11/15 Recap: Eidsness stellar in win

Brad Eidsness put forth a spectacular performance in the North Dakota crease, making 23 saves in the Sioux's 3-1 win over Alaska-Anchorage. The freshman bailed out the NoDak D on more than one occasion, with the only goal against coming on a funky deflection. The rookie moves to 4-3 on the season and is firmly cemented as the #1 goalie in Grand Forks. Freshman Corey Fienhage was a scratch for the winners. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was on the ice for one goal against and one goal for in Saginaw's lengthy 4-3 shootout loss Windsor. The Spirit made things difficult for arguably the CHL's top club all night including in the shootout, where it took 14 rounds before the Spits could get their second (and game deciding) goal. Crawford was stopped in the tenth round. Top 2009 draft prospect Taylor Hall scored two goals to help put the Spits at 21-2 on the year, while Saginaw falls to 12-7-0-1. Drew Schiestel (-1) had a power play assist in Niagara's 6-2 win over Peterborough. The helper was his 11th of the season with the man advantage and 20th overall. Alex Pietrangleo collected three assists for the Dogs in his first game back after playing eight NHL games with the Blues. In the CCHA, Corey Tropp (-1) scored the only Spartan goal as #17 Michigan State lost to #10 Miami, 3-1. The goal, his first of the year, stemmed from a solid effort down low to score on a slapper with less than ten minutes to play in the third. With the weekend sweep, the Spartans are likely to drop out of the Top 20. Senior Andrew Orpik picked up an assist in BC's wild 8-6 win over #6 New Hampshire. Jimmy Hayes (TOR) notched a hat trick and an assist to pace the #5 Eagles. Alex Biega (2 PIM, 4 SOG) was held scoreless in Harvard's 1-0 shutout of #19 St. Lawrence. The junior did however play a pivotal part in killing off a :90 5-3 power play that spanned the second and third periods. Matt Generous posted two shots on goal for the Saints in the loss. Justin Jokinen did not dress for the second straight game as #11 Minnesota State lost to Colorado College, 4-3.

11/14 Recap: Ennis, Myers produce; Genny flows in loss

Tyler Myers (+1) scored a goal and two assists as Kelowna fell to Vancouver, 5-3. All of Myers points came in a 9:00 span in the third period as the Rockets attempted a comeback. The 6'7 defenseman started the surge at the 5:15 mark when he poked a shot through a goal mouth scramble for his second of the year. He would follow with a pair assists, but the effort was too little too late in the loss to their division rival. Tyler Ennis repeated his performance from Wednesday, netting a late goal and then another in the shootout as Medicine Hat defeated Edmonton 3-2 at Rexall Place. The Tigers have won all twelve meetings over Edmonton since the Oil Kings joined the WHL. In QMJHL play, Paul Byron scored the lone Gatineau goal in their 4-1 loss to Shawinigan. The Olympiques (5-16-1-1) have now lost 13 straight games, and will look to end the madness against Montreal on Saturday afternoon. Luke Adam (5 SOG) and T.J. Brennan (1 SOG) were both pointless as Montreal edged PEI, 1-0. Rocket reargaurd Jordon Southorn, who was in consideration for the most recent Defensive Player of the Week award, had five shots on goal in the loss. J.S. Allard was again kept of the scoresheet in Quebec's 4-3 loss to Moncton. The Wildcats have now won ten straight on the road. Jacob Lagacé was -1 in Chicoutimi's 3-1 loss to Cape Breton. The quiet evening ends the Beloeil, QC native's eight-game point streak. In the ECAC, Matt Generous (+1) scored an even strength goal and added an assist for #19 St. Lawrence in their 4-3 loss to Dartmouth. In the final minute of the second period, the Connecticut native pumped one home from the high slot to tie the game at two. Alex Biega had a power play assist as Harvard defeated #16 Clarkson, 5-1. The junior corralled a faceoff win and flicked a wrister to the net that was tipped by Nick Coskren for Harvard's second goal. Corey Tropp garnered an assist in #17 Michigan State's 5-1 loss to #10 Miami. The Spartans only goal came midway through the first when a scrum kicked a loose puck to an open Mike Schepke. Andrew Orpik was even as #5 Boston College played to a 5-5 tie with Merrimack. Drew MacKenzie was -1 as #15 Vermont dropped a 5-3 decision to #7 Northeastern. Justin Jokinen was scratched as his #11 Minnesota State Mavericks defeated #3 Colorado College, 2-1. Brad Eidsness replaced Aaron Walski midway through the second period in #18 North Dakota's 3-2 loss to Alaska-Anchorage. The Albertan made 12 saves in relief, including one on a short-hanaded breakway by Paul Crowder. Corey Fienhage did not dress in the loss. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel (-2) returned to the lineup in Niagara's 4-3 OT loss to Kitchener. A point-shot deflected off Schistel's shin pads into the Dogs net to force overtime. Nick Crawford was -1 as Saginaw was dominated by Plymouth, 5-1. In Germany, Philip Gogulla was -1 as Cologne endured a 3-2 overtime loss to Duisberg.

