Just days before they begin their quest for the Calder Cup, the Admirals got a special delivery from parent-club Nashville.

The Predators, who just narrowly missed out on the final NHL Western Conference playoff berth, returned three players -- forwards Ryan Jones, Cal O’Reilly and Jed Ortmeyer -- to the team in time for its playoff opener Thursday night against Rockford.

All three of the returning skaters made significant contributions on offense and were a big reason the Admirals finished with 106 points (49-22-3-6), tops in the West Division and tied for the best mark in the American Hockey League.

Jones played in 46 games for the Predators in 2008-09, posting 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) best among the seven rookie skaters who played for the club this season. In 25 games with Milwaukee, Jones scored 13 goals and nine assists.

Ortmeyer has accumulated 23 points (10g-13a) in 55 games for Milwaukee this year and skated in a pair of contests with the Predators.  O’Reilly finished second on the Admirals roster with 69 points (13g-56a) in spite of missing the team’s last 12 games.  He played in 11 games with Nashville this season, his first in the NHL, contributing five points (3g-2a).

Game 1 of the best-of-seven West Division Semifinals is set for 7 p.m Thursday at the Bradley Center with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday.