David Leggio stopped 48 of 50 shots Friday and Nick Crawford scored the game winning goal on the power play as visiting Rochester earned a 5-2 decision at Abbotsford. After Brian Flynn and Zemgus Girgensons scored second period goals to give the Amerks a 2-0 lead, the teams combined for five stikes in the third with Leggio making 16 key saves to preserve the victory.
In the OHL, Dan Catenacci recorded an assist as Owen Sound was defeated by Plymouth 4-3. Catenacci, who saw his four-game goal streak snapped in a 3-1 loss to Kitchener on Wednesday, remains seventh in OHL scoring with 52 points (21+31).
Justin Kea did not score as Saginaw was hammered by London 8-2. The Spirit tangle with Catenacci and the Attack on Saturday.
Colin Jacobs (-2) saw his two-game point streak snapped as Prince George dropped a 4-2 decision to Kelowna. The two clubs will play it back Saturday in PG.
In NCAA play, Brad Navin skated fourth line minutes as Wisconsin extended their unbeaten streak to seven games (4-0-3) with a 5-3 win at Alaska-Anchorage. Winners of four of their last six, the Badgers will play their second game without Jake McCabe when they rematch with the Seawolves on Saturday.
In the USHL, Judd Peterson extended his point streak to three games with an assist as Cedar Rapids held on for a 3-2 win over Tri-City. The St. Cloud State commit has 18 points (6+12) heading into Saturday's game with Waterloo.
Even Rankin and Mark Mancari each scored goals and David Leggio made 30 saves for his first shutout of the year as Rochester closed the 2012 portion of the schedule with a 2-0 decision over Hamilton. The Amerks scored in each of the first two period before protecting the lead with just four shots in the third period versus 12 for the Bulldogs.
Kevin Porter added two assists for the Amerks, while Brian Flynn picked up a single helper.
Rochester begins the New Year on the road with a pair of games Friday and Saturday at Abbotsford.
Earlier in the day, the AHL announced that T.J. Brennan was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 30, 2012.
From the league release:
In three games on the week, Brennan recorded one goal and five assists for six points for the Americans.
On Wednesday night, Brennan had five points in a wild 7-6 overtime victory over Lake Erie, tying an AHL season high and establishing a new personal best. All four of Brennan’s assists on the night came on game-tying goals, erasing deficits of 1-0, 2-1, 5-4 and 6-5. He also scored a power-play goal in the first period, his third point of that stanza.
On Friday, Brennan registered another assist to help Rochester to a 4-1 win over Lake Erie in Buffalo, and on Saturday, Brennan took a game-high six shots on goal in the Amerks’ 2-1 loss to Binghamton.
Brennan, a second-round draft choice (31st overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2009, finished the week ranking second among all AHL defensemen with 12 goals and 29 points (tied) in 30 games for Rochester this season. The 23-year-old native of Willingboro, N.J., has 49 goals and 72 assists for 121 points in 219 career AHL games with Rochester and Portland, and also shows one goal in 11 NHL contests with the Sabres.
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In USHL play, Judd Peterson notched two assists as Cedar Rapids closed the year with a 4-3 OT loss to Tri-City. The helpers up Peterson's season line to 6-11-17 through 24 games.
In the OHL, Justin Kea recorded a minus-two rating as Saginaw was downed by Sault Ste. Marie 7-3. The blanking snaps Kea's three-game point streak. Saginaw returns to action Friday at London.
Mikhail Grigorenko notched a pair of assists Saturday as Russia downed Germany 7-0 at the 2013 World Junior Championship.
The crafty pivot feathered a beautiful saucer pass to former Quebec Remparts teammate Nikita Kucherov for the game winning goal at 1:18 of the first period. It was the second time he connected with Kucherov in the tourney, with both goals coming on nearly identical plays. Grigorenko would later send a soft pass back to the point that was pounded in for a goal by Albert Yarullin to make it a 4-0 score. After three tourney tilts, Grigorenko has accumulated three helpers, two penalty minutes, a plus-three rating, and 16 shots on goal.
Following his masterful 41-save performance in Friday's win over the USA, goaltender Andrey Makarov was given the day off while Igor Ustinsky was tabbed to backup Tampa prospect Andrei Vasilevski.
With three wins and eight points in the tournament, Russia gets a day off before battling Canada in a game that will likely settle first place in Group B.
