Sunday, November 3, 2013

11/3 Recap: Bailey busts slump; Possler possibly out

Justin Bailey ended his nine-game goal slumber Sunday when he outworked two defenders to connect on his fourth of the year as Kitchener stumbled to their sixth-straight loss 4-1 at Mississauga. The even-strength tally gives the right winger 10 points (4+6) through 14 games for the Rangers, who have now lost six consecutive contests. Kitchener will look to turn things around Thursday when they visit Peterborough.



Brady Austin picked up an assist as London cruised to a 6-2 victory over red-hot Erie. The Knights' triumph ends Erie's franchise record 11-game winning streak. Reigning OHL Player of the Month and stud 2015 draft prospect Connor McDavid also saw his 11-game point streak snapped in the Otters' loss. He had captured four goals and 21 assists throughout the remarkable run. Next up for Austin and the Knights is a Thursday home meeting with Guelph.



Nick Baptiste was kept off the score sheet as Sudbury dropped a 3-1 decision at league front-runner Guelph. After collecting 17 points (8+9) in 10 October tilts, Baptiste has cooled with zero points and a minus-two rating in three November games. Sudbury travels to North Bay on Thursday.

In Sweden, Linus Ullmark's shutout streak ended at 167:26 when he gave up a goal late in the second period as MODO suffered a 3-2 loss to HV 71. Ullmark, who entered the game coming off the first two shutouts of his SHL career, finished with 39 saves on 41 shots faced. The 20-year old continues to lead the league with a .947 save% while placing second overall with a 1.68 GAA.



MODO's leading point-getter, Gustav Possler, left the game in the second period following a hit in the corner that saw him suffer a possible injury to his left ACL. A virtual lock to join Team Sweden for the 2014 World Junior Championship, Possler reportedly was taken to the hospital, leaving his long-term status unknown heading into MODO's next game versus Orebro HK on Nov. 12.



In the ECHL, Andrey Makarov made 35 saves to earn the game's number three star as Fort Wayne won the rubber match at Las Vegas 4-1. Makarov has now won two of his first three professional starts, all versus the Wranglers, while amassing a 1.34 GAA (5th in league) and .957 save% (2nd). Shawn Szydlowski notched his first fighting major of the year for the Komets, who next take the ice Wednesday at Evansville.