Goaltending Duel Gives Lions a 3-2 Edge In North Division Finals
The Trois-Rivieres Lions have put themselves in the driver's seat of the Kelly Cup North Division Finals with a 1-0 overtime shutout of the Norfolk Admirals Sunday at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
It was as tough and tight a contest as one might expect from a playoff hockey series. It also didn't take long for things to get chippy.
From the opening faceoff, German Yavash energized the fans at the Scope by dropping the gloves with Morgan Adams-Moisan, showcasing a spirited exchange.
The opening 20 minutes went by with no scoring and few shots, with the Admirals outshooting Trois-Rivieres 5-3.
Trois-Rivières picked up momentum in the second period. They put pressure on Admirals goaltender Thomas Milic, who came into the contest second in the post-season with a .958 save percentage. But the Norfolk netminder stood tall.
At the other end, Luke Cavallin remained flawless, turning aside all six shots he faced in the frame. The Lions had the edge in shots 9-6 in the period.
Both teams had solid scoring opportunities in the third period, including on the power play, but neither was able to light the lamp by the end of regulation.
The scoreless tie heading into overtime marked the first time in ECHL post-season history that three games in a series would be decided by a 1-0 final score.
In overtime, the Lions had two significant scoring opportunities, but Milic, along with the Admirals' defense, successfully thwarted the ensuing threats. The Admirals subsequently generated several chances of their own, yet Cavallin was able to deny both attempts.
It wasn't until the final seconds of the first overtime period that the tie was finally broken, when Anthony Beauregard delivered another clutch playoff goal off a feed from Jakov Novak from a turnover, sealing the win for the Lions.
The series now shifts back to Trois-Rivières for Game 6 on Tuesday night at Colisée Vidéotron. Puck drop is set for 7 Pm ET. If necessary, Game 7 will also be played in Trois-Rivières.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Dan Campbell cites successful Saints past for how Lions can replace center Frank Ragnow
Dan Campbell cites successful Saints past for how Lions can replace center Frank Ragnow Frank Ragnow's retirement throws a curveball into the Detroit Lions offensive line plans for 2025. The second-team All-Pro center hung up his cleats this week, leaving the Lions with a hole in the middle of the vaunted O-line. Detroit has several options to fill that hole. None are proven to be close to Ragnow's caliber, of course, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell brought up a similar situation and an ultimately successful story from a prior coaching stop. Prior to Thursday's final OTA session, Campbell harkened back to his days coaching with the New Orleans Saints. In 2019, the Saints saw Pro Bowl center Max Unger walk away somewhat unexpectedly just before the draft. New Orleans selected Erik McCoy in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft to fill those big shoes. As Campbell tells it, 'Experience is big. It is. But I think it's whether it's there or it's the guy next to you, that can help out a lot too. But you're going to need some experience somewhere in there and as long as you have that, you're OK. I mentioned this before — Erik McCoy, he played center in college at Texas A&M when I was at New Orleans and Max Unger had just retired. We were fortunate we drafted him, and he was plug and play. We put him in. He grew quickly, quickly, quickly. By game three, game four, he was cooking. Doesn't mean you won't have growing pains, but it can happen fast." Given the numerous comments from Campbell and players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Dan Skipper that Ragnow's retirement wasn't entirely unexpected by the Lions, the decision to draft Tate Ratledge in the second round makes the comparison to the 2019 Saints situation quite prescient. Ratledge has taken the first-team center reps in Ragnow's place all spring, even back to the rookie minicamp, despite playing right guard at Georgia in college. Campbell continued, "The development can happen fast. I'm saying, for example, you put Tate (Ratledge) in there. If not, is it (Lions OL) Graham (Glasgow) by him at guard who's helping him out or is Graham your center? Or is it one of these other guys? Is it Kingsley (Eguakun)? We're going to have options. That's why we're excited about training camp. We're going to find this out. We're going to let these guys go at it." Ratledge has noted that he did practice at center at Georgia and was the Bulldogs' backup center last season. His snapping has been impressive in the OTAs, though the sessions have been unpadded. As for the Saints, McCoy has become a two-time Pro Bowler and the heir apparent to Ragnow and former Eagles All-Pro Jason Kelce as the top center in the NFC. He's different than Unger, who was a more agile presence, was in New Orleans, but has proven to be equally effective in his own way. The Lions are going to see if Ratledge is ready to write the same story in Detroit, or if this chapter takes a different turn for Campbell. More: Breaking down the Lions options to replace Frank Ragnow now that the center is retiring
