Milwaukee, Wis. - Marc Del Gaizo and Fedor Svechkov scored, but the Milwaukee Admirals were unable to overcome an early four-goal rally from the Coachella Valley Firebirds and ultimately dropped Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals by a 5-2 decision.
“It just seemed like we couldn't get out of our own way in the first period,” Admirals Head Coach Karl Taylor said. "And that's what happens. You get exposed at this time of the year and it’s hard, but you’ve got to stay on it. That team doesn't need a lot of chances to score and they're showing that. So for us, there were some good things as the game went on. We didn't go away, we kept trying and kept pushing. I liked how the guys stayed together, trying to come back into the game. But close is not very good at this time of the year.”
The result sees the Nashville Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate pushed to the brink of elimination in their best-of-seven series against Coachella, with a do-or-die Game 4 set for UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Thursday.
“We’ve got to just stick with it,” Del Gaizo said. “It's all about us in the room and the leadership. We have really good leadership and it's going to be a really gutsy effort here on out. And the leaders are going to have to drag everyone into the fight. We’re going to go out swinging, for sure.”
QUICK HITS
A Shaky Start
Though they mounted a gutsy comeback effort in the second and third periods, an unanswered four goals scored by the visitors within the game’s first 22 minutes - and on their first 12 shots - proved too much to overcome for the Admirals.
“We go out first shift and they got a goal and we weren't able to stop the bleeding and didn't give our goaltender a chance there,” Del Gaizo said. “[Troy Grosenick] has been unbelievable for us all playoffs and all season and we just couldn't give him a chance tonight.”
“They scored four goals on 12 shots, that's not a reflection of our goal at all,” Taylor said. “[We gave Coachella] two 2-on-1s and Grade-A opportunities that we can't give up against a veteran, savvy team that can really make you pay. There was lots of good in the game, but we weren't close enough. You can’t put yourself behind the eight ball that early in the game at this time of year, that’s for sure.”
Prospect Goals
Despite the result, Tuesday evening saw three Predators prospects crack the scoresheet for Milwaukee.
Crashing the net behind a breaking Wade Allison and collecting a last-second dish in front of the crease, Del Gaizo scored his fourth of the postseason to get the home team on the board in the second period. Forward Reid Schaefer picked up his second assist of the postseason, chipping the puck ahead to Allison to kickstart the play.