Nathan Lieuwen stopped 29 shots to earn his 10th win of the year as Kootenay toppled Everett, 4-2. The 6'5 netminder improves to a perfect 7-0 this season on home ice. Collecting the win on five days rest, there's a good chance that Lieuwen goes for his sixth consecutive victory Saturday when the ICE host Red Deer.
Cedrick Henley picked up an assist as Val-d'Or defeated Cape Breton, 5-3. The Foreurs fourth leading scorer, Henley will take a four-game point streak into Sunday's tilt at Halifax.
In the OHL, Gregg Sutch posted a career-low -4 as Barrie lost at Plymouth, 4-1. Colts defenseman Alex Lepkowski, who recently returned for two games after missing eight due to a UBI, did not play. Barrie moves to face Saginaw on Saturday.
Dan Catenacci skated -2 with a slashing minor as Owen Sound got pounded by Ottawa, 5-1. Catenacci had points in three straight games prior to the loss. The Attack will lock horns with Belleville on Saturday.
Steven Shipley logged a -1 in Niagara's 4-3 loss to Kitchener. The third-line pivot has been a minus-player in eight of the Dogs 13 games this season. The two clubs will travel to Niagara Saturday to complete the home-and-home series.
In NCAA action, Drew MacKenzie scored his first goal of the year as Vermont lost at Providence, 5-2. The 6'2 defenseman, who missed last weekend's set with Merrimack due to injury, fired from the right point in the opening minute of the third period for the Catamounts final goal of the night. Providence sophomore Mark Adams has yet to appear on the Friars blueline this season due to a lower body injury.
In WCHA play, Brad Navin finished -1 with a shot on goal as Wisconsin was routed by St. Cloud State, 7-2. The 6'2 freshman has one assist through the first eight games of his NCAA career while skating on the Badgers fourth line. Wisconsin will look to avenge the road beating on Saturday.
Justin Jokinen was even with three shots on goal as Minnesota State was shut out at #16 Michigan Tech, 1-0. The senior wing has yet to get it going, scoring a goal and two assists in seven games. The struggling Mavericks will look for their second win of the year when the teams finish the set on Saturday.
Brad Eidsness served as back-up to Aaron Dell (30 saves) as #15 North Dakota was blanked by #5 Minnesota, 2-0. Gopher freshman Christian Isackson was a healthy scratch. With Dell looking sharp in defeat, it's fair to expect Eidsness to again watch from the bench in Saturday's series closer.
In the CCHA, Connor Knapp did not play as Miami slid past Alaska-Fairbanks, 2-1. The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the RedHawks while giving the proud program their first CCHA victory of the year. Knapp has generally been the Saturday night starter for most of the past three seasons, so it's possible he takes the net for the series closer despite a bumpy run last weekend against Lake Superior State.
