Showing posts with label grigorenko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grigorenko. Show all posts

Saturday, January 12, 2013

1/11 Recap: Amerks roll; Grigo empty on eve of camp

Brian Flynn scored a goal and an assist Friday to help the Rochester Americans to a 5-2 win over Hamilton. T.J. Brennan, Mark Mancari, Brayden McNabb, and Nick Tarnasky added the other Amerks goals, while Zemgus Girgensons, Luke Adam, and Kevin Porter gathered two assists each. For Girgensons, the two-assist outing was the first multi-point game of his professional career.

The game was a statement for Brennan and McNabb, who both await their missions on the eve of Sabres training camp. Brennan, who currently is tied for 12th in league scoring with 33 points (13+
20), stepped into a booming slap shot for a short-side goal to give the Amerks a 2-1 lead. McNabb dug in and played his physical brand of hockey while adding his third tally of the year. With Marcus Foligno and Cody Hodgson already tabbed for camp duty, the defensive duo are expected to be in the discussion as the Sabres look to round out their troops for the week-long evaluation.

Elsewhere, Mikhail Grigorenko (-2) went without a point for the second straight game as Quebec was embarrassed in a 4-0 home-ice loss to league cellar-dweller Shawinigan. Grigorenko, whose two-game drought is a first in the 2012-13 campaign, will leave for Buffalo early Saturday to participate in his first NHL training camp.

In Western League action, Andrey Makarov returned to action for Saskatoon for the first time since his bronze medal winning performance versus Canada, making 30 saves as the Blades dropped a 3-1 decision to Red Deer. Makarov saw his shutout streak of 134:49 (going back to early Dec.) snapped by surrendering a goal 5:28 into the first period. The Blades battle defending champion Edmonton on Saturday.

Colin Jacobs was kept off the scoresheet as Prince George edged Kamloops 1-0. Jacobs has yet to notch a point in five January games. The Cougars and Blazers play a rematch on Saturday.

In OHL play, newly-named assistant captain Justin Kea was unable to get a point in Saginaw's 4-3 win over Erie. Kea and the Spirit will ride a four-game winning streak into Saturday's game against top-ranked London.

Alex Lepkowski registered a minus-one rating as Barrie suffered 3-2 defeat at Guelph. The Colts welcome Niagara to town on Saturday.

Brady Austin remained out of the lineup with a hand injury as Belleville smoked Kingston 8-2. The Bulls host Windsor on Saturday.

In college action, Christian Isackson notched a pair of assists as No. 1 Minnesota skated to a 4-3 win over Alaska-Anchorage. The helpers extend Isackson's point streak to four games, giving him season totals of 3-11-14 through 21 games. The clubs complete the WCHA set on Saturday.

Jake McCabe made his return from an impeccable performance on Team USA's blueline as the 2013 World Junior Championship as Wisconsin earned a 4-3 overtime victory at Minnesota State. Brad Navin maintained his fourth-line role for the Badgers, who have won five straight and are unbeaten in their last nine games.

In the USHL, Judd Peterson (+1) saw his four-game point streak come to an end as Cedar Rapids defeated Muskegon 4-1. The RoghRiders tangle with Dubuque on Saturday.


Friday, January 11, 2013

1/10 Recap: Ullmark stars; Lepkowski returns

Linus Ullmark earned his second SEL start of the year Thursday, making an impressive 33 saves to guide MODO to a 3-1 win over Brynas. Ullmark has now appeared in three Elite League games, garnering two wins, a 1.19 GAA, and .957 save%. The red-hot Ullmark, who following the game celebrated victory with his patented moonwalk, could again get the nod when MODO returns to action Saturday versus Linkopings.



In Finland, Joel Armia (+1) finished with two shots on goal as Assat edged SaiPa 3-2. Assat takes on TPS on Saturday.

In the OHL, Dan Catenacci snapped his four-game goal drought as Owen Sound lost at Niagara 3-2 in a shootout. Catenacci's goal, his 22th of the year, came on a first period power play to knot the score 1-1. He'd later miss on a wrister in shootout attempt. The Attack battle Kingston on Saturday.


Alex Lepkowski returned to the Barrie lineup for the first time since Dec. 15 as the Colts earned a 5-4 shootout win over Mississauga. Lepkowski, who missed seven games while recovering from a shoulder injury, finished with a game-best plus three rating while skating with 2014 draft eligible Aaron Ekblad. Barrie visits Guelph on Friday.

In QMJHL play, Mikhail Grigorenko (-1) fired two shots on goal but seemed to show travel wear late as Quebec was defeated by Chicoutimi 4-1. Grigorenko, who nearly notched his 30th goal of the year when he rang off a shot off the post, finished the game with a 25% success rate on faceoffs.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

McCabe golden in USA triumph; Russian duo gets bronze

Team USA captain Jake McCabe earned a gold medal Saturday as Team USA downed Sweden 3-1 to claim first place at the 2013 World Junior Championship. The victory was USA's first gold medal at the U20 event since defeating Canada in the 2010 final.

