9/29 Recap: Glotov gets on board

Vasily Glotov logged a successful QMJHL regular season debut Thursday, scoring a late goal in Cape Breton's 8-3 rout of Charlottetown.

Following a Screaming Eagles empty-net goal to make it 7-3, Glotov took a pass down the left wing and released a quick wrist shot high glove side for his first official North American marker to close out the scoring with 1:13 left in regulation.



In Sweden, Rasmus Asplund saw his two-game point streak snapped as Farjestad BK was defeated by the Malmo Redhawks 4-2. Asplund posted a minus-two rating while winning 64 percent of his draws.

Victor Olofsson contributed one shot on goal while skating for a season-high 12:07 as Frolunda HC earned a 3-2 come-from-behind win over HV71. Olofsson has yet to crack the scoresheet in four games with his new club.

Weekend Rap: Asplund snipes; Johansson shuts door

Rasmus Asplund connected on a one-timer in overtime Sunday to thrust Farjestad BK to a 4-3 Swedish Hockey League victory over Linkoping HC.

Exactly one minute into the extra session with each team down a man, Asplund drifted down the right circle to swipe a Joakim Nygard pass to complete the come-from-behind victory in front of a raucous home crowd.



The marker was Asplund's first of the season, seventh of his SHL career and second-ever game-winner.

On Saturday, Jonas Johansson stopped all 25 shots sent his way as Almtuna IS blanked VIK Vasteras HK 2-0. The shutout improves Johansson to 2-2 with a 1.01 GAA and .957 save% in the season's early goings. He had just two shutouts all of last season with AIS.

Also from Saturday, Victor Olofsson again skated without a point as Frolunda HC avenged Friday's 7-2 loss with a 3-1 win over Brynas IF. The first three games of the season have seen Olofsson skate for 11:55, 11:56 and 11:53. The 21-year-old shooter averaged 15:20 per night a season ago with MODO, where he finished as the team's leading goal scorer and overall point-getter.

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A pair of Sabres 2016 picks had quiet starts as USHL regular season got underway.

In Friday action, rookie defenseman Philip Nyberg logged a minus-one rating as Madison was edged by Green Bay 3-2. Top 2017 prospect Casey Mittelstadt scored a goal and an assist for the Gamblers.

On Saturday, Brett Murray produced two shots on goal as Youngstown dropped their opener to Team USA by a 5-3 score. Josh Norris (Michigan) and Evan Barrat (Penn State) each had a goal and an assist to pace the winning side.

9/17 Recap: Asplund assists in FBK opener

In opening day action in the Swedish Hockey League, Rasmus Asplund collected his first point of the year, an assist, as Farjestad scored a power play goal in the game's final minute to earn a 2-1 victory over Örebro. Asplund finished with 16:00 of work while receiving some time on the power play.

 Elsewhere, Victor Olofsson contributed two shots on goal while earning 11:55 of work as Frölunda opened the 2016-17 SHL season with a 3-2 loss to Malmö.

In Allsvenskan regular season action, Jonas Johansson stopped 23 of 25 shots as Almtuna IS was blanked by Västerviks IK 3-0. Johansson is now 0-2 with a 1.53 GAA and .930 save% in league play.

At the USHL Fall Classic East, Brett Murray scored his second goal of the preseason as Youngstown claimed a 4-3 win over Team USA. Murray, whose first preseason marker was an empty-netter, made it a 3-3 game with 5:16 left in regulation, and just 45 seconds after Team USA took a third-period lead.

Meanwhile back in Buffalo, Nick Baptiste's hat trick wasn't enough as the Sabres prospects were dumped by New Jersey 6-3. Baptiste stood out with three goals on a team-best seven shots while being one of just two skaters to get into the plus column (Vasily Glotov was the other). Linus Ullmark allowed five goals on 29 shots to take the loss. Full game recap at Sabres.com.

Possler connects again for DIF

Gustav Possler continued to ring up points with his new club over the weekend, scoring a goal off a nice individual effort and adding an assist as Djurgarden IF improved to 2-0 in Champions Hockey League action with a 6-0 win over HC Davos.

Possler made it a 3-0 affair in the second period of Saturday's contest when he took a pass at center ice, broke into the zone down the right side and scored with a wrist shot for his second goal in as many games.