11/8 Recap: Ennis stretches streak; MacKenzie factors

Tyler Ennis scored a goal and connected for a pair of assists as Medicine Hat beat-up on Brandon, 6-2. Ennis' goal proved to be the game winner, and his multi-point night extends his streak to nine straight games. Drew MacKenzie notched his first collegiate point, an assist, in Vermont's 3-1 win over Lowell. Wahsontiio Stacey scored the game-winner off the rebound of MacKenzie's point-shot in the early goings of the second period. Brad Eidsness made 29 saves as North Dakota failed pull off a sweep in a 7-4 loss to Colorado College. The score would suggest a debacle, but 80 shots on goal, 17 power plays, and countless screens kept both goaltenders busy. Corey Fienhage was -2 for the Sioux. Justin Jokinen (-1) was held without a point as Mankato tied Alaska-Anchorage, 2-2. Carrying the puck through the neutral zone, the freshman went to flip the puck deep into the Seawolves before joining his four linemates off for a change. Instead of getting it deep, the puck was gloved just inside the Anchorage blueline and quickly advanced up ice for the game-knotting goal. In the ECAC, Matt Generous (2 SOG) was even as St. Lawrence played to a 2-2 tie with Brown. Alex Biega (4 SOG, 2 PIM) was -1 in Harvard's 3-1 loss to Union. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel continued to drive the power play, registering another helper in Niagara's 5-4 OT loss to Peterborough. Ten of Schiestel's 19 assists this season have come with the man advantage. Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw won their fourth straight game with a 5-3 decision over Sault Ste. Marie.

11/7 Recap: Eidsness bests #1; Adam pots pair

If you've been reading this space of late, we've talked about a looming shake-up in Gatineau where the Piques were riding a ten-game losing streak heading into Friday's game with Montreal. The shake-up came this week with Mario Richer resigning as coach, and being replaced by former NHLer Jerome Dupont. Gatineau owned the opening period of the new boss' debut, scoring three times on 17 shots, but Montreal stormed back with six unanswered goals for the win. Luke Adam lit the lamp twice, while the Juniors won their second straight game on T.J. Brennan's winner midway through the third period. Brennan and Adam also posted assists on the night, while the Piques' Paul Byron had a power play goal in the 6-3 loss. In other Q action from Friday, Jacob Lagacé scored a goal and an assist in Chicoutimi's 3-2 win over Victoriaville. Tied at one apiece heading into the third, Lagacé first set up Nicolas Deschamps (ANA) at 2:47, then scored his ninth of the year for the game winner about ten minutes later. Jordon Southorn scored a goal for PEI in their 4-3 loss to Cape Breton. The power play marker was Southorn's second of the season, and his play has been both improved and inspired since his return from suspension. J.S. Allard scored his fifth goal of the season as Quebec defeated Baie-Comeau, 8-6. The Remparts went 4/9 on the power play to earn the win. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was +2 in Saginaw's 7-2 win over Ottawa. His +8 for the season ranks him 20th overall in the O. From the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his eighth goal of the year in Medicine Hat's 4-2 loss to Regina. Ennis tied the game at 2-2 early in the third when he raced in on a short-handed breakaway and made a nifty deke before roofing the puck over Linden Rowat (LA). The Pats would counter with two goals of their own to seal the victory. In NCAA play, Brad Eidsness made 29 saves as visiting North Dakota defeated #1 Colorado College, 3-1. Eidsness, who moved to 3-2 on the year, made many great saves to earn the W and should be back between the pipes when the two clubs play it back on Saturday. Freshman defenseman Corey Fienhage did not travel with the club for the weekend set. Alex Biega (+1) assisted on both Crimson goals as #18 Harvard lost to RPI, 3-2. The junior now has three points in three games. Matt Generous (+1) notched his first point* of the season, assisting on the overtime winner as St. Lawrence defeated Yale, 3-2. The senior started the game-winning play as he broke into the Yale zone and sent a shot just wide of the net. The puck was corralled and fed back to Brandon Bollig, who poked the puck over the line. Andrew Orpik was -1 as #2 Boston College suffered a 4-1 upset loss to #12 Notre Dame. The rematch of last year's NCAA final kicked off a Holy War weekend as the two school's football teams will also meet on Saturday. Corey Tropp (-1) returned to the #11 ranked Spartans lineup after a bout with mono in their 3-0 loss to Ohio State. In Alaska, Justin Jokinen (2 PIM) was even in #13 Minnesota State's 5-3 win over Anchorage. Freshman Drew MacKenzie was even in #16 Vermont's 2-2 tie with Providence. In the AHL, Tim Kennedy scored the shootout winner but saw his nine-game point streak snapped as Portland edged Springfield, 2-1. Mark Mancari scored on the power play, with Nathan Gerbe being credited with the assist. Adam Dennis made 26 saves to earn the win, while Mike Funk made his first appearance of the season after a concussion delayed the start of his schedule. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, 6 SOG Gerbe: 1A, 7 SOG Kennedy: -1 Butler: 2 PIM Weber: even Schutz: 1 SOG Funk: 2 PIM Gragnani: 3 SOG Zagrapan: 2 PIM Funk: 2 PIM Kostka: -1 Whitmore: 2 SOG Card: even Dennis: 26 saves *Generous still hasn't been credited with an assist on Zach Miscovic's game winner against UNH a few weeks back.

