Sunday, December 6, 2015

12/5 Recap: Hurley makes impact; Kasdorf sharp in return

Connor Hurley tipped a point shot for his second goal of the year to go along with one assist, and Cal Petersen held the fort down with 28 saves as No. 20 Notre Dame earned the weekend sweep with a 5-1 win over Massachusetts. Hurley gave the Fighting Irish a 3-1 lead in the second period when he fronted a UMass defender and redirected an oncoming Andy Ryan shot. He has eight points (2+6) in 15 contests. Petersen made several big stops to improve to 8-4-4 with a 2.36 GAA and .920 save% entering Thursday's tilt with Boston College. Freshman defenseman Ivan Chukarov (-1) sent two shots on goal for the Minutemen, and is still looking for his first collegiate goal.

Goaltender Jason Kasdorf made 43 saves in his first start since November 6 as RPI played to a 0-0 overtime tie with No. 8 Harvard. Kasdorf, whose first shutout of the year moves him to 3-4-1 with a 2.16 GAA and sparkling .937 save%, will look to keep the wall up next weekend when the Engineers welcome Arizona State to Troy for the very first time. Harvard pivot Sean Malone registered three shots on goal, leaving him with five assists in eight appearances. He enters the holiday break with a six-game point drought.

Hudson Fasching put forth another excellent two-way effort, earning an assist on the overtime winner and launching five shots on goal as Minnesota got past Ohio State 5-4 to earn the conference sweep. Fasching was superb throughout the weekend with several key defensive plays to go along with his dominating presence in the high-traffic areas. The junior power forward has five goals and 11 points in 13 games heading into next weekend's set at Michigan.

Anthony Florentino produced four shots on goal as No. 1 Providence shut out No. 16 Merrimack 4-0. Florentino has four goals and six points through a dozen outings for the unbeaten Friars, who next face crosstown rival Brown on Thursday in the annual Mayor's Cup game.

Brown winger Max Willman fired four shots on goal but saw his three-game point streak snapped as the Bears were blanked by No. 3 Quinnipiac 3-0. Through 11 games, Willman has four points (1+3) and 19 shots on goal.

Will Borgen finished with a minus-two rating as No. 7 St. Cloud State got smoked by No. 6 Nebraska-Omaha 7-2. The Huskies played their first game without leading goal-getter Judd Peterson after the sophomore suffered a multi-week injury on Friday. The swift-skating Borgen has proven himself with seven assists in his first 16 collegiate games, and will look to keep improving next weekend when the Huskies battle Denver for a pair before hitting the holiday break.

Chris Brown logged three shots on goal as No. 2 Boston College and Northeastern ended in a 3-3 tie. Brown had points in two straight entering the game. He'll look to add to his two goals and five assists when the teams close the weekend set on Sunday.

AHL

Brady Austin scored his first goal of the season as Rochester battled late but fell short in a 2-1 loss at Albany. Andrey Makarov made 28 saves as the Amerks lost for the second straight night. The Amerks take on Utica on Wednesday.

QMJHL

Vaclav Karabacek was held without a shot on goal for the first time this season but still notched one assist as Baie-Comeau lost to Victoriaville 4-2. Karabacek, who earlier in the week was named to the Czech Republic World Junior training camp roster, has 16 points (8+8) in 23 games this season.

WHL

Devante Stephens notched an assist and netted a plus-one rating as Kelowna downed Portland 5-2. The steady 18-year-old defender has seven points (2+5) in 29 games while topping all Sabres prospects with a plus-11 rating. He's posted an even rating or better in his last 10 outings.

Giorgio Estephan was kept off the scoresheet as Lethbridge blew past Red Deer 6-2. Estephan has 30 points (9+21) in 29 games, but has scored just one goal in his last nine. In his last four games, Estephan has recorded just one assist.

Brycen Martin logged an even rating as Everett defeated Vancouver 3-1. Martin has 24 points (3+21) this season, but has yet to produce in three games since being dealt to the Silvertips.

SWEDEN

Gustav Possler (-1) and Victor Olofsson (-2) were both unable to earn a point in MODO's 6-2 loss to Lulea HF. Possler has been playing better over the past month, but has gone without a point in his last four games. Olofsson has seen his ice time dip since returning from the international break in mid-November, and has yet to produce in two games since being a healthy scratch last week.