4/1 Recap: Cologne strong; Allard, Brennan done

In the DEL semifinals, LW Philip Gogulla picked up an assist as rested Cologne pounded Frankfurt, 7-1. Gogulla now has a goal and three assists in six playoff games. The win puts the Sharks up 1-0 over the Lions in the best-of-five series with play resuming on Thursday.

Last night, J.S. Allard had a pair of assists as St. John's was eliminated from the postseason with a 4-3 loss to Acadie-Bathurst. In the six series games, Allard went 4-8-12 to lead all Foggies scorers. Defenseman T.J. Brennan was held off the scoresheet in the loss, potting two goals and four assists in the short playoff year. Now the search for new billets begins for the pair of 2007 draftees, as the franchise will be leaving the Newfoundland outpost for Montreal (Verdun) in 2008-09.

The Butler, in the library, with the deal?

On Sunday, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post speculated on the future of Pioneers junior rearguard, Chris Butler:

Two big question marks, and a smaller third one, exist with the Pios.

One, will junior defenseman Chris Butler be back? DU’s best two-way player had a nice summer camp with the Buffalo Sabres last year and will probably have a tough decision to make. If he stays, he’ll be the WCHA’s top D-man and possible team captain. I talked to him briefly about it after Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Badgers, and he didn’t say much — other than the loss could inspire him to come back and give it another shot. But once he’s offered a contract and the Sabres present a plan for him next season, certainly the sting of the season-ending loss will be history. My take: 70-30 he signs.

Chambers says 70/30 he signs. I'll say 89/11. Other than winning a college championship, which is a dangerous motivator for a player reknowned as a "team guy", there isn't a whole lot left for Butler to prove in the WCHA. Of course, completing his education has to be a primary goal, but that can always be done over the offseason. Developmentally, the St. Louis native is good to go as a professional hockey player.

Andrej Sekera is certain to be on Buffalo's blueline next season, and it looks like Mike Weber is on the verge of joining him. With a twice-concussed Mike Card engaged in rehabilitation, and still-defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani showing chops best served as a left wing, Mike Funk and Mike Kostka could be the only defensive prospects under contract for the Sabres AHL affiliate in 2008-09. (The recently signed Kostka will attend training camp after leaving his Amerks ATO to finish his UMass coursework.)

Enter Butler, 21, and perhaps even 2006 first-rounder Dennis Persson. Butler would obviously be an early signing, while the Sabres are inside of 60 days away from a decision on Persson. 2007 picks T.J. Brennan and Drew Schiestel both would benefit from another junior season, and as 19-year olds, would have to make the Sabres roster outright (unlikely) since they won't meet AHL age requirements.

Harvard sophomore Alex Biega and St. Lawrence junior Matt Generous are expected to return to college, while '07 Drew MacKenzie hasn't even glanced at his first campus co-ed.

SabresProspects is still keeping tabs on unsigned Miami D Mitch Ganzak, who recently completed his senior season with the Redhawks after attending Buffalo's prospect camp over the summer - the same camp that put Kostka on the radar.

3/28 Recap: Kennedy clicks; Allard goes hard

Tim Kennedy scored a power play goal and added an assist as Michigan State opened the NCAA tourney with a 3-1 win over Colorado College. The defending champion Spartans got on the board when a dangling Kennedy scooped up a loose puck, and calmly slid it to his backhand past CC netminder Richard Bachman. Freshman forward Corey Tropp went pointless while moving to the left side on State's third-line with Dustin Gazley and Nick Sucharski. The Spartans advance to face Notre Dame, who earlier posted an upset win over #1 seed New Hampshire.

In the USHL, Vermont recruit Drew MacKenzie scored the game-winning goal and later notched an assist in Waterloo's 3-0 defeat of Sioux Falls. The two-point night was the first multi-point output of the season for the Connecticut-born defenseman.

J.S. Allard had a goal and an assist as St. John's was overpowered by Acadie-Bathurst, 7-2. Acadie-Bathurst now leads the series three games to two, and will look to put a nail in the final Foggies season on Monday. Currently the eighth-best scorer in the Q playoffs, Allard has four goals and six assists, and is +9 in the series. T.J. Brennan went scoreless for St. John's, failing to add to the two goals and four assists he had compiled in the previous four. His -3 on the evening lowers him to team-worst -7 in the playoffs.

Paul Byron had an assist as Gatineau overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Shawinigan, 5-2, and close out their first round series four games to one. In the five games, the 5'10 center posted a goal and four assists for les Olympiques.

On Thursday, Benjamin Breault had an assist in Baie-Comeau's 3-1 loss to Rimouski. The assist was Breault's third point of the playoff year. After finishing 2nd overall in the Q regular season, the Drakkar trail the Oceanic 3-1 in the best-of-seven, and will look to extend their season another day when the two clubs meet on Saturday.

Drew Schiestel had three assists in Niagara's first round sweep of Mississauga-St.Michael's. The 2007 second-rounder was also a +5 in the series' four games, as the Dogs advance to face '09 stud John Tavares and the Oshawa Generals.

Philip Gogulla went pointless as Cologne closed out their 4-1 series win over Mannheim on Wednesday. The German winger had one goal, a game winner, and two assists in the five games. The Sharks now await the winner of a game seven match-up between Iserlohn and Frankfurt.

Ak Bars D Vjacheslav Buravchikov has skated without a point in three RSL semifinal contests against Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Ak Bars currently trail the series two games to one.

In the AHL, Dylan Hunter scored a goal and an assist in Rochester's 5-4 shootout win over Manitoba. Clarke MacArthur, Marek Zagrapan, Mike Funk, and Marc-Andre Gragnani also added assist for Rochester. Gragnani's helper was his 48th point of the season, locking him in a tie with Mark Mancari atop the Amerks scoring list. Derek Whitmore was -1 with 2 PIM in his professional debut with the Amerks.

