Sunday, March 1, 2015

2/28 Recap: Compher, Petersen deliver

J.T. Compher snatched his first NCAA hat trick Saturday as Michigan earned the conference sweep of Wisconsin with a 5-2 victory. Compher, who on Friday ended a nine-game goal drought with an empty-netter, enters March with 18 points (8+10) in 28 games. Prior to his empty-netter on Friday, Compher was mired in a career-long nine-game goal drought.



Cal Petersen made a career-high 55 saves as Notre Dame completed the conference schedule with a 3-1 victory over Boston College. The stellar performance capped an excellent February that saw the reigning Hockey East Player of the Week post a 4-2-1 record, .962 save%, 1.48 GAA, and one shutout. It seems quite clear that Petersen will be the starter when the Fighting Irish open the playoffs next weekend versus 12th-place Massachusetts.

Connor Hurley contributed two shots on goal to the Fighting Irish attack. After scoring 11 points in his first 20 collegiate contests, the third-line centerman has one assist in his last 15 games.

Nicholas Baptiste delivered with two goals and one assist to extend his point streak to six games as Erie throttled Owen Sound 6-1. The three-point night, which included two power play markers, gives Baptiste 54 points (26+28) in 45 contests. He has 15 goals with the man advantage.



Elsewhere, Sam Reinhart picked up two assists to extend his point streak to eight games as Kootenay was beaten by Brandon 6-4. Reinhart has collected 57 points (17+40) in 39 games this season with the ICE.

USHL

Christopher Brown picked up one assist as Tri-City upended Sioux City 5-1. Brown has an assist in each of his first two games in a Storm uniform. He has points in three straight games to boost his season total to 34 (13+21).

NCAA

Sean Malone notched one assist and a team-high five shots on goal as Harvard blanked Princeton 5-0. Malone has 13 points (6+7) in as many games for the Crimson, who finished sixth in the ECAC standings. Malone takes a three-game point streak into next weekend's first round playoff series with Brown.

Max Willman (-3) logged three shots on goal as Brown closed the regular season schedule with a 4-2 loss to Colgate. The freshman winger has three points (1+2) in 28 games. He hasn't lit the lamp since opening night.

Jason Kasdorf got a night off as RPI defeated St. Lawrence 4-3. With the playoffs beginning next weekend and Kasdorf starting the previous 16 games for the Engineers, Buffalo-area product Scott Diebold earned his first nod since December 13. RPI visits Clarkson next weekend for the first round of the ECAC playoffs.

Judd Peterson registered one assist as St. Cloud State came up short 3-1 against North Dakota. Peterson, who missed the Huskies' previous two tilts, has six points (3+3) in 30 games entering next weekend's season-ending series with Denver.

Defensemen Anthony Florentino (2 SOG) and Mark Adams (+1) did not factor into the scoring as Providence ended the conference schedule by earning the sweep of Maine 5-2. The Friars finished tied for second place in the Hockey East standings. Following a first-round bye, Providence will begin play in the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.

OHL

Eric Cornel finished with a plus-two rating as Peterborough downed Kingston 4-1. The top-line forward has 47 points (13+34) this season, but has connected for just one goal in his last 13 games.

SWE

Jonas Johansson stopped 19 of 22 shots as Almtuna IS closed the schedule with a 5-3 victory over Rogle BK. Almtuna earned the win required to tie for the final Allsvenskan playoff spot, but an HC Vita Hasten victory left Johansson's club outside of the playoff picture.



Victor Olofsson finished with a minus-one rating and two shots on goal as Timra IK got past IK Oskarshamn 4-3 in overtime. Despite the win, Timra fell three points short of the final Allsvenskan playoff spot, and thus their season is complete.

In the SHL, Gustav Possler did not register in 15:09 of work as MODO was defeated by Frolunda 5-2. Linus Ullmark was given the day off. MODO will close their disappointing SHL season with a pair of games in the coming week.