10/1 Recap: McNabb plays 200th; Sutch jumped

Brayden McNabb (+2) returned to the Kootenay lineup Friday with an even-strength assist as the Ice doubled up Spokane, 6-3. The contest, McNabb's first since returning from Sabres training camp, was his 200th career WHL game. In those 200 games, the 6'4, 218-pound rearguard has posted totals of 29-76-105 with 324 PIM. There is no chance he sees a 300th junior game.

Mark Pysyk (+1) notched his second assist in as many games as Edmonton rode a four-goal second period to a 7-3 win over Regina. The 6'1 defender was also whistled for a pair of minor penalties in the victory, including one for checking from behind. Michael St. Croix ('11) scored a goal for the Oil Kings.

In the OHL, Gregg Sutch was even with a fighting major as Mississauga dumped Windsor, 5-1. Sutch, who a few shifts earlier was whistled for a boarding minor, was instigated into a third period fight with 6'3, 216-pound Andrew Clouthier. The Majors held a comfy four-goal lead at the time, and Sutch was taken by surprise by the frustrated aggressor allowing his foe to get the better of him.

The 20-year old Clouthier earned five, two, and a game with a likely suspension coming for instigating in the last five minutes while trailing by three goals or more. Pretty poor effort by a Windsor team that needs Zack Kassian back in a bad way.

A night after a smashing debut in a Niagara sweater, Steven Shipley finished even as the Ice Dogs squandered a two-goal lead in a 4-3 loss to Guelph. Niagara's Ryan Strome ('11) posted his second consecutive multi-point night with a pair of assists. The Ice Dogs will host Brampton on Saturday.

In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc had a quiet night with neither a point or a shot on goal as Rimouski held on to edge Bathurst, 4-3. QMJHL goaltenders should savor the flavor as there aren't going to be many nights where JGL misses the net in that tuned-up Oceanic offense.

Also on Friday, Corey Fienhage was -1 in his Kamloops debut, a 4-2 loss to Everett.

In other news, the Calagary Hitmen have installed fourth-year man Matt MacKenzie as co-captain for the 2010-11 campaign along with 20-year old Tyler Fiddler. MacKenzie, who wore the "C" for one game last season, is considered the vocal leader in the Hitmen dressing room.

Finally, old friend Jordon Southorn has been signed to an ECHL contract with the Trenton Devils. The 6'2 defenseman was selected by the Sabres in the fourth round of the 2008 draft, but became a free agent on June 1st when he was not offered a contract.

Odds & Ends: Southorn talking; Tropp on the way?

With 2008 draft pick Jordon Southorn recently finishing his fourth QMJHL season, The Guardian is reporting that player agent Don Meehan is talking to the Sabres about a pro deal.

Southorn said his agent, Don Meehan, is talking with the Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2008 draft, about a three-year, entry-level contract. At the maximum, it can be worth over $825,000 a year.

Enter the Sabres blueline pipeline, where the system is rich with numbers. With Dennis Persson (one year), T.J. Brennan (two), and Drew Schiestel (two) having term remaining on their first contracts, and Nick Crawford recently added to the fold, it is thought that decisions on Portland defenders Matt Generous and Mike Kostka will play a role in what shakes out with Southorn and recent Harvard grad, Alex Biega.

The 5'11 Biega, who served as the Crimson captain this past season, moves well and plays a smart game, but the Sabres have to decide if he has enough juice to produce on the power play while providing consistent even-strength support. In 131 NCAA games in Cambridge, the Montreal native collected 15 goals and 55 assists with a net +1 rating.

Southorn, on the other hand, is waiting and working a summer job after an up-and-down season that saw a shift in his approach.

Southorn, who turns 20 today, had a solid 2009-10, if not bumpy one.
A pre-season suspension by the Rocket, his second in two seasons, cancelled Buffalo’s plans to bring him to its training camp.
But Southorn focused on his job, finished with a team-high plus-five plus-minus and fourth in hits with 86, and left the offence to itself (four goals, 19 assists, 67 games).
He was down 18 points in scoring from 2008-09, but up 18 points in his plus-minus ratio.
“I think my game changed this year. I was always the offensive guy. My plus-minus was up in the plusses,” he said. “My defensive game got much better. That’s what I was proud of.”
New head coach Eric Lavigne, hired in early October to replace the fired Guy Chouinard, stressed defensive zone coverage and it worked.

Southorn isn't a poor depth option by any stretch, but I was surprised to hear that discussions are taking place because there aren't that many jobs to go around in an organization that doesn't use an ECHL affiliate.

The Sabres have five blueliners under contract (Butler, Rivet, Sekera, Montador, Myers) entering 2010-11, with the expectation that RFAs Marc-Andre Gragnani and Mike Weber will be tendered. There is also the potential for UFA back-up plans like a Dennis Seidenberg and perhaps a Dan Hamhuis to be in place in the event that one of both of Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman sign elsewhere.