The Rundown:
Hunter - goal, assist, -1
Zagrapan - assist, +1
Funk - assist
Gragnani - assist, -1
MacArthur - assist -2
Whitmore - 1 SOG, -1
Mancari - 1 SOG, -1
Kostka - DNP

On Wednesday, the Amerks lost to the same Manitoba squad by a 4-1 score. Marek Zagrapan assisted on the only Rochester goal, while Mike Kostka was +1 in his first game after signing with the Sabres on Wednesday. Adam Dennis made 32 saves in the loss.

3/22 Recap: Gerbe, Butler tabbed for All-Tourney teams

Nathan Gerbe scored an empty net goal and dodged a check to set-up the eventual game winner as Boston College shut down Vermont 4-0 to win the Hockey East tournament title. Now the national leader in points (Kevin Porter of Michigan went 0-0-0), Gerbe's four goals and five assists in four games earned him Tournament MVP honors. Also contributing was C Andrew Orpik, whose pretty pass resulted in a first period power-play goal for BC. The Eagles figure to be a #2 seed in Worcester when the brackets are rolled out tomorrow morning.

Chris Butler played another strong game as Denver earned the WCHA tourney title and Broadmoor Cup with a 2-1 win over Minnesota. In a very competitive tournament, Butler was recognized for his excellent play with placement on the All-Tournament Team. The Pioneers enter the NCAA tourney on a strong note, and will be a #2 seed in possibly Albany when play begins next week.

In the ECAC Tournament championship game, D Alex Biega had an assist as Harvard fell to Princeton, 4-1. With the Crimson trailing 2-1 in the third, Biega took an interference penalty that enabled a Tigers goal on the ensuing power play. It would appear that Harvard's season is over, as an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament is unlikely for the Crimson. The sophomore played 34 games this season, scoring three goals and 19 assists to wind up as the team's fourth-leading scorer.

In the QMJHL playoffs, Paul Byron had an assist as Gatineau trounced Shawinigan, 9-3. Les Olympiques now lead the first-round series 2-0.

T.J. Brennan (-2) had an assist as St. John's lost to Acadie-Bathurst, 5-4. The Foggies now trail the Titan 2-0 in the series. J.S. Allard went pointless for St. John's in the loss.

Benjamin Breault and the rest of his Drakkar teammates were shut down as Baie-Comeau dropped the first game of their match-up with Rimouski, 3-0.

In the AHL, Marc-Andre Gragnani had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Hunter added his 18th of the season as the Amerks lost to the B-Sens, 7-4. Clarke MacArthur and Mark Mancari also added assists for Rochester. In the loss, Gragnani and Hunter extend their point streaks to four games each, while MacArthur has now registered a point in three straight. Once the Amerks leading scorer, Marek Zagrapan has now gone 14 games without a goal.

The Rundown:
Gragnani - goal, assist, +1
Hunter - goal, 5 SOG, +1
MacArthur - assist, +1
Mancari - assist, +2
Zagrapan - 2 SOG

Drew MacKenzie did not dress in Waterloo's 3-2 overtime win over Ohio. After last night's game misconduct, his third of the season and second for grabbing a facemask, it's possible that his absence is due to a mandatory league suspension.

3/21 Recap: Eagles get by with a little help from Na-than

Boston College LW Nathan Gerbe piled up three assists as the Eagles stunned favorite New Hampshire in triple overtime, 5-4, to advance to the Hockey East championship game against Vermont. The NCAA leader in shots on goal, Gerbe used the extra time to rack up an impressive 15 on the night. Two of his assists were secondary, but he had many scoring chances of his own throughout. The junior was robbed by a Kevin Regan (BOS) kick save early on, missed an open net on a late-second period power play, and later was unsuccessful on breakaway in the second overtime. The triple helper vaults Gerbe into the national lead for points-per-game (1.45). Andrew Orpik, perhaps still feeling the lingering effects from his previous shoulder injury, again centered the Eagles' fourth unit.

At the WCHA tournament, D Chris Butler was even in Denver's 3-1 win over North Dakota. The win propels the Pioneers into the tourney finals this evening in St. Paul, where they'll face surprising Minnesota fresh off an upset of Colorado College.

Harvard D Alex Biega notched an assist in their 3-1 ECAC semifinal win over Cornell. The sophomore earned the point when his point shot was tipped by Jon Pelle for the third Crimson goal. Harvard will face Princeton tonight in Albany.

In game two of their first-round playoff battle, D Drew Schiestel was +2 with a power-play assist as Niagara defeated Mississauga-St. Michael's, 3-1. The IceDogs jump out to a 2-0 series lead, with game three dropping on Easter Sunday.

Paul Byron scored Gatineau's third goal as les Olympiques opened their playoff year with a 4-3 win over Shawinigan. Byron's first of the playoffs came on the power play in the final minute of the second period. Ray Giroux (PHI) made a pretty pass to the centerman, who corralled the puck on his tape to snap a quickie past Cats' goalie Kevin Maletto.

J.S. Allard cashed-in a pair a goals, while T.J. Brennan added one of his own in the Fog Devils' 8-5 loss to Acadie-Bathurst. Allard and Brennan each picked up assists as well as St. John's falls behind 1-0 in the first round match-up.

The Waterloo Black Hawks’ five-game win-streak ended with a 4-3 loss to Chicago that saw a total of 63 minutes in penalties doled out to both teams. Drew MacKenzie of Waterloo drew the harshest penalty of the game when he received a five minutes major for grabbing the face mask, and a 10 minute game misconduct for the face mask incident.

In the AHL, Rochester won their second in a row with a 4-2 defeat of Grand Rapids. Marc-Andre Gragnani one-timed his 11th of the season to get the Amerks on the board in the first. Dylan Hunter would add a pair of goals (16,17), while Clarke MacArthur scored his 13th in the win. Adam Dennis made 32 saves for Rochester, who heads to Binghamton tonight for a 7:05 start.

