Showing posts with label kassian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kassian. Show all posts

Saturday, February 11, 2012

2/10 Recap: Kassian collects, Jacobs ramping up

In Friday AHL action, Zack Kassian scored a pair of goals while Corey Tropp (three assists) and Brayden McNabb (two assists) posted multi-point nights in Rochester's 9-4 blowout win over Texas. Kassian, whose effort included a short-handed tally, has now scored five goals on 12 shots in his last three games with Rochester.

Travis Turnbull (+5) earned the game's first star with two goals and an assist. Jonathan Parker, Paul Szczechura, Derek Whitmore, Mark Voakes, and Maxime Legault added singles for the Amerks.

All but four Amerks skaters (Lagace, Schiestel, Persson, Ryan) earned a point in the win. Drew MacIntyre made 23 stops to move to 8-11-0-2 on the year.

The Rundown:
Kassian: 2G, 6 SOG, +2
Parker: G, 3 SOG
Tropp: 3A, +4
McNabb: 2A, +2
Fienhage: 2A, +1
Crawford: A, +1
Foligno: A
Lagace: 2 SOG
Schiestel: +1
Persson: +2

The Amerks (22-18-6-3, 2nd in North Division) host San Antonio on Saturday.

***

Colin Jacobs recorded a goal and an assist as Seattle lost to Spokane, 5-4. While on a 5x3 in the middle period, the 6'1 center took a long pass and buried the breakaway backhander for his third goal in his last four games. The T-Birds will welcome another division rival to town on Saturday when they host Portland.

Kevin Sundher scored his 26th of the year and second in as many games as Brandon doubled Swift Current, 6-3. The win snaps the Wheat Kings six-game losing streak at home. Brandon will travel to Medicine Hat on Sunday.

Connor Knapp was forced to make just 11 saves as #12 Miami downed Alabama-Huntsville 3-1 in a non-conference affair. The 6'6 senior, who has now started eight of Miami's last 11 games, moves to 9-6 on the year. The two clubs will close the set Saturday in Oxford.



Justin Jokinen picked up an assist as Minnesota State defeated Alaska-Anchorage, 3-2. The senior wing now has a goal and three assists in three games this season versus the Seawolves. The teams will play it back on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc finished +1 as Rimouski edged Quebec, 2-1. Leduc continues to lead all QMJHL defenders in scoring with 60 points (24+36), nine more than his next closest competitor. The Oceanic will battle Blainville-Boisbriand on Saturday.

Cedrick Henley registered three hits as Val-d'Or was dealt a 3-1 defeat by Moncton. The 6'5 captain will look to snap an eight-game point drought on Saturday when the Foreurs host Cape Breton.

Alex Lepkowski skated even while Gregg Sutch got into his third fight of the year (and second in a week) as Barrie got past Sudbury, 4-3. Winners of five straight, the Colts will host the Niagara IceDogs (winners of four straight) on Saturday.



Drew MacKenzie was held to one shot on goal as Vermont was blown out by #5 Boston College, 6-1. The senior rearguard has gathered points in 18 of his last 24 games. The Catamounts are off until Friday when they visit New Hampshire.

Mark Adams logged a shot on goal as Providence earned a 4-3 win over #12 Maine. The friars move on to face Massachusetts on Saturday.

Christian Isackson saw action as the fourth line center, finishing -2 with a shot on goal as #2 Minnesota suffered a 5-3 loss at #14 Denver. The six-footer will look to dress in both ends of a WCHA set for the first time when the clubs rematch Saturday at Magness.

Mark Pysyk logged a season-low -3 rating as Edmonton dropped a 5-4 overtime decision at Prince George. The Oil Kings, ranked sixth in the latest CHL rankings, will look for the road split when the clubs play the rematch on Saturday.

Brad Eidsness served as backup as #16 North Dakota downed #3 Minnesota-Duluth, 3-1. The Sioux will likely keep the same lineup when they go for the sweep on Saturday.

