Justin Bailey scored the only goal of the shootout as Kitchener got past Owen Sound 2-1. The big winger enters the season's final 15-game stretch as the Rangers' leading scorer with 24 goals and 41 points.
Eric Locke connected for his 18th goal of the year and added an assist as Saginaw dropped a 6-4 decision to Sault Ste. Marie. Locke's goal was his third short-handed marker of the year, elevating his season point total to 45 through 34 games.
Brady Austin notched his seventh goal of the year as London was dominated by Erie 7-2. Nikita Zadorov (-1) was kept off the score sheet in the loss, while Otters 2015 phenom Connor McDavid amassed five assists to spark the home victory.
In the QMJHL, Mikhail Grigorenko released a laser for his fifth goal of the season just 1:35 into the opening frame as Quebec lost in a shootout to Victoriaville 3-2. Grigorenko, who also lit the lamp with his shootout attempt, has 11 points in nine games since being assigned to the QMJHL.
Out west, Logan Nelson returned from a two-game suspension to score his 18th goal of the year in Victoria's 6-4 win at Kelowna. Nelson has scored in five straight games to boost his point total to 43 in 44 games.
In AHL action, Rasmus Ristolainen scored a power play goal as Rochester had a tough night in a 5-1 loss to Grand Rapids at First Niagara Center. Matt Hackett made 22 saves in taking the loss, while Chad Ruhwedel and Kevin Porter drew assists on the lone Amerks tally.
In the NCAA ranks, JT Compher registered four shots on goal as No. 10 Michigan was blanked by Penn State 4-0. Compher remains Michigan's leading scorer with 24 points (10+24) in 24 games. The big victory was the first in B1G conference play for the young Nittany Lions program.
Cal Petersen made 32 saves but saw his 12-game winning streak come to an end as Waterloo was defeated in overtime by Dubuque 3-2. Petersen nearly gave up his first regulation loss since Nov. 22, a span of 16 starts, but the Black Hawks were able to knot the score 2-2 with five seconds left to force extra time. The game looked to be heading to a shootout until draft eligible Karson Kuhlman scored with 5.1 seconds left to close it out.
Judd Peterson recorded five shots on goal as Cedar Rapids edged Green Bay 2-1 in a shootout. Connor Hurley assisted on the Gamblers regulation tally, but was stopped in his shootout attempt. The Notre Dame commit has one assist in his last three tilts after connecting for points in his previous 10 games.
In Sweden, Linus Ullmark had a rough go in his final appearance before the Olympic break, stopping just 13 of 18 shots as MODO lost to Brynas 6-4. Ullmark slips to 15-13 on the year with a 1.97 GAA and .935 save%.
In ECHL play, Connor Knapp backed up as Trevor Cann stopped all 21 shots he faced in a 3-0 shutout of Gwinnett.
Andrey Makarov got a night off in Fort Wayne's 3-2 victory over Cincinnati. Shawn Szydlowski finished with a minus-one rating and two shots on goal.
