South Windsor’s Jon DiSalvatore slid to the front of the net to poke home the winner with 1:13 left in regulation, and Houston is on to the Calder Cup Final with a 4-3 win over Hamilton on Tuesday in Texas.
The schedule for the final round, from the league:
Game 1 – Friday – Binghamton at Houston, 8:35
Game 2 – Saturday – Binghamton at Houston, 8:35
Game 3 – Wednesday, June 1 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 4 – Friday, June 3 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Saturday, June 4 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 6 – Tuesday, June 7 – Binghamton at Houston, 8:05
*Game 7 – Thursday, June 9 – Binghamton at Houston, 8:05
All times Eastern. *-If necessary.
Former Sound Tigers forward (and fan favorite) Pascal Morency and defenseman Jamie Fraser are on the Aeros’ roster, but neither one has played for Houston in the playoffs. (Morency did dress for warmup in at least Game 6.) Former Sound Tigers broadcaster Rich Bocchini is in his first season as the Aeros’ public relations director, reaching the final for the second time.
Crazy night in Vancouver, where the Canucks tied it on a controversial late goal, and then in double-overtime, a Vancouver rim hit a stanchion and kicked to Kevin Bieksa at the center point, and his two-hopper of a shot skipped past Antti Niemi’s left skate as everyone on the ice tried to figure out where it was. Remarkable way to end a series. Either way, two former Sound Tigers have a chance to get their names on the Stanley Cup with Vancouver, Raffi Torres and Jeff Tambellini**. Sean Bergenheim needs a couple of wins on the other side to guarantee they’ll inscribe a former Sound Tiger’s name on the Cup, joining Eric Godard’s***.
No reaction from the Islanders on Blake Kessel. They were kinda busy today.
Victor Bartley signed with Nashville, his first NHL deal, after a year in Sweden. In the report from Sweden that apparently broke the news, Bartley appears to wonder how the guy found him. Those are always fun.
And RIP, Ian Jenkins and Barry Potomski.
**-Honorary mention, as usual, to Alex Burrows.
***-Jon Sim’s and Ken Sutton’s names are on there, too, but from the other side.