10/26 Recap: Adam pads; Genny steady in upset

Luke Adam had a goal and three assists to earn the game's #2 star as Montreal smoked Victoriaville at home, 7-3. The multi-point night pushes Adam's point total to 16 (8+8) on the year. Defenseman T.J. Brennan did not factor into any of the Juniors goals, while Matt Fillier (LA) netted the hat trick against a Tigres club playing its third game in as many nights. ESPNU's Sunday night match-up saw Matt Generous (+1) snatch an assist while playing an impressive all-around game as unranked St. Lawrence upset #4 New Hampshire, 4-1. On a third period power play after he was boarded by UNH's Jerry Pollastrone, Generous slid a cross-ice pass to Zach Miskovic who neatly sniped the corner for his second goal of the game. The senior rearguard has battled shoulder issues over the past year, so it was good to see him get up from the dumping. In an interview played during the second intermission, SLU co-captain Shawn Fensel called Generous "an intense, hard worker on the ice". East Amherst, NY native and former USHL Player of the Year Phil DeSimone (WAS) was shutout for UNH. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had a power play assist and a team-high six shots on goal as Cologne defeated Ingolstadt, 3-2. After a slow start, the Sharks have now won three in a row and four of their last five. The German winger will take a four-game point streak into Friday's game with Straubing. In Gatineau, Paul Byron (-1) had an assist as the Olympiques lost to Acadie-Bathurst, 4-2. Byron found Hugo Laporte on the power play to open the scoring at 16:03 of the first period. The Ottawa native now has a goal and five assists in his last four games, but the Piques are faltering with seven consecutive losses and a management team looking to shake things up. With just three goals in 15 games, perhaps Byron is being dangled. Jean-Simon Allard went scoreless for the fifth straight game as Quebec rolled over Lewiston, 7-1. In the OHL, Saginaw's Nick Crawford was assessed a five-minute major for cross-checking as the Spirit lost to Guelph, 4-1.

10/18 Recap: Eidsness posts first W

In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness earned his first career win as North Dakota defeated Mankato, 4-3. The AJHL product stood up to the road pressure, flashing leather with brilliant glove saves while holding his ground in some busy penalty kill situations. Making 25 stops to guide the Sioux to a split with the Mavericks, Eidsness looks to have earned the start when NoDak resumes play in two weeks with a set against Wisconsin. Leading 2-0 in the second period, the Mavs saw a potential three-goal lead disappear when officials determined that Eidsness was interfered with. The Sioux would have the momentum shift after the reversal, storming back to get the lead and avoid going 0-4 to start the season. Corey Fienhage saw bottom pair time for the Sioux, while fellow freshman Justin Jokinen was even with no points for the Mavs. In Boston, Andrew Orpik finished -1 as #1 Boston College was upset by unranked Northeastern. Joe Vitale's short-handed goal in the first minute of the third held up the rest of the way for the Huskies. The Eagles will look to settle the score in February when the two clubs reconvene in the opening round of the Beanpot. In Burlington, freshman defenseman Drew MacKenzie was even for Vermont in their 3-3 tie with Miami. Finishing the collegiate slate, Matt Generous was -1 with two shots on goal as St. Lawrence earned the Western New York sweep with a 2-1 defeat of RIT. In the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his third goal of the season and was named the game's #2 star as Medicine Hat beat Regina, 6-4. Ennis' marker started a four-goal rush for the Tigers after falling behind 2-0 in the opening period. Tyler Myers was +1 with 4 PIM as Kelowna edged Seattle, 3-2. After having three consecutive games with a fight, the Alberta native has now gone four straight without throwing a fist but still ranks fourth in WHL PIM's. In the OHL, Saginaw's, Nick Crawford (+1) had two assists for the Spirit in their 4-2 win over Niagara. The sixth rounder has been steady since his return fom Sabres camp, quietly amassing seven points and a +5 to date. For the Dogs, Drew Schiestel (-1) saw his six-game point streak come to an end in the loss. The Spirit are off until Friday, while Niagara will next take to the ice on Thursday against Erie. Rounding out the Saturday schedule, Jacob Lagacé picked up an assist in Chicoutimi's 2-1 loss to Moncton. The 2008 pick was credited with the primary on Olivier Ouelette's power play goal to get on the sheet for the first time in three games while maintaining his point-per-game pace. Chicoutimi (4-7-1-1) will host Baie-Comeau on Sunday. Also from the Q, Jordon Southorn (+2) assisted on the overtime winner as PEI knocked off Bathurst, 2-1. Speculation that Southorn is battling a nagging injury is hard to prove, but his play hasn't been as sharp as it was to start the year despite the offensive production. The Rocket move to 5-6-0-1 on the season with the win, and will close the weekend in Charlottetown against Bathurst.

