The Trois-Rivieres Lions returned to Colisee Videotron, looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals after winning the first two games in Estero over the Florida Everblades. Trois-Rivieres would get some chances early, including two wrap-around chances, but neither found the back of the net. The physicality that has been there all series continued on Wednesday, including the 9:09 when Lions goaltender Luke Cavallin tried to get in on the action after Kyle Betts appeared to have scored the game’s opening goal, but it would be called back for goalie interference. In the final minute of the period, it would be an Everblades turnover that led to a Lions two-on-one as Jakov Novak fed Anthony Beauregard for his eighth of the Kelly Cup Playoffs with four seconds left.
Florida got an early chance on the PP in the second after Jacob Paquette took a penalty less than a minute into the period. The Florida Everblades wouldn’t be able to score on that power play and the ensuing PP less than five minutes later, as they started the night 0/3 on the PP. Coming into the night, Florida was 38/38 on the PK since Game 1 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, but that would change on Wednesday. Tyler Hylland put home a rebound on the PP at 9:39 to give TR a 2-0 lead. The Lions would head to the third with a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. This season, the Lions were 36-1-3-2 when taking a lead into the third period.
Heading into the third, the Florida Everblades were staring a 3-0 deficit in the face, bearing a comeback. Alex Kile would get the Blades on the board at 5:42 with a PP goal on a shot from the circle that beat Luke Cavallin. The Everblades would then tie the game as Kyle Betts, who was coming out of the penalty box, beat Cavallin for his fourth of the Playoffs to tie the game. Trois-Rivieres would take a kneeing penalty at 17:44 and got away with another penalty as Florida headed back to the PP. Despite heading to the PP, Florida would lose Oliver Chau and Connor Doherty to injuries on the play. Colton Hargrove scored on the ensuing PP while falling to give Florida their first lead of the series. Alex Kile added an empty-net goal to cap off his four-point night to make it a 2-1 series.
The Lions and Everblades will continue their series on Friday at 7 pm in TR.
ITR 49: For Real This Time – Inside The Rink
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