9/12 Recap: Lagacé points as Sags sag

RW Jacob Lagacé scored a breakaway goal and added an assist as Chicoutimi dropped their season opener to Drummondville, 6-3. The Sags were short on firepower in this one, playing without a few NHL camp participants including Nicolas Deschamps (ANA), Joel Champagne (TOR), and Charles-Antoine Messier (VAN). Regardless of the loss, it's encouraging to see the fifth-rounder produce in his teammates absence. The Montreal Junior debuted this evening, falling to the loaded Quebec Remparts by a 5-1 score. T.J. Brennan (4 SOG) assisted on the lone Junior goal, while a frustrated Luke Adam finished a team-low -3 despite registering the first shot on goal for the former Fog Devils franchise. Ex-Sabres property Benjamin Breault paced the Remparts with a pair of goals and an assist to earn the game's #1 star. Jordon Southorn (4 SOG, 2 PIM) was an unsavory -4 as visiting PEI got smoked by Moncton, 8-2. Chosen in the 4th round last June, the 18-year old rearguard will wear the "A" this season for the Rocket. All four players will now trek west for a week to partake in the rookie portion of Buffalo's training camp. Three games into the KHL season, Kazan blueliner Vjacheslav Buravchikov is +3 and has yet to notch a point. Under contract to his Russian club, the 2005 pick will not travel to North America for camp. In the same boat is eight-year afterthought Artem Kriukov, whose second season with SKA St. Petersburg just got underway.

Amerks take one in OT

Marc-Andre Gragnani scored a power-play goal and assisted on the overtime game winner in Rochester's 5-4 win over Lake-Erie. The Amerks entered the third period trailing 4-2, and used non-Sabres properties to score a pair of third period goals to force the extra session. Continuing to produce as a left wing, Gragnani now has 43 points in his first professional season. Clarke MacArthur added an assist for the Amerks, while Adam Dennis made 29 saves to earn his 15th win. Gragnani - goal, assist, -2 MacArthur - assist, 5 SOG, -2 Hunter - assist, -1 Mancari - 4 SOG, -1 Zagrapan - 1 SOG, 2 PIM Dennis - 29 saves Old friend Jeff Jillson was -2 for Lake Erie. --- In Russia, Vjacheslav Buravchikov and Ak-Bars have advanced to the SuperLiga semi-finals to face Salavat Yulaev Ufa. A sixth-rounder in 2005, Buravchikov has a goal and an assist as his club has swept their way through the first two playoff rounds. Artem Kriukov saw his season end in the quarterfinals as SKA fell to Lokomotiv three games to one.

