Milwaukee Admirals beat Texas Stars in OT, lead series 3-2

Can the Admirals show the Preds how to get the job done? As we prepare for overtime hockey in Anaheim, the boys from Milwaukee took care of business in their Game 5. Follow after the jump for the press release from the team...

Gabriel Bourque sent the game into overtime with a goal with just 4.4 seconds to play in regulation and Ryan Thang unleashed a slapper that beat Texas goalie Richard Bachman stick side at 16:29 of OT to give the Admirals a 2-1 win and 3-2 series lead. Game 6 will be Monday night at the Bradley Center at 7:00 pm.

Admirals netminder Jeremy Smith continued his stellar play, stopping a season high 40 shots, including 13 in overtime, to earn the victory.

For the first time since game 1, it was the Stars who scored first as Ray Sawada tallied a power-play marker at 10:20. Aaron Gagnon sent a pass from the left circle to Phillip Larsen in the slot, who tipped the puck towards the net and it deflected of the skates of Sawada before going between the legs of Ads netminder Jeremy Smith.

Neither team was able to capitalize on two power-play chances in a scoreless second as the Stars lead entering the third period for just the second time in the series.

Things were looking grim for the Admirals, until Bourque chipped the puck over the right shoulder of Bachman, tying the score and sending the game to OT. Steve Begin dumped the puck behind the Texas net, where it was chased down by Chris Mueller. Mueller found a crashing Bourque, who settled the puck with his stick and skate before scoring.

The two teams had numerous chances in overtime, with a combined 22 shots on goal, before Mark Van Guilder led a three-on-two rush into the Texas zone and dished to Thang, who skated with the puck before letting fly with the slapshot that was the game-winner.