The Rundown:
Hunter - two goals, +2
MacArthur - goal, assist, +2
Gragnani - goal, assist, +1
Mancari - assist, +1
Zagrapan - 0-0-0 0 0
Dennis - 32 saves

3/16 Recap: Kennedy, Tropp get unlikely break

In CCHA tourney play, wingers Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp were each held scoreless as #3 seed Michigan State was ousted by #6 Northern Michigan, 3-2. Tropp, on a break with Kennedy and Justin Abdelkader, missed an opportunity by clanging one off the post in the middle period. The NMU win sends the 'Cats to the CCHA Final Four where they will take on Michigan. The Spartans now get a week off, waiting to learn which NCAA regional bracket they'll be skating in as they attempt to defend their 2007 national title.

Defenseman Alex Biega assisted on the game winning goal as Harvard closed out their ECAC series against Quinnipiac with a 3-1 win. It will be an all-Ivy semifinal as the Crimson move on to face Princeton next week.

With North Dakota closing out Michigan Tech today, the table is now set for an exciting match-up with Chris Butler and Denver next weekend.

The CHL regular season concluded on Sunday, with all four clubs containing Sabres futures qualifying for post-season action.

Steady IceDogs rearguard Drew Schiestel closed out his OHL regular season with a power play goal in Niagara's 3-2 overtime defeat of Peterborough. His 8th of the season came on a slapper from the blue line, and coupled with his solid defensive play, helped him earn the game's #1 star. Niagara and Missisauga-St.Michael's will begin their best-of-seven on Thursday in St. Catharines.

In the Q, Ben Breault had a goal and an assist as Baie-Comeau edged Rimouski, 4-2. Breault was also +3 while posting a game-high six shots on goal. The 2006 seventh rounder finished the regular season 36-41-77, and will help lead the Drakkar in their first-round match-up with Rimouski.

With Claude Giroux resting, Paul Byron had an assist in Gatineau's 3-1 win over Val-d'Or. Finshing the #3 team in the Telus Division, les Olympiques will take on Shawinigan in the first round.

2007 picks T.J. Brennan and J.S. Allard were both held without a point as St. Jonh's lost their second straight to Acadie-Bathurst, 3-2. Brennan's six-game point streak came to an end in the loss, as did the club's final regular season in the Newfoundland outpost. The franchise is packing up and moving to Verdun of the metro Montreal area for 2008-09 play. In the meantime, the Foggies will renew acquaintances with the same Titan team when round one action starts this week.

3/14 Recap: Bye week good for Gerbe, Biega, Kennedy

In the opening game of their Hockey East quarterfinal series, Nathan Gerbe scored the final two Eagle goals as Boston College cruised past Providence, 5-1. Gerbe scored his 25th when a Benn Ferriero shot went wide, bouncing off the end boards to the waiting winger at the right side of the Friars cage. He later cemented the win by scoring his 26th on a crisp wrister with under seven minutes to play in the third. Gerbe's fellow junior, Andrew Orpik, returned to action from a shoulder injury, abandoning his usual RW spot to center the Eagles fourth line.

Tim Kennedy potted his 19th goal and added an assist as Michigan State opened their playoff season with a 5-1 win over Northern Michigan. Kennedy's helper came on a cross-ice feed into Justin Abdelkader's wheelhouse, with the Red Wings prospect uncorking a one-timer for the game winning goal. Spartan freshman Corey Tropp skated on the fourth line, registering a shot on goal.

Alex Biega had three assists as Harvard embarrassed Quinnipiac, 11-0. A week after Quinnipiac hung 14 on Brown, the Crimson scored more goals than they did in the entire month of November for their most lopsided win since 1993.

Entering the WCHA tournament as the #3 seed, Denver met success in their opener at Magness with a 6-3 win over Duluth. Defenseman Chris Butler was even with three shots on goal for the Pios.

After winning the decisive game three last weekend, Flames prospect Jimmy Spratt got the start for Bowling Green in their 4-1 loss to Miami in the CCHA playoffs. It is possible that 2007 pick Nick Eno gets the nod tonight as the Falcons look to even the series.

In game two of the DEL play-in round, Felix Schutz was held scoreless as Ingolstadt fell to Hamburg in overtime, 5-4. Schutz took a minor penalty in the extra session, and Hamburg capitalized on the ensuing PP to even the series at 1-1. In the opener, Schutz assisted on the first Ingolstadt goal in their 5-3 win. The deciding game three will be played on Sunday.

In the QMJHL, Jean-Simon Allard scored his 16th goal of the season on the power play, and T.J. Brennan added an assist as St. John's lost to Acadie-Bathurst, 5-3. The goal was Allard's first in 15 games, while Brennan's assist extends his current point streak to six games.

Paul Byron was +2 with five shots on goal as Gatineau lost to Rouyn-Noranda, 7-4. The active center also blocked three of his team's eight shots in the loss.

Benjamin Breault was -1 with four shots on goal as Baie-Comeau was downed by Chicoutimi, 4-2. The 5'11 center saw his nine-game point streak (10-9-19) end in the road loss.

Drew Schiestel was -1 with a roughing double minor in Niagara's 5-2 win over the Majors. The contest evolved into a rough-and-tumble affair, and as it turns out, the two clubs will face each other in the first round of the OHL playoffs beginning next week. Niagara will close out the regular season on home ice Sunday versus Peterborough.

Waterloo rearguard Drew MacKenzie picked up an assist in their 5-2 win over Omaha. In his first USHL season, the Vermont recruit now has 14 points, 84 PIM, and is +5 in 41 games.

In AHL play, Rochester was shutout by Syracuse 3-0. And then there were six, as in the number of Sabres prospects left playing with the Amerks as injuries riddle the co-parent. With Andrej Sekera, Mike Weber, Mike Funk, and Patrick Kaleta all skating in the Sabres 7-1 trouncing of the Canes, the Amerks dressed just 16 players, including a shift for Marc-Andre Gragnani back to D from LW, in the loss.