If you look at the depth chart, I already have Brayden McNabb penciled in to assume Dennis Persson's AHL slot beginning in 2011-12. I'll stop short of calling Persson a lame duck this early, but he will be entering the final year of his deal with the expectation of taking a huge developmental step on the Pirates blueline.

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After signing forward Luke Adam to an entry-level contract at the end of his junior season, the Sabres still have decisions to make with some forwards in the coming weeks.

It's becoming more of a certainty that Michigan State RW Corey Tropp will follow in the footsteps of past collegians Chris Butler, Nathan Gerbe, and Tim Kennedy by leaving school after his junior season to sign with the Sabres. The CCHA program has already lost juniors Jeff Petry (EDM) and Andrew Rowe (PHI) to the pro ranks this offseason, making Tropp's departure a no-brainer given the Sabres depth needs. The 6'0 winger led the Spartans this past season with 20 goals and 42 points, and with MSU bench boss Rick Comley not having a consistent track record for developing pro bodies, it may be in both parties best interests to shift the development cycle to the AHL.

With the Sabres short on forwards, it seems that Jacob Lagacé will ultimately get a look as well despite his disappointing finish with Cape Breton. The fifth-round pick in 2008, Lagacé scored five goals in 25 games with the Eagles after having 30 in 35 with Chicoutimi at the time of the deal.

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In other forward 'stuff', former first-rounder Marek Zagrapan has had his two-year KHL contract with Severstal terminated after one season. After a quick start in his return to European ice, the former Sagueneen/Amerk/Pirate found it tough to earn consistent time and ultimately became a non-factor down the stretch. It remains to be seen where Zagrapan will land moving forward, but the Sabres will continue to retain his NHL rights while the sting of another first round disappointment subsides.

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Speaking of Sabres European prospects, Felix Schutz made noise on the international stage when he scored the overtime winner as Germany shocked Team USA to win the opening game of the 2010 IIHF World Championships. It was a nice touch for Schutz after a tough second half in Portland that saw the tweener limited in ice time while being left off the Pirates clear day roster.

Schutz has two goals through three games for Germany, while fellow Sabres prospect Philip Gogulla has yet to record a point.

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When the University of North Dakota began stockpiling defensive recruits like Derek Forbort and Dillon Simpson, we began to think long and hard about the impact it would all have on Sabres 2008 third-rounder, Corey Fienhage. When Fienhage was sat late in the year in favor of forward-turned-defenseman Matt Davidson, those thoughts intensified.

When we reported that Fienhage was placed on the protected list by the WHL's Kamloops Blazers, the writing was seemingly being scribbled on the proverbial wall.

But when Fighting Sioux junior Chay Genoway announced that he would be returning to the team in 2010-11, the message on the wall stated that Fienhage was outsy.

Nothing is official, but whispers around Grand Forks are suggesting that Fienhage is as good as gone (along with Isles prospect David Toews). Fienhage needs to play, and since he didn't get in the lineup last season until Genoway suffered a concussion, it isn't too difficult to connect the dots.

My question is where does Fienhage go? If he opts for the WHL, his window to earn a deal is cut down to one season. Another option has him seeking a scholarship elsewhere, thus sending him to the USHL for a season of Jr. A to retain his NCAA eligibility, and in turn allow the Sabres to keep his rights for a longer term.

Fienhage is rugged and tough, and I would be eager to watch his game translate to the WHL. However, Fienhage is just 20 and needs consistent reps after playing a scant 39 games over two seasons with the Sioux. Couple that with the fact that the Sabres blueline prospect cupboard is already crowded, and I fully expect the Sabres to advise him to somehow stay in school.

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While we're at it, might as well make official what we already knew. Mark Adams, the Sabres fifth round pick last summer, will be enrolling at Providence College this fall. The right-hander will join Vermont junior defenseman Drew MacKenzie in the competitive Hockey East.

Adams, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman, was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons at Malden Catholic High School before spending one season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. While with Chicago, Adams played in 53 games and recorded four goals and 10 assists for 14 points during the 2009-10 season.

After a minor shoulder injury in the first half, "Roo" got his game clicking as the Steel's year wound down. Adams has good wheels that he'll need to use to limit stick infractions as he steps up a level of competition.

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Lastly, if you're not doing so already, try to follow SabresProspects on Twitter. I'll be in Los Angeles for the draft and will be using it to communicate throughout the entire week. This space will be updated as well, of course, but that feed should be more lively.

3/26 Recap: Seasons end for defensive pair

Drew MacKenzie was even Friday as Vermont saw their season come to an end in the NCAA West regional with a 3-2 loss to Wisconsin. The sophomore defenseman turned in a solid second half of the season to finish with four goals, 10 assists, and a -1 rating in 36 games played.