The Wisconsin sophomore, who began each period paired with Seth Jones, played a simple defensive game in the tourney finale. His stick was down, he made quick clears, and he kept his position around the USA net while not chasing the play en route to earning a plus-two rating. McCabe did a great job of forcing the Swedish forwards wide to the outside. His most impressive play came early in the second period with a great read to break up a two-on-one chance for the Swedes.

A native of Eau Claire, Wis., McCabe finishes the event with a line of 3-3-6 through the seven games, along with 16 PIM, 13 shots on goal, and a team-best plus-nine rating. His overall effort was rewarded with a spot on the tournament All-Star Team.

In the end, players from 13 different states, including 15 who currently play with NCAA Division I programs, banded together and got better with each passing game to take the gold medal on Russian soil.

***

In the day's first game, Andrey Makarov made 40 saves to backstop Russia to a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory over Canada to earn the bronze medal. With the loss, Canada's streak of 14 straight years with a medal came to an end.

With a decision in a medal game for the second consecutive year, Makarov ends the tournament with a 2-1 record, 2.99 GAA, and .933 save%.

Mikhail Grigorenko was unable to score in the game, but made perhaps his biggest defensive play of the tournament with a leg save in overtime prior to Valeri Nichushkin breaking in and scoring the game winner to get Russia the medal.



The talented centerman was named as one of Russia's top three players at the conclusion of the tournament with a productive 2-4-6 in seven games. Grigorenko rounded out his performance with 33 shots on goal, a 48.5% success rate on faceoffs (65W-69L), and a plus-four rating.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Grigorenko scores as hosts fall short of goal

Mikhail Grigorenko scored the game-tying goal but Russia was defeated by Sweden 3-2 in a shootout Thursday to get eliminated from gold medal contention at the 2013 World Junior Championship.

With the Russians trailing 2-1 well in the final frame, Grigorenko crashed the crease and buried a loose puck with three defenders on him to knot the game and eventually force an overtime session.



The 6-foot-2 forward, who nearly converted a prime power play opportunity in the second period, finished the game with three shots on goal and a paltry 25% success rate at the faceoff circle (4-12). He was stopped by Niklas Lundstrom as Russia's first shooter following the overtime.

Russia's second-leading point man with six points (2+4), Grigorenko will close the event Saturday in the bronze medal game versus Canada.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Grigorenko comes through as Russians top Swiss

Mikhail Grigorenko had a big game Wednesday, scoring his first goal of the tournament and helping force OT in the final minute of regulation as Russia advanced to the semifinal of the 2013 World Junior Championship with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Switzerland. Grigorenko, who was named player of the game for Team Russia, will again be counted on to be a driving force for Team Russia as they square off with Sweden Thursday in a rematch of last year’s gold medal game

With the score knotted at 1-1, Grigorenko went to the net with his stick down and buried a backhand from the low slot to give the Russians a 2-1 lead at 9:07 of the second period. The Swiss would answer back three-and- a half minutes later to deadlock the game at two apiece at the second intermission.

After the Swiss took a 3-2 late in the third, Grigorenko embraced the challenge by logging loads of ice time down the stretch. It appeared that he had converted his second goal of the game with a hard drive to the net with two minutes left to play, but the goal was immediately waved off with the net getting knocked off it's pegs before the puck went in. The 6-foot-2 centerman would keep at it, setting up Nikita Kucherov on the subsequent power play for the game-tying goal with 1:39 to play.

Following a scoreless 10-minute overtime, Grigorenko would be tabbed in the shootout, missing on his first opportunity but burying his second on a nice forehand deke before Kucherov followed up with eventual winner.



Props to Switzerland, by the way. It’s amazing what that country has done in building a solid national program over the last 10 years.

Bigger props to Grigorenko, though, who was “the man” for his team when they needed it most. He went hard all game, created pressure around the net, and produced in the clutch. Not bad for an “enigmatic” player who slipped all the way to 12th in the 2012 draft.

Russia faces Sweden Thursday for the right to play for gold.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Makarov stands tall in defeat

Andrey Makarov made 44 saves Monday as Russia closed the Group B round robin with a 4-1 loss to Canada. The Saskatoon Blades netminder was forced to battle Canadian shooters on a five-minute power play in the first period, surrendering two goals during the span while hanging tough to prevent additional strikes with second and sometimes third saves. Through two tourney starts, the athletic backstop has been very good in amassing a 1-1 record with a 2.02 GAA and .955 save%.

Russian centerman Mikhail Grigorenko was held off the scoresheet, winning just five of 15 draws in defeat. The 18-year old finishes pool play with three assists, 18 shots on goal, and a 53 percent success rate at the faceoff circle (34/64).

Russia will square off with Switzerland on Wednesday in a quarterfinal matchup.