Sunday night marked the end of the Norfolk Admirals' affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks as the Ads lost Game Six of their opening round playoff series to Wilkes-Barrie Scranton 3-2. The first round draw seems almost unfair given both teams finished the regular season with a hefty 108 points in the standings. The Blackhawks are set to open a new affiliation in Rockford, Illinois while the Lightning will make Norfolk their new minor league home.
Lightning prospect Vasily Koshechkin got the start for tournament-host Russia yesterday against Denmark in Russia's first game of the 2007 IIHF World Championship. Koshechkin stopped 24 of 25 shots for the win, a rather easy 9-1 decision. Among the scorers for Russia were NHL stars Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin, and Alexander Frolov. Russia leads Group D at 1-0. Alexander Eremenko, who plays for Ak Bars Kazan in the RSL, served as Koshechkin's backup.
Prince George 1 @ Vancouver 5
Vancouver wins best-of-7 series 4-1
The junior career of Lightning first round draft pick Vladimir Mihalik is over. The Vancouver Giants soundly defeated Mihalik and the Prince George Cougars Friday night to win their best-of-7 WHL Western Conference Finals series 4-1. The Cougars only managed 10 shots for the game to the Giants' 46. Vancouver will now meet Medicine Hat in the finals. Mihalik finished the playoffs with one goal and two assists for three points in 15 games. He had 17 PIM and a minus-3 rating. Mihalik, who is already signed, will see his next action in the summer prospect camp and tournament for the Lightning. He also vaults to the leading group of signed defensemen prospects for Tampa Bay that will be fighting for a spot with the Lightning next season.
Mihalik was the last Lightning prospect remaining in the Canadian Hockey League playoffs.
Vancouver 2 @ Prince George 3 (overtime)
Vancouver leads best-of-7 series 3-1
The Prince George Cougars got an overtime goal by Devin Setoguchi to beat Vancouver 3-2 at home and extend their season by at least one more game. Game 5 will be back in Vancouver Friday night. Vladimir Mihalik was scoreless with an even rating for the Cougars, though according to both the Vancouver and Prince George papers, he had a night to forget. The Giants scored their second and game-tying goal after Mihalik turned the puck over in front of his own net. In overtime, he turned the wrong way during a Giant's rush and was beaten badly for a scoring chance that Cougars goaltender Scott Bowles came up big on. On the ensuing faceoff, Mihalik gained the puck and turned it over for another scoring chance. Just one of those nights.
Vancouver 4 @ Prince George 1
Vancouver leads best-of-7 series 3-0
The Vancouver Giants put the Prince George Cougars on the brink of elimination last night with a decisive 4-1 win. Prince George had cut the lead to 2-1 in the early third period, but Vancouver responded with two even strength goals. Lightning prospect Vladimir Mihalik was scoreless and minus-1 for the Cougars.