10/17 Recap: Orpik drops rare deuce; Adam apple of Juniors O

Andrew Orpik had a pair of assists as #1 Boston College defeated Bowling Green, 5-3. Both points came on the power play as the Thayer product notched his first multi-point game since 10/31/06 when he had a pair of helpers at Providence. Brock Bradford (BOS) paced BC with two goals and an assist in the win. Jimmy Spratt (CAL) took the loss for Bowling Green as Nick Eno remained out for a second straight week with a tender ankle. The Eagles will drive across town to face Northeastern tomorrow, while the Falcons head to Providence. In the QMJHL, Luke Adam had a goal and an assist to rescue a dormant Montreal offense in their 3-2 win over Rouyn-Noranda. The Juniors suffered two shutout losses while Adam recovered from a sore knee, and the big forward marked his return with two points in the game's first six minutes. Adding to a common theme, Adam was the game leader in SOG (6) and blocks (5). Defenseman T.J. Brennan had a power play assist and a game-best four hits for the winners. In the West, Tyler Myers (-2, 2 PIM) had an assist in Kelowna's wild 8-6 loss to Everett. Trailing 4-3 entering the third, the Rockets all of sudden found themselves with a 6-4 lead with 9:47 left to play. However, the Tips pumped out four unanswered goals in the final 8:14 to earn the win. The game featured a crunching first period hit by the 6'8 Myers on 5'6 Zack Dailey that left the Tip forward feeling the effect for a couple of shifts.. Also in the Dub, Tyler Ennis (+1) assisted on a gorgeous short-handed play as Medicine Hat shut out Chilliwack, 3-0. The 5'9 forward now has seven points (2+5) in ten games. The Tigers square off with a rugged Regina squad on Saturday. Elsewhere in the NCAA, Justin Jokinen went pointless as Minnesota State scored three short-handed goals to spark their 5-1 pounding of North Dakota. Defenseman Corey Fienhage had a strong performance for the Sioux, finishing as one of six skaters to be even or better while showing his true colors with a roughing minor. Brad Eidsness was the back-up to Aaron Walski, and should get the start on Saturday when the two schools play it back. Drew MacKenzie was -1 as #17 Vermont upended #7 Miami, 4-3. MacKenzie was on the ice for the third Redhawks as the Catamounts move to 2-0 with the win. St. Lawrence defenseman Matt Generous was even with a shot on net in the Saints' 5-3 win over Niagara. SLU will head east to Rochester for a Saturday match-up with RIT. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had four shots on goal in Cologne's 5-1 loss to Wolfsburg. With another loss, the Sharks remain second-to-last in the league standings. Drew Schiestel (-1) notched another assist as Niagara lost at Plymouth, 5-4. The Dogs power play is clicking with eight goals in four games, and the Hamilton native now has a point in six straight to equal his previous best run from last March. Nick Crawford was -2 in Saginaw's 3-0 shutout loss to Barrie. It was just the second time this season that the Caledon, Ontario native finished the game with a minus rating. The Spirit will host Schiestel's Dogs on Saturday. Also from the collegiate ranks, Michigan State winger Corey Tropp has come down with mono, obviously keeping him out of the lineup in the Spartans 3-1 win over Lowell. Expecting him to ready for next week's battle with Northern seems unreasonable at this point. The focus is on getting rest, and we all hope he gets well as quickly as possible.

10/11 Recap: Myers plays nice; Adam sore

A night after getting blown out by provincial rival Vancouver, the Kelowna Rockets opened up a can of their own in Saturday's 8-1 win over Prince George. The game featured four fights, yet Tyler Myers gave his knuckles a rest en route to capturing a +4 on the evening. With Myers staying out of the box for the first time all season, the Rockets limited the Cougars to a total of 12 shots on goal while firing 45 of their own. Nick Crawford was +3 for a second consecutive game in Saginaw's 5-2 win over Sarnia. The Spirit currently sit in third place in the OHL's West Division, and will host in-state rival Plymouth on Sunday. In the Q, T.J. Brennan was -1 in Montreal's 4-0 loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs. Missing the services of Luke Adam due to sore knee suffered in Wednesday's loss, the struggling Juniors offense mustered just 20 shots in defeat. The timing of the injury couldn't be worse, as the Juniors would greatly benefit from Adam's offensive control when they battle league-best Moncton on Sunday. The full prognosis hasn't been made, so for now Adam should be considered day-to-day. Jordon Southorn assisted on the Rocket's insurance goal in their 4-2 win over Chicoutimi. Jacob Lagacé (4 SOG) was held without a point for the Sags, and has one assist in his last three games after starting the season with eight points in five games. J.S. Allard (+1) scored the first Remparts goal in their 4-1 win over Baie-Comeau. With Quebec riding an eight-game winning streak, Allard leads all of the Sabres CHL prospects with 11 points this season. In NCAA play, Justin Jokinen went without a point in Minnesota State's 4-2 win over Bemidji. The Mavericks swept the weekend set with the Beavers, and are heading for a showdown with a hungry 0-2 North Dakota club next weekend. Matt Generous was -1 as St. Lawrence fell to Michigan, 5-3. After a weekend sweep at the hands of the Wolverines, the Saints will head to Western New York next weekend for tilts with Niagara and RIT. Corey Tropp was -1 as Michigan State dropped the IceBreakerChampionship game to Boston University, 2-1. The Spartans will have a short prep week as they host Lowell for a Thursday-Friday set. Nick Eno again watched from the press box as Bowling Green and Niagara played to a 3-3 tie.