The Rundown:
MacArthur- 3 SOG
Mancari - 4 SOG, 2 PIM
Hunter - 2 SOG, 2 PIM
Zagrapan - 2 SOG, 2 PIM
Gragnani - 1 SOG, -2
Dennis - DNP

3/9 Recap: Byron flyin' at right time

In a key QMJHL match-up, Paul Byron (+4) scored a goal and three assists in Gatineau's 6-1 trouncing of top-ranked Baie-Comeau. The four-point effort gives the explosive center 27 points in his last 14 games. Five days after Byron's 11-game point streak came to an end, Drakkar center Benjamin Breault extended his run to nine games (10-9-19) with an assist in the loss.

T.J. Brennan (+1) continued his solid run by scoring the only Fog Devils goal in a 3-1 loss to Lewiston. The goal was Brennan's 16th of the season, with four of those coming on his current five-game point streak. 2007 5th round pick J.S. Allard had a shot on goal in the St. John's loss.

Drew Schiestel notched an assist and helped control the game late in Niagara's 4-3 shootout victory over Oshawa. The comeback victory by the Dogs was teeming with OHL talent, as three of the top-four league scorers (#2 Brett MacLean and #3 John Tavares of Oshawa, and #4 Luca Caputi of Niagara) joined Schiestel in action, along with highly ranked 2007 defensive hopefuls Alex Pietrangelo and Michael Del Zotto. The assist gives Schiestel points in his last six games (1-5-6), raising his season sums to seven goals and 29 assists.

Brad Eidsness made 31 saves, but Okotoks couldn't get it going in 5-1 loss to Drumheller. The loss puts the Oilers in a 1-0 hole in their AJHL second round series with the Dragons.

In the final weekend of DEL play, Ingolstadt's Felix Schutz registered two shots on goal in a 4-2 win over Frankfurt. The victory coupled with a Krefeld loss puts Ingolstadt in the tenth and final playoff spot. The DEL Rookie of the Year, Schutz compiled 12 goals and 13 assists in his first season back in Europe after two QMJHL campaigns.

Philip Gogulla was +1 as Cologne closed their regular season with a 4-1 win over the Metro Stars. Entering the postseason, the 2005 2nd round pick has 11 goals and 33 assists for the third-place Sharks. Last season, Gogulla scored eight goals and 21 total points.

Dylan Hunter tied the game in the third, but the Amerks couldn't make it to a shootout in a 3-2 overtime loss to Houston. Adam Dennis made 29 saves, while Marek Zagrapan, Marc Mancari, and Mike Weber were all credited with assists.

Combos of note:
MacArthur-Zagrapan-(Globke)
Gragnani-(Brine)-Hunter
Funk-Weber

The Rundown
Hunter- goal, +1, 4 SOG
Zagrapan - assist, +1
Mancari - assist, +1
Weber - assist, +2, 4 PIM
Gragnani +1
MacArthur - 0-0-0 0 0 E
Funk -1
Dennis - 29 saves

Keep it here as we'll have updates following a pair of deciding games in college tourney action featuring St. Lawrence defenseman Matt Generous and BGSU's Nick Eno. For now, the update looks like it'll be limited to just Generous, as Bowling Green coach Scott Paluch has given the nod to Jimmy Spratt in the Falcons net after Eno gave up four goals on 24 shots in last night's loss.

3/7 Recap: Eno gets win; CHLers heating up

Freshman Nick Eno made his first career playoff start, stopping 20 shots in a 4-3 win over Lake Superior. With his Falcons off to a 3-0 lead in the second period, Eno was beaten by a blueline blast as he was screened by both his defensemen. Superior would later catch Eno while on a 5-3 power play to make it 3-2. The Falcons would get one back, only to have a shot beat Eno high glove side to cut Bowling Green's lead to 4-3 with six minutes remaining. A 2007 7th round pick, Eno was able to hold off a late flurry to earn his first NCAA post-season victory.

Nathan Gerbe was -2 as Boston College continued their slide with a 3-2 loss to Northeastern. After scoring 36 points in his first 20 games (1.80 ppg), Gerbe has scored just 10 in points in 14 games since then (.71 ppg). Usually a leader in shots on goal, the feisty Oxford, MI native had just two on the night. Teams are guarding Gerbe differently, limiting his opportunities to get behind the defense while trying to keep him on the perimeter. LW Andrew Orpik remained out of the lineup with an injured left shoulder as the Eagles fell to 1-5-1 in their last seven games.

Defenseman Matt Generous played solid defensively and added four shots on goal as St. Lawrence defeated Colgate, 5-2. The Saints jumped out to 4-0 a lead en route to taking the 1-0 series lead. Generous' defensive partner and goal leader among ECAC defensemen, Zack Miskovic, had a pair for SLU.

Chris Butler went pointless with a team-best five shots on goal as Denver fell to Colorado College, 5-2. Butler missed a scoring opportunity late in the second, finding a goal post instead of the back of the net for the second straight week in the loss. With the victory, CC earns the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA champions, and the Gold Pan, played for annually between the two Colorado rivals.

In the CHL, Drew Schiestel was +2 with another assist in Niagara's 5-2 win over Brampton. As the Dogs flex some muscle with the playoffs around the corner, Schiestel has been upping his game as well. He set up Luca Caputi's 50th goal of the season on his first shift of the game to give Niagara a 1-0 lead. The 2007 second-rounder now has points in his last five games (1-4-5), and eight in his last nine, all while being a minus player in just five of his past 30 games.

T.J. Brennan continued his recent hot streak with another goal, his fifth in his last seven games, as St. John's toppled Lewiston, 2-1. The first-period goal against Jonathan Bernier, his 15th of the season, came five-hole on a 35-foot slapper and eventually proved to be the game winner. J.S. Allard was +1 with a team-best three blocked shots for the Fog Devils, and has just one point in his last seven games.

Paul Byron picked up a goal and an assist in Gatineau's 6-5 overtime loss to Rimouski. The points jack up the center's season totals to 36 goals and 27 assists in 49 games.

Benjamin Breault pocketed an assist in Baie-Comeau's 8-4 loss at Shawinigan. The helper runs Breault's point-streak to eight games (10-8-18) as the Drakkar maintain their standing as the top QMJHL club despite the loss.

