Editors note: This is the third installment of "Admirals Playoff Diary," OnMilwaukee.coms exclusive look at the Milwaukee Admrials as they progress through the American Hockey League playoffs in search of their second Calder Cup championship in three years.
HOW GREAT ARE THE PLAYOFFS IN HOCKEY? How fun has Milwaukee's run this spring been? The team is only in the second round and three different goaltenders have won games: Brian Finley, Jake Moreland and Pekka Rinne. At the time of this writing, one other team had used three: Hartford. Five others used more than one goalie: Grand Rapids, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Syracuse, Manchester and Providence.
Forward Rane Carnegie, like many of the Admirals, is a huge fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. Carnegie actually threw out the first pitch at a Jays' game in 1993. Rane still has a ball that was signed by that entire team, which eventually won the World Series on Joe Carter's dramatic homer off Mitch Williams. Carnegie was just released from his contract as Scottie Upshall, Jordin Tootoo, Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne were reassigned by Nashville to Milwaukee.
Tootoo's goal with 13.9 seconds left against Houston was awesome. After he scored the game-winner, he hustled to his bench and leaped into the waiting arms of his teammates, a move I called the "Admirals Aerial." (I've lived here long enough to know that nearly everything has to have a nod to the Packers). I have a hard time thinking that any 4 minutes, 37 seconds of a segment in sports could have been more exciting than that span to end the third period in the first game against the Aeros.
A funny moment occurred on the bus in Des Moines. The topic of growing playoff beards came up. Darren Haydar said he couldn't handle the neck hair. Paul Brown said he's letting it all grow, but admitted it was tough to sleep. Then, Brown turned to 19-year-old rookie Cal O'Reilly and asked what his plans for facial hair were. O'Reilly claimed he was working on it.
Sean McAslan joined the Admirals in time for game three of the playoff series against Iowa. McAslan, who was with the Admirals for two games in San Antonio during the beginning of April, joined Milwaukee after his ECHL season ended. He flew from Long Beach, by way of LAX, to Des Moines. He landed safely that Monday and made it to the rink in time to skate, but his equipment didn't. The coaches wanted him in the lineup, so he used Scott May's backup skates and was loaned shin pads, shoulder pads and elbow pads by the Stars. He skated a few shifts and admitted to me it was very difficult to use different equipment.
One of the funniest bits I've ever seen on Saturday Night Live is regularly featured on the scoreboard at the arena in Des Moines. To get the fans rowdy, they play the sketch where Patrick Swayze (Adrian) takes on Chris Farley (Barney) for a spot as a Chippendales' dancer. The place goes up for grabs, every time.
When Shea Weber returned to Milwaukee, I spoke to him about coming back from Nashville. He said he was disappointed Nashville couldn't advance past San Jose in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, he was quick to add that he felt lucky to still be playing hockey and helping a team win a championship. That's a pretty refreshing attitude in this day and age of pro sports, isn't it?
Finally, the Admirals' Darren Haydar continues to accumulate points at an astonishing pace. Haydar was one of only six players in the AHL to post more than 90 points (one of three that doesn't play for Houston). He was one of only 24 players to play in at least 50 AHL games and average at least a point per game (Milwaukee's Libor Pivko was also on this list). Haydar is the all-time scoring leader in AHL play for Milwaukee with 276 points in 293 games.
That's all for now. Thanks for checking the "Admirals Playoff Diary." We'll do this again very soon.
