Storm Advisory 5/25/19: NHL News, Links and Daily Roundup

There’s not a lot going on in the NHL this weekend, thank goodness we have a passel of chores down on the farm to keep us busy.

Checkers in Position to Clinch

Thanks to shorthanded goals by Nicolas Roy and Haydn Fleury, the Charlotte Checkers took a 3-2 series lead in the AHL Eastern Conference Finals with a 4-1 win over the Toronto Marlies Friday night. Steven Lorentz and Clark Bishop also scored for the Checkers, and Dustin Tokarski made 40 saves on 41 shots. The Checkers are now one win away from advancing to the Calder Cup Final as the series shifts back to Charlotte Sunday night.

Speaking of Sunday, temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s across most of North Carolina. If you’re in the market to hang out somewhere just a bit cooler:

Everblades Announce Affiliation with Predators

On Friday the Florida Everblades announced they will become the ECHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators in the 2019-20 season.

The Everblades are owned by former Hurricanes majority owner Peter Karmanos and have been affiliated with Carolina since they were founded in 1998, renewing their contract annually. After Karmanos sold controlling shares of the Canes to Tom Dundon last year, the Everblades began to evaluate other affiliations, and the Predators were looking for a partner after severing their relationship with the Norfolk Admirals in 2017.

The Everblades were eliminated from the Kelly Cup playoffs on May 18, losing to the Newfoundland Growlers in the conference finals.

Other Reading Assignments

• The News & Observer’s Tar Heel of the Month honors people for their significant contributions to North Carolina and the region. Who else could have won May’s honor other than a rookie head coach who ended a nine-year playoff drought with a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. [N&O]
• Turbo says thanks fans, see you soon!

• I suppose somebody had to bring us back to reality... a list of the Hurricanes players most likely to stay, and those most likely to have performed their last storm surge. [Athletic $]
• Because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? The Flyers could learn a few things from the Bunch of Jerks (though to be honest, I can’t see them pulling their mascot around in a little wagon). [Broad St Hockey]
• Bobby Orr’s flight through the air after his Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970 has more than one St. Louis connection. [NHL.com]
• Don’t forget to make your prediction for the Final in the Canes Country Pick ‘em! [Us]