12-05-2025
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.