Elsewhere, Judd Peterson posted a career-best three points (1+2) as Cedar Rapids was defeated by Waterloo 7-4. The St. Cloud State commit scored his sixth goal of year, and first on the power play, at 11:46 of the opening period to give the Riders a 1-0 lead. Buffalo Jr. Sabres product Andrew Poturalski drew an assist on the play. Cedar Rapids closes the 2012 portion of the schedule Monday at Tri-City.
Colin Jacobs scored a goal and and assist as Prince George coughed up a three-goal third period lead in losing a 4-3 shootout decision at Victoria. Jacobs has five points in four outings since returning from a six-game suspension. Prince George completes a three games in three nights run Sunday in Vancouver. The Royals were playing without Logan Nelson, the team's second-leading scorer who injured his left leg in Friday's victory over the Cougars. His status going forward is still to be determined pending results of Saturday's medical exam.
In OHL action, Brady Austin assisted on the game winning goal as Belleville edged Kitchener 3-2. The 6-foot-4 defender has two goals and eight points in his last 11 games. Belleville begins a home-and-home series with Peterborough on Tuesday.
Justin Kea posted a power play assist in Saginaw's 8-3 pummeling of Windsor. The Spirit trailed 3-1 in the first minute of the second period before unleashing seven unanswered goals to get the victory. Saginaw next hits the road for a Monday tilt at Sault Ste. Marie.
In NCAA play, Christian Isackson posted a nice assist as Minnesota advanced to the final of the Mariucci Classic with a 4-0 win over Air Force. Isackson chased a loose puck down in the second period and quickly fed it to a crashing Ryan Reilly to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead. On Sunday, Minnesota will square off with Boston College, winners over Alabama-Huntsville in Saturday's opener, for the tourney title.
In the AHL, Marcus Foligno scored his 10th goal of the year and David Leggio earned the game's number two star with 27 saves, but Rochester dropped a 2-1 home-ice decision to Binghamton. The goal gives Foligno points in three straight games heading into Monday's matinee versus Hamilton.
The Rundown:
Foligno: G, +1, 3 SOG
Brennan: -1, 6 SOG, 4 PIM
McNabb: -1, 2 SOG
Flynn: A, +1
Girgensons: -2, SOG
Sundher: SOG
Gauthier-Leduc: SOG
Varone: -2, 2 SOG
Pysyk: even
Adam: even
Dan Catenacci scored his 20th goal of the year Friday and added an assist as Owen Sound cruised to a 6-1 win over Erie. Catenacci, who now has goals in three straight games, collected multiple points for the 16th time this season. The Attack return to action Sunday in Oshawa.
Brady Austin was whistled for a minor penalty in Belleville's 6-3 doubling of Guelph. The Bulls battle Kitchener on Saturday.
In the WHL, Logan Nelson left the game in the first period with a left leg (ankle) injury and did not return as Victoria earned a 5-1 victory over Prince George. The Royals second-leading scorer, Nelson was immediately put on crutches and will be re-evaluated Saturday to determine the length of his absence. The Royals are already without leading point man Alex Gogolev. Colin Jacobs was a minus-one for the Cougars. The two clubs will play a rematch on Saturday.
In USHL play, Judd Peterson recorded two shots on goal as Cedar Rapids downed Des Moines 4-1. The RoughRiders host Waterloo on Saturday.
In Sweden, Linus Ullmark served as backup to Bernhard Starkbaum as MODO defeated Lulea 4-1. MODO hosts Farjestads BK on Sunday.
Cody Hodgson scored his first shootout goal of the year Friday to cap the comeback as Rochester earned a 6-5 victory over Binghamton.
Evan Rankin and Luke Adam scored 28 seconds apart to give the Amerks a 2-1 lead after the opening frame. For Adam, the goal was his fifth in his last six games. The third-year man has points in seven straight.
The teams would continue trading goals over the next 40 minutes. Kevin Porter lit the lamp to give the Amerks a 3-2 lead midway through the second period, but Binghamton would eventually gain a 5-3 advantage in the third. Rochester again would use quick strikes to even the score, as T.J. Brennan went high for his 11th of the year before Kevin Sundher scarfed up a rebound 49 seconds later for his first professional goal.
