the Admirals suffered two disappointing losses on the road against the Firebirds.
"Now we know we can beat this team," Taylor continued. "We have belief, and we feel good about what we're doing. We're excited for the next opportunity."
Milwaukee will have a chance to even the series when they face Coachella Valley again on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 pm CST at home for game four.
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