Admirals soar past Aeros in Game 6

MILWAUKEE 7, HOUSTON 0
Seven different Milwaukee skaters netted goals as the Admirals overwhelmed Houston with a 7-0 victory in Game 6 of the West Division Finals on Monday at the Bradley Center.

Defenseman Robert Dietrich had a goal and three assists for the Admirals, who have erased a 3-1 series deficit to force a decisive Game 7 on Wednesday.

After five close games to begin the series, Milwaukee was in control of this one throughout. Hugh Jessiman gave the Admirals a 1-0 lead 7:34 in, and Dietrich netted an unassisted goal for his first score of the playoffs at 12:52.

That goal chased Houston starting goaltender Anton Khudobin in favor of Nolan Schaefer, who made his first appearance since Mar. 31.

It made no difference, as Patric Hornqvist made it 3-0 for Milwaukee at 18:10 of the first, and the Admirals tacked on three more tallies in the second frame and one in the third.

Bryan Smolinski, Mike Santorelli, Cody Franson, and Ryan Maki rounded out the Admirals’ scoring. Franson and Hornqvist each finished with a goal and a helper, and Nick Spaling chipped in two assists.

Houston’s power play, which went a perfect 3-for-3 in Game 5, was held scoreless on eight opportunities Monday. Admirals goaltender Drew MacIntyre stopped all 21 shots to record his first shutout of the playoffs after surrendering one goal in a game on six occasions.

Game 7 is set for Wednesday at the Bradley Center, with the winner advancing to take on Manitoba in the Western Conference Finals beginning this weekend.