3/15 Recap: Gerbe gains; Eno, Eidsness exit

Someday the Sabres will achieve synergy in all facets of the organization. On a night when the top club gave Toronto a licking to boost their playoff hopes, a few members of the prospect stable had their seasons derailed by key losses. Not all was bad, though. One name in the "good" column is that of Boston College LW Nathan Gerbe, who tonight continued to battle shadowing defenders with a one goal, one assist effort in a 5-1 win over Providence. Gerbe's goal, his 27th of the season, came on a dazzling penalty shot after he was hauled down on an end-to-end rush in the second period. Andrew Orpik remained at center, checking out for the night with a -1 rating. The Eagles will face #1 seed UNH next weekend. (Tip of the hat to Devo for finding the Gerbe penalty shot) Already thought to have a spot in the NCAA tourney locked up, Chris Butler and the Denver Pioneers closed out their WCHA series with a 1-0 win over Duluth. Paired with sophomore Cody Brookwell, the St. Louis native was even with a pair of minor penalties in the win. With a couple match-ups yet to be settled, the Pios next opponent will be determined tomorrow. As expected, Nick Eno got the start for Bowling Green, but the Falcons season ended with a 4-2 loss to Miami. A 7th round selection in 2007, Eno didn't have the greatest night against the strong Miami offense, allowing four goals on just 11 shots through the first two periods. His tentative play set-in after he was tripped up while skating out to play a puck in the mid-second period. Regardless, the loss completes a solid season that saw the freshman goaltender post a 12-10 record for the surprising Falcons. The battle for who will face Miami next weekend remains unsettled. Michigan State had their eyes on a sweep, but despite out-shooting the Wildcats by a 42-30 margin, instead fell to Northern Michigan, 2-1. The Spartans first line, made up of Buffalo natives Tim Kennedy and Chris Mueller flanking Detroit prospect Justin Abdelkader, was kept off the scoresheet in the loss. Freshman Corey Tropp again skated on the bottom unit for MSU, mustering two shots on goal. Harvard defenseman Alex Biega cranked out eight shots on goal, but the Crimson didn't have enough in a 7-4 loss to Quinnipiac. The series is now knotted at one game apiece, with the puck dropping on the deciding game three tomorrow night at 7:00. In the AJHL playoffs, the standout junior career of Okotoks goaltender Brad Eidsness came to an end with a 1-0 loss to underdog Drumheller. The league MVP stopped 29 Dragon shots, but the Oiler offense that scored just eight goals all series long failed to produce with their paltry 17 shots on the evening. As one chapter ends for Eidsness, a more prestigious one begins next fall as he enters the WCHA as a North Dakota frosh. A night after defeating the league's top team in Omaha, Drew Mackenzie was -1 as Waterloo downed Sioux City, 5-1. The streaking Black Hawks have now gone 9-1 in their last ten games, and sit in second place in the USHL Eastern Division. When we last left the RSL, Vjacheslav Buravchikov and #7 seed Ak-Bars were waiting for their quarterfinal opponent while Artem Kriukov and #6 SKA were heading to a first-round game five with Spartak. SKA pulled through, earning the right to face Kriukov's former team, Lokomotiv, in the second round. Meanwhile, Ak-Bars drew a match-up with #3 CSKA Moscow. In game one, Kriukov went scoreless as his club shutdown Alexei Yashin and the rest of the Yaroslavl attack in a 4-0 win. The following night, Yashin notched a hat trick as Lokomotiv evened the series with a 5-1 win. Kriukov was quiet in that contest as well. Buravchikov scored the third Kazan goal in their 6-0 game one rout of CSKA. The goal was his second of the entire 2007-08 campaign. In game two, Buravchikov did not hit the scoresheet as Kazan got a Petr Cjanek goal late to edge CSKA, 6-5. Game three results for both Russians will be available after their Sunday completion. Finally, the Rochester Americans put up a valiant come-from-behind effort with just 15 skaters in a 4-3 overtime loss at Binghamton. Mark Mancari fueled the comeback with a goal and two assists, and Dylan Hunter added a spark with a goal and an assist of his own. Adam Dennis did his part, making 40 saves to keep the game within reach. For the B-Sens, former Sabres prospect Denis Hamel had a goal and an assist, while Buffalo's fifth-round pick in 1999, Matt Kinch, set up the short-handed winner in overtime. The Rundown: Mancari - goal, two assists, -2, 5 SOG Hunter- goal, assist, -1, 5 SOG Gragnani - assist Zagrapan - 1 SOG, 2 PIM Dennis - 40 saves

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.

1/25 Recap: Gerbe Disturbs; Amerks Continue Slide

#6 Michigan State opened the weekend's marquee match-up by escaping a hostile Yost Arena with a 1-0 win over #1 Michigan. The line of Justin Abdelkader (DET) centering Sabres prospects Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp generated ten shots on goal, but could not connect. The Munn will rocking tomorrow as the clubs head back to E. Lansing to complete another installment of the biter rivalry.

With Hobey Baker front-runner Kevin Porter of Michigan posting blanks for just the fourth time all season, Nathan Gerbe had a chance to ease the gap in a showdown against old-friend Ben Bishop and Maine. Instead, the left wing himself put up zeros as the Eagles and Black Bears played to a 3-3 tie. BC banger Andrew Orpik was also in action, but did not register a point for the tenth consecutive game.

