Giorgio Estephan returned following a 13-game absence Friday, scoring a goal and an assist in the first five minutes of the game as Lethbridge smoked Saskatoon 10-3. It didn't take long for the first line to rekindle their season-long magic, with Estephan lighting the lamp just 41 seconds in. Exactly four minutes later, he started a play that resulted in a power play marker as the Hurricanes' rout began. Estephan has collected 28 goals and 65 points in 52 games.
Vaclav Karabacek potted his 14th of the season to help Moncton to a 6-0 drubbing of Drummondville. The nice effort saw Karbacek fend off a defender in the corner and power his way to the front of the net, where he batted his own rebound over the goal line.
In the ECAC Tournament Jason Kasdorf made 33 saves to backstop RPI to a 3-2 victory over Brown in game one of the best of three series. Brown forward Max Willman, who just two weeks ago was thought to be done for the year with a hand injury, scored his third goal of the year with a wrist shot from the right circle to make it a 1-1 game in the middle frame.
In a Hockey East opening round matchup, Ivan Chukarov produced two shots on goal as Massachusetts was defeated 2-1 in overtime by Boston University. Chukarov and the Minutemen face elimination Saturday when the teams continue the best of three.
Judd Peterson scored his 15th goal with William Borgen earning one of the assists on the play as St. Cloud State downed Colorado College 5-2. Borgen softly chipped a puck off the boards to a teammate and jumped into the rush, and Peterson ended up finishing the play with a shot from between the hash marks for the game's final goal.
Hudson Fasching picked up an assist as Minnesota kept their at-large hopes in good standing with a 4-1 win at Michigan State. The helper gives the power forward points in six of his last seven games. Fasching continues to lead the Gophers with 19 goals while placing second in team production with 35 points.
Elsewhere, Brendan Guhle recorded an assist as Prince Albert throttled Kootenay 7-1.
Devante Stephens finished with a minus-one rating in Kelowna's 3-2 loss to Kamloops.
Brycen Martin remained out of the lineup as Everett dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to Seattle.
In the AHL, newcomers Eric O'Dell (2+0), Cole Schneider (0+3) and Alex Guptill (1+0) all contributed as Rochester cruised to a 7-3 win over Springfield. Chad Ruhwedel scored twice, while Evan Rodrigues added a career-high three helpers for the Amerks. Nathan Lieuwen earned the victory with 23 saves.
In Sweden, Jonas Johansson stopped 30 of 32 shots as Almtuna IS dropped to 1-1 in Slutspelsserien action with a 3-1 loss to Mora IK. Almtuna plays their third of five playoff games Sunday versus BIK Karlskoga.
Victor Olofsson supplied two shots on goal and Gustav Possler was unable to make it points in three straight as MODO was blanked by Vaxjo Lakers HC 2-0.
