Thursday, November 20, 2014

Sabres trio keys MODO shutout victory

A trio of Sabres prospects paved the way Thursday as Gustav Possler and Victor Olofsson each netted goals and Linus Ullmark stopped all 50 shots sent his way for his first shutout of the year to lead MODO to a 2-0 victory over Linkoping HC.

Olofsson opened the scoring at 3:21 of the second period when he stepped into a slap shot from the right point on the power play. Olofsson's marker was his seventh of the year, fourth with the man advantage and sixth game-winner. He has a total of 13 points through 22 games.



Possler made it three straight games with a goal when he fought for position and kept his stick on the ice for a deflection marker in the final minute of the middle frame. The three-game goal streak is Possler's longest since his astounding seven-game run at the start of the 2013-14 campaign, elevating his season point total to 11 (6+5) at the 20-game mark.



Ullmark was superb in the MODO net for a second straight game, leveraging his bulky upper body and aggressive movement en route to capturing the shutout. LHC appeared to have tied the game when former NHLer Jeff Taffe got one past him with 24 seconds remaining, but the goal was disallowed when it was ruled (at the last second) that Ullmark was interfered with on the play. The stellar performance puts Ullmark at 6-8 with a 3.64 GAA and .894 save%.



Next up for MODO is a Saturday visit to Skelleftea AIK.

Elsewhere in the SHL, Jonas Johansson again served as backup as Brynas IF was defeated by Orebro HK 2-1. The 19-year old netminder has gotten into just one top league contest this season. Brynas takes on Farjestads BK on Saturday.