In SM-liiga play, Joel Armia set up the game winning goal in the final minute of regulation as Assat edged HIFK, 3-2. The 6'3 wing (#10 in red) used his size along the wall to create a turnover before sliding the puck to Tomas Zaborsky, who scored from beneath the goal line to keep Assat near the top of the SM-liiga standings.
Armia has a goal and three assists in his first eight games, but the numbers should increase as he's being given quality minutes while firing 33 shots on goal to-date. Assat next plays Tuesday at Tappara.
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc bagged a pair of assists as Rimouski pounded Moncton, 7-2. Leduc has produced multiple-point efforts in each of his first three games this season (2+5). To demonstrate growth and experience, note that his third multi-point game a season ago didn't come until mid-December. (He did finish the year with six multi-pointers in his final ten). Rimouski hosts Drummondville on Sunday.
In the OHL, Gregg Sutch scored his first goal of the season as Barrie won in overtime over Peterborough, 6-5. The 6'2 grinder buried a pass from behind the net midway through the second period to give the Colts a 3-1 lead. Top pair anchor Alex Lepkowski earned the secondary assist on the Sutch tally. The Colts lead 5-2 with 6:42 to play before the Petes stormed back with an amazing three goals in the final 1:21 of play. Barrie will battle Mississauga on Thursday.
Steven Shipley notched two assists as Niagara downed Belleville, 5-3. The fourth-year man has points in three straight games in an elevated role while the Dogs wait to see if 2011 first-rounder Ryan Strome is returned from the New York Islanders. Shipley will look to extend his point streak to four games on Thursday when the IceDogs welcome London.
Daniel Catenacci picked up two assists as Owen Sound saw the raising of their OHL Championship banner spoiled in a 5-3 loss to Guelph. The nifty center fed Jarrod Maidens ('12) in the slot at 17:20 of the first period and was later credited with a helper on another Maiden tally. Catenacci, who has three goals and five assists on the young season, will take a three-game point streak into Friday's game at Erie.
Elsewhere, Cedrick Henley logged a career-low -4 as Val-d'Or lost to Gatineau, 6-4. In his injury-shortened 22-game campaign a season ago, Henley was a "minus player" just four times with a -1 rating in each of those games. The Foreurs return to action Wednesday against Rouyn-Noranda.
Mark Pysyk finished +1 as Edmonton lost in a shootout to Medicine Hat, 4-3.The Oil Kings are off until Wednesday when they play host to Kootenay.
In an NCAA exhibition contest, Brad Eidsness saw just three shots on goal in a little over a period of work as North Dakota thumped Regina, 8-1.
