Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored his eighth goal of the year Saturday as Rimouski lost to PEI for the second straight night, 6-2. The power play marker ties him for 8th in scoring among QMJHL defensemen with 29 points while giving the puckmover 4+5 over his current five-game point streak. Losers of three straight, the Oceanic will play their third game in three days Sunday versus Moncton.
In OHL action, Marcus Foligno scored his 17th goal of the year as Sudbury held on to upset #2 ranked Mississauga, 6-5. The power play was the key to victory for the Wolves (13-24-2), with Foligno's strike contributing to their 4/6 efficiency in the win. Majors forward Gregg Sutch was held out of the lineup for the second straight game, and remains the subject of trade rumors leading up to Monday's trade deadline.
In the WHL, Mark Pysyk had an assist as Edmonton trounced Regina, 7-1. The Edmonton native now has 17 points in 32 games this season, including a goal and 12 assists in his last 11 games. With a +2 rating, the smooth-skating defender extends his streak to 19 consecutive games rated even or better. Pysyk was last a "minus" player on November 9th, when Kevin Sundher set up a Chillwack goal in an Oil Kings OT win.
Brayden McNabb posted a career-low -5 as Kootenay was dropped by Red Deer, 6-1. McNabb's feat comes just one night removed from a tired Zack Kassian finishing with the same career-low number. These things can happen when you log 26-30 minutes a night. Highly touted '11 eligible Ryan Nugent-Hopkins notched an assist for the Rebels.
Corey Fienhage scored the lone Blazers goal as Kamloops got whacked by Kelowna, 8-1. Six of Fienhage's 11 points this season have come in his past ten games.
Riley Boychuk served game #2 of his two-game suspension as Portland Seattle. He is slated to return for Sunday's match-up with Everett.
In NCAA play, Justin Jokinen snapped an eight-game goal drought with an even-strength marker and two assists as Minnesota State defeated American International, 5-2. Jokinen, who scored from in close as he received a pass from behind the net, had a few strong shifts where his jump created good opportunities for the Mavs. Minnesota State will resume their WCHA schedule next weekend against Denver.
Connor Knapp made 29 saves as Miami was swept by Ohio State, 5-2. Knapp surrendered three goals, one five-hole off a power play pass in front and two others when he was beaten cleanly, before the Buckeyes would get a pair of empty netters to seal their first sweep of the RedHawks since 2004-05. The 6'5 junior will tote a 4-4-3 record into next week's set with Bowling Green.
Brad Eidsness again worked the door as North Dakota edged Robert Morris, 2-1. Eidsness has now sat for nine straight games, and has played in just one of the last 14 for the Sioux. In his place, sophomore Aaron Dell has gone 15-4-1 with a 1.92 goals against average and .922 save percentage, including a recent shutout streak of 224:31 that was snapped with :20 to play in the third period.
Mark Adams finished -1 as Providence lost to Boston College, 3-1. The 6'3 freshman will look for his second career point when the Friars travel to Maine next weekend.
Nick Eno served as backup in Bowling Green's 3-1 loss to Ferris State.
In the USHL, Christian Isackson scored his fifth goal of the year as Sioux Falls defeated Waterloo, 5-2. The 6'0 Gopher commit had gone 15 games without a goal before stealing a pass and burying a shot into an open net to open the game's scoring. The Herd return to action Wednesday against Tri-City.
