News

Flat Lightning give Capitals swagger heading into the playoffs.

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TB-3

Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed 6 goals on 35 shots for the loss. He couldn't save the team in front of him the way he did the last time he faced this opposition.

First Period
7:24 WSH Backstrom (20), (Wilson, Djoos)
10:45 WSH Oshie (24), (Jensen, Hagelin)
16:00 WSH Oshie (25), (Carlson, Kuznetsov)(PP)

Second Period
7:53 WSH Backstrom (21), (Orlov, Stephenson)
17:25 TB Miller (13), (Sergachev, McDonagh)

Third Period
3:36 TB Johnson (28), (unassisted)
14:35 WSH Ovechkin (50), (Oshie, Backstrom)
16:15 WSH Ovechkin (51), (Carlson, Kuznetsov)(PP)
19:32 TB Kucherov (39), (Sergachev, Miller)(PP)

Tyler Johnson was the game's third star.

The Lightning had an opportunity coming into this game to complete a sweep of the regular season series with the Capitals and really plant a seed of doubt in their minds for the postseason. They won the first two meetings in a couple of very different ways, with the last game being a victory Vasilevskiy outright stole from underneath the Caps. Another Lightning win might've made the Capitals really wonder if Tampa Bay has their number this year, but with four days of rest the Lightning came out flat as a pancake and simply unprepared to compete. They got outmuscled and outhustled and now have to know the Caps will have a champion's swagger against them knowing that they could've easily taken 2 of 3 in the series without Vasilevskiy's exploits in DC. All Lightning fans can hope is that the embarrassment of that loss lights a fire under the team moving forward.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.

Crunch issue a galactic beat down to Comets.

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SYR-6

Atte Tolvanen allowed 2 goals on 25 shots for his first pro victory.

First Period
0:43 UTI Malone (3), (Pyatt, Gaunce)(PP)
6:03 SYR Verhaeghe (30), (Foote, Masin)
6:24 SYR Dumont (13), (Raddysh)(PP)
16:21 SYR Volkov (19), (Verhaeghe, Yan)(PP)

Second Period
17:04 SYR Volkov (20), (Verhaeghe, Foote)(PP)
17:49 SYR Colton (14), (Verhaeghe, Raddysh)

Third Period
11:51 UTI Gardiner (2), (Bancks)
19:50 SYR Raddysh (17), (Brassart)

Alexander Volkov, Carter Verhaeghe, and Tolvanen were the game's three stars. Volkov completes another late season assault on the 20 goal plateau. Ross Colton looks to have started his just a smidge to late to reach 20, but Taylor Raddysh might get there with a little push.

The Upstate Galaxy Cup, much like the Florida Governor's Cup, in the hands of the good guys.

Cal Foote is now just one point shy of the 30 point plateau for his rookie campaign. That's a solid first kick at the can.

Syracuse's win keeps them a scant one point ahead of Rochester for the top spot in the division. Both teams have six games remaining with Syracuse holding a two game ROW advantage.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Crunch lose possession war and game to Providence.

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SYR-2

Eddie Pasquale allowed 3 goals on 33 shots for the loss.

First Period
NO SCORING

Second Period
13:44PRO Stempniak (5), (Szwarz, Breen)

Third Period
5:09 SYR Katchouk (10), (Dumont)
5:24 PRO Forsbacka Karlsson (3), (Stempniak, Cehlarik)
7:42 PRO Smith (14), (Stempniak, Carey)(PP)
15:03 SYR Dumont (12), (Verhaeghe, Andreoff)

Gabriel Dumont was the game’s third star.

Syracuse ended up being outshot 33-20 in the contest.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

First Round

No. 4 Baie-Comeau Drakkar 5 @ No. 13 Moncton Wildcats 2
Baie-Comeau leads best-of-7 series, 3-2

C/W Gabriel Fortier, BC: 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 7/10 FO, 1 Hit
Playoff Totals: 5 GP, 0-2-2, +3, 2 PIM
Season Totals: 68 GP, 35-48-83, +41, 27 PIM
17-18 Totals: 66 GP, 26-33-59, -11, 59 PIM

Baie-Comeau won a huge, pivotal Game 5 on the road to take a 3-2 series lead heading back home. Gabriel Fortier had his second assist in the last two games and Ivan Chekhovich (Sharks) had two goals Friday. Fortier’s assist came when he entered the zone then spun to the middle to drop the puck off for a trailing Chekhovich, who sped around the net and threw it in front where it banked off a defender and in. Fortier created a glorious chance early in the first period by speeding to a loose puck and shielding off a defender before finding a teammate alone in front. It ended up being saved, but Fortier is showing better than his production indicates. Game 6 is Monday.