More Pirates / playoffs continue: Thursday notes

Probably should’ve dropped this on the last post, but it was pretty fascinating and I don’t feel horrible about leading this post with it: The Press Herald’s final Wednesday-night lead on the Pirates’ departure is detailed and utterly fascinating. As I tweeted last night, count the agendas represented in this deal. The building, recently renovated at high cost. Former ownership. Staff. Fans. Springfield. Florida is tersely unhappy and considered buying the team. Charlie Pompea, who sold the Falcons, was looking to buy the team but keep it in Portland. (Not spoken here: if other reports are true that Bruce Landon, who was moved aside by the Falcons, is indeed involved, that just adds an angle and makes the whole thing spicier.)

That day comes to most minor-league cities at one point or another. You just hope it’s not quite that ugly.

The AHL’s division finals began Wednesday night in the East. The Penguins drew first blood at Hershey in a game that featured two penalty shots. Steve Oleksy has been sent back to the Penguins.

Up North, when I said Albany-Toronto was going to be a war, I didn’t mean a war of attrition. The Devils got the jump on the slightly more short-handed Marlies in Game 1.

Tonight in Cleveland, Grand Rapids and Lake Erie traded power plays in overtime. The Monsters got the second chance and made it count, Oliver Bjorkstrand’s goal giving Lake Erie a Game 1 win. Andy Miele got a penalty shot in the last minute after the Monsters knocked the net off, and where’s Dave Pasin when you need him? (Though this one would’ve won it, not tied it.)

Game 3 win over Missouri on Wednesday, taking a 2-1 series lead. They resume Friday.

The World Championship begins in the morning. USA-Canada is live on NBCSN at 9. Other games will be aired over the course of the tournament: here’s the schedule.

The NWHL’s Connecticut Whale announced they’re moving from Stamford to North Branford. They’ll play at Northford Ice Pavilion.

And from Buffalo, a story on David Leggio’s championship season in Germany, including some talk about last year.

Michael Fornabaio