Nathan Lieuwen was given the night off as Kootenay was shut out 2-0 by Red Deer. The ICE host Saskatoon on Saturday.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Kassian adds pair in Amerks loss

Zack Kassian added two goals to his stat line Wednesday but the Amerks were halted by Toronto, 4-3. Maxime Legault (2009, 7th round) added the other Rochester mark, while Brayden McNabb added a pair of assists.

Kassian finished his own rebound to get the Amerks on the board at 1:43 of the second period, halving the Marlies lead to 2-1.



After the Marlies regained a two-goal lead in the third, Corey Tropp started a passing play that resulted in Legault's fourth of the year.



Trailing 4-2 in the game's final minute, Kassian tipped in his second of the game and 13th of the year with just :04 to go to complete the scoring.



The Amerks (21-18-6-3) remain in second place in the North Division.

Mike Ryan earned an assist in his first game back since October 14th.

The Rundown:
Kassian: 2G, 4 SOG, +1
McNabb: 2A, 3 SOG, +3
Tropp: A, 1 SOG
Schiestel: +2
Fienhage: +1
Lagace: even
Crawford: even
Persson: -2

Sunday, January 29, 2012

1/28 Recap: Lepkowski lights lamp; Cat facing discipline

Alex Lepkowski scored the first game winning goal of his OHL career Saturday to lead Barrie to a 2-1 win over Ottawa. The 6'4 defender, who didn't score his first goal until his 100th game, now has six in his last 26. Gregg Sutch did not score but earned the game's #3 star for his all-around work.

Dan Catenacci recorded an assist before being ejected in the second period for a slew foot match penalty as Owen Sound lost to Guelph, 3-2. The infraction carries a one-game suspension, forcing Catenacci out of Sunday's game against Ottawa. The match penalty is the second of Catenacci's career after getting called for a slew foot on Erie's Brett Thompson a year ago.

Brad Eidsness made 20 saves in his fifth start of the year (and first of the year on a Saturday) to help North Dakota to a 4-2 win over Wisconsin. The victory was Eidsness' fourth of the year and 54th of his WCHA career. Brad Navin contributed one shot on goal in bottom line minutes for the Badgers.

Joel Armia saw his eight-game point streak come to an end as Assat dropped a 6-3 decision to the Pelicans. The 6'3 wing picked up four shots on goal and a roughing minor over 13:53 of work.

Kevin Sundher did not factor into the scoring as Brandon got past Red Deer, 3-2. The six-foot center has gone without a point 15 times this season, with six of those coming during his first 11 games in a Brandon uniform.

Nathan Lieuwen stopped 41 of 46 shots but Kootenay fell in overtime to Spokane, 5-4. The ICE netminder was especially busy in middle period when he faced 18 shots. After starting January with four wins in six outings, Lieuwen is winless in his last four starts.

Mark Pysyk finished -2 as Edmonton was defeated by Vancouver, 3-2.

Colin Jacobs finished -1 with a diving minor as Seattle got pounded by Portland, 8-3.

Drew MacKenzie notched an assist as Vermont was doubled by Northeastern, 4-2. The two-way defender has six goals and 17 points in 23 games.

Justin Jokinen registered one shot on goal as Minnesota State handled Bemidji State, 5-2.

Christian Isackson (3 SOG) was inserted into the lineup as a fourth-line center as Minnesota edged St. Cloud State, 3-2.

Connor Knapp was given the night off as Miami pitched a 6-0 shutout of Northern Michigan.

***

In the AHL, Zack Kassian (11th) and Derek Whitmore (17th) scored first period goals, and David Leggio provided the rest with 37 saves as Rochester held on to defeat Toronto, 2-1. The Amerks head into the All-Star break withb a 19-17-5-3 mark.

The Rundown:
Kassian: G, 2 SOG
Foligno: A, 3 SOG
Persson: A, 1 SOG
Parker: 2 SOG
Crawford: 2 SOG
Biega: 1 SOG
Schiestel: 1 SOG
Lagace: even
Fienhage: even
Szydlowski: even

Sunday, January 8, 2012

1/7 Recap: Sundher extends streak, gets tossed

In Saturday action, Kevin Sundher extended his point streak to 12 games with an assist, but Victoria suffered their ninth straight defeat with a 4-3 shootout loss to Kelowna. Both streaks are newsworthy, but it's how Sundher ended the game that had people talking afterwards.

