The Trois-Rivieres Lions and Norfolk Admirals kicked off the North Division Finals on Friday Night, and Game 1 didn’t disappoint. Coming into the series, we expected a goaltender matchup of Luke Cavallin and Thomas Milic, but instead, it would be Hunter Jones and Thomas Milic as Cavallin is still up in Laval. For Jones, it would be his first career Kelly Cup Playoff appearance and start. In the opening frame, both goaltenders would be hot as all 27 shots fired at the net were stopped, with the Lions having the edge in shots 16-11. Trois-Rivieres would have their chances as they got back-to-back power plays in four minutes halfway through the period, but couldn’t convert.
It would be all Lions in the second as a turnover would lead to the first goal of the game. Chris Jandric would force the turnover that led to a nice tic-tac-toe play with Xavier Cormier finding the back of the net for his first goal of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Norfolk would get a chance on the PP early in the period that abruptly ended as Bryce Brodzinski took a slashing penalty to avoid a short-handed breakaway. The Lions would dominate the second period as they held Norfolk to just two shots on goal in the second. Trois-Rivieres was 18-0-1-2 when leading after 40 minutes during the regular season. The Trois-Rivieres Lions won their only game in which they led after two in the opening round.
In the third, Trois-Rivieres would get an early PP in the third but couldn’t convert. The Lions, who were 4-13 in the opening round, went 0-5 on the PP in Game 1. The Lions outshoot the Admirals 11-9 in the final period to take home the Game 1 win.
Goaltending Leads The Way for the Trois-Rivieres Lions In Game 1
Hunter Jones would stop all 27 shots he faced for his first career Kelly Cup Playoff shutout. Both teams have now shut each other out twice this season. Thomas Milic was solid in the loss, stopping 34 of the 35 shots he saw. Norfolk and Trois-Rivieres will faceoff on Sunday at 3:05 EST for Game 2.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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