Barons fall behind Comets
Utica edges Oklahoma City to take lead in tight AHL series
It’s not A-OK for OKC in their American Hockey League playoff series with the Utica Comets.
Mike Zalewski tipped Alex Biega’s shot past Oklahoma City netminder Richard Bachman early in the third period on Monday and the Vancouver Canucks’ farm team held on for a 3-2 victory over the Barons, the Edmonton Oilers’ affiliate, in the Western Division semifinal.
The Barons, who won the first game of the series in the fourth overtime period on Curtis Hamilton’s goal and lost in the first OT frame in Game 2, both in Utica, N.Y., chased the game from the first 80 seconds on Monday. Alex Friesen tapped the Comets’ first shot past Bachman and Alex Grenier was all alone in front of the net late in the first period to give Utica a 2-0 lead.
Andrew Miller, who scored six points — including a penalty shot score for his first NHL goal — in eight games with the Oilers this season, whipped a shot past Utica goalie Jacob Markstrom while killing a penalty.
In the third period, Josh Winquist scored on a power play to tie the score.
It was the third straight game decided by a goal.
“Two evenly matched teams,” said Barons coach Gerry Fleming, who went with the same lineup as the first two games, sitting defenceman Darnell Nurse.
That won’t be the case in Game 4 on Wednesday. Nurse will be in for one of the six defencemen — David Musil, Martin Marincin, Brandon Davidson, Brad Hunt, Jordan Oesterle or Dillon Simpson.
“Pretty sure you’ll see him next game. We were playing well defensively (so Nurse sat), but he can help us in all areas of our game,” said Fleming, who brought in Nurse from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds after his junior career ended with a playoff loss to Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters.
“Our execution was off tonight. When that happens, you’re chasing the puck a bit more … their first goal was a back-door tap-in off a couple of breakdowns,” said Fleming, whose team beat the San Antonio Rampage three straight in the first round.
“We managed to tie it in the third, but they scored right after we did. We got a late power play (12 seconds left, too many men on the ice) and won a faceoff and had two good chances, but Markstrom made some big saves,” Fleming said.
The Barons have played Bachman since partway through Game 2 against San Antonio after Laurent Brossoit got the playoff start.
“His save percentage in No. 1 in the league (.960 in five games, 1.22 goals-against average),” said Fleming, who is sticking with Bachman based on those playoff numbers.
Rockets soar to 3-0 series lead
Edmonton Oilers prospect Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring with a short-handed goal early in the first period and the Kelowna Rockets went on to post a 5-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League final.
Draisaitl also assisted on Kelowna’s last goal with 6:12 remaining to give the hometown Rockets some breathing room after the Wheat Kings rallied to within a goal.
The Rockets, who won the first three games, could sweep the best-of-seven series at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C., on Wednesday.
Otters back in OHL series
Connor McDavid scored his 20th goal of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs and added an assist as the Erie Otters downed the Oshawa Generals 4-3 Monday at the Erie Insurance Arena.
The Generals limited McDavid to only one assist while winning the first two games in the best-of-seven final.
McDavid’s goal Monday lifted Erie into a 3-0 lead early in the third period. Game 4 is Wednesday at Erie, Pa.