Let the border battle begin.

The Admirals open the American Hockey League Calder Cup playoffs with a best-of-seven series against rival Chicago beginning at 7:30 Friday night at the All-State Arena in Rosemont, Ill. Game 2 is slated for 4 p.m. Sunday in the same venue.

Milwaukee will play host Game 3 at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Game 4 at the same time the following night. If necessary, the teams will play Game 5 April 27 at Chicago. Game 6, if necessary, will be held April 28 at the Bradley Center. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 will be held May 1 at Chicago.

The Admirals, the defending Western Conference champs, have qualified for the playoffs in each of their years in the AHL except their first, which was 2001-'02. Milwaukee won the title in 2004.

This series will mark the fourth time in 10 seasons that the Admirals and Wolves have squared off in the post-season. The Wolves won in the International Hockey League Turner Cup playoffs in 1998 and 2001, but Milwaukee won a 4-2 series en route to the Calder Cup in 2004.

Tickets for the first two playoff games are on sale in person at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Bradley Center Box Office, and the Admirals office, by phone at (414) 276-4545, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Playoff packages are still available through the Admirals office. For more information go two milwaukeeadmirals.com.