The third-seeded Niagara Predators handled their business in the opening round, eliminating the sixth-seeded Toronto Flyers in two straight games.

After a dominant 5-0 shutout on home ice in Game 1, Niagara followed it up with a 5-3 road win to close out the series and punch their ticket to the South Division semifinals.

Game 1: Niagara 5, Toronto 0

Niagara controlled the game from start to finish at Meridian Credit Union Arena, outshooting Toronto 50-16 and never allowing the Flyers to establish rhythm.

Period 1

A quiet opening frame saw no goals and no penalties, but Niagara steadily tilted the ice and built pressure.

Period 2

Isaac Locker broke the deadlock early, finishing off a feed from Alex Ness and Thomas McGrath. Late in the period, Mitya Monsieurs doubled the lead after strong work from Shane Kaplan and Nicholas Nicoletti.

Period 3

The Predators pulled away. McGrath added to the lead, Sebastian Smith extended it further, and Locker scored his second of the night to complete the 5-0 shutout victory.

Three Stars of the Game

1st Star: Isaac Locker (Niagara) – 2G, 1A
2nd Star: Lucas DiRisio (Toronto) – 45 SV, .900 SV%
3rd Star: Thomas McGrath (Niagara) – 1G, 1A

Game 2: Niagara 5, Toronto 3

Back at the Paramount Ice Complex, Toronto showed pushback, but Niagara’s depth and special teams once again proved decisive.

Period 1

Niagara exploded early. Danill Kuptsov opened the scoring, followed by short-handed goals from Monsieurs and Nicoletti. Toronto responded with a power-play goal from Ryan Baxter to cut into the deficit.

Period 2

Baxter struck again early in the period, making it a one-goal game and injecting life into the building. However, Nick Savoie answered on the power play midway through the frame to restore a two-goal cushion.

Period 3

Gianluca Minicozzi provided an insurance goal for Niagara before Jordan Ciriello scored on the power play for Toronto. The Flyers pushed late, but the Predators managed the final minutes to secure the 5-3 win and the series sweep.

Three Stars of the Game

1st Star: Ryan Baxter (Toronto) – 2G, 1A
2nd Star: Nicholas Nicoletti (Niagara) – 1G, 1A
3rd Star: Danill Kuptsov (Niagara) – 1G, 1A

Goaltending Battle

Nicolas Guy was steady for Niagara, stopping all 16 shots in Game 1 and turning aside 20 of 23 in Game 2.

For Toronto, Lucas DiRisio faced heavy shot volume in both contests. In Game 2, Ivan Petrov — who had shown flashes of brilliance during the regular season and was widely considered by many to be the Flyers’ strongest netminder — entered in relief and looked extremely sharp. Petrov settled the game and limited further damage, but by that point Niagara had already built its cushion following the goals surrendered earlier. The timing ultimately left Toronto chasing the game rather than controlling it.

Key Performances

Isaac Locker (Niagara): 2G, 1A in Game 1
Nicholas Nicoletti (Niagara): Goal and assist in Game 2
Danill Kuptsov (Niagara): 1G, 1A in Game 2
Mitya Monsieurs (Niagara): Short-handed goal and strong two-way impact
Ryan Baxter (Toronto): 3-point Game 2 performance
Ivan Petrov (Toronto): Strong relief appearance in Game 2

Niagara’s depth was evident throughout the series, with contributions coming from multiple lines and consistent execution on special teams.

Implications

The Predators carried their regular-season structure into the playoffs, combining disciplined defensive play with high-volume offensive pressure. Their ability to control possession and capitalize on special teams opportunities proved too much for Toronto to overcome.

For the Flyers, the season ends after a competitive campaign. Despite being outshot heavily in the series, they showed resilience in Game 2 and received strong individual performances from Baxter and Petrov.

What’s Next?

Niagara now advances to face the second-seeded Durham Roadrunners in the South Division semifinals.

Durham swept their opening-round matchup and enter the series with momentum of their own. A full preview will be coming, breaking down the key matchups as the Predators prepare to challenge one of the division’s most explosive teams.