Yesterday was a slow news day — Sunday usually is — but at least there was playoff hockey to be found!
No, I’m not talking about those playoffs. I mean the OHL playoffs, which concluded yesterday with a Hamilton Bulldogs victory:
2018 #OHL Champions 🏆@BulldogsOHL win Robertson Cup bringing @cityofhamilton their first #OHLChampionship title since 1976.
STORY: https://t.co/jAj9So0eu4 pic.twitter.com/GmiOHSK5Ai
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) May 13, 2018
So why should Dallas Stars fans care? The Bulldogs just so happen to be the team of Stars prospect Nick Caamano, who’s empty netter yesterday ended up being the game winner. In fact, Caamano has been producing for Hamilton the entire postseason:
Nick Caamano finished the OHL playoffs with 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 21 games. Scored one goal in each of the last four games of the championship series.
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) May 13, 2018
The Bulldogs will now go on to play for the Memorial Cup, which should be Caamano’s last taste of junior hockey before jumping up to the Texas Stars in the AHL. Or, if he looks even better than last training camp, he could make the NHL roster. You never know.
Other Stars Stories
In case you’re suffering from John Klingberg withdrawal, here’s something to tide you over for the next couple of days:
John Klingberg (@DallasStars) makes it 1-0 Sweden on the power play. #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/Irk7B2JZyf
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) May 13, 2018
Nick Cotsonika wrote a nice piece on ex-Star Cody Eakin, who is currently playing in the Western Conference Final for his new team, the Vegas Golden Knights, against his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets. [NHL]
Speaking of former Stars, many have been excelling with their new teams. Was moving on from some of them perhaps a mistake?
Sellers remorse? Watching these ex-Stars thrive in the playoffs is bittersweet | @MikeHeika #GoStars https://t.co/1xtrrxOYMn
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) May 13, 2018
Stanley Cup Playoffs Update
So, uhh, that first game wasn’t a fluke; the Washington Capitals won again last night, this time beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2. [Japers’ Rink]
Beautiful work from Kuzy to Ovi on the 2-on-1. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/5S6IfIE9AW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 14, 2018
Ovechkin joined WPG’s Mark Scheifele as the second player to post 8 multi-point games this postseason.
Only one other playoffs in the last 30 years has witnessed two players each accomplish the feat: PHI’s Tim Kerr and Brian Propp each did so in 1989. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/RPQG4rhCUS
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 14, 2018
Perhaps even more impressive is that the Capitals are winning without star center Nicklas Backstrom, who is out with a hand injury. Unfortunately for the Lightning, Lars Eller has managed to step up and fill some pretty big shoes. [NBC Sports]
Tonight, the Winnipeg Jets will also try and take a 2-0 series lead, though the Vegas Golden Knights are determined to bounce back after a rough Game 1:
“Next game, no excuses.”
The Golden Knights know that they can be better than they were in Game 1 (@imacSportsnet)https://t.co/EIvFmwpvSt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 13, 2018
Around the League
Do you like reading about awesome draft prospects that will be long gone before the Stars are drafting? I have just the article for you:
Michigan’s Quinn Hughes has all the right moves for the draft, says @THNRyanKennedy https://t.co/S68xKcdJ3C
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) May 14, 2018
Yes, Alex, I’ll take “Things That Don’t Surprise Me” for 800:
Golden Knights helping raise hockey’s betting profile https://t.co/N5xfalCnmE
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 13, 2018
Great news for Team Canada at the World Championship:
#Predators pivot Kyle Turris is set to join #TeamCanada at the 2018 #IIHFWorlds.https://t.co/m4xUzQDXoc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 13, 2018
Finally, here’s a neat piece on Nikita Kucherov’s journey to NHL stardom:
Nikita Kucherov unmasked: Inside the Lightning star’s rise: https://t.co/mqfFxs0JPb
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) May 13, 2018