The Utica Comets live to play another day after a decisive 5-2 win over the Toronto Marlies in Game 3 of their first-round Calder Cup playoff series. The Marlies now lead the best-of-five series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Friday in Utica.
Known for their raucous sold-out crowds, the Comets made a smooth move to set the mood when they invited local favourite Darren Archibald out for the ceremonial puck drop to start the game.
Just talked with ufa Darren Archibald who dropped the puck to kick off Utica's game last night, "It was an honour but If I had my choice I would have been suiting up with them." #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) April 26, 2018
In his first game back in action since breaking his hand on March 31 while he was with the Canucks, Comets leading goal-scorer Reid Boucher made an instant impact. He opened the scoring in the first period, just nine seconds into Utica's first power play of the night.
Attention all goalies: Hide your Powerade bottles, because Reid Boucher will shatter them! #EmbraceTheChase pic.twitter.com/neCbDfRcO2
— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) April 26, 2018
Wacey Hamilton and Cole Cassels also scored to give the Comets a 3-0 lead by the 13:59 mark of the first period, chasing Marlies starting goaltender Garrett Sparks after just seven shots. Thatcher Demko was solid as the Comets were outshot 13-7 in the opening frame, and strong defensive play got Utica through a two-minute 5-on-3 late in the first period without allowing a shot on goal.
After a scoreless second period where the Comets controlled a good deal of the play, the Marlies got on the board midway through the third when Calle Rosen converted on a 4-on-3 power play. Four minutes later, Tyler Motte restored the three-goal lead. A shorthanded goal by Toronto's Colin Greening was the last hurrah for Toronto; Cole Cassels sealed the result with his second of the game, into an empty net, with 1:40 left to play in regulation.
Final shots were 37-28 for Toronto. The three stars of the game were Demko, Cassels and Boucher.
No words needed. @tdemko30 #EmbraceTheChase #TORvsUTI pic.twitter.com/fC6VZ3GgCZ
— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) April 25, 2018
After the Toronto Maple Leafs got bounced from the playoffs by Boston on Wednesday, the Marlies could add forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson and defenseman Travis Dermott to their lineup before Game 4. I haven't seen an official announcement yet, as I write this on Thursday morning.
Elsewhere, we got some clarity on Elias Pettersson's status with Team Sweden on Wednesday, courtesy of Rick Dhaliwal:
Despite the #Canucks telling local media that Elias Pettersson will play at the world hockey championships for Sweden, Swedish coach Rikard Gronborg tells me that Pettersson is not guaranteed a spot and will have to earn it.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) April 25, 2018
Gronberg says 2 - 19 year olds are fighting for a spot on the team, Pettersson and Rangers #1 draft pick Lias Andersson, "both are special players, we like young players trying out for national team." #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) April 25, 2018
When I first read that, I thought Gronborg meant that there was only one spot available for a young player, so Andersson and Pettersson are directly competing against each other. But now I don't think it's that cut-and-dry. He also mentions that they're waiting for confirmations from some NHL players, so the roster is still in flux.
Gronberg said that Pettersson will see action in two of Sweden's three games at this weekend's Sweden Hockey Games. He is not in the lineup today against the Czech Republic:
Lineup for today's SWE-CZE game including NHL'ers. NYR prospect Lias Andersson getting a prime role with Zibanejad and MJN. Also the FILIP-FILIP-FILIP line. CZE heard my wish. pic.twitter.com/TrzO60LjTs
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) April 26, 2018
If all goes according to plan, Pettersson will get his chance to audition when the Swedes play Russia on Saturday and Finland on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Russia, the World U18 Tournament has come to an abrupt end for Canada after a 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic in quarterfinal play. After rolling undefeated through the preliminary round and scoring 22 goals in four games, the Canadians' high-powered offense was shut down by the Czechs. The Czechs took the lead midway through the first period, then made it 2-0 midway through the third. Tylan Dellandrea responded with his second of the tournament to get the Canadians back within one, but they couldn't find the equalizer.
Canada outshot the Czechs 34-31, but leaves the tournament after five games.
In the other quarterfinal games, Team USA beat Russia 5-1, the Finns beat Belarus 5-2 and Sweden knocked off Slovakia by a score of 6-1.
The medal round will be played in Chelyabinsk, with the U.S. facing the Czechs and Finland playing Sweden in the semifinals on Saturday. Now that the Slovaks have been eliminated, Jack Hughes of the U.S. looks like he could live up to his hype and finish as the tournament's leading scorer. Through the quarterfinal games, the 16-year-old was tied with another 2019 prospect, Slovak Maxim Cajkovic, with 7-4-11 in five games.
To wrap up today: we're now just two days away from the 2018 Draft Lottery—and the NHL is milking the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes for all it's worth:
NHL Draft Lottery details via Sportsnet. The top three teams will have to wait a bit to learn their fate pic.twitter.com/RG5iZ9Bqjf
— Sean Leahy (@Sean_Leahy) April 26, 2018
Trevor Linden has represented the Canucks at the lottery in recent years. This year, Jim Benning will take the stage.
After finishing 26th overall, the Canucks' best odds are to land in the seventh spot, with a 38.9 percent probability.
Now that this year's lottery probabilities are finally available (https://t.co/n5L9LjUzAV, thanks to @frank_seravalli for the link) I've worked out the chances for every pick for every finishing spot.https://t.co/xKnAd2K5XO pic.twitter.com/z7QPDaYrim
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) March 27, 2018
The Canucks will have a 23.3 percent chance of having a ping-pong ball drawn to move up to the top three and be a part of the final reveal.
If it happens, here's what you need to know: the San Jose/Vegas game goes at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, so the second intermission should fall around 6:45 or so.
The second round does kick off tonight with two games: Penguins/Capitals followed by Sharks/Golden Knights.