(A brief clip of the goal can be found in my Twitter feed.)

Elsewhere, Victor Olofsson went without a point as Frolunda HC aqvenged last weekend's shootout loss with a 5-2 victory over Dynamo Padubice. The win advances FHC into the playoff round of the Champions Hockey League. Olofsson has one goal, a game winner, through the first three games with his new club.

Possler connects in DIF debut

Gustav Possler scored his first goal with his new team Sunday to help Djurgarden IF to a 4-0 Champions Hockey League shutout of the Rouen Dragons.

Listed as the third-line left wing, Possler gave DIF some breathing room at 1:47 of the final frame, skating into the slot and kicking a pass to his forehand to make it a 2-0 game.

DIF continues group stage play next Saturday versus HC Davos.

Elsewhere in Champions League action, Rasmus Asplund was held without a point as Farjestad BK scored twice in the third period to earn a 2-1 win over Sparta Prague. The victory puts FBK atop Group O at the midway point of the opening stage. They'll go for three wins in a row Sunday when they rematch with Sparta Prague.

In Group A, Victor Olofsson finished with a minus-one rating as Frolunda HC dropped a 3-2 shootout decision at Dynamo Pardubice. The two clubs will go at it again Saturday in Gothenburg.

Asplund, Olofsson produce as Champions League gets underway

Champions Hockey League action kicked off this week with a pair of Sabres prospects each lighting the lamp to help their teams to wins in their opening games.

In Friday Group O action, 2016 second-round pick Rasmus Asplund scored an insurance marker as Farjestad BK cruised to a 5-1 victory over Comarch Cracovia. Asplund made his presence felt in the middle frame when he glided into scoring position with his stick down and buried a nice feed from beneath the goal line to give FBK the 3-1 lead.

Elsewhere in Group A, Victor Olofsson scored the game winning goal to thrust defending champion Frolunda HC to a 2-1 win over Grizzlys Wolfsburg. With 10:27 remaining in regulation, Olofsson went to a soft spot between the hash marks, and just like Asplund, placed his stick down to redirect a swift Matt Donovan pass for the key tally.

The Champions Hockey League consists of 48 teams from 13 different countries. The clubs are split into 16 three-team groups. Two teams from each group advance to a playoff round of 32, with home and away knock-out games then being played leading up to a one-game final.

4/1 Recap: Olofsson strikes as MODO falls; Estephan, Guhle out

Victor Olofsson scored a pair of goals and logged a plus-three rating Friday as MODO was defeated by Leksands IF 4-3 in overtime in Game Seven of the SHL Qualification series. Gustav Possler (-1) supplied four shots on goal in the loss.

At 4:58 of the middle frame, Olofsson took a cross-ice feed from the right point and wristed a bullet from the left circle for his first of the game. With two minutes remaining in the period, Olofsson finished off a two-on-one rush from right side to put MODO ahead 3-1 entering the final 20 minutes.

Leksands struck twice in the final period, including the equalizer with 58 seconds left, before former Nebraska-Omaha standout Brock Montpetit ended it at 5:52 of overtime. The loss relegates MODO to the second-tier Allsvenskan league for the first time since 1989-90. 

Olofsson concludes the series with six goals and eight points in the seven games. Possler provided one goal and two assists through the seven-game affair. 

In the WHL, Giorgio Estephan broke down the left side and scored his second goal of the playoffs as Lethbridge was eliminated with a 7-2 loss to Regina. Estephan, who also netted an assist in the loss, finishes the postseason with four points (2+2) in five games.

Brendan Guhle logged an even rating as Prince Albert was bounced from the playoffs with a 5-0 loss to Moose Jaw. Guhle recorded three assists and plus-one rating in the 4-1 series loss to the Warriors.

Devante Stephens finished with a plus-two rating as Kelowna blanked Kamloops 4-0. Stephens has played to an even rating for the Rockets, who hold a 3-2 series advantage heading into Saturday's Game Six.

In the OHL, Eric Cornel was unable to convert any of his five shots on goal as Peterborough dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to North Bay. The Petes trail the series 3-2 with Game Six set for Sunday. Cornel has four assists and a plus-three rating through the first five games.

