The Admirals and Aeros play game two of the West Division Finals tonight at the Bradley Center. Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the series Friday night, winning the opener, 3-1, behind first-period goals from Steve Begin and Taylor Beck – scored just 41 seconds apart and a third period goal by Ryan Thang. Jeremy Smith finished with 25 saves in the contest.

The puck drops tonight at 5, and tickets are still available. You can call the Admirals office (414) 227-0550, buy online at milwaukeeadmirals.com or pick them up at the Bradley Center box office.

Let it begin: Begin's goal Friday was his first since a November 28 game in San Antonio. Begin also earned an assist on Ryan Thang's goal, giving him his first multi-point game as an Admiral. Begin, who missed much of the regular season due to injury, is a veteran of over 485 NHL games and won the AHL Playoff MVP award with the St. John Flames in 2001. In 36 contests with the Admirals this year he totaled six points (3g-3a) and 30 penalty minutes.

It's your Thang: Ryan Thang also posted a goal and an assist on Friday night and currently ranks third on the team in post-season scoring with six points (3g-3a). Thang carries four-game point streak into the game tonight, a streak which includes the game-winner in overtime in Game 5 against Texas, and he leads with Admirals with a plus-10 rating in the playoffs. During the regular season the Notre Dame alum led Milwaukee rookies with 41 points (14g-27a) and was plus-17.

Elevating his game: Goaltender Jeremy Smith continued his stellar post-season play by making 25 saves to earn the win in Game 1 against the Aeros. Smith stopped 207 Texas shots in the first round, including 52 in the double overtime series finale, and posted a 1.89 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in the six-game set. Smith ended the regular season with a 16-8-2-2 record to go along with a 2.26 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Welcome to Milwaukee: Ryan Ellis, Nashville's 2009 first round pick, got off to a good start with the Admirals, earning an assist in his first pro game on Friday. Ellis recently completed a stellar four-year career with the Windsor Spitfires where he was named OHL Defenseman of the Year two times, including this season when he became the first blueliner since 1993-94 to top 100 points. He finished the 2009-10 season with 101 points on 24 goals and 77 assists in just 58 games and ended his career with 314 points (73g-241a) in 226 career contests.

Kill 'em off: The Admirals' penalty killing was a point of concern in the first round after surrendering  at least one power-play goal in each game, allowing seven power-play goals in 32 opportunities  (78.1 percent). However in Game 1 against Houston, the Admirals turned aside all five of the Aeros' power-play attempts, including 4-on-3 advantage for 1:50 during the second period.

Van the Man: With an assist on Begin's goal Friday, center Mark Van Guilder extended his point streak to four games (2g-2a), which includes the series clinching goal in double-overtime on Monday night in game six against Texas. Last season, Van Guilder helped the Cincinnati Cyclones capture the Kelly Cup and in his first full season with the Admirals has posted 17 points (10g, 7a) and ended the year with a plus-7 rating.

Playoff history: The Admirals and Aeros have squared off four times in the post-season, most recently in 2009 when Houston outlasted the Milwaukee in seven games, winning the decisive contest on the Bradley Center ice. In 2006, Milwaukee swept the Aeros, 4-0, on their way to the Calder Cup Finals, while in 2003 it was Houston sweeping the Admirals, 3-0, en route to the Calder Cup Championship. The teams first met in the post-season in 1998, when the Admiras took out the Aeros, 3-1, in the first round of the IHL playoffs.

Short shifts: The Admirals 16-28 all-time in the second game of a playoff series. They're 11-10  at home and  7-10  in the American Hockey League ...  Since joining the AHL the Admirals have posted a 20-7 record in the month of May, including a 10-4 mark at the Bradley Center ... Milwaukee finished the regular season with 102 points and earned the top seed in the Western Conference, while Houston was close behind the Ads in second with 98 points ... Milwaukee is in the playoffs for the ninth straight season and the 31st time in the last 34 seasons ... Including Friday, the team's all-time playoff record stands at 98-125 and since joining the AHL in 2001, the Admirals have tallied a 52-39 mark with a 30-18 record at home.