Sunday, March 2, 2014

Draft stuff: Ehlers electric; Reinhart halted

Nikolaj Ehlers remained red hot Saturday, notching three goals and an assist for the second straight night as Halifax cruised past Moncton 5-2. The sniping winger's back-to-back natural hat tricks give him 13 goals in his last six games, upping his season point total to 43-48-91 through 57 appearances while skating alongside Lightning prospect Jonathan Drouin. Fellow first-round talent Ivan Barbashev connected for his 25th goal for Moncton in defeat.

With Ehlers posting four points in the Quebec league, Brandon's Jayce Hawryluk was busy in the WHL putting up five (2+3) to guide the Wheat Kings to a 8-5 victory over Saskatoon. The 5-foot-10 forward has 12 points in his last four games, leaving him with 22 goals and 62 points this season. His final point on the night was an assist on a tap-in goal by fellow draft eligible John Quenneville. Quenneville's 23 goal of the year snaps a six-game drought, his second-longest goalless stretch of the season.



Leon Draisaitl came out on top in a battle between the top two WHL prospects for the 2013 draft, notching the game winning goal and an assist as his Prince Albert Raiders earned a 4-2 victory over Sam Reinhart and the Kootenay ICE. The two-point night elevates the German to 30 goals and 88 points through 57 games. He has points in 16 of his last 18 games to help the Raiders close in on the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with seven regular season tilts left to play. Reinhart was unable to get on the score sheet, ending his season-long point streak at 22 games. Reinhart amassed 18 goals and 48 points through his sparkling run, which began back on Dec. 4

In exhibition play, Sonny Milano scored a nice power play marker and added two assists as the Team USA Under-18 earned a 4-3 overtime victory over Michigan State. Committed to Boston College, Milano led the NTDP with five goals and 16 points in 14 games against NCAA competition this season. Fellow BC recruit Alex Tuch notched an assist in the U18 win, giving him eight goals and 15 points in 16 exhibitions versus NCAA opponents. By the way, stud 2015 Jack Eichel connected for two goals, including the game winner, plus an assist for the U18s.

In the OHL, Sam Bennett buried a Spencer Watson ricochet feed for his 36th goal of the season as Kingston downed Belleville 5-2. Bennett remains third overall in league scoring with 89 points.



Nick Ritchie scored the overtime winner as Peterborough defeated Sarnia 2-1. Eric Cornel notched a goal and an assist for the winning side, while Sarnia's Nikolay Goldobin added an assist to his resume to give him an impressive 35 goals and 85 points in 61 games.



Aaron Ekblad notched an assist and tied a season-high with a plus-four rating in Barrie's 7-1 victory over Ottawa. Ekblad's 21 goals are tied for the most among OHL defenders while his 47 points place sixth.

Blake Siebenaler scored his fifth goal of the year as Niagara downed Sudbury 5-2. The steady Indiana native has 26 points in 61 games as a major junior rookie.



Swift Current defenseman Julius Honka snagged a goal and an helper in the Broncos' 7-4 win over Lethbridge. The offensive-minded rearguard has 15 goals and 52 points this season, but has connected for just three goals in 20 games since winning gold with Team Finland at the 2014 World Junior Championship. Hurricanes draft eligible forward Reid Duke produced two assists in defeat.



Brayden Point scored his 29th goal of the year plus an assist as Moose Jaw was defeated on home ice by Regina 7-3. The smallish creator has been one of junior hockey's most underrated forwards all season (77 pts/65 gp), but especially in the second half of the year with 12 goals and 42 points in 25 games since Jan. 1.



Chase De Leo scored his 36th goal but it was all his club could muster as Portland was dumped by division rival Seattle 4-1. The Los Angeles Jr. Kings product has five goals in his last five games to give him a total of 73 points in 65 outings.