3/9 Recap: RSL playoffs; Saints fall to 'Gate

In the RSL playoffs, Vjacheslav Buravchikov went pointless for Ak Bars in their 3-0 series sweep over HC MVD. Kazan finished seventh in the regular season standings, and moves on to face either Mettalurg or CSKA in the second round. Former first-round miscue and current 2008 draft chip, Artem Kriukov, has an assist for SKA in their first-round battle with Spartak. SKA got out to a 2-0 lead in the series, only to drop the next two, forcing a game five showdown on home ice. Chosen 15th overall in the 2000 draft, Kriukov had 15 points in the regular season. Now 26 years old and technically no longer a "prospect", the player formerly known as "The Russian Concussion" isn't expected to go the "Mike Ryan route" and enter the NHL in his middle 20's. Instead, the Sabres are due a compensatory pick in 2008 for their failure to sign the former first-round pick. Eight years later, it appears that the Russian pivot is finally in position to contribute. Bowling Green advanced in the CCHA playoffs with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win versus Lake Superior. Nick Eno watched from the bench as Flames prospect Jimmy Spratt made 29 saves while the Falcons scored three unanswered goals to seal the win. BGSU will sqaure off with #2 seed Miami next weekend. In the ECAC playoffs, defenseman Matt Generous was -1 with three shots on goal as St. Lawrence lost to Colgate, 3-1. The first-round loss ends the Saints' season with a 13-20-4 record. Generous, the 208th pick in 2005, finishes the season 3-12-15 with a +12 in 33 games played.