Saturday, October 15, 2011

10/14 Recap: Eidsness earns nod, win

Brad Eidsness' recent hard work was rewarded Friday with his first start of the season as North Dakota downed Maine, 3-1. The 30-save victory comes in Eidsness' first home start since October of last year after spending the majority of 2010-11 as backup to All-WCHA first teamer, Aaron Dell. The win, the 51st of the senior's career, snaps the Sioux's four-game losing streak to the Black Bears.





In OHL play, Dan Catenacci (-1) scored his sixth goal of the year as Owen Sound lost at Kitchener, 5-3. The Attack's leading scorer with 13 points, Catenacci slid a puck five-hole at 13:26 of the second period to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2.





In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored his eighth goal of the year as Rimouski lost to red hot Baie-Comeau, 5-3. Leduc, who marked with less than three minutes to play in the game, extends his season-starting point streak to eight games. His 18 points (8+10) lead all Q defenders while ranking 10th overall in the league.

In the WHL, Kevin Sundher had a pair of assists as Victoria stormed back with four third period goals to defeat Kelowna, 7-5. Sundher's first period helpers, the first a secondary and the second off a nifty backhand play in the slot, give the six-footer 17 points through his first ten games, good for second overall in the WHL. His 14 assists are tops in the league. Through his first ten games a season ago, Sundher had just six points (2+4).

Nathan Lieuwen had to make just 16 saves as Kootenay got past Lethbridge, 2-1. The 6'5 netminder improves to 4-1-0-2 on the year with 1.26 goals against average and .952 save percentage.

Mark Pysyk finished even with a boarding minor as Edmonton saw their three-game winning streak snapped in a 6-3 loss to Regina. Pysyk's excellent defensive play was displayed in the second period when he burned nearly a quarter of a Pats power play by controlling the puck along the boards.

In Finland, Joel Armia contributed four shots on goal in Assat's 5-2 win over Karpat. The 18-year old wing has just one goal in 12 games this season to go along with three assists. His icetime has dipped of late, so the big wing will need to up his effort level to boost those numbers.

Elsewhere, Gregg Sutch picked up a power play assist as Barrie lost to Sudbury, 3-2. Alex Lepkowski remained out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury (possibly an upper body deal).

Steven Shipley finished -2 as Niagara got doubled-up by Plymouth, 6-3. Despite his point-per-game pace, the 6'3 center has been a "minus player" in five of nine games this season, contributing to a cumulative -9 on the year.

In the college ranks, Drew MacKenzie scored Vermont's only goal as the Catamounts dropped a 2-1 exhibition tilt to Team USA U18. The senior rearguard found the net with a long wrister on the power play, but the Catamounts have plenty of things to work on before their season-opening series next weekend at Minnesota.

Justin Jokinen notched an assist, his first point of the year, as Minnesota State was defeated by Lowell, 4-2. The senior wing picked his point up as the Mavericks scraped away with the goalie pulled late in the game.

Brad Navin was -1 with a shot on goal in Wisconsin's 2-1 overtime loss at Michigan Tech. The freshman wing, who came close to scoring his first collegiate goal late in the second period, will continue his quest for his first point in Saturday's rematch.

Connor Knapp served as the #2 goaltender as Miami defeated Colgate, 4-3. Knapp is expected to get the start when the RedHawks look for the sweep at Starr on Saturday.

Christian Isackson was scratched as Minnesota edged Minnesota-Duluth, 5-4 in overtime.

Mark Adams sat injured as Providence downed Boston University, 5-3. The sophomore defenseman has been on crutches and is expected to be out of the lineup for the next couple of weeks.