Aeros Will Need A Game 7

MILWAUKEE --- 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.

Trailing 3-0, the Aeros rallied to tie it up with three goals in just less than four minutes of play in the second period. After Houston called a timeout, the team began to chip away and finally got on the board at 9:42 of the second period on Jarod Palmer’s third goal of the playoffs. Maxim Noreau followed up 47 seconds later and then Jon DiSalvatore bagged a power play goal at 13:36 to knot the game at 3-3.

O’Sullivan scored in the third to put Houston up 4-3 at the 9:32 mark, but Milwaukee’s Chris Mueller answered back to force overtime with a goal at 15:16.

Houston outshot the Admirals for the sixth straight game and finished with a 33-21 advantage in regulation. Matt Hackett made 18 saves in goal for the Aeros, while Jeremy Smith made 29 stops in the winning effort.

Patrick O’Sullivan (1-2-3) and Jon DiSalvatore ( 1-2-3) notched three points each for Houston while Maxim Noreau chipped in with two points (1-1-2). Wilson (1-2-3) and Ryan Thang (0-4-4) led the Admirals in scoring.

BOMB DROPPINGS
Houston has outshot their opponents in nine of 10 playoff games including the last six straight… 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 1-6 in Game 6 situations and 1-10 all-time… 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… Patrick O'Sullivan has at least a point in all but two games during the postseason… This is the first time in Calder Cup Playoff action that the Aeros have gone to overtime in three straight games.

AEROS STARTERS
F – DiSalvatore, O’Sullivan, Rau
D – Prosser, Falk
G - Hackett

AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Penner, Lofquist, Foucault, Campbell, Fredheim, Morency, Buck, Kassian, Broda, Cuma, Daoust

NEXT GAME
West Division Finals – Game 7
Tue., May 10, 7 p.m.
Bradley Center

DECIDING GOAL
Wilson (1:01, OT)

POWER PLAYS
HOU: 1/4
MIL: 2/4

GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (18/23, L)
MIL: Smith (29/33, W)

SERIES
Tied 3-3