In the USHL, Drew MacKenzie was -1 on the Black Hawk blueline as streaking Waterloo upended last-place Des Moines, 3-1. The Hawks are 6-1 in their last seven games, and now occupy second place in the
East Division. MacKenzie's 13 points are third on the team for defensemen, while his +2 is tied for second overall on the club.

The Rochester Americans jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but surrendered three unanswered goals in a 3-2 loss to the Rampage. Amerks captain Clarke MacArthur scored a goal in his first AHL game since January 4th, while Mike Funk and Marek Zagrapan had assists in the loss. Marc-Andre Gragnani skated without a point, ending his season-best ten-game point streak.

The Amerks played without Andrej Sekera who has been +2 in two games with the Sabres since his recall early in the week.

The Rundown:

MacArthur - goal, +1
Zagrapan - assist
Funk - assist
Gragnani - 2 SOG
Mancari - 6 SOG
Hunter - 1 SOG
Weber - 1 SOG
Dennis- DNP

3/5 Recap: Breault continues streak; Oilers move on

Benjamin Breault scored the first Drakkar goal and earned the game's #2 star in their 3-1 win over Quebec. The goal extends the point streak of the reigning QMJHL Player of the Week to seven games (10-7-17). With 73 points, the 2006 seventh-rounder needs seven in his final four games to match last season's 80-point output.

T.J. Brennan notched a power play assist in St. John's 3-2 win over Moncton. J.S. Allard was -1 for the Fog Devils.

Drew Schiestel added another assist to his season total in the IceDogs 7-5 road loss to Erie. With 4th place in the OHL's Eastern Conference locked up, Niagara marches in to Brampton on Friday.

In Sweden, Dennis Persson went pointless on the third pairing in Nykoping's 8-4 loss to Bjorkloven.

In the AJHL Playoffs, Brad Eidsness made 22 saves as Okotoks closed out their first-round series with a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Canucks. With the a 3-1 series win, the Oilers will move on to the second round to meet the Drumheller Dragons.

On Tuesday, Eidsness made 23 saves as Okotoks defeated Calgary 5-4 in overtime to take the 2-1 series lead.

Also Tuesday, Paul Byron saw his impressive eleven game point streak come to an end in Gatineau's 5-2 loss to Victoriaville. The Olympiques pivot scored 11 goals and 21 total points during the run, and now has 35 goals and 61 points in 48 games. His goal total puts him in a tie for 15th on the Q leaderboard, while his 23.2 shooting percentage is best among the top 100 league scorers.

2/29 Recap: Byron extends; Breault and Kennedy keep going

In the Q, Paul Byron ran his point-streak to ten games with an assist in Gatineau's 7-0 dismantling of Shawinigan. Byron has 18 points during the tear, and is averaging 1.26 points per game this season. The Ottawa native was given a game misconduct after a second period incident that reportedly involved him "going after a player from behind". We'll try to grab more details.

Baie-Comeau center Benjamin Breault continued a recent spike with his second straight two-goal, one assist performance in the Drakkar's 7-3 win over Drummondville. Breault also dominated in the faceoff circle, taking 16 of 21 draws. The top-line center now has seven goals and seven assists in his last five games, and sits with an even 70 points on the year.

T.J. Brennan scored a goal, his third in his past five games, and added an assist in St. John's 6-0 trouncing of Cape Breton. For a player who was -20 entering play, it should be noted that he finished the night +3. Brennan's second period tally was his of 13th the year, and with the assist now has 36 points on the season. J.S. Allard pitched in an assist and was +1 for the Fog Devils. However, he won only two of 16 faceoffs.

In the NCAA, Tim Kennedy scored his 17th goal of the year and was +4, and freshman Corey Tropp had two assists as Michigan State defeated Bowling Green on Senior night at Munn, 6-3. With the game tied at three with under three minutes to go, MSU blew up it open with goals by Justin Abdelkader (DET) and Kennedy to seal the deal. Tropp, who saw points come off a Jeff Prety wrister and a Matt Schepke follow up, raised his season total to 17. 2007 seventh rounder Nick Eno made 30 saves for the Falcons in the loss.

St. Lawrence defensive anchor Matt Generous had a pair of power play assists in the Saints 4-1 win over Quinnipiac. The swift-skating Connecticut native now has 14 points in 29 games this season.

Alex Biega scored his third goal of the year as Harvard played to a 3-3 tie with Colgate. Off a second period faceoff win, Biega blasted a slapper past Mark Dekanich (NSH) from the right point.

Andrew Orpik scored his sixth goal of the season as #8 Boston College's continued their late-season struggle in a 3-2 loss to Providence. Nathan Gerbe added an assist for the Eagles to push his league-leading total to 45. The shifty pivot also posted a game-high nine shots on goal, with all of them coming in the first two periods. Gerbe's best chance was a first period breakaway that was thwarted by Friar's keeper, Tyler Sims. Orpik, a 7th round pick in 2005, notched his goal by burying a second period rebound. He later left the game with an upper-body injury.

Chris Butler had two shots on goal and a roughing minor as Denver won a goaltender's duel with Michigan Tech, 1-0.

Vermont-bound Drew MacKenzie was +1 in Waterloo's 3-2 shootout win over Cedar Rapids.

In Germany, Philip Gogulla displayed a nice individual effort, but was unable to generate much in Cologne's 6-2 loss to Hannover. Gogulla finished the night with four shots on goal and six minutes in the box.

Sweden's Dennis Persson went pointless in Nykoping's 4-3 overtime loss to Almtuna.

2/25 Recap: Quiet night before the deadline

In the QMJHL, T.J. Brennan had a game high seven hits, but neither he nor Sabres 2007 fifth-round pick, J.S. Allard, were able to earn points as St. John's defeated Quebec, 2-1. Allard has gone without a point in his last three games.

With SSK alternating starts, Jhonas Enroth got a rest as his troops fell to Brynas in overtime, 4-3. Skelleftea also lost, so they remain one point in front of SSK for the final SEL playoff spot. Bjorn Bjurling (EDM) made 29 saves in place of the Sabres 2006 pick.

2/24 Recap: A new Lord Byron?

