Riley Boychuk scored the overtime winner Friday and added an assist as Portland defeated Everett, 3-2. Boychuk, who netted his 11th of the season in the #1 star effort, has 2+1 and a +5 rating in six games of the 2011 calendar. Perhaps more important, the 6'5 power forward skated his second straight game without a penalty after getting whistled for a minor in seven straight contests.
Mark Pysyk (+1) notched an assist as Edmonton got doubled by Moose Jaw, 6-3. Pysyk is currently a +19 through 37 games. Last season he finished -19 in 48 games.
Brayden McNabb picked up a power play assist as Kootenay lost at Spokane, 5-2. The 6'4 anchor remains 6th in scoring for WHL defensemen with 37 points (10+27).
Kevin Sundher failed to record a point for the third straight game as Chilliwack needed overtime to earn a 3-2 win over Kamloops. Sundher quiet patch is his longest since he opened the season with a four-game drought. Corey Fienhage finished +1 for the Blazers.
In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc earned a pair of assists as Rimouski defeated Quebec, 4-3. The 18-year old is currently ranked 6th among QMJHL defensemen with 32 points (8+24).
In the OHL, Steven Shipley scored his 13th goal of the year as Niagara defeated Mississauga, 5-3. Shipley's tip of a Luke Mercer point-shot ended a four-game point drought - his longest in the past two seasons. Gregg Sutch remained out of the lineup with a UBI.
Marcus Foligno did not factor into the scoresheet as Sudbury edged Barrie, 3-2. The quiet night ends his streak of five straight games with a point since returning from the World Juniors.
In the NCAA, Connor Knapp came on in relief to allow two goals on nine shots as Miami lost to Michigan State, 7-4. The RedHawks lose despite outshooting the Spartans by a 46-22 margin.
Brad Eidsness also was given some relief work as North Dakota was doubled by Nebraska-Omaha, 8-4. Eidsness entered play at the midpoint of the game, allowing four goals on 15 shots in his first league action since November 19th (when he was yanked against the same UNO club).
Drew MacKenzie (-1) punched two shots on goal as Vermont skated to a 2-1 win over Massachusetts.
Mark Adams finished -1 as Providence fell in overtime to New Hampshire, 4-3.
Justin Jokinen logged a -2 as Minnesota State fell short against Wisconsin, 3-2.
In the USHL, Christian Isackson contributed three shots on goal as Sioux Falls won a 3-2 OT decision over Youngstown. Earlier in a mid-week tilt, Christian Isackson scored an empty-net goal as Sioux Falls defeated Tri-City, 3-1.
In Thursday play, Zack Kassian extended his point streak to 11 games with a pair of goals as Windsor took a shootout over Brampton, 6-5. Kassian, who potted his 20th and 21st goals of the season, missed the chance at the hat trick in overtime when he missed on a penalty shot after being hauled down just :16 in.
On Wednesday, Matt MacKenzie scored a power play goal as Tri-City shutout Kamloops, 5-0. MacKenzie has two goals in five games since being traded to the Americans after having just two in 40 starts with Calgary. Kamloops' Fienhage picked up 12 PIM on the evening, including a misconduct from a scrum after some Blazers stickwork.
