(4)Florida Everblades 4 vs. (1)Reading Royals 1
Quarterfinals: Florida leads the best-of-seven series 2-1

D Charles Landry, FLA: 0-0-0, E, 0 SOG, 0 PIM
Playoff totals: 9 GP, 0-1-1, -2, 9 PIM
Season totals: 51 GP, 4-12-16, +7, 33 PIM

Florida took an early lead that Reading negated in the opening minutes of the middle frame but the Everblades converted two power play opportunities in a ten minute stretch spanning the second and third periods to pull ahead for good on the scoreboard. Florida later added an empty-netter. Everblades netminder Jesse Deckert, who has delivered uneven results against stiff competition following his prolific stint to close out the regular season, turned in a rock-solid performance, stopping 28 of 29 shots against. Deckert was especially strong during the final period of play when Reading managed a 13-5 shot advantage. Florida will have a chance to push the Eastern Conference's best regular season club to the brink of elimination in the friendly confines of German Arena come Friday night in Estero.

Official Recap | Box Score

We continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The Prospect of the Week for April 25 is … Tyler Johnson, C, Syracuse (AHL – USA).

Repeat.

For the second year in a row, a prospect in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization won the AHL’s Most Valuable Player Award as Tyler Johnson of the Syracuse Crunch was given the honor last week. Johnson follows Cory Conacher, last year's winner, as the second Bolt prospect to win the award. Conacher has since moved on to the Ottawa Senators organization via trade.

Louie Louie.

TOR-2
TB-5

Ben Bishop allowed 2 goals on 28 shots for the victory.

First Period
17:03 TOR Kessel (17), (Bozak)

Second Period
05:54 TB Stamkos (29), (Thompson, Carle)
15:48 TB St. Louis (14), (Thompson)
19:36 TOR Lupul (11), (MacArthur, Franson)

Third Period
03:13 TB Gudas (2), (Purcell, Stamkos)
13:08 TB St. Louis (15), (Aulie, Tyrell)
17:11 TB St. Louis (16), (Lecavalier)(EN)

Martin St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, and Nate Thompson were the game's three stars. What a treat for the Lightning fans who stuck it out and went to the game to get to witness one of the franchise's greats posting a hatter, and how appropriate he polishes it off from an assist from #4. Hold onto nights like these, Lightning fans.

Luckily, the Lightning are still in third-most-ping-pong-balls position by 1 point, and you love to see W's. Strategically speaking, though, they'll be potentially shooting themselves in the foot if they win either of their last two games. Now, I'm not saying they should lay down, but I do think they need to consider giving a close-up inspection of the ice surface.

Alex Killorn was -2 with 2 shots and 1 blocked shot in 16:33.

Richard Panik was -2 with 1 shot and 1 blocked shot in 14:14. He will be on the way to Syracuse for the playoffs.

Radko Gudas was +2 and blew smoke past Reimer on the slap shot for his goal. 1 shot, 4 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 15:35. He will be headed to Syracuse too.

Pierre-Cedric Labrie was +1 with 2 shots and 3 hits in 13:01.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

(2)Baie-Comeau Drakkar 3 @ (3)Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4
Best-of-7 Semifinals tied, 2-2

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM, 4 SOG, 1 Hit
Playoff totals: 13 GP, 7-5-12, +6, 29 PIM
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

The Armada tied their semifinal series with the Drakkar, scoring a 4-3 win on Wednesday night. Red Wings prospect Xavier Ouellet, a defenseman, had a hat trick for Blainville-Boisbriand. Cedric Paquette’s scoreless streak hit five games. He was 14 of 28 on faceoffs. Tuesday’s game was marred by a brawl after time expired. Both goalies were involved in the melee. Paquette received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a game misconduct penalty after the game. Game 5 is Friday.

Ontario Hockey League

(E1)Belleville Bulls 3 @ (E2)Barrie Colts 4 (OT)
Barrie leads Best-of-7 Eastern Conference Finals, 3-1

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Playoff totals: 12 GP, 1-4-5, +6, 21 PIM
Season totals: 66 GP, 4-18-22, E, 81 PIM
With Barrie: 28 GP, 2-6-8, -1, 42 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Barrie is one win away from reaching the OHL finals, thanks to an overtime goal by rookie Brendan Lemieux, his first of the playoffs. The Colts can close the series out on Friday in Belleville.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

(1)Halifax Mooseheads 3 @ (8)Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2 (OT)
Halifax leads Best-of-7 Semifinals, 3-0

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 0 Hits
Playoff totals: 13 GP, 9-11-20, +9, 10 PIM
Season totals: 33 GP, 29-34-63, +17, 14 PIM
With R-N: 27 GP, 26-27-53, +18, 12 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

For the second straight game Halifax won in overtime and for the second straight game the Mooseheads kept Nikita Kucherov off the scoresheet. Both accomplishments resulted in a 3-2 win for Halifax and a commanding 3-0 series lead. Jonathan Druin scored the game-winner off a give-and-go down low with Nathan MacKinnon. Both players are expected to go top-3 in this summer's draft and as of this posting the Lightning have a legitimate shot at one of them. The Huskies were outshot 49-24 in the game, including 11-1 in overtime. Their task is now even more monumental, having to win four straight against arguably the best team in junior hockey. Game 4 is Thursday.

(2)Baie-Comeau Drakkar 0 @ (3)Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3
Drakkar leads Best-of-7 semifinals, 2-1

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM, 2 SOG, 1 Hit
Playoff totals: 12 GP, 7-5-12, +6, 25 PIM
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

The Armada got back in the series with the Drakkar, shutting out the visitors for a 3-0 win. Paquette was scoreless and 9 of 21 on faceoffs. After his torrid start to the playoffs, he has not registered a point in four games. The Armada limited the Drakkar to 17 shots on goal on Tuesday. Etienne Marcoux (undrafted) had the shutout.