The Big Club fell behind in the series with a 5-1 loss in Washington in Game 5. Griffin Reinhart made his playoff debut in place of Lubomir Visnovsky; Calvin de Haan left the game in the third, too. They’re playing for their lives on Saturday.
Manchester beat Portland 5-2 in their series opener; Sean Backman had an assist, for the local angle, but Vincent LoVerde had three points, and Jordan Weal and Brian O’Neill had two goals apiece. Out in OKC, a couple of late power-play, empty-net goals made it easy for the Barons in Game 1 against San Antonio. Shane O’Brien’s boarding major put the Barons on the power play, and a couple of other minors forced the Rampage to pull their goalie just to make it five-on-four in OKC’s favor.
Three Game 1s and a Utica-Chicago Game 2 on Friday.
Mike Souza was promoted to associate head coach at UConn.
Jeff Tambellini’s power-play goal tied it, and Vaxjo Lakers won the SHL championship in double overtime in Game 6 of the final. That’s Rhett Rakhshani’s team as well. Kirill Kabanov scored for Skelleftea, which had a 2-0 lead.
Philip Kemp of Greenwich (and Brunswick) was among those added to the U.S. NTDP as Under-17s. The other eye-catching name is Dylan St. Cyr, whose parents are former New Haven Senator Gerry St. Cyr and groundbreaking goalie Manon Rheaume.
And Hayley Wickenheiser had a poignant essay, along the lines of Daniel Carcillo’s yesterday, on the life and death of Steve Montador and what hockey can do for its athletes after the games end.