Friday, January 7, 2011

1/6 Recap: Kassian's cruise continues in Windsor return

Zack Kassian made a quick return to the Windsor lineup Thursday, scoring a pair of even-strength goals as the Spits fell in overtime to Plymouth, 5-4. Kassian, who now has 17 goals and an even 50 points through his first 26 games, made marks with a wrister through a screen and clean shot on an odd-man rush. With 30 games remaining in the OHL schedule, the 19-year old is trending to finish his final junior season with a line of 56 GP 36-71-107 +30. The bullish forward will continue his quest Friday at Sarnia before getting a week of rest.

Steven Shipley scored his 12th goal of the season as Niagara shutout Belleville, 3-0. Shipley, who sat out the Dogs' Wednesday's loss to Erie, now has three goals in his last five games after potting just two in his previous twelve. Undrafted IceDog netminder Dalton McGrath, a SabresProspects preferred player from the 2010 draft preview, continued his solid play in place of Team Canada's Mark Visentin with his first OHL shutout. The 6'1 McGrath moves to 6-2 on the year and 14-3 in his two-year OHL career.

In the WHL, Matt MacKenzie (-2) recorded four penalty minutes as Calgary was nipped by Swift Current, 3-2. Adam Lowry ('11) scored a hat trick to provide the Broncos entire highlight reel. On Tuesday, MacKenzie finished -2 in a 5-0 loss to Saskatoon.

Also from Tuesday, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc potted his seventh goal of the year on an end-to-end rush as Rimouski lost to Quebec, 4-2.

Christian Isackson ended an eight-game rut with a pair of assists as Sioux Falls lost in a shootout to Sioux City, 5-4.

Corey Fienhage finished +1 as Kamloops lost to Moose Jaw, 4-2.

Mark Pysyk did not point as Edmonton lost at Medicine Hat, 5-2.