Norfolk passes the midpoint on their way up the mountain, but there's still a lot of climbing left to do.

STJ-1
NOR-6

Dustin Tokarski stopped 29 of 30 for the win as Jon Cooper again flexes his superior coaching instincts.

First Period
NOR Kostka, (2) (Oberg, Smith), 18:55 (PP)

Second Period
NOR Ouellet, (1) (Johnson, Barberio), 3:08 (PP)
NOR Kostka, (3) (Devos, Angelidis), 11:04
NOR Cote, (1) (Smith, Labrie), 13:42

Third Period
NOR Palat, (4) (Johnson, Conacher), 1:28
STJ Redmond, (1) (Trotter, Postma), 2:11 (PP)
NOR Aulie, (1) (Palat, Conacher), 7:21

Mike Kostka, Cory Conacher, and Tokarski were the game's three stars. Ondrej Palat, Trevor Smith, and Tyler Johnson also contributed multi-point performances.

Alex Killorn was a scratch for, presumably, health reasons.

Norfolk's players can enjoy this win for another 2-3 hours tonight, and then they need to erase it from the memory banks. The danger after a win like this is complacency. Norfolk's good, but they're not 5 goals better than the IceCaps on any given night, and they have to be ready to go Saturday night in Game Two. The IceCaps won't lick their wounds long, because they've got the shot for redemption on Saturday and they can be right in the spot they want to be with a 1-1 split, so Norfolk can't go into that game overconfident. They have to bring their lunch buckets and make sure they give themselves the best chance to get that 2-0 lead before heading north.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reported today that the Lightning will not offer entry level contracts to 2010 draftees Adam Janosik and Geoffrey Schemitsch, thereby relinquishing the team's rights to both defensemen. Both players will re-enter the NHL draft this year, though it is unlikely either will be taken.

Janosik, a third round pick (72nd overall) of the Bolts in 2010, just completed his third season with Gatineau of the QMJHL. The 5'11" defenseman tied his career high in assists with 26 while accumulating 32 points in 51 games. He was an alternate captain for the Olympiques and wore the captain's "C" on occasion. He also represented his native Slovakia at the World Junior Championships, wearing an "A" for the team and totally one assist in six games. He had five assists in six games in the 2010-2011 WJCs with the Slovaks.

Janosik's career high for points was set in his draft year - his first season in North America - when he had 35 points (9 goals) in 63 games. He would never top either of those totals. He recently signed with Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech league, where he is expected to tryout for the professional club this summer. He "grew up" in the Bili Tygri Liberec system, playing for their U18 and U20 clubs before moving to the Canadian Hockey League.

(E5) Florida Everblades 7 @ (W3) Las Vegas Wranglers 2
Kelly Cup Finals – Best of 7 series tied 1-1

D Charles Landry, FLA: Did not play.
Playoff Totals: 9 GP, 1-2-3, +5, 5 PIM
Season Totals: 35 GP, 2-7-9, +5, 10 PIM
D Sebastien Piche, FLA: 0-0-0, +1, 1 SOG, 2 PIM (delay of game)
Playoff Totals: 15 GP, 2-7-9, +8, 38 PIM
Season Totals: 15 GP, 3-6-9, +1, 41 PIM
D Kevin Quick, FLA: Did not play.
Playoff Totals: 14 GP, 1-3-4, +1, 10 PIM
Season Totals: 33 GP, 0-10-10, -6, 4 PIM (Norfolk property)
G Pat Nagle, FLA: Did not play (backup)
Playoff Totals: 6 GP, 4-1-0, 1.42 GAA, .941 sv%, 2 SO
Season Totals: 39 GP, 20-14-0-3, 2.87 GAA, .905 sv%, 1 SO

After spotting Las Vegas a 2-0 lead after one period, Florida pounded the Wranglers with seven unanswered goals to win the game 7-2 and tie the best-of-7 Kelly Cup Finals series at one game apiece. Naples News reporter Woody Womack said the ‘Blades seemed to be ignited by Florida tough guy Leigh Salters attempting to fight with Wranglers goalie Joe Fallon. David Rutherford, a former teammate of Lightning prospects Dustin Tokarski and Tyler Johnson at WHL Spokane, was named first star for the game. He had a goal and two assists. Seven different players scored for Florida. Lightning prospect Charles Landry and Norfolk property Kevin Quick were healthy scratches for Florida. The series now moves to southwest Florida for games 3-5 beginning on Friday.

Canada 5 @ Belarus 1
Teddy Purcell was -1 in 8:49 in Canada's 5-1 win over Belarus. Avs forward Ryan O'Reilly had a pair of goals in victory for the Canadians. Canada faces Slovakia in the Quarterfinals on Thursday after finishing in the top spot in Group H.

USA 5 @ Switzerland 2
J.T. Brown had 1 shot in 9:33 in Team USA's 5-2 win over Switzerland. Nate Thompson was also scoreless with 1 shot in 12:20 in the match. Paul Stastny paced the Americans with 1 goal and 3 points in the win. The US gets Finland in the Quarterfinals Thursday. They finished in 2nd place in Group H.

Sweden 4 @ Latvia 0
Victor Hedman took a minor for tripping and had 1 shot on goal in 14:15 in Sweden's 4-0 win over Latvia. Henrik Zetterberg led the way with 1 goal and 3 points in the win for the Swedes. They draw the Czech Republic on Thursday in the Quarterfinals. They completed the Round Robin in 2nd place in Group S.