Amidst a high level of frustration, Sundher missed the shootout after getting tossed for attempting to headbutt a taunting Shane McColgan at the end of OT. The two previously came together for offsetting roughing minors as buzzer sounded to end regulation. With his name swirling as perhaps the hottest WHL trade commodity (unless Team Canada scorer Mark Stone is somehow put on the block) and the Royals not taking the ice again until Friday, the game would certainly be a most interesting way for Sundher, the franchise's all-time leading point-getter, to close out his time in Victoria.



Elsewhere, Steven Shipley scored his 11th goal of the year as Niagara doubled Sarnia, 4-2. The 6'3 Shipley has six goals and 14 points in his last 10 games. The Dogs are off until Thursday when they host Barrie.



Mark Pysyk returned from the World Junior Championship and scored his third goal of the year as Edmonton downed Swift Current, 5-3. The 6'2 defender came down the left side late in the second period and stuffed the puck past the Broncos goaltender for his 19th point of the year. The Oil Kings will be in action Sunday when they host Red Deer.



In NCAA play, Drew MacKenzie scored his sixth goal of the year as Vermont dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Massachusetts at Frozen Fenway. The power play marker extends MacKenzie's career-best point streak to six games. The Catamounts return home next weekend to face Lowell on Friday and Providence on Sunday.



Justin Jokinen avenged a costly penalty the night before by scoring the game winning goal as Minnesota State earned a 3-1 win over Saint Lawrence and a split of their non-league set. The goal, Jokinen's third of the year, was his first game winner since 10/10/08 against Bemidji State.

Connor Knapp made 20 saves for the ninth shutout of his career as Miami swept Michigan State with a 4-0 win. The senior netminder, whose record improved to 5-4, appeared in back-to-back contests for the first time since last January (1/22, 1/28). The RedHawks travel to Lake Superior State next weekend.

Dan Catenacci collected three assists as Owen Sound got past Brampton with a 4-3 overtime win. The speedy center earned helpers on consecutive shifts in the early second as the Attack snatched a 2-1 lead before earning a secondary on the OT winner. The Attack are off until Friday's tilt with Erie.



Nathan Lieuwen stopped 19 of 22 shots as Kootenay was beaten by Moose Jaw, 3-1. The 6'5 keeper has won just three of his last 10 starts (since December 1st) to dip to 17-10-1-2 on the year. The ICE will end the weekend with a Sunday meeting with Medicine Hat.

Colin Jacobs was -1 as Seattle lost to Spokane, 4-2. After missing 26 games while recovering from shoulder surgery, the 6'1 center has gathered fur points (3+1) in his first dozen games of the 2011-12 season. The T-Birds are off until Friday when they visit Kamloops.

Alex Lepkowski finished -1 as Barrie lost to London, 3-2. Colts forward Gregg Sutch missed his fourth straight game with a head injury despite rumors that he had passed his concussion test earlier in the week. The Colts return to action Sunday at Kingston.

In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc logged a +1 as Rimouski won a 3-2 shootout decision over Baie-Comeau. The QMJHL's leading defensive point-getter, Leduc has gone two games without getting on the scoresheet for the fourth time this season. The Nics are off until Friday when they'll tangle with Rouyn-Noranda.

Brad Navin was even as Wisconsin edged RIT, 2-1. The 6'2 freshman has two goals and two assists through his first 19 collegiate games. The Badgers travel to Mankato next weekend for a WCHA set with Minnesota State.

Christian Isackson did not play as Minnesota lost to Notre Dame, 4-3. The Gophers will play a key WCHA set with North Dakota.

Brad Eidsness served as back-up as North Dakota defeated Clarkson 3-1 at MTS Center in Winnipeg. The senior has started just three of North Dakota's 21 games this season.