10/10 Recap: Brennan returns from illness; Myers goes again

T.J. Brennan was +1 with three shots on goal in Montreal's 4-1 win over Halifax. Brennan, 19, did not play in Wednesday's loss at Rimouski after falling ill with "concussion-like" symptoms and a very sore throat. He was taken to a hospital, where he was also tested for mononucleosis. Thankfully the results were negative, and the defender hopped on a plane for tonight's contest in Nova Scotia. Luke Adam did not play for the Juniors after getting dinged on Wednesday. In the WHL, Tyler Myers (-2) got into a fight for his third consecutive game in Kelowna's 7-1 loss to Vancouver. The defenseman handily defeated 5'10 Craig Cunningham after checking highly-touted forward Evander Kane from behind in the first period Apparently the Sabres gave the towering rearguard a big box of foil before sending him back to the Dub, telling him to simply "use it". Myers played 65 games last season with only a handful of tussles. Kane, a projected top-20 pick in 2009, had a hat trick and five points to lead Vancouver despite the hit, and is now the WHL's leading scorer with nine goals and 18 points. Minnesota State freshman Justin Jokinen scored his first collegiate goal - the game winner no less - in the Mavs 5-2 win over Bemidji State. The 6'3 forward buried an Adam Mueller pass from the slot midway through the second period to break a 2-2 tie. The game saw a total of 22 power plays between the two clubs. At the IceBreaker in Boston, freshman Brad Eidsness was a surprise starter, making 28 saves in his first collegiate start as North Dakota fell to Boston University, 5-1. Initial reports from Sioux camp suggested that Eidsness would give way to Aaron Walski before entering the crease for Saturday's game with Massachusetts, but ND coach Dave Hakstol had other designs. The Alberta native played decently after a bumpy start, making some nice saves during a busy second period when he was often left high and dry by a slow-reacting defense. I'd love to see Hak go back to the rookie again as a way to send a message to his skaters, but chances are Walski will get a chance against the Minutemen. Perhaps that message will come in the form of inserting defenseman Corey Fienhage into the NoDak lineup. The 2008 third rounder was a Friday scratch. Forward Colin Wilson (NSH) had a goal and an assist for the Terriers. Also from the IceBreaker, Corey Tropp (+1) picked up an assist as Michigan State defeated Massachusetts, 3-1. In the opening minutes, a Tropp wrister created a rebound that was stuffed home by Andrew Rowe to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. With Nathan Gerbe returning to help raise the 2008 Championship banner, Boston College skated out to a 5-4 win over Wisconsin. Andrew Orpik assumed his right wing spot on the Eagles grind line, going -1 with two shots on goal. Defenseman Matt Generous was even as St. Lawrence dropped a tough 4-3 loss at Michigan, while goaltender Nick Eno (ankle injury) did not dress in Bowling Green's 4-2 win over RIT. In the OHL, Niagara's Drew Schiestel had an assist in the IceDogs' 4-3 shootout loss to Guelph. Niagara couldn't hold a 3-1 lead, firing a paltry two shots on goal the entire third period while the Storm stormed back. Saginaw's Nick Crawford (+3) notched an assist in their 7-3 win over Kingston. The Spirit out-shot the Fronts by a 41-20 margin. J.S. Allard (-1, 4 PIM) had an assist in Quebec's 5-4 shootout win over Chicoutimi. On the losing side, the Sags' Jacob Lagacé had an assist with a less than savory -3 while committing four minor penalties on the night. Jordon Southorn (+1, 2 PIM) went pointless in PEI's 3-1 win over Baie-Comeau. The Rocket scored three unanswered goals in the third to get the W. In Europe, Philip Gogulla was -1 with four shots on goal in Cologne's 4-3 loss to Straubing. The DEL's worst team, the Sharks have now lost ten of their twelve games after a 2007-08 campaign that saw them reach the league championship. Gogulla, 21, has two goals and five points on the young season.

