Thursday, February 3, 2011

2/2 Recap: MacKenzie's late pair leads Ams to victory

Matt MacKenzie showed why he was a prime trade deadline target Wednesday, scoring a pair of clutch goals late to lead Tri-City to a 4-3 come from behind win over Edmonton. MacKenzie forced overtime when he smoked a point shot on the power play with just under five minutes to play in regulation. Moments later the 6'2 defender would end the game with another big power play shot just :53 seconds into the extra session. MacKenzie now has four goals in 10 games with the Ams after having two goals in his first 40 with Calgary. Mark Pysyk picked up an assist for the losing Oil Kings to advance his season line to 2-24-26 +20.

Elsewhere, Kevin Sundher scored a goal and an assist as Chilliwack's losing skid hit six games with a 6-4 defeat at Kelowna. Sundher's even strength marker, his 17th of the season, came when he buried a point-shot rebound midway through the first period to give the Bruins an early 2-1 lead. The 6'0 center has posted multi-point games in two of his last three after a 17-game run or single or zero point efforts.

Corey Fienhage scored his third goal of the year as Kamloops came up short against Everett, 3-2. After following the play deep, Fienhage took a feed and buried a backhand from the left slot past an out-of-position Kent Simpson. Fienhage's solid all-around play was rewarded with the game's #3 star.

Brayden McNabb finished -1 as Kootenay lost to Calgary, 3-1. The Ice had won the previous seven meetings this season between the two clubs.

In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc notched a pair of assists as Rimouski lost to Chicoutimi, 5-3. The offensive-minded 18-year old has eight goals and 27 assists in 45 games this season, with five of those helpers coming in his last five games. Last season, he posted 20 goals and 26 assists in 68 games.

In USHL play, Christian Isackson (-2) connected for a shot on goal as Sioux Falls lost at Omaha, 3-1. Seth Ambroz ('11) notched his 16th goal of the year for the Lancers.