Things remain quiet around the Florida Panthers, but there a couple of things to point out this morning.
The American Hockey League announced that Springfield Thunderbirds forward Jared McCann has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the week for the period ending April 16, 2017. McCann closed out the season with four goals (including two game-winners), seven points and a plus-8 rating in three games for Springfield last week. The 20-year-old recorded his first career hat trick Friday night against Bridgeport.
After winning an NCAA national championship with Denver, goaltending prospect Evan Cowley signed an ATO with the ECHL’s Reading Royals. Cowley backed up Mark Dekanich in Reading’s game two loss to Brampton Saturday. The Panthers have yet to sign Cowley, who can become an unrestricted free agent in August, to an entry-level contract.
On to the Stanley Cup playoffs. All four of Monday’s games went to overtime. Toronto stunned Washington 4-3 in the ACC to take a 2-1 series lead on the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals. Bobby Ryan’s tip-in gave Ottawa a 4-3 win over Boston in Beantown. The Senators lead that series, 2-1. Nashville took a shocking 3-0 series lead on Chicago, thanks to Kevin Fiala’s winner that completed a 3-2 decision. And in the late game, Anaheim moved within a game of sweeping Calgary with a 5-4 road win. Corey Perry notched the deciding goal for the surging Ducks.
Let’s keep the hockey chatter going below!