10/5: Myers ornery; Sioux debut

Tyler Myers was in a foul mood this weekend, and Sabres fans shouldn't be happier. After picking up 17 PIM's from a fight in Saturday's loss to Lethbridge, the 6'8 defender racked up another ten in tonight's 6-3 win over Kootenay. The gloves didn't come off tonight, but three of his five minors were of the roughing variety, including a double-bagger after a scrum with 5'9 Andrew Bailey in the first period. It was stressed last night, and it's worth a mention again - Myers will learn to pick his spots. An aggressive Myers in juniors will make for a more confident professoinal, and we're sure the balance will come as he adapts to this season's role. In another WHL contest, Tyler Ennis notched a power play assist as Medicine Hat fell to Saskatoon, 5-2. The Blades jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the tired Tigers made it respectable with a pair of goals in the third. Brad Eidsness stopped eight of 10 shots in a little over 20:00 of action in North Dakota's 6-2 win over the University of Manitoba. Both goals came with the Sioux down a man, with the first being a deflection that offered Eidsness little chance of stopping. The second came when a NoDak defenseman shoved a Bisons forward into Eidsness, preventing the freshman from keeping the puck out of the net. 2008 third round pick Corey Fienhage also made his exhibition debut, going even in the win. The Sioux will travel to Boston University on Friday. With eight freshman in the lineup, Matt Generous was one of nine regulars who watched as St. Lawrence tied the University of Guelph, 2-2. The Saints head to Ann Arbor next weekend for a set with Michigan.

10/4 Recap: Myers steps up, drops gloves

Take a run at a Kelowna Rocket this season, and you just might have to deal with an upset 6'8 defenseman. That's what happened to Lethbridge's Craig Orfino, as the 6'2, 200-pounder was forced to take on Tyler Myers after earning a boarding penalty in the first period of tonight's game. Myers was a unsatisfying -2 in the 7-3 loss, but his being the instigator en route to racking up 17 PIMs on the play is a key developmental nugget in this young season. Sure the Rockets can't afford to lose their best defenseman for half-period clips, but like Drew Schiestel last week in Niagara, jumping to a teammate's aid after a cheap lick does wonders for both the team and the developing prospect. Elsewhere in "the dub", Tyler Ennis (+2) scored his first goal of the season in Medicine Hat's 5-4 OT loss to Prince Albert. The Tigers stormed back with three goals in the third before 16-year old Ryan Harrison ended it for the Raiders. In the QMJHL, center Jean-Simon Allard (+2) had a pair of assists and a game-high five shots on goal in Quebec's 4-2 win over Chicoutimi. For his efforts, the 6'2 pivot was named the game's #2 star. Jacob Lagacé, who was averaging 1.75 points-per-game heading into tonight, had four shots on goal for the Sags in defeat. Also in the Q, Jordon Southorn (2 PIM) cooled off with a -1 in PEI's 7-4 loss to Shawinigan. The 2008 pick was +5 with a goal and three assists in his two previous contests since returning from Buffalo. Paul Byron (-1, 2 PIM) matched Southorn's stat line as Gatineau fell to Rouyn-Noranda, 4-1. Byron continues his goal scoring drought, failing to cash in any of his six Olympiques games this season. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel (-2) picked up an assist as the IceDogs fell to Plymouth in a wild, back-and-forth shootout, 7-6. Tied at four heading into the third, both teams scored a pair of goals in the final twenty minutes to force the extra session. With resources already at max bandwidth on the Dogs blueline, things got a little worse when 19-year old Reggie Traccitto was lost to a leg injury. 2008 sixth-rounder Nick Crawford had 2 PIM as Saginaw also needed a shootout to defeat Sudbury, 3-2. Crawford was initially credited with an assist on the second Spirit goal, but the scoresheet was corrected between the second and third periods. It would have given the 6'1 rearguard points in three straight games. In NCAA action this afternoon, Bowling Green's Nick Eno sat out of the Falcons 5-1 win over Wilfrid Laurier due to a sore ankle. With college exhibition schedules underway, the Sabres will have four prospects wearing a new sweater for the first time on Sunday. Vermont defenseman Drew MacKenzie will dress in their afternoon tilt against McGill. Matt Generous and St. Lawrence will host Guelph, while Brad Eidsness and Corey Fienhage may very well see time when North Dakota skates with Manitoba. These collegiate tune-ups can often be one-sided, but not always. Teams like Ryerson and McGill have historically proved worthy exhibition mates for their east coast opponents. Just last season, New Brunswick defeated a talented New Hampshire club by a 4-3 score.

