Toledo Pitches Shutout In KC, Takes 1-0 Lead In Western Conference Finals
Coming into the Western Conference Finals, Kansas City Mavericks goaltender Jack LaFontaine had allowed one goal or less in six of 10 games this post-season.
Through two periods in Game 1 Thursday night against the Toledo Walleye, he appeared to be on his way to equaling that mark. Then, two quick goals within 20 seconds changed all that, and the Walleye walked away with a 2-0 shutout at Cable Dahmer Arena to take a 1-0 lead in the WCF.
Matt Anderson finally broke the scoreless tie at 2:51 of the third period off his own rebound. The assist went to Carson Bantle.
Just 20 seconds later, Cole Gallant went on a breakaway and added some much needed insurance to put Toledo up 2-0. Dylan Moulton assisted on the play.
As solid as LaFontaine was, Toledo netminder Jan Bednar was perfect on the night, stopping all 25 shots he faced. LaFontaine made 32 saves in the loss.
Bednar's shutout was the first in the post-season for the Walleye since 2022. Both teams played intense but well-disciplined hockey, and Toledo stole the Mavericks' home ice advantage in the series.
This year marks the second consecutive meeting between these two teams in the Western Conference Finals, with the Mavericks taking last year's series 4-2. Game 2 of this series is Saturday at Cable Dahmer Arena, with puck drop set for 6:05 Pm CT.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Panthers vs. Oilers live updates: Score, highlights from Stanley Cup Final Game 2
Panthers vs. Oilers live updates: Score, highlights from Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Show Caption Hide Caption Are Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup bound? Former NHLer weighs in Former NHL winger Riley Cote explains what he loves about this Edmonton Oilers team ahead of the Western Conference Finals. Sports Seriously The Edmonton Oilers have two things they didn't have in last year's Stanley Cup Final: home-ice advantage and a lead in the series. The Oilers' 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 means the Florida Panthers will need to come back if they're going to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Game 2 is Friday night. "We learn more from adversity than we do from winning," Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe told reporters on Thursday. The Panthers blew a second intermission lead for the first time in the playoffs in three years under coach Paul Maurice. They were outshot 14-2 in the third period as Edmonton tied the game and won in overtime on Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal. "They dictated more of the game than we did," forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "It is what it is. Back to the drawing board. Just try to play better than them (Friday)." Florida has lost two in a row only once this postseason but rallied to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the second round. "We just need to be ready for it, that they are going to be better," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. Here's what to know about Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, including how to watch: Brad Marchand scores on a short-handed breakaway after a feed from Anton Lundell. Florida kills off the rest of the penalty. Niko Mikkola is called for holding. The Panthers need to stay out of the penalty box. Let's see if it costs them. Note: It doesn't. Florida has been getting a lot of zone time in this period and it connects to tie the game on a wrist shot from point by Dmitry Kulikov at 8:23. Matthew Tkachuk was setting the screen in front. Panthers have two goals tonight from defensemen. Evander Kane, Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard are dangerous on the rush, but Bobrovsky stops Bouchard's shot. Panthers start on power play, and it's killed. Evan Bouchard gets a chance as he comes out of the penalty box. McDavid's assist on Leon Draisaitl's goal is worth watching. He makes moves around Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad, sending Ekblad tumbling, before he feeds Draisaitl. That was the highest-scoring first period since the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, per TNT. The Oilers have the lead because of a big game by their stars. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard have combined for seven points. McDavid's play on the Draisaitl goal is highlight reel-worthy. But the Panthers kill a 5-on-3 late in the period to stop the damage and will start the second with a power play. Shots are 15-10 Edmonton and the Oilers are also leading 15-8 in hits. Evan Bouchard is called for cross-checking. Panthers get a couple shots and 41 seconds of the power play will carry into the second period. Niko Mikkola goes off for roughing. Then a Seth Jones penalty makes it 5-on-3. First part is killed off and now the second part. Panthers needed that. The Oilers need just 24 seconds to connect as Leon Draisaitl scores after a great play by Connor McDavid. Two points each for McDavid and Draisaitl and three points for Evan Bouchard. Looks like Mattias Ekholm pushes Sam Bennett into Stuart Skinner, who's down for a while. Oilers going on power play. The Panthers like to have their defense to get up in the play and it pays off again. Seth Jones sneaks in from the point and is wide open for an Eetu Luostarinen pass. Defenseman Nate Schmidt gets his second point of the game. Evan Bouchard's initial shot is blocked by Aleksander Barkov and then he rips a shot past a screened Sergei Bobrovsky. That's goals on back-to-back shots for Edmonton. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl get the assists. Small scrum breaks out after Sam Bennett goes for a rebound. Edmonton's Darnell Nurse and Florida's Matthew Tkachuk head to the penalty box. Evander Kane ties the game with a shot to Sergei Bobrovsky's glove side at 7:39. That's six playoff goals for Kane, who missed the entire regular season after multiple surgeries. Aaron Ekblad is called for holding the stick. But the power play doesn't last long as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is called for tripping. It's 4-on-4. Everyone out of the penalty box now. Sam Bennett gets a good shot off but Stuart Skinner makes the save. Red-hot Sam Bennett scores on the power play after a Nate Schmidt pass. That's 13 goals for Bennett in the playoffs, including a record 12 on the road. The goal ends Edmonton's nine-game streak of scoring first. Oilers are upset that Bennett kicked Mattias Ekholm's stick away from him. Evander Kane called for high-sticking Carter Verhaeghe 37 seconds into the game. Florida's Aleksander Barkov line vs. