Oh boy. Game sevens make me nervous enough, but this time? The Marlies are playing game seven of the North Division final tonight and there’s a whole built in narrative to this event. The Marlies have won all three games at home, and lost all three games on the road.

Game seven is on the road, in Syracuse. This isn’t going to be easy. The Syracuse barn (and a ‘barn’ is a very fitting descriptor) is loud and intimidating. The legalese on tickets says “no noisemakers except cowbells are allowed.”

They bring their cowbells.

Meanwhile the other half of the AHL Eastern Conference is also being decided tonight. The Providence Bruins forced a game seven last night by defeating the Hershey Bears. The winner of that series will face off in the conference final, which will start likely on the weekend.

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Penguins face the Senators in Ottawa tonight at 8:00 PM in the third game of their series. All eyes will be on their empty seats. Then, all eyes will be on Phaneuf to see if there’s any retaliation for the huge DION SMASH hit he landed in the last game.

Remember when he was just an innocent little cave man?

ICYMI

We wrote a lot today, and you read a lot! I am pleased to share that we are having yet another record breaking month at PPP.

Meet draft target Kristian Vesalainen, MVP of the U-18 Tournament
WHW: Open season on Team Canada

Women’s hockey had the biggest news of the day. After announcing a few weeks ago that their season schedule is expanding to 30 games, we now know why: the CWHL is adding a sixth team, but not one anyone predicted.

Report: China's HC Kunlun Red Star to ice a CWHL team in 2017-18 - The Ice Garden
HC Kunlun Red Star announced the development of a professional women's team at a press conference in Beijing, with CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress in attendance.

If Commissioner Andress was there, it adds a lot of legitimacy and certainty that this is happening. She wouldn’t go to China for a false start. Meanwhile, the NWHL responded with their own expansion plans.

It is not yet clear if Dani Rylan was on Mars for the announcement or not, though she has been reportedly lost in space for some time.

Who will get the Marlies’ game winning goal tonight?

Kasperi Kapanen: it’s what he does.29
CLUBE! With two minutes remaining.2
Brendan Leipsic, after he has another featherweight bout with Yanni Gourde3
Andrew Nielsen will get an Andrew Nielsen goal and Katya will be exasperated.5
Seth Griffith: because how many assists can you get without finally scoring?2
Travis Dermott: 5’11 and 215 pounds of goal.1
Carl Grundstrom: because Swedes rule and Crunch drool.17
Brett Findlay: GOOD ONTARIYA BOY THUMBS UP!1