Paul Byron scored a pair of even-strength goals in Gatineau's 6-2 win over Chicoutimi. And so the streak rolls on for Byron, who has now hit the scoresheet in eight straight contests. During the impressive stretch, Byron has 11 goals and five assists for the surging Olympiques.

Philip Gogulla was +2 as Cologne continued their playoff tune-up with a 4-0 shutout of Hannover. Despite not factoring into any of the Sharks goals, Gogulla still has 13 points in his last eight games with just three to go in the regular season.

Also in the DEL, Felix Schutz was pointless with a single shot on goal in Ingolstadt's 5-4 overtime defeat of Iserlohn.

In the OHL, Drew Schiestel was +1 as Niagara dominated Sudbury, 4-1.

T.J. Brennan and J.S. Allard were both held scoreless as St. John's lost in the shootout to Shawinigan, 3-1. Both Sabres prospects were chosen as Foggies shooters, but were stopped by Cataractes goaltender, Kevin Maletto.

Brad Eidsness got a rest today as his Okotoks Oilers played to a 2-2 tie with Drumheller.

We'll be back shortly with an update on the Amerks game against the Houston Aeros. The teams are scoreless after one. Rochester is playing with just sixteen skaters tonight - including 10 forwards.

2/23 Recap: Breault goes 1-2-3 for B-C

2006 pick Benjamin Breault scored his 28th goal of the year and added a pair assists in Baie-Comeau's 6-3 win over Quebec. Breault, whose goal came while being down a man, was named the game's first star with his three point night. He now has 63 points in 54 games as the top-line pivot for the Drakkar.

Steady IceDogs defender Drew Schiestel assisted on the first two Niagara goals in their 4-2 road defeat of Peterborough. The 2007 2nd round pick continues to impress after an up-and-down run through the early parts of the season.

T.J. Brennan scored for the second straight night as St. John's defeated Drummondville, 2-1. The first pick of the second round in last June's draft, Brennan now has 12 goals and 34 points for the Fog Devils. Foggies forward J.S. Allard went pointless in the two game set with the Voltigeurs.

In Elitserien, Jhonas Enroth made 21 saves as SSK was defeated by Timra, 1-0. Despite the loss, Enroth is still sparkling with a .928 save percentage and a 2.18 GAA. Meanwhile, SSK remains on the outside looking in by just a point as SEL teams start looking towards the playoffs.

Nick Eno made 22 saves to earn another "W" in Bowling Green's 2-1 win over Ferris State. The weekend split with the Bulldogs was the second time all season that Eno started both games of a weekend set over Flames prospect Jimmy Spratt. The steady frosh has now collected 11 of the Falcons 16 wins on the year.

Tim Kennedy scored his 16th goal of the season on the power play, but his Spartans allowed a goal in the final minute of all three periods en route to a 5-2 loss to Michigan at Joe Louis Arena. In the second period, a Jeff Petry shot rebounded in the high slot to a waiting Kennedy who potted his third goal in four games. Freshman right wing Corey Tropp punched up one shot on goal in the loss. The Spartans will close the regular season next weekend against Eno and the Falcons.

Alex Biega was even with five shots on net as Harvard defeated Brown, 2-1. The Crimson have now won four straight games since their loss to Boston College in the finals of the Beanpot.

Andrew Orpik scored the only Eagles goal right out of the penalty box, his fifth of the season, as Boston College dropped another game to New Hampshire, 5-1. Nathan Gerbe was held scoreless with five shots on goal for the second straight night, and has just one point in his last five outings.

Chris Butler was even as Denver used a weekend broom on Alaska-Anchorage, 3-1.

Matt Generous was -1 as St. Lawrence lost to union, 3-1. The Saints lost their fourth straight game despite out-shooting the Dutchmen 47-26.

Brad Eidsness faced just 17 shots, stopping 15 of them, as Okotoks defeated Camrose by a 3-2 score.

Drew MacKenzie registered a shot on goal as Waterloo exercised the weekend sweep over Green Bay with a 2-1 win.

Tonight also marked the NHL debut of Sabres prospect Marc-Andre Gragnani, who appeared in a Buffalo sweater in their 4-3 loss to the Rangers. Drafted as a defenseman but playing well as a wing at the AHL level, Gragnani was -1 with two hooking penalties in nearly six and half minutes of ice time. The hooking calls were the result of not moving his feet, something that can't be done at the top level. It's an overwhelming experience to play in your first NHL game, so he shall receive a mulligan from SabresProspects.com.

2/21 Recap: Brennan comes up short

T.J. Brennan scored his 11th goal of the season in the final minute of play, but it was too little too late as St. John's fell to Acadie-Bathurst, 3-2. The short-handed goal was Brennan's first this year for the Foggies. J.S. Allard was pointless with a pair of minor penalties in the loss.

Brad Eidsness made 30 saves in Okotoks' 3-2 loss to top-ranked Camrose. All the scoring was done in the first period, with the Sabres 2005 fifth-round pick making 19 stops the rest of the way. Unfortunately, the Oilers couldn't get another mark on the board while he was doing so to take the loss.

Jhonas Enroth had the night off as SSK held off Mora, 1-0.

2/16 Recap: Eno tops UNO; Byron stays hot

In the AHL, the Rochester Americans saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 3-2 overtime loss to Syracuse. Andrej Sekera scored his second goal of the year, and first since the season opener, on a first-period power play. Marek Zagrapan picked up helpers on both Rochester goals to raise his season point total to 31, while Marc-Andre Gragnani extended his point-streak to six games with an assist. Adam Dennis made 30 saves in the loss. Mike Funk was given a misconduct at the end of the game after voicing concerns about uneven officiating.

In juniors, Gatineau center Paul Byron scored a pair of even-strength goals, including the game winner, and added an assist as the Olympiques defeated Victoriaville, 4-1. On the ice for all four Gatineau goals, the three-point night earned Byron the game's #1 star. The 5'10, 140-pound pivot now has 29 goals and 51 points in 41 games, after going 21-23-44 in 68 games in 2006-07.