Despite going pointless, Gerbe still managed to make some noise on the ice. Midway through the third, the goaltender Bishop took exception as he skated into the crease after the whistle. The netminder shot right at the smaller Gerbe, setting off a slight melee. Gerbe ended up with the extra penalty for his efforts, and Maine would proceed to score on the ensuing power play to earn the tie.

Seeing Bishop lose his cool is not surprising when recalling the 5'5 agitator's attempt to show him up last February. After scoring a goal, Gerbe taunted the Blues draft pick instead of celebrating with teammates, leading Bishop to drop Gerbe to the ice. Needless to say, the two are not fans of each other.

Regardless of your opinion on Gerbe's methods, you have to admire his taste for larger targets. At 6'7, 210 pounds, Ben Bishop is an oak tree in the crease. Two seasons ago, Gerbe blew a fuse in a fight with 6'2, 200-pound Jordan Hart of Merrimack. Gerbe's fearlessness is an uncommon trait in the Sabres' prospect stable.

Elsewhere, Nick Eno got his third consecutive start as #21 Bowling Green traveled to South Bend to take on #9 Notre Dame. Outshot 16-2 in the first period, the freshman was buzzed for three goals while making several tough saves against the hungry Irish. Eno would let two more past him in the second, eventually giving way to Jimmy Spratt to finish out the 6-1 ugly loss. The loss lowers the Howell, MI native's record to 8-4 on the season.

Rounding out NCAA play, Matt Generous was +1 in the Saints' 3-1 loss to Union. A stabilizing cog on the Saint Lawrence blueline, the Cheshire, CT native is now a team-best +14 with the next best total being a distant +5. Generous is the only drafted player on the SLU roster.

Moving north, Benjamin Breault scored a pair of goals as Q pace-setters Baie-Comeau defeated Acadie-Bathurst, 4-3 in a shootout. The game's #1 star has six points in his last three games, and looks to add to his total Sunday against a Victoriaville club that has given up the third most goals in the league.

The other Sabrecentric game on the Q slate featured Paul Byron, who had a power play assist in Gatineau's 6-0 shutout of Val d'Or.

In Omaha, Drew MacKenzie assisted on the only Black Hawks goal in their 3-1 loss to the Lancers. The Taft product has doubled his production of late with seven points in his last 14 games after posting five points through his first twenty.

Drew Schiestel was +1 as Niagara rode a five-point night from Jordan Foreman to a 6-3 win over last place Kingston.

In Germany, Philip Gogulla was quiet as the third-ranked Cologne Sharks lost to Augsburger, 2-1. Felix Schutz was equally quiet in Ingolstadt's 4-3 loss to Berlin.

Also of note, more Russian Super League stats were recently posted. Artem Kriukov, the infamous first round pick of the 2000 draft, has cooled after his nice start for SKA. Now age 25, the center has scored seven goals for 15 points - a total he seems to have been stuck at for the past fifteen games. All in all, it's an improvement over the four points he had all of last season.

Also in Russia, defenseman Vjacheslav Buravchikov has gone pointless with a -4 in 34 games for Ak Bars.

***

Finally, the sinking ship that is the 2007-08 Rochester Americans season endured another loss last night against Lake Erie. The Amerks started quickly, sprinting out to a 3-0 lead after one. Dylan Hunter had two assists in the opening frame, with Marc-Andre Gragnani, Rej Sekera, and Michael Funk also picking up helpers.

The Avalanche affiliate would claw their way back, scoring three goals of their own in the second. Still deadlocked through the end of OT, the Amerks failed on all five shootout attempts against Tyler Weiman. Meanwhile, Jamie Lundmark beat Tyler Plante to seal the 4-3 Monsters win.

Marek Zagrapan remained out of the lineup as he clears himself of illness, while Marc-Andre Gragnani (+2) shifted back to defense for the entire game.

On a happier note in Rochester, congratulations go out to Mark Mancari, who today was named to his first AHL All-Star game in place of the near-graduated Clarke MacArthur.