Other than the Florida Panthers AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, finishing its season on somewhat of a high note, it was a pretty quiet weekend for our local NHL franchise.
With the Thunderbirds done, the Cats did assign defense prospect Thomas Schemitsch to the Manchester Monarchs for the ECHL playoffs. The Monarchs currently lead the Adirondack Thunder two games to none in their first round series.
Goaltender Sam Brittain is also taking part in that series and has held the Thunder to just three goals in Manchester’s two home ice wins. Game Three is Tuesday night in Glen Falls, NY.
Shifting focus to the Stanley Cup playoffs, Pittsburgh and St. Louis scored big wins yesterday to go up 3-0 on Columbus and Minnesota, respectively. Edmonton’s Cam Talbot posted his second straight shutout last night in a 1-0 road win over San Jose to give the young Oilers a 2-1 series lead over the Sharks. Montreal took a 2-1 series lead on the New York Rangers with a 3-1 victory in Madison Square Garden.
Tonight, the four other series switch sites for game three. Nashville looks to go up 3-0 on the Blackhawks after two stunning shutout wins in Chicago. Boston will host Ottawa with the winner taking the lead in that series. The surprising Toronto Maple Leafs will welcome the Washington Capitals to Air Canada Centre. The first-ever postseason meeting between those two teams in tied at a game apiece. And in the late game, Calgary will host mighty Anaheim needing a win to avoid going down three games to zero.
Let’s keep the hockey talk going below!