Unlike Saros and Lankinen - both native Finns - Askarov and Cooley's relationship didn't start with the benefit of a shared nationality - or even a shared language.
But put the Omsk, Russia and Los Gatos, California natives out on a sheet of ice together and pretty soon those differences melt away.
"It's a really good marriage for the two of them," Nichol said. "I think they've grown immensely because of it, and they push each other. I think all you want is internal competition. We have it within our forward and defense groups and you want it with your goaltenders too. And for them it's really paid off."
The pair of netminders concluded their 2022-23 campaign with a combined 41 wins, effectively backstopping their team to a second-place finish in the American League's Central Division, despite a rotating door of call-ups and reassignments from Nashville.
That level of consistency between the pipes is an asset most clubs only dream of - and certainly won't hurt Milwaukee's postseason chances when the action starts against the Manitoba Moose on Friday.
"It's comforting," Ads Head Coach Karl Taylor said. "It allows you to play as a defenseman or as a forward with the right amount of looseness to be able to be offensive and to know that some of your mistakes will be covered up by the goaltender. The balance is making sure you don't rely on it too much or go back to that well - but it does allow your team to play in a correct manner."
While Askarov is likely poised to receive the majority of starts in the upcoming series, Cooley's value in the postseason can't be understated either.
In his debut Calder Cup Playoffs appearance last season, Cooley jump-started Milwaukee's best-of-five series against the Moose, collecting a pair of wins in Games One and Two and propping his team up for the eventual series win.
Cooley concluded his first postseason run with a 3-2-0 record, a .926 save percentage, a 2.96 goals-against average and an invaluable insight into the heightened competition of playoff hockey - insight that will undoubtedly provide both a better-than-average fallback option for the Admirals and another great resource for their young starter.
"That's what you want, is some experience," Nichol said. "If you look at the NHL playoffs right now, it's up and down. If you have a good game or a bad game, you've just got to rinse it and move on. So I think it's good for Askarov to have somebody to lean on in Cooley, who's been there and who had a great first round against Manitoba last year."
With Game One of the Central Division Semifinals just days away, Askarov and Cooley are eager to put their skills - and their unique bond - to the test.
"Both boys are ready to play," Taylor said. "We have two very good options, and quite honestly, the guys are chomping at the bit to get started."
The action begins Friday, April 28 as the Ads take on the Moose at Winnipeg's Canada Life Centre at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can tune in to postseason action by
purchasing an AHLTV Playoffs All-Access subscription
or by following the