In the QMJHL, Vaclav Karabacek entered one shot on goal as Moncton advanced to the next round with a 5-1 decision over Victoriaville. The Wildcats closed out the pre-quarterfinal series over the Tigres 4-1. Karabacek has two goals and an assist in five playoff contests.

In Wednesday action, Brycen Martin and the Everett Silvertips defeated Portland 4-2 to sweep their WHL first-round playoff series. Martin produced one goal, one assist and a plus-three rating in the four-game sweep. Everett moves on to face Seattle in the second round.

3/26 Recap: Karabacek steps up

In Saturday action, Vaclav Karabacek provided two goals including the overtime winner and one assist to propel Moncton to a 6-5 victory over Victoriaville. At 18:23 of the extra frame, Karabacek stole a puck at the Tigres blueline, skated to the left wing and unloaded a quick wrist shot to gives his Wildcats a 2-0 series lead. Historically a strong playoff producer, Karabacek's big night gives him 12 goals and 26 points in 23 career post-season contests.

In the WHL, Devante Stephens logged a minus-one rating as Kelowna gave up four third-period goals in dropping a 5-4 decision to Kamloops in Game Two of their opening round series. The teams are deadlocked at a game apiece entering Tuesday's Game Three.

Defenseman Brendan Guhle was unable to connect as Prince Albert was dealt a 4-2 loss to Moose Jaw. The Raiders trail the best-of-seven opening round series 2-0.

Brycen Martin was quiet statistically as Everett earned a 3-1 win over Portland. The Silvertips have a 2-0 series advantage on the Winterhawks heading into Tuesday's Game Three.

Giorgio Estephan was shut down as Lethbridge was defeated by Regina 3-0. The Hurricanes and Pats split the first two games with the clubs heading to Regina for Game Three Tuesday.

In the college ranks, Chris Brown was unable to produce for the second night in a row as Boston College advanced to the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota-Duluth in the Northeast region final. The freshman forward has appeared in all 40 of the Eagles' games this season, notching two goals and 11 total points.

In the NCAA Tournament West Regional Semifinal, Will Borgen and Judd Peterson each recorded one shot on goal as St. Cloud State was upset by Ferris State 5-4 in overtime. Borgen's rookie collegiate season ends with 14 points (1+13) and a plus-17 rating in 37 games. Peterson ends with 16 goals and 23 points in 38 contests.

In Sweden, Victor Olofsson saw his three-game goal streak snapped and Gustav Possler was unable to record any shots on goal as MODO was defeated by Leksand 2-1 in Game Four of their SHL Qualification series. MODO will host Game Five of the best-of-seven series on Monday.

3/25 Recap: Season ends for four

Sean Malone finished with a minus-one rating as Harvard was dropped by Boston College 4-1 in the NCAA Tournament Northeast Region Semifinal. Malone produced 10 goals, 19 points and a plus-11 rating in 28 appearances. Freshman forward Chris Brown did not get on the scoresheet for the victorious Eagles, who move on to face Minnesota Duluth in Saturday's regional final.

In the Northeast Region Semifinal, Anthony Florentino posted two shots on goal and a minus-two rating as Providence saw their season come to end with a 3-2 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in double overtime. Florentino concludes his third collegiate season with five goals, 12 points and a plus-12 rating in 31 games.

In the Midwest Region, Cal Petersen made 32 saves as Notre Dame fell to Michigan 3-2 in overtime. Petersen's sophomore campaign concludes with a 19-11-7 record, 2.20 GAA and .927 save%. Fellow sophomore Connor Hurley logged a minus-one rating to end the year with 18 points (6+12) in 36 games.

In the OHL playoffs, Eric Cornel was unable to get on the board as Peterborough dropped Game One of their best-of-seven series 2-1 to North Bay.

Vaclav Karabacek finished with a minus-two rating as Moncton edged Victoriaville 5-4 in double over in Game One of their QMJHL playoff series.

In the WHL playoffs, Brendan Guhle picked up one assist as Prince Albert dropped a 3-2 decision to Moose Jaw in the series opener.

Brycen Martin recorded one assist and a plus-two rating as Everett opened the playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Portland.

Giorgio Estephan connected for one assist as Lethbridge doubled Regina 6-3 in Game One of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

Devante Stephens logged an even rating as Kelowna began their playoff year with a 3-2 win over Kamloops.