Two more years for Atkinson

Cam Atkinson signed a two-year extension with the Blue Jackets. He’s had a nice year in Columbus.

Atkinson’s eligible to play for Springfield in the playoffs if the Jackets so desire. The Falcons’ series against Manchester begins Saturday. Friday, the first day of the AHL playoffs, the only Eastern Conference game was Hershey’s big win at Providence. The Bears chased Niklas Svedberg midway through the second period. Three games out West, two of which went OT (Brody Sutter on the winner; an assist for Mark Arcobello). (One of which didn’t — coincidentally the only home winner, behind Darcy Kuemper’s 36-save shutout.)

The Vancouver Province tossed out the idea of the Canucks’ putting their AHL team (the Peoria franchise) in, um, Vancouver. The story also illustrates the many things that could go wrong with that, including the obvious one less than 50 miles away.

Gwinnett tied its playoff series against Cincinnati. Game 5 is Saturday; Game 6 is Tuesday, and a possible Game 7 is the next night.

Riley Wetmore threw out the first pitch at Fenway Thursday.

Griffin Reinhart tweeted a postop pic.

RIP, Rick Camp and George Jones.

And it’s April 27, the seventh anniversary of the morning after the last time the Sound Tigers took a lead in a playoff series. Which I only remember (no pun intended) because of this. Sentiment therein reiterated.

Michael Fornabaio