Anthony Florentino (+3) recorded one assist Thursday as Providence advanced the NCAA Championship game with a 4-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha. Florentino, who also added three shots on goal in the victory, was a physical presence throughout with several hard hits to disrupt the Mavericks' attack. Florentino will need to maintain a high level of engagement on Saturday when the Friars take on Jack Eichel and Boston University for the national title. Game time is 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.
After assisting on a Nick Ritchie power-play goal at 8:14 of the opening frame, Bailey potted his fifth goal of the playoffs a minute-and-a-half later to give the Hounds a 3-1 lead.
Dupuy would follow-up with his first goal of the playoffs at 17:42 of the first period, and later added his second of the night just 1:21 into the second period to put Sault Ste. Marie firmly ahead 6-1.
Dupuy earned the game's second star. Bailey was named the game's third star. The two teams will resume action Sunday in Guelph.
In Erie, Nicholas Baptiste cashed a short-handed marker and added one assist as Erie bested London 5-2. Baptiste's goal, his fourth of the playoffs, tied the game 2-2 at 14:21 of the second period before the Otters turned up the heat with three unanswered goals the rest of the way. Erie leads the Western Conference Semifinal 1-0 heading into Friday's Game 2.
In the AHL, Andrey Makarov stopped 28 of 29 shots to earn the game's first star as Rochester cruised past Lake Erie 5-1. Tim Schaller and Kevin Sundher each supplied two assists, while Dan Catenacci and Jake McCabe provided single helpers. Allan McPherson, Evan Rankin, Justin Mercier, Jayden Hart and Drew Bagnall all scored for the Amerks, while Eric Cornel recorded one shot on goal and a plus-one rating in his AHL debut.