3/9 Recap: RSL playoffs; Saints fall to 'Gate

In the RSL playoffs, Vjacheslav Buravchikov went pointless for Ak Bars in their 3-0 series sweep over HC MVD. Kazan finished seventh in the regular season standings, and moves on to face either Mettalurg or CSKA in the second round. Former first-round miscue and current 2008 draft chip, Artem Kriukov, has an assist for SKA in their first-round battle with Spartak. SKA got out to a 2-0 lead in the series, only to drop the next two, forcing a game five showdown on home ice. Chosen 15th overall in the 2000 draft, Kriukov had 15 points in the regular season. Now 26 years old and technically no longer a "prospect", the player formerly known as "The Russian Concussion" isn't expected to go the "Mike Ryan route" and enter the NHL in his middle 20's. Instead, the Sabres are due a compensatory pick in 2008 for their failure to sign the former first-round pick. Eight years later, it appears that the Russian pivot is finally in position to contribute. Bowling Green advanced in the CCHA playoffs with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win versus Lake Superior. Nick Eno watched from the bench as Flames prospect Jimmy Spratt made 29 saves while the Falcons scored three unanswered goals to seal the win. BGSU will sqaure off with #2 seed Miami next weekend. In the ECAC playoffs, defenseman Matt Generous was -1 with three shots on goal as St. Lawrence lost to Colgate, 3-1. The first-round loss ends the Saints' season with a 13-20-4 record. Generous, the 208th pick in 2005, finishes the season 3-12-15 with a +12 in 33 games played.

3/8 recap: Gerbe back on track

Nathan Gerbe set up the eventual game winner in the first period, then later added an empty netter as Boston College closed the Hockey East regular season with a 4-1 win over Northeastern. The victory gives the Eagles home ice next week in a playoff set with Providence. In addition to the points, Gerbe was also +2 with a team-high six shots on goal in the win. After second period post-whistle meeting lead to coincidental minors with the Huskies' Steve Silva, Gerbe and his dance partner earned ten minute misconducts for chirping at the officials. The 2005 5th round pick enters the Hockey East tournament as the league's leading scorer with 24 goals and 24 assists. Junior RW Andrew Orpik missed his third straight game with a bum shoulder. Nick Eno stopped 20 of 24 shots before being pulled as Bowling Green fell to Lake Superior, 6-1. Despite the four goals against, not all of the blame can be placed on Eno. Odd-man rushes, screens, and turnovers lead to three Laker goals in a four-minute stretch in the early second period. Tied at one game apiece, the rubber match is set for tomorrow to see who will face #2 Miami next weekend. In the ECAC playoffs, Matt Generous had an assist as St. Lawrence lost to Colgate, 3-2. At the :48 mark of the second, Generous walked out from behind the Raider cage and fired a shot that led to a Travis Vermeulen rebound goal. The two teams will face-off tomorrow night at 7:00 with the winner advancing to play top-seeded Clarkson. Chris Butler scored the only Pioneer goal as Denver was swept by Colorado College, 3-1. Butler's goal, his third of the year, came with the man advantage in the third. Denver will take a three-game losing streak into next weekend's WCHA tournament match-up with Duluth. Drew MacKenzie was +2 with a pair of minor penalties as Waterloo blanked Chicago, 6-0.

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

3/1 Recap: Kennedy, Brennan stay warm

In Sweden, Jhonas Enroth made 36 saves as SSK fell out of the elitserien race with a 2-1 loss to Linkopings. With the 2006 2nd round pick pitching a shutout in his last start, SSK coach Leif Stromberg bucked his rotation to stay with the hot hand. Tied at one entering the third, SSK poured it on with 25 shots, but was unable to solve former Capital Rostislav Stana. Linkopings scored the game winner on the power play midway through the period. Rochester made the short drive down the 90, where they met their third straight defeat in a 3-1 decision with the Crunch. Marc-Andre Gragnani extended his point-streak to nine games with an assist on the sole Amerks goal, while Dylan Hunter also contributed to the tally. Gragnani is now second on the Amerks in points, and ranked eighth among AHL rookies. 2005 pick Adam Dennis made 22 saves in the loss. In the AJHL playoffs, Brad Eidsness made 16 saves in Okotoks' 5-3 win over the Calgary Canucks. The win gives the Oilers a 1-0 lead in the first round best-of-five series. Tim Kennedy ended the regular season on a strong note, posting a goal and an assist as Michigan State swept Bowling Green with a 4-0 shutout. Kennedy was +7 in the weekend home-and-home while pushing his season totals to 18-20-38 in 37 games. Since his 13-game run without a goal, Kennedy has scored five goals and four assists over a six-game point streak. Freshman RW Corey Tropp flipped a shot on goal in the win, while Nick Eno sat this one out for Bowling Green. The Spartans will now enjoy a bye week, returning on March 14th to face the winner of Ohio State and Western Michigan in the second round of the CCHA playoffs. Bowling Green will begin their tourney quest next weekend against Lake Superior. Junior sparkplug Nathan Gerbe scored his 23rd goal of the season as Boston College played to a 2-2 tie with Providence. With under five minutes to play in the opening period, Gerbe took a Ben Smith pass and buried one of his team-best six shots on goal. Andrew Orpik did not dress for the Eagles after leaving last night's game due to an upper body injury. DU assistant captain Chris Butler notched an assist in Pioneers 2-1 upset loss to Michigan Tech. The assist, Butler's 16th point of the year, came as he set up Rhett Rakhshani's power play goal in the third period. He nearly tied the game on an earlier third period power play when his shot from the right point clanged off the far post. Harvard defenseman Alex Biega pumped three shots on the Cornell goal in the Crimson's 3-1 win. Harvard's hot finish earned them a #3 seed and first-round bye in the ECAC tournament. They await the winner of Quinnipiac and Brown. Matt Generous (+1) raised his team-best rating to +13 as St. Lawrence defeated Princeton, 3-2. The steady junior's importance to the Saint blueline is clear when noticing that the next best rating on the club is +3. As the #9 seed in the ECAC, St. Lawrence will face #8 Colgate in a first round tournament match up next weekend. In the QMJHL, T.J. Brennan scored another goal as St. John's lost to Cape Breton in a shootout, 5-4. Brennan's goal, his 14th of the season and fourth in his last six games, forced overtime with 4:22 left on the clock. He was later stopped in a shootout attempt. J.S. Allard registered four shots on goal for the Foggies. Niagara's Drew Schiestel picked up an assist on the power play as the Dogs defeated Sudbury, 5-3. The Hamilton native now has five assists in his last six games from the Ice Dog blueline. In the Dogs win, Pens prospect Luca Caputi had two assists to go over the 100-point plateau. Drew MacKenzie was -2 in Waterloo's 4-3 loss to the Jr. Blue Jackets.

