Saturday, November 27, 2010

11/26 Recap: Jokinen first plays trick; Sundher torches 'Hawks

Welcome back.

Justin Jokinen scored his first career hat trick Friday as Minnesota State dumped Lowell, 8-3. Jokinen, who entered the game with three goals in 12 games, broke the seal with two goals in a span of 2:17 in the middle frame before later completing the trick before the period closed to give the Mavericks (3-6-4) a 6-2 lead heading into the final twenty. The junior raises his season goal total to six after posting three in each of his first two seasons in Mankato.

Drew MacKenzie scored his first goal of the season and added an assist as Vermont played to a 2-2 tie with Northeastern. The 6'2 defenseman scored the only goal of the first period when he snuck down for a back-door tip-in after the cycle Catamount forwards wore down the Huskies in their own end. An offensive minded rearguard, MacKenzie didn't score his first goal of last season until late January.

Nick Eno made 19 saves to earn his fourth win of the year as Bowling Green defeated Alabama-Huntsville, 5-1. The win was the 21st of Eno's four-year career and 800th in the history of the BGSU men's hockey program. The 6'3 netminder, who will likely sit take Saturday off when the Falcons play #17 RPI, will carry a 4-4 record and 2.90 GAA into next weekend's match-up with Lake Superior.

Brad Eidsness did not get the start as #9 North Dakota doubled up #11 Notre Dame, 6-3. Eidsness has started just one of the past six Sioux contests. That came last weekend when he was chased after allowing four goals through two periods in a 6-5 loss to UNO. There's no question the junior is mired in the deepest slump of his studded career with a 4.12 GAA and .805 save percentage while deferring to undrafted AJHL product Aaron Dell since Halloween.

Connor Knapp took his usual Friday backup spot as #5 Miami was defeated by #19 Western Michigan, 5-2. The 6'5 junior will step in fresh off last week's 35-save shutout of Bowling Green when the RedHawks look to earn the split on Saturday.

In the OHL, Zack Kassian (+2) scored a pair of second period goals helping Windsor to a 5-2 win over Oshawa. Kassian's markers, scored just 2:26 apart, give the signed prospect a season line of 11-24-35 in just 19 games thus far. Last season, Kassian scored 12-19-31 in 38 regular season games between Peterborough and Windsor. Niklas Jensen, a 6'3 wing eligible in 2011, picked up an assist for the Gens in the loss.

Gregg Sutch scored his fourth goal of the year as the CHL's #1 ranked Mississauga Majors defeated Barrie, 7-4. The goal gives the tough forward 15 points on the year, equal to his previous career best set in 2008-09.

Marcus Foligno assist on the lone Wolves goal as Sudbury came up short against Sault Ste. Marie, 3-1. Foligno nearly tied the game in final minute of play when he clanged a shot the pipe. After 22 games, the 6'3 captain has 12-14-26 to co-lead the Wolves (7-16-1-0) in scoring.

Steven Shipley did not factor as Niagara dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Ottawa. The 6'3 center has gone four consecutive games without a point to keep his season numbers at 7-11-18 through 22 games.

In the WHL, Kevin Sundher had two goals including the game winner and two assists as Chilliwack defeated the CHL's #2 ranked Portland Winterhawks, 7-2. With five goals and five assists in his last five games, Sundher now has 26 points (9+17) in 22 season contests. Riley Boychuk finished -2 for Portland while continuing to stock pile rugged minors with the addition of a high sticking and roughing calls to his season resume. The 6'4 forward leads all Sabres prospects this season with 53 PIM.

Mark Pysyk (+2) hit for two assists as Edmonton downed Vancouver, 6-4. The smooth-skating defender has seven assists on the year but is still looking for his first goal. Last season, Pysyk amassed a line of 7-17-24 in 48 games before suffering a season ending foot injury.

Matt MacKenzie posted two assists as Calgary lost to Red Deer, 4-3. The lowly Hitmen sit with a 6-18-0-1 record after 25 games, worst in the WHL and fourth from the bottom of the entire CHL ahead of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL and the OHL's Barrie Colts.

Brayden McNabb finished -1 as #9 ranked Kootenay was shut out by Tri-City, 4-0. The 6'4 rearguard has two goals and 14 assists in 15 games this year despite missing eight games with a shoulder injury.

Corey Fienhage skated -1 as Kamloops earned a 4-3 shootout win over Spokane.The Blazers are currently tied with Sundher's Bruins for third place in the B.C. Division with 27 points.

In the USHL, Christian Isackson (-2) did not register a point as Sioux Falls was defeated by Green Bay, 4-3. On Thursday night, Isackson contributed an assist and six shots on goal as the Stampede rolled past Omaha, 3-1. Through 16 games, the budding Gopher commit and USHL rookie has four goals and 13 points for the second place Stampede (10-6).

Also from Thursday, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc rolled zeros as Rimouski was downed by Quebec, 5-2. The Oceanic mustered just 13 shots on goal in the game, with a whopping zero in the third period. Heading into to the game, JGL had one goal and two assists in his three games since returning from a three-game injury absence.