In the QMJHL, Mikhail Grigorenko capped the hat trick with under two minutes to play as Quebec smoked Shawinigan 6-1. Grigorenko, who also rang up an assist in the victory, has nine goals and 17 points in 12 games since being re-assigned to the Remparts. His plus-five rating against one of the league's cellar dwellers comes on the heels of a pair of minus-three outings over the past two weeks. Anthony Duclair (NYR) scored his 50th goal of the season for the winners.
In the AHL, Phil Varone scored his second of the game in overtime as Rochester came from behind to defeat Texas 5-4. Varone, Johan Larsson and Dan Catenacci notched second-period tallies to help rally the Amerks, while Joel Armia picked up a pair of assists, including a nice individual effort to set up a Colton Gillies marker in the early third period to knot the game 4-4. Nathan Lieuwen made 22 saves to get his 12th win of the year and eighth in his last 10 starts (since Jan. 1).
In USHL action, Connor Hurley notched an assist as Green Bay lost at Sioux Falls 5-3. The helper gives Hurley 33 points at the 40-game mark of his rookie season, including 19 points (7+12) in 19 games since being dealt to the Gamblers at the holiday break.
In the ECHL, Andrey Makarov stopped 20 of 23 shots and Shawn Szydlowski scored his fifth goal of the season as Fort Wayne got past Wheeling 4-3. Makarov, who played all three of the Komets' weekend games, improves to 14-8-2-2 while slipping to a 2.75 GAA and .909 save%.
Connor Knapp served as backup in Florida's 3-0 shutout of South Carolina.
