To open the second round, appropriate for May 10, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Providence apparently played lacrosse. Yeah, 8-5 Bruins. Jonathan sums it up. Dylan Reese was lost to a Bobby Robins hit. Chad Kolarik scored the first goal on a penalty shot after Kevan Miller was called for gloving the puck in the air above the crease, reminiscent of a call we saw in Bridgeport against Jon Gleed in an eventful night almost four years ago.
Three points for the MVP tonight, Tyler Johnson. Curtis McElhinney, my vote for MVP, got chased midway after giving up five goals on nine shots — the fifth by Johnson himself. So much for that (for one night). First blood to Syracuse. Out west, Grand Rapids played a repeat against a different opponent, blowing Toronto out of the water; three guys with three points, making league history.
Everybody plays Saturday. Sunday’s a clean travel day.
The Islanders play Saturday and, if they win then, Sunday. Saturday’s game will air on WFAN-AM 660 and WFAN-FM 101.9.
At the Worlds, Russia’s on a sudden two-game losing streak: Finland takes over the lead in the pool with a 3-2 win behind Antti Raanta’s 34 saves. Petri Kontiola had two goals and is one off Ilya Kovalchuk’s six for the tournament lead; he’s that tiebreaker behind for the scoring lead (and that tiebreaker ahead of Steven Stamkos). Stunning in a different way: Austria beats Slovakia in a shootout. I think the math stands: U.S. win Saturday, German loss, and the U.S. is through to the quarters. In the other pool, the Czech Republic and Canada won, expectedly if not particularly easily. (Though I guess Belarus’ 10 shots would indicate some kind of ease.)
Halifax won the QMJHL tonight, moving on to the Memorial Cup next week in Saskatoon. Barrie had a chance to join them tonight, but lost Game 5 of the OHL final to London; Islanders draft pick Mitchell Theoret had a goal in defeat. Portland could’ve finished off the WHL final, but Edmonton, minus injured Griffin Reinhart, won in overtime.