***

In the AHL, Phil Varone scored a pair of goals including the game-winner as Rochester defeated Binghamton, 3-2. Varone extends his career-best point streak to six games. He has a ways to go before eclipsing the 16-gamer he posted a year ago while with Erie of the OHL.

Zack Kassian notched an assist in his first AHL game since November 19th, while Shawn Szydlowski added a career-high four shots on goal.

The Amerks close the weekend with a battle against longtime rival Hershey on Sunday.

The Rundown:
Varone: 2G
Kassian: 1A, +1
Foligno: +1
Tropp: 2 SOG
Lagace: 2 SOG
Schiestel: even
Brennan: 3 SOG
Biega: -1
Szydlowski: -2, 4 SOG
Persson: 2 SOG

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Leduc lopped; Pysyk's prospects improve

Mark Pysyk and Jerome Gauthier-Leduc arrived in Calgary Saturday along with 39 others for the start of Hockey Canada's 2012 World Junior Selection Camp and the final leg in achieving a dream of every kid who ever laces them up in the Great White North.

After two scrimmages and a round of cuts, one Sabres prospect remains.

A favorite to crack Canada's top-six entering camp, Edmonton Oil Kings captain Mark Pysyk has continued his steady play through the Red/White tilts, maintaining good gaps and showing his smarts in all three zones while paired with Joe Morrow (game #1) and Nathan Beaulieu (game #2).

Pysyk generally limits his mistakes, making him the perfect type of rearguard for tournament play, but he did commit a turnover early that resulted in a power play opportunity for Team Red early in Sunday's contest. He did not earn a point in either game, but was on the ice for one goal against (right D #5 below - excuse poor quality).



As a whole it appears that the benching he received last week against Calgary (for play demmed "selfish" by EDM bench boss Derek Laxdal) has paid some dividends. Pysyk's feet and aptitude have stood out as they do on most nights. He simply looks bigger, stronger, and more ready than he was a season ago, likely solidifying his spot on the team as a solid minute-eater.

Unlike Pysyk who has a more complete two-way package, fellow White blueliner Leduc was brought to camp for one reason - offense. Leduc (#3), a mobile righty who leads all Canadian major-junior defensemen with 47 points, used his cannon shot to get an assist on the game winning goal in White's 3-2 opening night win on Sunday.



Leduc would again show his shot in White's 2-0 loss in game #2, firing a hard slapper off the pipe near the end of the game that resulted in him defending a 2x1 going back the other way (taking the pass away, leaving the goalie to take the shooter).



However when the calls were made Tuesday morning as Canada cut their roster down, Leduc was among the first to get sent home.

Given the depth of competition, the move was not surprising. Canada has some well-rounded options who can carry the full-time luggage, and it was going to be a hard sell putting Leduc in the top six.

Scanning the pool of candidates in the weeks leading up to camp, Leduc seemed more like an ideal #7 than a top-six guy; an ace offensive catalyst who can breathe life into a power play but likely not sturdy enough defensively for a leading role. Through two games he did little to separate himself from the pack.
Leduc's offensive package comes with some uneven play in his own zone that can make for some adventurous shifts. He can get in trouble against physical forwards, and can sometimes get ambitious with the puck as evidenced by an egregious turnover in game #2 that resulted in his defensive partner going to the box for tripping.

A season ago, the Sabres had four players at Canada's camp - Zack Kassian, Marcus Foligno, Pysyk, and Brayden McNabb. Kassian and Foligno made the squad while Pysyk made it to final cuts. McNabb was among the first to get the axe, and proceeded to go on a tear with points in seven straight games as Kootenay started its run to the Memorial Cup.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Kassian goes: Episode #1

It took three games, but stud bruiser Zack Kassian made his debut as an NHL pugilist Tuesday, renewing acquaintances with current New York Islander and former OHL toughguy, Matt Martin. The two first tangled in an uneventful junior scrap back in January of 2009. This one went a little differently.

No further preamble required...



Welcome to Buffalo, Zack.