(If you missed the earlier news, NHL deal for Travis St. Denis this afternoon, two years.)
One series is over, and quickly. Toronto scored two first-period power-play goals and topped Syracuse 2-1, finishing off the Crunch in four games. Everybody else plays Wednesday, including Lehigh Valley and Charlotte: The Phantoms took a 2-1 lead in the series Tuesday with a 5-1 win behind Alex Lyon’s 34 saves.
At Worlds, two goals for Nino Niederreiter, but the Czech Republic beat the Swiss in a shootout. Wins for Finland, Slovakia and (with Kristers Gudlevskis backing up against Korea) Latvia. On Wednesday, Belarus plays with a new coach.
Off to Europe: Former SHU forward Justin Danforth and defenseman Ville Pokka. (Former Sound Tigers, for a combined one game.) Not off to Europe: Brian Strait stays with the Devils.
Locals chosen in USHL Draft Phase II*: Stamford’s Alex Mella to Madison, Mark D’Agostino of North Branford to Waterloo, Ryan Carmichael of Greenwich and Brunswick to Fargo. Fargo also selected one Skyler Brind’Amour of Raleigh, whose dad coaches some local team or something down there.
*-Phase III: Profit!