2007 fifth-rounder Jean-Simon Allard notched three assists as St. John's held on to their 5-0 lead to defeat PEI, 5-4. Like Byron, Allard was also a solid +4 on the evening. Fog Devils Defenseman T.J. Brennan was +2 with a team-best six shots on goal.

Brad Eidsness and the Okotoks Oilers avenged Frday's loss, getting the home-and-home split with a 4-2 win over Olds. The 2007 fifth-rounder made 35 saves for the win in a contest featuring 26 power plays between the two clubs.

Black Hawks defenseman Drew MacKenzie checked out with a -3 as Waterloo took a 7-1 whooping from USHL cellar-dweller, Des Moines.

In the NCAA, Nick Eno faced 40 shots, stopping all but one as Bowling Green defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 3-1. Tonight's victory was the tenth in a solid freshman season for the Howell, MI native, as his brickwall effort earned him the game's #2 star. Bowling Green climbed their way back to .500 with the win.

Tim Kennedy had an assist on the power play as #7 Michigan State swept lowly Western Michigan with a 4-2 afternoon win. Spartans coach Rick Comley continued his season of line juggling, placing Corey Tropp on the third unit where he was even with three shots on goal. Next week, the Spartans will take on Michigan in a key CCHA battle.

Nathan Gerbe had a power play assist and zero misconducts as #8 Boston College earned a weekend split by defeating #18 Lowell, 5-2. Andrew Orpik also had an assist for BC, bringing his point total to nine on the year.

Chris Butler was again -1 as #6 Denver got outplayed by #3 North Dakota in a 4-1 loss. The game featured 122 penalty minutes thanks to a melee at the end of the second period, but Butler was only responsible for a holding minor. The weekend sweep slides Denver down the pairwise rankings, with the 6-8 cluster of teams now likely to involve the Pios, Michigan State, and Boston College.

Saints defenseman Matt Generous was also -1 for the second consecutive night as St. Lawrence lost to Brown, 3-1. His +12 is still good for sixth in the ECAC.

Alex Biega was +2 with five shots on goal as Harvard cooled surging #16 Quinnipiac, 4-1. Over the past four games, the stocky rearguard has seen his season plus/minus go from -1 to +7.

In the SEL, Jhonas Enroth rested while Bjorn Bjurling made 34 saves in a 2-2 tie with Skelleftea. SSK and Skelleftea are currently tied for the 8th and final elitserien playoff spot.

In the RSL, Vjacheslav Buravchikov has finally scored a goal for Ak-Bars. Through 40 games this season, the steady defender has one goal and 10 PIM. Over the past five games, he's raised his plus/minus from -3 to +1.

2/15 Recap: Kennedy, Persson "back"; Gerbe snaps

Friday was rather stacked in terms of the Sabres prospects schedule. Let's take a trip around the rinks for an update on over twenty Sabres properties to hit the ice in fifteen different games.

Marek Zagrapan scored his 16th goal of the season in Rochester's 4-2 win over Hershey. Marc-Andre Gragnani assisted on the Zagrapan goal to extend his point streak to five games while the Amerks won their third straight. Adam Dennis made 29 saves for the win, and has now been in net for 13 of the team's 16 victories. Andrej Sekera was a game-best +3.

Earlier in the week, it was learned that Amerks defenseman Mike Weber was suspended for two games following a checking him from behind major in the final minute of play on Sunday. He'll again sit out tomorrow's contest with Syracuse, then return to the lineup on Sunday against Hamilton.

Elsewhere, Tim Kennedy scored a short-handed goal and added an assist in Michigan State's 3-0 shutout of Western Michigan. Kennedy's third period goal ends a career-long thirteen game drought. 2007 third rounder Corey Tropp, who was re-united with Kennedy and Justin Abdelkader (DET) for this one, did not register a point. The win gives the Spartans a first-round bye in the CCHA tournament. The two clubs will play it back tomorrow at Western.

Dennis Persson scored his first goal of the season and assisted on another in Nykopings' 4-3 loss Nybro. The Sabres first round pick in 2006, Persson now has three points in his last two games after a quiet offensive season to date.

Gatineau's Paul Byron had a goal and an assist the Olympques pounded Shawinigan, 8-1. The 5'10 center, who had five blocked shots to go along with his power play marker, was named the game's #3 star.

Harvard sophomore Alex Biega followed a nice showing in the Beanpot final on Monday with two assists tonight in the Crimson's 3-2 win over Princeton. The Montreal-born defenseman has a goal and four assists in his last three games.

Nathan Gerbe and Andrew Orpik were both held scoreless as Boston College lost to Lowell, 3-1. In the second period, Gerbe lost his cool by punching a Lowell player in the head to earn a roughing minor. On his way to the box, a few choice words for the official earned himself another ten minutes of "time out". With the Eagles trailing, the frustrated Gerbe has to know better than to hurt his team's comeback chances with a senseless misconduct.

In the DEL, Philip Gogulla assisted on the game-tying goal as Cologne went on to defeat Sinupret, 3-2 in overtime. Under contract with Buffalo, Gogulla now has 28 assists and 37 total points this season with the Sharks.

Chris Butler was -1 as Denver stumbled in a 5-4 loss at North Dakota. Butler was beaten late on a great wraparound play by T.J. Oshie (STL) to set-up the game winner. North Dakota trailed the Pios 4-1 in the second before scoring four unanswered goals for the win.

Matt Generous was -1 as St. Lawrence lost to Yale, 4-3.

T.J. Brennan and J.S. Allard both were without points as St. John's fell to PEI, 4-1. Brennan was +1 with five shots on net, while Allard was only able to muster one of the Foggies 52 shots on goal.

Benjamin Breault was -1 with five shots on goal in Baie-Comeau's 4-1 loss to Halifax.

In the AJHL, Brad Eidsness made 40 saves in a 4-3 OT loss to Olds. The loss was the Sioux recruit's fourth on the year against 26 wins.

Drew MacKenzie had three shots on goal in Waterloo's 4-2 win over Des Moines.

