The Eastern Conference series looked good on paper. They’re not going that way on ice. Carter Camper scored 31 seconds into overtime Wednesday, and the Bruins took a 3-0 lead over Wilkes-Barre with a 2-1 win. Trevor Smith scored for the Penguins, but that was the only one of 33 shots past Niklas Svedberg. A little further up I-81, Syracuse took a 3-0 series lead on Springfield, winning by that same score; Ondrej Palat had a short-handed goal eight seconds into the third period to make it 2-0 and assisted on the other two goals. Both series can end Friday. (Howard Dolgon would like to see more people in Syracuse for that.)
There’s a Western Conference series that could end Thursday: Oklahoma City actually trailed by a goal twice in Game 4, but they had the game’s last five to beat the Stars 7-3. Mark Arcobello scored twice, including the 2-2 goal on a breakaway out of the penalty box, and was named first star. The Barons can wrap it up at home. Still with a ways to go: Grand Rapids won a game that looks like a see-saw of momentum to take a 2-1 series lead over Toronto. They get back at it in Game 4 on Friday.
An IIHF piece with ref Marcus Vinnerborg; the World Championship quarters are all on NBCSN beginning at 6 a.m with USA-Russia.
Down Goes Brown’s Sean McIndoe on Those Games.
A few familiar officiating names working the Kelly Cup Final, which pits Reading, with former Sound Tigers PTOs Riley Gill and Ethan Cox, against Stockton, which includes Islanders draft pick Tony DeHart (rights lapsed). The series begins Saturday in Reading. (Fact from the final media guide that I don’t remember hearing: The Kelly Cup, like the Calder Cup, came from Boardman Silversmiths in Connecticut.)
And not to go all Ilya Bryzgalov on you — no, not that way — but out in space: This stinks. Hopefully they can make it work.