Lead for Utica (without DeFazio): Thursday notes

Dodging raindrops, thunderclaps and requests for further updates on an 8-2 lacrosse game…

Sven Baertschi’s natural hat trick led Utica to a 4-1 win over Grand Rapids and a 2-1 series lead. One Cory Conacher finally scored his second goal of the playoffs to finish it off. Game 4 is Friday.

Brandon DeFazio sat out Thursday and will sit out Friday: He got two games for this hit on Grand Rapids’ Tomas Nosek.

And St. John’s has new colors for its Montreal affiliation.

Michael Fornabaio