By Jason Karnosky

For the second straight year, the Admirals pulled off the improbable.

Trailing 2-0 in games in a five-game opening round series against Rockford, the Admirals reverse swept the IceHogs. Fedor Svechkov’s goal one minute and 38 seconds into overtime of Game 5 punched Milwaukee’s ticket in the American Hockey League (AHL)’s Central Division finals.

The Admirals will now face the Texas Stars, looking for their third straight berth in the Western Conference Finals.

“We’ve had a lot of these elimination games over the years, these moments, and you just have to keep playing if you are going to win them,” said Admirals coach Karl Taylor, who is now a remarkable 15-4 in elimination games as Milwaukee’s coach . “Rockford was as good as us, and they stared us down. We were fortunate to get the win.”

After a slow start against Rockford, Milwaukee’s top players shined as the tide turned. Svechkov got the overtime winner in the decisive Game 5—a clutch rebound tally that was his second goal of the contest.

“It seems like a bit of a tradition now, (two years in a row) going down 2-0, and then we win a series 3-2,” said Svechkov, who led Milwaukee with three goals in the series. “But this one was special because we won it in overtime. We all play hockey to experience these feelings, to play in all or nothing games.”

The Predators 2021 first-round pick is coming into his own as a 22-year-old goal scorer developing in the Nashville system.

“Svechy is a really good player, and he got two goals for us tonight,” said Taylor after Game 5. “Fedor got a big goal on the power play, on the push down on the rebound. But without his first goal in the second period, I don’t know if we come back in the game.”

Forward Ozzy Wiesblatt and defenseman Marc Del Gaizo also assisted on the winner, and each matched Svechkov with five points against Rockford. Kieffer Bellows led all Admirals with six points.

Five of Bellows’ points, including a hattrick, came in his team’s 6-2 victory in Game 3. That was the game that triggered the comeback against the IceHogs.

“Kiefer got three for us in Game 3, and then Ozzy and Svechy started feeling it a little bit and were playing well,” Admirals defenseman Marc Del Gaizo said. “Your best players have to be your best players and drive the group.”

All four of those players, Svechkov, Del Gaizo, Bellows, and Weisblatt carved out roles in Nashville late in the season, but returned to Milwaukee for the Calder Cup playoff run.

“We knew our backs were against the wall, but usually that brings out the best in you individually and your team,” Del Gaizo said. “We wanted to keep this thing going.”

The series comeback against Rockford embodied the resiliency the Admirals showed all year long. At times Milwaukee iced a shorthanded lineup this season, whether it be from injuries or call ups. But every time the Admirals faced adversity, they proved their mettle.

“Our team, when our backs are against the wall, we respond,” Milwaukee forward Kyle Marino said. “Whether we don’t have guys in our lineup, or we have this issue or that issue, we always respond. It has been that way all year.”

It is fitting that Milwaukee and Texas will faceoff with a spot in the Western Conference finals on the line. The two squads fought hard for the top spot in the Central Division throughout the AHL regular season campaign.

Late in the year the Stars had the inside track on the better record. However, the Admirals closed the season with five straight wins, and points in nine of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Stars sputtered to just four wins in their final 10 games. When Texas lost 1-0 to Manitoba in their final game of the regular season, Milwaukee completed another improbable comeback to claim a second-straight division title.

“Coming down the stretch it didn’t look like we were going to have a chance to finish first,” Admirals coach Karl Taylor said. “But the door opened, and the fellas decided to go and get it.”

The Stars cruised in their opening round matchup with Grand Rapids, except for needing double overtime victory in Game 3 to sweep the Griffins. Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Cameron Hughes and rookie Justin Hryckowian lead Texas with six postseason points so far, while defenseman Kyle Capobianco drove the Stars from the blue line.

Poetically, Milwaukee’s reverse sweep last year came against Texas. In that case, Milwaukee lost the first two games in Cedar Park, before roaring back with three straight home wins to advance to the Central Division finals.

“Down 2-0 to Rockford, we didn’t panic at all, and I think it helped us a lot having that experience last year against Texas,” Svechkov said. “Every good team can lose two games in a row, but we came back and won.”

Stars goalie Remi Poirier was in goal for all three of the Admirals wins in their 2024 postseason matchup. Poirier will be eager to face Milwaukee after starting in all three games of his team’s sweep of Grand Rapids.

During the regular season, both Texas and Milwaukee earned four wins in their eight matchups, with each team playing better on the other’s home ice.

“We’ve had some good series with Texas, and some good games throughout the year with them,” Admirals defenseman Spencer Stastney said. “They are going to be coming for us, but we feel the same way about them. We know they are a good team and have been for years.”

Former Stars goalie Matt Murray backstopped all four of Milwaukee’s wins against Texas. The 27-year-old veteran comes into the Central Division finals on a roll after winning three straight games and carrying Milwaukee during much of the clincher.

“Matt announced his presence in Game 5 with that save on a penalty shot in the early going,” Taylor said. “We knew he was going to have a strong game and hold down the fort for us.”

Svechkov and his teammates are eager to carry on their momentum and make the trip to the Lone Star state for Thursday night’s series opener.

“We’ll celebrate this series win for a little while, maybe for a few hours,” Svechkov said. “We will be ready for our first game in Texas.”

After two games in Cedar Park, the series will shift back to Panther Arena in Milwaukee next Wednesday night.