For the first time in franchise history, the Trois-Rivieres Lions are moving on to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
On Wednesday, the Lions completed a sweep of their North Division Semifinals series with a 5-2 victory over the Reading Royals.
Alex Beaucage notched his fourth goal of the post-season on a power play at the 2:30 mark of the first period.
The Royals quickly answered back with a power-play tally of their own, as Mason Primeau tipped a shot past Trois-Rivieres goaltender Luke Cavallin at 5:01.
Lions captain Morgan Adams-Moisan got his team the lead back before the halfway mark of the period. Shane Sellar tied the game early in the middle frame for the Royals, who then peppered Cavallin with a barrage of shots. The Lions netminder stood tall to keep the game even 2-2.
The Lions grabbed control of the game in the second half of the final period, applying constant pressure in the offensive zone. Vincent Sévigny eventually broke through with the go-ahead goal, and both Nicolas Guay and Logan Nijhoff added empty-netters to seal the four-game sweep for the Lions.
Cavallin, who earned all four wins in the series, stopped 24 of 26 shots faced. Keith Petruzzelli suffered the loss in goal for the Royals with 30 saves on 33 shots.
The Lions will await the winner of the series between the Wheeling Nailers and Norfolk Admirals. Game 1 of the second round is set for Friday, May 2, at Colisée Vidéotron.
Here’s a rundown of other action from Wednesday’s Division Semifinals.
Nailers’ Backs Are Against The Wall
The lack of offensive production bit the Wheeling Nailers once again.
After dropping the first two games of their North Division Semifinal by identical 4-0 scores to the Norfolk Admirals, Wheeling managed just one tally in a 5-1 loss. The Admirals now have a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
Thomas Milic once again provided stellar goaltending for Norfolk, saving 36 of 37 shots faced. After a scoreless opening period, Norfolk took control with three goals in the second, which proved to be the difference.
The Admirals took a 2-0 lead before Matt Koopman got the Nailers on the board on a shorthanded breakaway. Ryan Chyzowski, who had three points on the night, restored the two-goal lead at the 18:00 mark of the period, and Norfolk didn’t look back.
Sergei Murashov stopped 17 of 21 shots in the loss for the Nailers, who clearly are in a win-or-go-home situation. Game 4 is Friday night at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, with puck drop set for 7:10 Pm ET.
Solar Bears Pull Even
After taking the first two games of their South division Semifinal series over the Orlando Solar Bears, the South Carolina Stingrays find themselves even 2-2 following Orlando’s 3-2 overtime win at the Kia Center in Orlando.
Andrew Perrott and Kyler Kupka potted the Stingrays’ two goals, while Mark Auk, Aaron Luchuk and Ara Nazarian each scored for the Solar Bears. Nazarian sealed the victory 10:24 into overtime after stuffing in a wrap-around.
Game 5 is next Thursday in Orlando, with puck drop scheduled for 7 Pm ET.
Everblades Win Third Straight In Overtime
Bonus hockey has been required for the first three games of the South division Semifinal series between the Florida Everblades and Jacksonville Icemen. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, the defending Kelly Cup champions have prevailed in all three.
Wednesday’s 2-1 OT win put Florida up 3-0 in the series. Anton Malmström’s goal just 6:26 into the bonus period was the difference at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Everblades lit the lamp first for the third consecutive game, when Colton Hargrove notched his first goal of the post-season with just 18.6 seconds remaining in the opening period.
A goal by Chris Grando tied the game 1-1 at the 9:55 mark of the middle frame. The deadlock continued all the way into overtime, with each team getting just four shots on goal apiece in the third period.
Malmström finally got the game-winner for Florida, who outshot the Icemen 6-1 in the extra frame. Cam Johnson stopped 22 of 23 shots and earned another win, while Matt Vernon turned away 27 of 29 Everblades attempts to suffer the loss.
The two teams will square off in Game 4 Thursday night in Jacksonville, with puck drop set for 7 Pm ET.
Knight Monsters Quiet Thunder
In yet another overtime nail-biter, the Tahoe Knight Monsters defeated the Wichita Thunder 5-4 in the first home playoff game in Tahoe’s history. The Knight Monsters take a commanding 3-0 lead in their Mountain Division Semifinal series.
Logan Nelson scored the game-winner, Simon Pinard tallied two more goals, and Jesper Vikman made 32 saves in the victory.
The Thunder led 2-1 after the opening 20 minutes, and took a 3-2 lead entering the third.
The Thunder tacked on another goal just 90 seconds into the third with a transition goal off the rush, but after that, it was all Knight Monsters. They outshot Wichita 22-7 in the final frame, with Pinard scoring his second of the game to make it 4-3 five minutes later.
Patrick Newell notched a game-tying power-play goal with under four minutes to go. Tahoe continued their domination in overtime, outshooting the Thunder 11-1, and Nelson sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a backhand shot that slipped through the five hole of Thunder goalie Trevor Gorsuch for the first playoff overtime goal in franchise history.
The Knight Monsters finished the contest with a whopping 65 shots on goal, by far their highest mark of the entire season, including playoffs. Despite allowing four goals, Vikman stayed strong in the crease, making multiple highlight reel saves and keeping Tahoe in the game late in the third period.
The series resumes on Friday night, with Game 4 in Stateline, Nev. Puck drop is set for 7:30 Pm Mt.