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl line. Edmonton fans are starting early with the "Sergei, Sergei" chants - before the national anthems. When is Stanley Cup Final Game 2? Panthers vs. Oilers game time The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday. What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 2 on? TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting. Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 2 Date: Friday, June 6 Friday, June 6 Location: Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT) 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT) TV: TNT, truTV TNT, truTV Streaming: Max, Sling TV Panthers coach Paul Maurice is starting the Aleksander Barkov line and Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is countering with the Leon Draisaitl line. Maurice has moved Carter Verhaeghe to the top line and Evan Rodrigues to the second line. In Game 1, it was the Barkov line vs. the Connor McDavid line to start. Draisaitl scored 66 seconds into the series opener. Maurice moved Carter Verhaeghe to the top line and Evan Rodrigues to the second lline. Oilers' Stuart Skinner (7-4, 2.49 goals-against average, .904 save percentage) vs. Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky (12-6, 2.17, .912). Skinner has a five-game winning streak. The Oilers have four of the top five scorers in the series: McDavid has a league-best 28 points, followed by Leon Draisaitl (27) and Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with 18 each. Draisaitl has a team-high nine goals. The Panthers have 10 players with double-digit points, led by Sam Bennett (18) and Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk (17 each). Bennett is the playoffs' leading goal scorer with 12. No Canadian team has won since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings in five games. A Canadian team has reached the Final eight times since then, including the Oilers three times. They're the second team with home-ice advantage, joining the 2011 Vancouver Canucks. They hold the first series lead since the Canucks led 3-2 that year. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch will put Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together later in games if Edmonton needs an offensive boost. 'It's nice to know when those two get together mid-game that the results are pretty good," he said. But Knoblauch doesn't do it all game long so he can spread the offense out. The two used to go out together on the shift after a penalty kill, but McDavid has started killing penalties. The Panthers forward is tracking toward a return but will sit out a second consecutive game on Friday. "We think if he tracks out, he'll be available for Game 3," coach Paul Maurice said. Jesper Boqvist has taken Greer's place on the fourth line. Panthers forward Tomas Nosek said it was "tough" after the Oilers scored in overtime on the power play after his delay of game penalty. "You don't want to be the one guy who cost us the game, but obviously everybody can make a mistake," he said, adding, "It's in the past and now looking forward to just keep doing my job and focusing on tonight's game." He said his teammates were "very helpful" and supportive of him. "Most of the guys came to me and said, 'Don't worry about it.' " he said, according to TSN. Panthers coach Paul Maurice was asked Friday about the Dallas Stars' firing of coach Peter DeBoer. Maurice and DeBoer are friends. "He'll be all right. He's a good coach. I think elite teams, you've got to push them real hard to get them where they get to, then at some point," he said, trailing off. "You get a summer off, pick your spot, he's going to be OK." All times Eastern; (x-if necessary) Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT) | Story Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT) | Story Game 2: Friday, June 6 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m | TNT, truTV Friday, June 6 | Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m | TNT, truTV Game 3: Monday, June 9, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV Monday, June 9, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV Game 4: Thursday, June 12, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV Thursday, June 12, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV x-Game 5: Saturday, June 14, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV Saturday, June 14, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV x-Game 6: Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV x-Game 7: Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV All odds via BetMGM (as of Friday, June 6) Spread: Oilers (-1.5) Oilers (-1.5) Moneyline: Oilers (-110); Panthers (-110) Oilers (-110); Panthers (-110) Over/Under: 6.5
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Walleye Look To Rebound After Falling In Last Two Games Of Kelly Cup Final
Walleye Look To Rebound After Falling In Last Two Games Of Kelly Cup Final After taking the first game over the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the Kelly Cup Finals, the Toledo Walleye find themselves trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Friday at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
For Rangers Fans Here's A Preview Of The Stanley Cup Final
Walleye Look To Rebound After Falling In Last Two Games Of Kelly Cup Final After taking the first game over the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the Kelly Cup Finals, the Toledo Walleye find themselves trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Friday at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres.
