Sunday, March 23, 2014

3/22 Recap: Zadorov, McCabe come through

Nikita Zadorov snapped a nine-game goal drought in style Saturday, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists as London took control of their first round series with a 6-3 victory over Windsor. The four-point night, the first of Zadorov's OHL career, earned the game's number one star. He posted two goals and six points in 20 playoff games a season ago. Brady Austin picked up an assist for the Knights, who hold a 2-0 advantage heading into Tuesday's tilt in Windsor.



Jake McCabe scored a power play goal plus an assist as Wisconsin won a 5-4 overtime thriller over Ohio State to claim the first-ever Big Ten Tournament Championship. The two-way defender capitalized with a quick shot from just inside the point in the final minute of the opening frame to cut the Buckeyes' lead to 2-1. With Wisconsin trailing 4-2 late, McCabe helped his team pull even when he went deep into the zone for an assist on the first of two Badger goals within a span of 28 seconds to complete the comeback. Brad Navin did not factor for Wisconsin, who will likely earn a No. 1 seed when the NCAA Tournament brackets are released on Sunday.



In the QMJHL, Mikhail Grigorenko notched three assists as Quebec downed Rouyn-Noranda 7-3 to even the series at one game each. Grigorenko's playmaking effort adds a fifth three-point game to his three-year post-season resume. The series shifts to Rouyn-Noranda for Tuesday's Game Three.

William Carrier picked up two assists as Drummondville evened their first round tilt at one game apiece with a 6-5 victory over Victoriaville. The helpers give Carrier three points through the first two games of the series. The teams will get two days rest before reconvening Tuesday in Victoriaville.

Elsewhere, Eric Locke picked up an assist as Saginaw lost to Erie 4-3 in overtime. Justin Kea finished with a minus-one rating for the Spirit, who trail the Otters 2-0 in their first round series with the teams resuming action Monday in Saginaw.

Nick Baptiste was blanked for the second straight night as Sudbury lost in overtime to Barrie 4-3. The Wolves, who dropped both games in Barrie, will look to get back on track when the series heads to Sudbury for Tuesday and Thursday tilts.

In the WHL, Logan Nelson was a late scratch as Victoria kicked off the playoffs with a 2-1 overtime win over Spokane. Nelson's status is unknown as the Royals prepare to go right back at it with the Chiefs on Sunday.

In USHL action, Connor Hurley was credited with an assist as Green Bay snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over Tri-City. The Gamblers are tied with Muskegon for the fourth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with five games left in the regular season.

Cal Petersen stopped 20 of 23 shots as Waterloo suffered a 4-2 loss at Fargo. Petersen remains tied for the league lead with 25 victories, but has won just two of his last 10 starts. The Black Hawks enter the final week of March holding the top spot  in the Western Conference, four points ahead of Omaha with five games left.

Judd Peterson skated without a point as Cedar Rapids got past Dubuque 3-1. Peterson has two shots on goal in three games since missing five weeks with an injury. The Roughriders have already clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot,

In the ECHL, Shawn Szydlowski saw his two-game goal streak snapped as Fort Wayne earned a 4-3 shootout decision over Kalamazoo.