Connor Knapp made a season-high 26 saves Saturday as #5 Miami avenged their previous night's loss with a 5-1 win over #19 Western Michigan. The Jr. netminder was beaten glove-side from the dot for a short-handed goal at the 9:00 mark of the opening period, then shut the door the rest of the way to elevate his season line to 3-2-3 with a 1.79 GAA and .915 save percentage. Knapp will take a two-game winning streak into next weekend's set with Notre Dame.
In other college action, Justin Jokinen contributed four shots on goal as Minnesota State earned the weekend sweep of Lowell with a 3-2 win. The hot-and-cold junior, who powered the Mavs with a Friday hat trick, has six goals and eight points through 14 season. The club will head home to Mankato next weekend for the first time since October to host Minnesota.
Mark Adams punched four shots on goal as Providence edged Holy Cross, 2-1. The true freshman and only prospect yet to register a point this season was whistled for his fifth minor penalty of the season in the first period when he was called for boarding.
Brad Eidsness served as backup for the third straight game and sixth of the Sioux's last seven as #9 North Dakota played to a 2-2 tie with #11 Notre Dame. Sophomore Aaron Dell had another strong weekend in the Sioux crease, but there is a chance that Eidsness gets a look when they host unranked St. Cloud on Friday/Saturday.
Nick Eno served in his usual Saturday backup role as Bowling Green dropped a 3-2 decision to Rensselaer. Eno is the likely starter when the Falcons travel to Lake Superior on Friday.
In the OHL, Zack Kassian (-2) was held without a point as Windsor saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss to Saginaw. Despite the blanking, the 6'3 right wing remains the leading scorer for the Spits (14-10-0-1) while ranking 12th in the league with 35 points. Josh Shalla, who went undrafted last June after posting a 33-goal season, had four goals to pace the Spirit while Pittsburgh, PA native Vincent Trocheck ('11) collected four assists.
Marcus Foligno failed to hit the scoresheet as Sudbury got pounded by Owen Sound, 6-0. The Wolves (7-17-1-0) were outshot 48-25 in the loss. Going hard to the final horn, the 6'3 captain took a roughing penalty late in the third period to create a 5-3 disadvantage and the Attack's sixth goal. Quiet for the past two weeks, Foligno will carry a seven-game goalless streak into Sunday's match-up with London.
In the WHL, Mark Pysyk (+1) earned an assist as Edmonton handled Calgary, 3-1. Fellow 2011 draftee Matt MacKenzie (-1) picked up a power play assist for the Hitmen, who have now lost three straight. Oil Kings leading scorer Michael St. Croix ('11) tallied his 14th goal of the season unassisted in the opening frame to help the club to their third consecutive win. The WHL game drew 9.760 fans to the Saddledome. In Phoenix, the Yotes/Ducks contest was announced at 12,708...
Brayden McNabb notched an assist as Kootenay clobbered Seattle, 6-2. Despite only playing 16 games this season, the 6'4 Saskatchewan native still ranks 10th among league defenders with 15 assists.
Riley Boychuk picked up an assist as Portland stumbled to their second straight loss, 3-2 to Tri-City in a shootout. The Abbotsford, BC native has six goals and three assists this season while ranking third on the team in PIM with 53.
Corey Fienhage (-2) earned a power play assist as Kamloops was defeated by Prince George, 7-5. The game featured a wild middle period that saw five goals scored in the final seven minutes.
In the USHL, Christian Isackson (-1) recorded a hooking minor as Sioux Falls ended a three-games-in-three-nights run with a 3-2 shootout loss to Tri-City. Isackson, who was stopped in his shootout attempt, ends the weekend with one assist and seven shots on goal and has scored just one point in his last five games.
