As Texas Knocks Off Milwaukee, No One Can Say They Didn't Earn Every Inch

(Credit: Milwaukee Admirals)

It's the day after the victory. My goodness, what a battle. When the playoff first started, our good friend out east, Jason Iacona, who has covered the WBS Penguins for as long as I've covered Texas, joked with me that whatever the length of this series, it would go the distance. 

Best of 5? It would take five games.

Best of 11? It would take all eleven.

There is a certain something in this matchup. Milwaukee and Texas have faced each other in the postseason more than enough times in team history, and they always play in the regular season. I would have argued that the Stars/Ads rivalry was one of those fought by medieval rules ten years ago. You know, the kind where the kings and queens set up on a high hill to watch their armies charge at each other on a predetermined date and time. It was polite and cordial, it seemed from the outside.

Now it's a no-hold-barred, street fight.

I think a lot of this had to do with the change in coaching personnel in Wisconsin. When the Admirals hired former Texas Stars assistant Karl Taylor, they picked up a fighter's mentality that they had not had before. By all accounts, Taylor engenders that mentality in his teams. The team got more physical while also finding more skill. 

These things tend to bleed through the organization as well. I would not be the first to comment that the Admirals social media presence has taken on a harder edge in the last five years, and fans who tuned into the opposition broadcast on FloHockey know that the words there were far from those of a neutral observer. Kole Lind and Cameron Hughes would certainly argue that.

The bare-knuckled nature of the battle made the victory all that much more sweet for Texas. Stars head coach Neil Graham was going to say all the right things to the media, and so were his players, but you've got to believe that the last two years were on their minds every single game this series, especially as they stepped into a decisive Game 5 without the benefit of home ice. Graham even said as much about the history after the game, "It’s been three years of trying to get through. Milwaukee, they’re a heck of a team. They’re well coached. All three years went to Game Five and I’m proud of the resiliency of our guys."

Just think back to what this rivalry has been. In 2022-23, we were all clearing our schedules for June. That Texas team was stacked to the top. Veteran talent, youthful energy. We were punching a ticket for the Calder Cup across the board.

Then Milwaukee stopped it cold dead in its tracks. Injuries didn't help but they still made it to Game 5 and had every chance to win and move on on home ice. Coach Graham called that team "the overall best group I've been a part of" at that point in his career.

Then last year, Texas went up 2-0 at home and just needed one win to make it through. They couldn't do it. That team faced more on-the-surface adversity than the one the year before. It was a tough road and again everything was in reach.

And so this year. It was a weird one, right? Texas seemed like it was going to win the division but then coughed up the ball on the 5 yard line. Head-to-head games against Milwaukee led to the reversal and anyone who knew the history had to be at least a little nervous at the prospect of yet another divisional matchup against Milwaukee.

They split at home. Milwaukee crushed Game 2 to make it feel worse. But then Texas won Game 3. There was hope! Game 4 was oh-so-close with a lead for most of the game until overtime snatched it away. 

And so there we were again. Everyone staring down the Game 5 matchup that we all had to know in our heart of hearts was truly an inevitability.

And then, with their backs fully against the wall, down by one, Texas found a spark. The league's leading goal scorer! Then the rookie of the year! It was 3-2 Texas with five to go and everyone just had to lock it down.

As journalists we are neutral in many regards, but you always want to cover more hockey when presented the option. The 100 Degree Hockey Slack was a ball of nerves.

And then, suddenly, they did it.

Regardless of what comes next, whoever Texas plays in the Conference Finals, this was a successful season. The Stars earned their spot atop the Central and showed that they are a hard-battling playoff breed. There will be more home games. There might be a Calder Cup. It all had to go through Milwaukee and finally, Texas punched their ticket.

What's Next?
The Stars actually find themselves in a rather odd position. With both Pacific Division teams still in it having finished ahead of them in the standings, the Stars will play on the road to start the Conference Finals no matter what. The first game will come as early as Thursday. You start to do the math on flying home and then back to Denver or Seattle.

And then you realize the team doesn't even know where they're going yet.

Either Loveland, CO, or Abbotsford, BC, will be the host of Game 1, but that series' final game will start this afternoon at 4:05 PM CT.

Flights will be feverishly booked this evening, and it's unlikely the team will even head home between series. For now, they await their next opponent in the Midwest, existing in the liminal state between rounds.