Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

(8)Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 @ (9)Drummondville Voltigeurs 3 (OT)
Rouyn-Noranda leads best-of-7 first round series, 3-1

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 1-1-2, +3, 0 PIM, 4 SOG, 0 Hits, *First Star*
Playoff totals: 4 GP, 1-5-6, +5, 4 PIM
Season totals: 33 GP, 29-34-63, +17, 14 PIM
With R-N: 27 GP, 26-27-53, +18, 12 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Nikita Kucherov scored his first career playoff goal at 7:43 of overtime, lifting the Huskies to a 4-3 win and a 3-1 series lead. He also added an assist and was plus-3. Kucherov was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the goal, apparently for taunting. R-N can close out the series at home on Friday.

(3)Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4 @ (14)Acadie-Bathurst Titan 1
Blainville-Boisbriand leads best-of-7 first round series, 3-1

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-1-1, +1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG, 1 Hit
Playoff totals: 4 GP, 1-2-3, +2, 4 PIM
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

The Armada skated to a 3-0 lead before the Titan scored early in the third period. B-B added an empty net goal late. They can close out the series on Friday on the road.

(7)PEI Rocket 0 @ (10)Val-d’Or Foreurs 4
Best-of-7 first round series tied, 2-2

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-0-0, +1, 3 SOG, 3 Hits
Playoff totals: 4 GP, 1-1-2, +1, 0 PIM
Season totals: 55 GP, 6-33-39, +20, 65 PIM

Val-d’Or evened their series with PEI, posting a 3-0 shutout win on Wednesday night. Undrafted, 6-6 goalie Philippe Trudeau had a 31-save shutout. Game 5 is Friday in the Foreurs home arena. Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will be back on the island.

Ontario Hockey League

(W2)Barrie Colts 8 @ (E7)Kingston Frontenacs 2
Barrie wins best-of-7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 4-0

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-1-1, +2, 2 PIM
Playoff totals: 4 GP, 0-2-2, +3, 10 PIM
Season totals: 66 GP, 4-18-22, E, 81 PIM
With Barrie: 28 GP, 2-6-8, -1, 42 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Jake Dotchin became the first Lightning prospect to advance in the playoffs when his Colts crushed the Fronts, 8-2, on Wednesday. Dotchin finished the series with two assists and 10 penalty minutes.

KHL Playoffs (Russia):

Eastern Conference Finals
(3)Chelyabinsk 1 vs. (1)Kazan 0 (OT)
Kazan Leads the Series 2-1
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Playoff totals: 9 GP, 0-2-2, E, 6 PIM
Regular season totals (KHL): 35 GP, 0-1-1, +6, 14 PIM
Regular season totals (MHL): 2 GP, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM

Nikita Nesterov actually got quite a bit of time as a center, going 5/15 on draws in 16:22 of ice time, in Chelyabinsk's thrilling 1-0 Double Overtime Game Three win over Kazan. Netminder Michael Garnett stopped all 39 shots he faced for the shutout. Game Four is Thursday.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

(8)Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 6 @ (9)Drummondville Voltigeurs 7
Rouyn-Noranda leads best-of-7 first round series, 2-1

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 0-2-2, -2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG, 0 Hits
Playoff totals: 3 GP, 0-4-4, +2, 4 PIM
Season totals: 33 GP, 29-34-63, +17, 14 PIM
With R-N: 27 GP, 26-27-53, +18, 12 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Nikita Kucherov is still looking for his first playoff goal, but had two assists on Tuesday in the Huskies’ Game 3 loss to the Volts. R-N entered the third period down 6-2 but fought back to within one goal with a minute left in the game. They were not able to get the equalizer. Defenseman Mathieu Brisebois (undrafted, signed by Phoenix) had two goals and four points for the Huskies and Matthew Boudens (undrafted) had four goals for Drummondville. Boudens was a teammate of Lightning prospect Matt Peca with Pembroke of the CJHL. Game 4 is Wednesday.

(3)Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4 @ (14)Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5 (OT)
Blainville-Boisbriand leads best-of-7 first round series, 2-1

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-0-0, +1, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 1 Hit
Playoff totals: 3 GP, 1-1-2, +1, 2 PIM
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

The Titan got back in the series with an overtime win on Tuesday night. Undrafted overager Zach O’Brien scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals. O’Brien had 92 points this season. Game 4 is Wednesday.

(7)PEI Rocket 4 @ (10)Val-d’Or Foreurs 3 (OT)
PEI leads best-of-7 first round series, 2-1

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-1-1, E, 0 SOG, 0 Hits
Playoff totals: 3 GP, 1-1-2, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 55 GP, 6-33-39, +20, 65 PIM

PEI took back home ice advantage with a Game 3 road win on Tuesday night. Artem Sergeev had an assist in the game. Game 4 is Wednesday.

Ontario Hockey League

(W4)Brampton Battalion 1 @ (W5)Sudbury Wolves 3
Sudbury leads best-of-7 Western Conference Quarterfinals, 2-1

D Dylan Blujus, BRAM: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Playoff totals: 3 GP 1-1-2, +2, 2 PIM
Season totals: 68 GP, 2-27-29, -8, 57 PIM

Sudbury took a 2-1 lead in the series despite being outshot by Brampton, 40-13. Franky Palazzese (undrafted) stopped 39 of 40 shots for the win. Game 4 is Thursday.

(W4)Kitchener Rangers 2 @ (W5)Guelph Storm 3
Kitchener leads best-of-7 Western Conference Quarterfinals, 2-1

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 0-1-1, +1, 4 PIM
Playoff totals: 3 GP, 0-2-2, E, 4 PIM
Season totals: 52 GP, 11-51-62, +18, 94 PIM

Guelph held serve at home with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory on Tuesday. Tanner Richard had an assist as the Storm rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Scott Kosmachuk (Jets) scored the game-winner with under two. Game 4 is Thursday.

Where's THAT been hiding the past 2 months.

BUF-1
TB-2

Mathieu Garon got the victory. All the computers were on the fritz at the Forum, so I don't trust what's posted on NHL.com.

First Period
16:01 TB Stamkos (23), (St. Louis)

Second Period
08:15 TB St. Louis (8), (Purcell, Stamkos)(PP)

Third Period
16:52 BUF Leopold (2), (Foligno, Flynn)

Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, and Keith Aulie were the game's three stars.

I can't remember the last time the Lightning controlled a game like that, start to finish. They were sharp defensively. They were poised. It's like, with the coaching change, a giant weight was lifted off their chests. It makes you anxious to see what will happen when Jon Cooper actually steps behind the bench.

Box score from NHL.com.