Savoie advances to the Memorial Cup
In the only game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche staved off elimination with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars, due mostly to the efforts of Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Cale Makar’s two goals and Hart Trophy nominee Nathan MacKinnon’s two-point effort, but former Sabre Casey Mittelstadt also had a key role in the Avs win.
Mittelstadt scored his third goal of the postseason early in the third period to give Colorado a lead they would not relinquish, which was followed by Makar’s game-winner and MacKinnon’s insurance goal to keep the Avs alive in the second-round series.
“(Casey) hasn’t capitalized on some of his best opportunities, but he scores last game off the forecheck (and) he scores again tonight.” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said after the game to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.“He played a rock-solid game defensively and was able to chip in again (Wednesday), which is huge.”
The 25-year-old led the Sabres in scoring before being traded to Colorado for defenseman Bowen Byram on March 6, and has nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 10 playoff games.
In other news, the Sabres will have two prospects facing each other in the Memorial Cup in Saginaw, MI later this month, as 2022 top pick Matthew Savoie and the Moose Jaw Warriors swept the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory to win the WHL title.
Buffalo’s top pick (9th overall) scored his 10th goal of the playoffs in the second period and has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 19 playoff games. Moose Jaw moves on to face the OHL champion London Knights, the QMJHL champion Drummondville Voltigeurs and the host Saginaw Spirit in the round-robin tournament.
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