Monday, February 7, 2011

2/5-6 Recap: Sundher dishes three; Foligno remains out

Kevin Sundher dished a career-best three assists Saturday as Chilliwack edged Kamloops, 4-3. The three-point night, Sundher's highest output since a two-goal, two-assist outing back on November 26th against Portland, helped fuel the Bruins effort to snap a six-game losing streak. Corey Fienhage finished even for the Blazers.

Brayden McNabb played even as Kootenay defeated Vancouver, 5-2. Recent 20-year old pick-up Andrej Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Giants. The 6'4, 212-pound center has six goals and seven assists in 15 games since joining the Giants after the World Junior Championship. At the tourney in Buffalo, the Slovakian pivot scored a goal and an assist in six games.

Riley Boychuk earned an assist, a fighting major, and the game's #2 star as Portland throttled Tri-City, 8-2. The big winger was strong on the forecheck, helping pin the Ams deep while at one point setting a screen on the third 'Hawks goal. Tri-City defenseman Matt MacKenzie was scratched at gametime due to illness.

Mark Pysyk played even as Edmonton lost to Everett, 3-1. The steady defender has four assists and a +4 rating his last five games.

In the USHL, Christian Isackson (-1) had a goal and an assist as Sioux falls lost to Lincoln, 6-3. The 6'0 Isackson, who currently ranks second on the Stampede with 24 points, received a centering pass from behind the net to cash his 10th goal of the year on the backhand at 8:25 of the third period. The future Gopher has two goals and two assists his last four games.

In the OHL, Steven Shipley crashed the net for his14th goal of the year as Niagara shut out Brampton, 2-0. The 6'3 Shipley, who has moved to the third-line center position between Myles Doan and Darren Archibald, was later whistled for a spearing double-minor at the tail end of period two.

Zack Kassian finished -1 as Windsor got dominated by Erie, 8-2. The 6'3 forward saw time at all three forward positions in the first period before he, Alex Khokhlachev, Nick Ebert, and Jack Campbell were benched midway through the second due to what the coaching staff deemed lazy, uncompetitive efforts.

Marcus Foligno was a game time decision but did not play as Sudbury defeated Peterborough, 4-3. The Wolves captain was injured in the first period of Friday's game and did not return.

In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc skated -1 with a shot on goal in Rimouski's 3-2 loss to Val-d'Or. The mobile rearguard is currently tied for 11th in scoring among QMJHL defensemen.

In NCAA action, Drew MacKenzie had a goal and an assist as Vermont steamrolled Providence, 7-1. The junior defenseman scored his second power-play goal in as many nights when his backhand pass towards the crease banked off a skate and into the Friars net. Mark Adams was even on the Providence blueline.

In WCHA play, Justin Jokinen posted four shots on goal as Minnesota State lost to Bemidji State, 4-1. The quiet weekend was his first set of games without a point since December 10th and 12th against North Dakota.

Connor Knapp served as backup for the third straight game as #13 Miami shutout #8 Michigan, 3-0. Senior UFA Andy Miele, 22, had three assists for the RedHawks to raise his national-leading point total to 54 (16+38) in 30 games played.

As expected, Nick Eno backed-up Andrew Hammond as Bowling Green lost to #16 Western Michigan, 3-1.

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On Sunday, Zack Kassian finished +1 as Windsor regrouped from the previous night's shellacking to earn a 7-1 win over Brampton. Kassian began the game on the third line with Kerby Rychel and Kenny Ryan before moving up to play Tom Kuhnhackl and Alex Khokhlachev. Kassian worked harder on the forecheck and provided a couple scoring chances by using his feet, but was unable to register a point for the seventh time in his last eight games.

Marcus Foligno missed his second game in a row with a knee injury as Sudbury lost to Oshawa, 5-4.