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Lions OTA health recap: Notable full participants
Lions OTA health recap: Notable full participants Now that OTA (organized team activities) are over, it's time to recap what we've learned. The best news coming out of the six days of OTA is that there were no significant new injuries. This can't be taken for granted as preseason injuries are common. During OTA's, we've already seen Steelers TE Donald Parham suffer an Achilles tear, and former 2nd-round Lion Jahlani Tavai (now with the Patriots) suffer a multi-week calf injury. With so many players recovering from medical issues, I'll break down the OTA recap into categories. First will be notable players who had a "full" participation in OTA as relayed by Dan Campbell. My next article will recap the players with limited to no participation. There is certainly some gray area with these informal designations (full vs limited vs out), so take them with a grain of salt. Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE (Left tib/fib fracture - Oct 13, 2024) A limited designation would have been totally reasonable since Hutchinson is still rebuilding strength and wearing a leg sleeve. But Dan Campbell conspicuously eschewed the limited designation. With no limited designation, the Lions are "lighting the beacons" and sending the clear signal across the NFL landscape that Hutchinson will undoubtedly be ready for the season. Great news for Lions fans and bad news for opposing QB's. As Gandalf proclaimed in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King when the beacons were lit.... "Hope is kindled." Tate Ratledge, OG/C (Left MCL & high ankle sprain - Sep 2024) Ratledge was getting heavy work at the center position during OTA due to Ragnow's retirement. One of Ratledge's health concerns coming out of college was his slightly older rookie age of 24. That means there is little time for development, and he needs to be a plug-and-play player his rookie year. This is especially true now with the team's previous All-Pro center on a fishing boat somewhere. A full participation in OTA was expected for Ratledge but still good to see. As Dan Campbell stated during OTA when discussing the interior offensive line.... "We need growth [of all these guys], we need development quickly." Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE (Right ankle - Dec 31, 2024) His ankle injury during his final college game is clearly not an issue anymore. During OTA, Jeff Risdon observed that "Hassanein exudes enthusiastic energy and athleticism on every single rep." With both starting EDGE's coming off injury along with a stark lack of pass-rushing depth, the development of this 6th-round rookie is worth keeping a close eye on. Marcus Davenport, EDGE (Left elbow - Sept 22, 2024) Despite still wearing a significant left elbow wrap for his reported triceps rupture last September, Davenport was not given a limited designation. That means he will be ready for the season as expected. The Lions have given him a lot of financial reasons to produce this season as the majority of his contract value involves incentives. Christian Mahogany, OG With the OG position unsettled, Mahogany is in the mix for a starting role after emerging as the primary backup during his rookie year. A healthy OTA makes him the favorite to start the year at LG which is where he was exclusively seen by Jeff Risdon. This former 6th-rounder does have a history of a right ACL tear in 2022 and was wearing a right knee brace last season, so his health is something to watch. Graham Glasgow, OG/C With Ragnow's retirement, Glasgow's performance and health increase in importance. Last season, his performance dipped possibly due a knee issue. Hopefully, this season we see a rebound in performance/health. A full participation in OTA is a good start. Ennis Rakestraw, CB (Hamstring - Nov 23, 2024) Sporting a new number (#9), Rakestraw was looking spry at OTA. Last season was rough as multiple hamstring injuries knocked him out of much of his rookie year. Hopefully, he can dodge those issues this season. Getting through OTA healthy was an important step. Pat O'Connor, DT (Calf - Jan 5, 2025) A calf injury kept him out of the playoffs which may have been an underrated factor in the defensive struggles vs the Commanders. O'Connor had been performing well in the latter part of the season when he was playing about 50% of defensive snaps. It's good to see that the calf issue has resolved. Amik Robertson, CB (Left humerus fracture - Jan 18, 2025) Despite the lengthy surgical scar, the humerus fracture suffered early in the playoff game is not an issue. He should pick right back up after coming off a strong season at both inside and outside CB. This will be a big year for Robertson's career as he enters the final year of his contract at just 27 years old.