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.

2/23 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.

2/22 Recap: Gogulla passes in the clutch

In DEL play, Philip Gogulla continued to rack up assists with two more in Cologne's 5-4 OT win over Duisburg. Down 4-2 with under three minutes to play, Gogulla picked up the primary helpers as the Sharks rallied with two goals in 1:40 to force the extra session. The Dusseldorf-born left wing furthered his career best totals of 31 assists and 41 points as Cologne clinched a playoff birth with the win. Felix Schutz assisted on the game's first goal as Ingolstadt edged Straubing, 4-3. The 2006 fourth-rounder will carry a season-best three-game point streak into Sunday's contest with the Iserlohn Roosters. Michigan State LW Tim Kennedy scored a goal and an assist as the Spartans upended top-ranked Michigan, 5-2. Just 18 seconds after Justin Abdelkader gave the Spartans a 3-1 lead, the Buffalo native pounded home an Abdelkader rebound to break the game open in the early third. Kennedy was one of three Spartans to post a game-best +3 in the big win at Munn. Buffalo's 2007 third-rounder, Corey Tropp, hit a post on a first-period breakaway, and ended up scoreless for the Spartans. Chris Butler scored the game-winning goal while short-handed to give Denver a much-needed 4-2 victory over Alaska-Anchorage. Breaking down the ice on a two-on-one, Tyler Bozak delivered a perfect pass to Butler who directed the puck home for the Pioneers. The goal was Butler's second of the season after a 2006-07 campaign which saw him pot 10 from the Denver blue line. Matt Generous netted his third goal of the year as St. Lawrence fell to RPI, 4-2. Down 3-1 in the third, Generous went hard to the net to finish a give-and-go pass from Casey Parenteau. RPI was strong down the stretch as the Saints continued their season-long struggle. Freshman goaltender Nick Eno made 39 saves for the second consecutive start, but this time the result was different as Bowling Green lost to Ferris State, 2-1. Ferris dominated from the get-go as 33 of Eno's stops came in the first forty minutes. Boston College LW Nathan Gerbe fired seven shots on the Wildcat net, but proved unsuccessful in the Eagle's 2-0 shutout loss to #3 New Hampshire. The crucial loss leaves Boston College trailing UNH by eight points for the Hockey East season title. Like the rest of the Eagles squad, junior RW Andrew Orpik had a quiet night in defeat. Alex Biega notched an assist in Harvard's 6-1 trouncing of Yale. Paul Byron had an assist in Gatineau's 3-2 loss to Drummondville. With twelve seconds to play, Byron set-up a Jean-Philip Chabot goal to send the game into overtime. The assist extends Byron's point-streak to seven games. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel was even in Niagara's 2-1 win over Mississauga-St. Mike's. Drew MacKenzie was +1 as Waterloo beat up on Green Bay, 6-1. Dennis Persson went scoreless as Nykoping took it on the chin in a 9-3 loss to Leksands. In the AHL, Binghamton used three power play goals to shut down Rochester, 4-0. Adam Dennis made 22 saves to take the loss in his ninth straight start in the Amerks crease. Bad blood permeates this rivalry, and the night's chippiness resulted in Mark Mancari and Mike Funk each receiving misconducts as part of the festivities. Defenseman Mike Weber missed the game to attend the funeral of former teammate and close friend, Mickey Renaud. The Amerks were also without F/D Marc-Andre Gragnani, who earned his first call-up to the NHL thanks to his fine play of late as a forward. The rundown: Dennis - 22 saves Mancari - 12 PIM, 6 SOG Funk - 12 PIM Zagrapan - 3 SOG Sekera - 4 SOG Hunter - 3 SOG Weber - DNP Hunter - 3 SOG

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.