The Admirals fans on hand at the Bradley Center for Game 3 of the West Division Semifinals had seen it before: diminutive right wing Darren Haydar, late in overtime, finding a way to score for the second time in the game and give his team a hard-earned victory.

Unfortunately for those fans, Haydar scored that goal while wearing the maroon and yellow sweater of the arch-rival Wolves.

After a four-season career in Milwaukee that seemed to be stalled when parent club Nashville didn't think he was big enough for the National Hockey League, Haydar signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers prior to the 2006-'07 season. The Thrashers assigned the fan-favorite to their American Hockey League affiliate ... the Wolves.

It was an adjustment at first to hear him be soundly booed by fans who at one time cheered his every step, but Haydar understands that it comes with the territory. It's also eerie to go up former teammates, many of whom he considers to still be close friends.

"Once your one the ice, not that it's fair game or anything like that, but some of the best fighters in the NHL good friends," Haydar says. "They respect each others job, they respect each others position. I think it's just one of those things, you have to go out there and do what you do."

During his time in Milwaukee, Haydar established himself as one of the AHL's premier play-makers. He was among the league leaders in scoring and was a go-to guy for the Admirals in the post-season.

Twice, he led an Admirals' offense that carried the team to the Calder Cup Finals. During the 2004 playoffs, he scored 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) as Milwaukee earned it's first-ever championship.

Two years later, Haydar led the team with 92 points and 35 goals during the regular season. He then outscored all other skaters in the playoffs, tallying a team-record 35 points as the Admirals advanced all the way to the Calder Cup Finals before falling to Hershey, 4-2.

His 77 playoff points established a franchise record. Including his two years with the Wolves, Haydar has 99 career post-season points, placing him fourth on the AHL's all-time list.

"I take pride in that," Haydar says of his playoff scoring. "The first 80 games, you prepare yourself for the playoffs. Me, especially, I love the playoffs, I love to win. It creates a real family atmosphere and it's just something I've done my whole life."

With the Wolves, he's continued that level of success. In his first campaign with Chicago, he led the AHL with 122 points (41 goals, 81 assists). Haydar was named to the AHL All-Star team and went on to win the Les Cunningham AHL Most Valuable Player award for his efforts.

"He's a great player," Chicago head coach John Anderson says. "He's really a student of the game and in the game, he thinks ahead of everybody else.

"It's what makes him such a special player ... he's just smarter than everybody else."

In 2007-'08, Haydar tallied 58 points in 51 games, but finally earned his first extended action in the NHL. He joined Atlanta for a 16-game stretch and recorded his first-ever NHL goal (against New Jersey on Oct. 13). Haydar finished with eight points.

A ninth-round draft pick (248th overall) by the Predators in 1999, Haydar's lack of size (5-9, 170 pounds) didn't make him a factor in Nashville's long-term plans. He had just one brief call-up while with the Admirals; a two-game stint which came during his rookie season.

"My goal was to play in the NHL and this year I got my first real crack," Haydar says. "It was great, I felt like I could play there regularly. It's just about being in a position to get the right opportunity."

Going to the Wolves wasn't meant to be a shot at the organization that gave Haydar his entry to professional hockey. He still has warm feelings for Milwaukee, where despite the occasional boos, he's still well-liked by fans.

"I played four years here and my time was exceptional," Haydar says. "Everybody treated me great so I really can't complain about that. Ownership, with Harris Turer and Jon Greenberg, coach Claude Noel ... they all treated me very well.

"I don't regret my time here at all. Not in any way."