Rosemont, IL--The Milwaukee Admirals entered hostile territory hoping to leave the Allstate Arena with a playoff win that would have been their sixth win in a row on the Chicago Wolves’ home ice. But despite their perfect record against the Wolves on the road this season, the Ads stumbled early and couldn’t recover despite a third period rally that saw them score pair of goals. A goal shy of a comeback, the Ads lost to the Wolves 3-2 and felling to 0-1 in the West Division Semi-finals.

 From the opening faceoff on, the Wolves led a furious attack proving that sometimes your best defense is a good offense. Keeping the puck in Admirals’ end for most of the first period, the Wolves were able to out shoot the Milwaukee club 14-6.

 During the bombardment, Chicago netted the opening marker created by a high velocity shot by Andy Delmore from the point in the second minute of the first period. The shot rebounded off the leg pad of Admirals’ goalie Pekka Rinne and onto the stick of the AHL’s regular season goal scoring leader Brett Sterling. The forward slipped his shot past Rinne before the goalie could react, netting his first goal of the series.

 The Wolves added another, ten minutes later, as a collection of players from both teams clashed in front Rinne. Despite being screened, the Finnish netminder made the first save on a backhanded shot by Andre Deveaux that was able to find its way through the pile of players, but the rebound on his shot found its way out of the fray and between the faceoff circles where Chicago’s Kevin Doell waiting. Doell didn’t waste the opportunity as he extended the Wolves lead to 2-0.

 In the second period, Milwaukee followed up a failed two-man advantage by giving up another goal, giving the Wolves a commanding three-goal lead going into the final period.

 Sterling was given credit for the marker as he added to the Wolves lead on the powerplay with six minutes left in the second, beating Rinne to a bouncing puck in the crease for his second goal of the game.

 But despite being down three goals with only twenty minutes to play, the Ads didn’t give in to adversity as they gave their all to complete what almost was an incredible rally.

 The Ads began the rally three minutes into the third as Chris Durno scooped up Kim Staal’s rebound in the corner and made a quick pass to Cal O’Reilly crashing to the net. Garnett extended his pads to make the save on O’Reilly’s shot, but his reach wasn’t far enough to prevent the shot form reaching the back of his net.

 Minutes later Admirals’ leading scorer Rich Peverley emerged from the penalty box after a cross-checking infraction. Thanks to a heads up pass to the forward as he stepped onto the ice, Peverley was able to take the pass and brake for the net with only Garnett in front of him. Andy Delmore pulled Peverley down from behind before he could find his way to the twine, earning the Ads’ a penalty shot. Peverley used the opportunity to pull his team within one goal, lifting his shot over the shoulder of Garnett with twelve minutes left to play.

 As the third period wound down, the Ads were given one last chance to complete the comeback on a power play chance created by a goaltender interference call on Chicago right wing Guillaume Desbiens. But unable to crack the Wolves penalty-kill team all night, the Ads couldn’t complete the comeback.

 Milwaukee and Chicago will return to action at the Allstate Arena for game two of the best-of-seven series Sunday April 22nd at 4:00.