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Calgary Stampeders hitch quarterback wagon to 'Big-play VA' Vernon Adams Jr.
CALGARY - The road back to the CFL playoffs goes through Vernon Adams Jr. in Calgary. The Stampeders acquired the quarterback from the B.C. Lions a month after their worst season in two decades concluded in 2024. Calgary finished last in the CFL with a 5-12-1 record. The Lions choosing Nathan Rourke their No. 1 pivot, and Calgary looking for an upgrade after two and a half seasons of Jake Maier brought the 32-year-old Adams to a team looking for a turnaround in 2025 after missing the post-season for the first time in 19 years. 'He's Vernon Adams, he's Big-Play VA, so he's going to bring Calgary back to where it used to be,' predicted receiver Dominique Rhymes. 'He's used to being a winner, so he is going to be bringing that winning culture, and I think it's going happen immediately.' Adams denies B.C.'s preference for Rourke injects extra motivation into him as a Stampeder. 'No, not at all. I'm blessed, I'm grateful,' the Californian declared. 'I'm happy a team wants me and I'm here. It's the start of a new journey and it's great.' The five-foot-11, 195-pound pivot led the CFL in passing yards in 2023 (4,769) and ranked second in touchdowns (31). He was in the conversation for Most Outstanding Player in 2024 with B.C. before he was sidelined with injury in August. CFL quarterbacks often get disproportionate credit for wins and blame for losses in a team game, but there's no denying the position's importance in a three-down league. 'One twelfth, but quarterback play is vital,' said Stampeders coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, a former CFL quarterback himself. 'I don't need fancy plays. Make plays, sure, but do what is required to win. He's done that in his career. He is definitely a guy that is a winner and finds ways to win ball games even sometimes when he maybe he's not having his best stuff. 'I really believe halfway through the year, he was odds-on favourite to win the MOP last year and injuries kind of derailed it. Careers are weird that way. They definitely take you from one city to the other. I think he's happy to be here and we just got to provide him the support so he can be Vernon.' New Stampeder quarterbacks coach Dakota Prukop has had a close view of Adams' career since Prukop played for Montana State and Adams for Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Conference. Both men eventually transferred to Oregon, with Prukop a Duck a year after Adams. The two men continued to circle each other in the CFL before crossing paths at Lions training camp last year. 'Vernon's a veteran in the CFL, but this is his first year in this playbook,' Prukop said. 'His ability to pick up this playbook in the way he has and have the details in this play book has been something really impressive. That has not surprised me. I saw his professional habits when we were together in B.C. 'I don't want to say he's a gamer in the sense that he does not do well outside of a game, but he has an extra gear on game day. When you couple that with his professionalism and being a true pro, and then he has that extra gear in game day, if the pressure is on, if the score is tight, he's the guy you want in your huddle.' Since throwing his first CFL pass for the Montreal Alouettes in 2016, Adams has amassed 16,190 career passing yards with a 64-per-cent completion rate. He's thrown 86 touchdown passes, as well as 54 interceptions, while rushing for 24 touchdowns. 'My thing was I threw too many interceptions,' Adams said. 'Just want to make sure I'm protecting the ball and getting my playmakers the ball. Let them do the rest.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