A momentum changer came early in the third when David Leggio dove back into the crease to rob Stephane Da Costa of a sure goal with a highlight reel stop. Leggio finished the night with 34 saves.
After a scoreless overtime and shootout misses by Brian Flynn, Phil Varone, and Mark Mancari, the Amerks would get three straight goals from Brennan, Marcus Foligno, and Hodgson to earn the extra point.
The two clubs will next travel to Binghamton for a Saturday rematch.
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In USHL action, Judd Peterson recorded two shots on goal as Cedar Rapids was blanked by Fargo 3-0. The RoughRiders will visit Sioux Falls Saturday for their final game before the Christmas break.
Joel Armia scored on the power play Saturday as Assat lost 4-3 to KalPa. The big wing unloaded a one-timer from the left side for his eighth of the year as the Aces third period comeback came up a goal short. Next up for Assat is a Wednesday meeting with the Espoo Blues.
Also from Europe, Linus Ullmark made 20 saves as MODO J20 scored a late goal to capture a 4-3 win over AIK. Ullmark was a driving force with many big saves late in the game en route to picking up his fifth win of the year. MODO J20 will face Vasteras on Sunday.
In the OHL, Dan Catenacci notched the game winning goal as Owen Sound downed Sudbury 3-1. Catenacci, who added an assist on a Cameron Brace empty-netter, has seven goals and 16 points through the first 13 games. The Attack go back at it Sunday versus Windsor.
Justin Kea picked up an assist to extend his point streak to a career-best four games as Saginaw dropped a 3-1 decision at Peterborough. The 6-foot-4 center elevates his season line to 11 points (3+8) through 15 games. He posted a line of 3-11-14 in 65 games a season ago. After playing three games in three nights, the Spirit get to rest their legs until Saturday's meeting with Belleville.
Alex Lepkowski finished with an even rating as Barrie downed Niagara 4-1. Lepkowski continues to play tough defensively while also seeing time at the left point on Barrie's power play. The Colts travel to Sudbury on Friday.
Brady Austin did not factor into the scoring as Belleville pitched a 1-0 shutout of Kingston. The Bulls are off until Friday when they visit London.
In the WHL, Colin Jacobs connected for a pair of assists as Prince George dominated early but needed a shootout to get a 3-2 win over Brandon. Normally an ace breakaway performer, Jacobs missed on a penalty shot attempt in regulation and was stopped as the first Cougars shooter in the tiebreaking frame. The 6-foot-2 center has 18 points (8+10) at the 15 game benchmark. Prince George returns to action Friday at Kamloops.
Logan Nelson registered an assist in Victoria's 5-2 loss at Kamloops. The helper maintains Nelson's point-per-game pace through the first 15 games of the year (3+12). The Royals continue their road trip next Friday at Portland.
In the USHL, Judd Peterson scored a late third-period goal as Cedar Rapids fell short in a 3-2 loss to undefeated Dubuque. The St. Cloud State commit capitalized on a turnover and scored through the five-hole in the game's final minute. The RoughRiders host Tri-City on Friday.
In NCAA play, Jake McCabe and Brad Navin were unable to factor into the scoring as Wisconsin played to a 2-2 tie at Minnesota-Duluth. The Badgers return home next weekend for a WCHA set with Colorado College.
Mark Adams played even as Providence earned the weekend sweep with a 3-0 win over Maine. Jon Gillies (CAL) made 26 saves for his first career NCAA shutout. The Friars continue the Hockey East schedule next weekend at Vermont.
In AHL play, Rick Schofield recorded the first two-goal game of his AHL career to lead the Rochester Americans to a 6-2 win at Adirondack.
Schofield scarfed up a rebound to give Rochester at 1-0 lead 9:28 of the opening period. Frederick Roy assisted on the goal to record his first professional point.
Schofield again lit the lamp in the middle frame, sandwiched between power play marks by Kevin Porter and Evan Rankin as the Amerks took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Phantoms would get one back in the third before Nick Crawford's empty-netter and Nick Tarnasky's first of the year sealed the deal for Rochester.
With assists on the Rankin goal, Marcus Foligno and Cody Hodgson each hit the 10-point mark in game number eight to gain a share of the AHL scoring lead. T.J. Brennan went without a point to see his four-game point streak snapped.
Rochester heads home for Friday's tilt with Hamilton. The contest will be the first of five Friday night home games for the Amerks.
