Sunday night, the stage was set for game two of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Florida Everblades determined to level the series, while the Trois-Rivières Lions are certainly riding high from their 1-0 victory in game one. The first shutout the Everblades have faced this postseason and the second shutout for Trois-Rivières Luke Cavallin. With no change in goaltending, Cam Johnson and Luke Cavallin were ready to showcase their skills again.
First Period
Things got underway in Estero, FL, and the atmosphere was heavy with emotion and determination. Trois-Rivières Alex Beaucage, with an assist from Logan Nijhoff, and a deflection off the Everblades, makes it 1-0 at 36 seconds in. At 2:55, Florida’s Kyle Neuber gets one past Cavallin, tying the period. Kyle Betts gets caught up and takes down two Trois-Rivières players, earning a tripping penalty, and Florida goes on the penalty kill. Although unable to close the deal on the first power play, Trois-Rivières have their second opportunity when Carson Gicewicz gets called for cross-checking. Microaggressions affect the players, causing bigger hits and more brutal pushes. This action-reaction leads to Florida getting a third penalty for boarding by Andrew Fyten. Florida sees their first power play when Anthony Beauregard takes a slashing call for the Lions.
Things continue to be testy between these powerhouses, minor scrums littering the last five of the period. Forty-five seconds left, and all heck breaks loose. Florida’s Tarun Fizer takes a hit to the head from Trois Logan Nijhoff and goes down. Fizer is belly down on the ice when his teammate Connor Doherty goes after Alex Beaucage. Fizer is escorted down the tunnel by training staff. Nijhoff takes a major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing, ending his night; Beaucage and Doherty get Roughing penalties. Everblades go on a five-minute power play, and the Period ends tied up, tempers still flaring, chirps flying, and shots on goal 10-8 in favor of the Everblades.
Second Period
Puck drops, with four minutes left on Florida’s power play. A theme throughout the night, Florida cannot use this to their benefit. With 35 seconds left on the PP, Justin Ducharme scores the short-handed goal, Lions 2-1. Florida’s Isaac Nurse sends Trois-Rivières on their fourth power play of the night with a tripping penalty at 8:06. Outshooting Trois-Rivières 12-3. Florida would receive another penalty for tripping at 15:51, this time by Colton Hargrove. Trois-Rivières has not managed the man advantage to their favor, remaining scoreless during this series, and this would continue. Florida would see Alex Kile leave the bench early, heading down the tunnel. This adds to the man shortage, as Fizer is not returning to the bench.
The hits in this period were vicious, and the crowd hissed and flinched with each one. Once again, a massive boost in physicality led to more pushing and shoving in the last four minutes. Nineteen seconds remain, Florida’s Sean Allen called for cross-checking. As the play halts, Trois-Rivières’ Wyatt McLeod and Jordan Sambrook get into a scrum. McLeod is taken to the ice by the linesman, where Sambrook takes advantage of his position and pushes his stick into McLeod’s pelvis. The period closes out on a PP. Florida is leading the charge for shots on goal, 12-3. Score remains 2-1 Trois-Rivières.
Third Period
The period begins with 1:42 left on the power play for Trois-Rivières. Unfortunately, the Lions could not use this power play to its maximum potential. Six minutes in, things start to boil over again. The teams lock down and stretch their abilities to keep shots tight, allowing scrums but not breaking out in fights, not allowing penalties. The Everblades dominate puck control in this period again, leading 8-3 for shots on goal at the halfway mark.
This period has come down to a battle of the tendies. Cavallin not messing around, which causes Florida to take notice as time winds down. Johnson’s cool as a cucumber, although scrums break out near his net, not letting Trois-Rivières get anything else past him. Cam Johnson is pulled from the net, giving Florida the extra attacker, trying to tie up the game, forcing overtime. Florida fights two empty net shots from Trois, unable to capitalize on the plays. The period ends Trois-Rivières 2-1. Cam Johnson makes 12 saves, and Luke Cavallin makes 31.
Stars of the Game
First Star- Justin Ducharme (Trois-Rivières)
Second Star- Alex Beaucage (Trois-Rivières)
Third Star- Logan Nijhoff (Trois-Rivières)
Upcoming
Trois-Rivières now leads the series 2-0, they head home to host Florida for game three in this series. This is Trois-Rivières’ fourth season in the ECHL, and they are pushing to make their first Kelly Cup Final. Florida needs a way to get past Luke Cavallin, or this will be a short series. However, with the possibility that a fine with or without suspension could be handed down to Logan Nijhoff, the Lions could be without him. Goaltending for these teams is so matched on skill that they need to strategize an offense that will limit their sight and cause disruption to score goals. Noted update on both Florida players: Alex Kile returned in the third period, and Tarun Fixer did not return for the rest of the game. Puck drops Wednesday, May 21st at 7:00 pm EDT.
ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again – Inside The Rink
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