Drew Schiestel was -3 as Niagara put forth a disappointing effort in their 5-2 loss at Erie.

Nick Eno had the night off in Bowling Green's 5-3 loss to UNO.

2/9 Recap: Kennedy's unlucky 13

In a CCHA match-up, Michigan State's Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp were again held without points in a 3-0 loss to Northern Michigan. The Buffalo-born Kennedy has now gone without a goal in his last 13 games - the longest such stretch of his career. The Spartans, who lost both weekend games in Marquette and three of their last four, will need to right the ship in next weekend's home-and-home series with last place Western.

Bowling Green's Nick Eno got the nod against Alaska as the Falcons fell to the Nanooks, 4-1. The Howell, MI made 24 saves in the loss, dropping his record to 9-6 on the season.

Landon Novotney gave Alaska the early jump, beating Eno high blocker side on the game's first shot at the :27 mark.

Less than two minutes into the second, a failed clearing attempt allowed Nanooks defenseman Steve Vanoosten to jump up and beat a sprawling Eno for the 2-0 lead. The Falcons would later halve that lead before a scrum at the foot of the crease forced both Eno and the puck into the Falcons net. Video review would uphold the goal, giving Alaska a 3-1 edge after two.

Eno kept his team in the game, making a nice breakaway save with the shaft of his stick in the opening minutes of the third. However, Bowling Green could not beat Eno's counterpart Wylie Rogers in the final twenty, as the sharp Nanooks netminder stopped 22 shots and a total of 46 in all. Alaska would eventually add an empty netter to earn the road split.

In Denver, Chris Butler (+2) had an assist in the Pioneers 4-1 win over Minnesota. Quarterbacking a Pioneers power play, Butler let go a wrister that was tipped in by Rhett Rakhshani to give Denver a 2-0 lead. The Pios took seven of a possible eight points from the Gophers this season.

Matt Generous went scoreless while anchoring the St. Lawrence defense in their 4-2 win over Cornell. The mobile rearguard is +14 entering the final month of play, a ten-goal differential over his closest teammate in the category.

Vermont recruit and 2007 seventh rounder Drew MacKenzie drew a fighting major and a game misconduct in Waterloo's 6-5 loss to Omaha. Midway through the third period, MacKenzie paired off with Thrashers prospect Will O'Neill after Black Hawks winger Jordan Samuels-Thomas earned an elbowing major. Omaha scored two goals in the power play that followed to seal the win.

In the Q, T.J. Brennan scored his 10th goal of the season, but it was all St. John's could put up in a 2-1 loss to Baie-Comeau. 2007 third-round pick J.S. Allard went scoreless in the back-to-back set, adding two shots on net for the Fog Devils.

Despite a game-best six shots on goal, Drakkar center Benjamin Breault saw his four-game point streak come to an end in the win. Over the stretch, the 19-year old picked up two goals and five helpers while centering Baie-Comeau's top line.

In the AJHL, Brad Eidsness got a rest but his Oilers kept cruising with a 6-3 win over Clarke MacArthur's former club, the Drayton Valley Thunder.

In the second game of the Skoda Cup, Philip Gogulla had two assists as Germany defeated France, 6-5. Felix Schutz did not factor into any of the German goals.

Friday action underway

Boston College and Massachusetts are locked in a 1-1 tie through the end of two in Amherst. After potting Monday's game winner off a pass from Brian Gibbons, BC's Nathan Gerbe returned the favor 4:27 into the first period tonight. The Oxford, MI native displayed some nifty puck carrying down the left side, spotting Gibbons for an early Eagles lead. Usually a leader in shots, Gerbe has just two thus far as the teams enter the final frame.

2005 7th rounder Andrew Orpik, whose Monday heroics were nullified when his would-be game winner was waved-off, has a minor penalty for BC.

In the first of two this weekend, Bowling Green currently leads visiting Alaska, 4-1. Freshman goaltender Nick Eno takes a rest tonight, but should be in the Falcons crease tomorrow. Flames prospect Jimmy Spratt had made 20 saves through two periods in place of Eno.

In the first game to finish, T.J. Brennan (-1) picked up an assist in St. John's 4-3 overtime defeat of Baie-Comeau. Benjamin Breault notched a power play assist for the Drakkar in the loss, while Foggies center J.S. Allard added two shots on goal.

Much more to come after the Sabres/Bruins.

2/5: Tuesday Slap Shots

- With Maxim Afinogenov re-tweaking his groin in yesterday's practice, and Clarke MacArthur coming down with a bad flu this morning, the Sabres re-called punishing forward Patrick Kaleta from Rochester just 24 hours after sending him down. Kaleta is in the Buffalo lineup tonight, making his presence felt early as the Sabres battle the Bruins.

- It appears that an injury to Ducks prospect Logan MacMillan isn't as severe as originally thought after a Saturday collision with Sabres defensive prospect, T.J. Brennan. With no apparent MCL or ACL damage, the Mooseheads forward instead looks to have a charley horse.

The two players collided knee-on-knee at center ice after Brennan stepped up to meet the rush. MacMillan had to be helped off the ice and did not return. Brennan, the Sabres first of two 2nd round picks in 2007, was called for kneeing on the play and received an extra fighting major after Guillaume Monast came to the defense of his injured Halifax teammate.

- After injuring his shoulder in a January 25th game against Lake Erie, Amerks defenseman Michael Funk is slated to return to action this weekend.

- Speaking of Funk, the Buffalo Sabres Foundation is currently accepting bids for vintage style, game-issued jerseys of the former Portland Winter Hawk, as well as fellow prospects Marek Zagrapan and Marc-Andre Gragnani. Bidding opens at $250 each. The auctions will close on Valentines Day.

- In the only game on tonight's Sabres prospect docket, Brad Eidsness and the Okotoks Oilers (39-9-0-4) host top-ranked Camrose (41-6-0-5). Backed by a strong outing from Eidsness, the Oilers handed the Kodiaks a 2-1 loss in their last meeting one week ago. As always, an update will follow the game.