A different kind of 15-year drought ends Thursday, when Toronto hosts Texas in the first Calder Cup Final Game 7 since 2003. The Stars withstood a Toronto first-period push, scored three in the second, had a quick answer for Marlies goals in the third, and beat Toronto 5-2 Tuesday night at Ricoh. Colin Markison had an empty-netter (I was listening rather than watching, but thought the Stars’ fourth goal had been an empty-netter, too) to finish it off, 72 seconds after the Marlies cut the lead to two with an extra-attacker tally. Mike McKenna made 43 saves.
Toronto has led the series 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2. They’re going to want to keep that up.
Houston beat Hamilton in that last seven-game final, which included what at the time was the longest game in AHL history (Game 2, ended by Hamilton’s Michael Ryder 74:56 into overtime). It has been eclipsed twice, including that one earlier this year in Charlotte.
Elsewhere, Monster Jam in October at Harbor Yard. Inescapable, inevitable dust earlier than usual.
The Big Club hired Steve Pellegrini, a Cap Guy who worked for Lou Lamoriello in Jersey, as a second assistant general manager.
Marek Mazanec, who helped settle down the Wolf Pack after a rough start in net, re-signed with the Rangers.
Jeff Daniels, onetime Beast of New Haven captain, was named an assistant coach in Raleigh.
Congratulations to Bill Ballou, logically given the ECHL Outstanding Media award.
Referee Garrett Rank tees off at 7:18 at the U.S. Open on Thursday morning on the back nine. He’ll tee off at the first hole on Friday at 1:03 p.m.
Your routine player’s girlfriend allegedly trolling teammate’s wife over stillborn son story. Just weird, one way or the other, or as Bob McKenzie more rightly says, horrendous either way.
And congratulations to our buddy Stan Capp and teammates, and special thanks to Paul Ryan for finishing the job…