In the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn skated -1 as PEI was finished off by Saint John, 7-2. Losing their QMJHL quarterfinal by a 4-1 count, Southorn and the Rocket see their seasons end with a admirable effort against one of the elite teams in all of the CHL.

In the WHL playoffs, Brayden McNabb was even in as Kootenay lost to Medicine Hat, 5-2. After taking a 2-0 series lead, the Ice are now on the verge of elimination heading into Sunday's game six after dropping three straight to the Tigers.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was even as Chicago lost to Sioux City, 2-1.

3/24 Recap: Adam trick keeps Eagles alive

Luke Adam notched his first career playoff hat trick Wednesday as Cape Breton emerged from their rut with a 4-1 win over Moncton. After a scoreless first period, Adam opened the gates on a second period power play when his point shot fluked off of Nicola Riopel's glove. He'd cash his own rebound upstairs for his second power play goal of the game at 3:38 of the third before riding another man advantage a few minutes later to complete the hat trick.

Jacob Lagacé posted a pair of assists for Cape Breton, while Maxime Legault registered one shot on net. Outplayed in the first three games of the quarterfinal series, the Eagles now trail the best-of-seven 3-1 heading into Saturday's game five.

Also from the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn finished -1 as PEI lost in overtime to Saint John, 2-1. The Sea Dogs will return home for Friday's match-up holding a 3-1 series lead, putting Southorn and the Rocket on the brink of elimination along with the Eagle troika.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno was even as Sudbury saw their 2009-10 season end with a 6-3 loss to Barrie. The 6'3 forward missed a chance at his second postseason goal when he rang one off the post late in the first period with the score tied 1-1. Nick Crawford (+2) earned an assist, his seventh point of the playoffs, for the broom-toting Colts.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb was +1 as Kootenay lost to Medicine Hat, 5-1. The series is now even at two games apiece. On Tuesday, the Tigers started their claw-back by defeating Ice by a 4-1 count. McNabb earned an assist in the loss while picking up a fighting major for the second consecutive night.

3/23 Recap: Kassian cashes in win; Eagle trio teetering

Zack Kassian scored a goal and an assist Tuesday as Windsor outshot Erie 58-19 en route to taking a 7-6 win and a commanding three-games-to-one advantage in their OHL first round series. Skating primarily on a line with Eric Wellwood and Stephen Johnston, Kassian hobbled off the ice midway through the first after getting hit in the leg by teammate Ryan Ellis' point shot. He would return to the bench a few shifts into period two, eventually getting his groove back by giving Windsor a 5-4 lead on the power play with :10 play in the period. Often found down low and now being used in front on the PP, the 6'3 forward has three points in three playoff games after posting the same total in nine games over the previous two postseasons with Peterborough. The Spits will look to close out the Otters on Thursday.

In the QMJHL, Maxime Legault scored a power play goal as Cape Breton lost their third straight playoff game to Moncton, 3-2. Legault, who fired seven shots on net, scored his first goal of the postseason at 13:37 of the third to halve the Wildcat lead to 2-1. Luke Adam (-3, 20-12 at the dot) finished with seven shots on goal in addition to two others ringing posts, while Jacob Lagacé (-2) contributed two shots for the Screaming Eagles. Trailing the series 3-0 heading into Wednesday's game four, the Adam-to-Portland watch is officially underway. Legault may not be far behind, with Lagacé's status still questionable.

In Charlottetown, Jordon Southorn was -1 as PEI dropped a 3-0 shutout to Saint John. After lining up seven hits in the first two games including a monster in game two, the 6'2 blueliner did not register in that column in the loss. The Sea Dogs will take a 2-1 series lead into Wednesday's tilt in PEI.

3/20 Recap: Eidsness keeps rolling; Knapp now the man?

Brad Eidsness made 29 saves Saturday as #5 North Dakota earned a 5-3 win over St. Cloud State to take the 2010 Broadmmor Trophy as WCHA Tournament Champion. Eidsness has really turned his game on in the tourney, making several difficult stops to help the Sioux right the ship after surrendering goals on the first two shifts of the game. Corey Fienhage was even in his stay-back role on the Sioux blueline. North Dakota now waits for the NCAA pairings where they will likely head to Worcester.

Connor Knapp made 12 saves as #2 Miami defeated Ferris State, 2-1. The #2 star of the game, Knapp looks poised to snatch the RedHawks' starting job when the NCAA tourney unfolds. Miami is expected to be a #1 seed, perhaps in the Ft. Wayne regional.

In the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn made headlines with a five-minute charging major as PEI evened their series with a 6-3 win over Saint John. Southorn was called for charging and a game misconduct with 6:20 to play in the third period, allowing the Sea Dogs to score two unnecessary power play goals. The hit is captured at the 3:30 mark of the highlight reel below:




Elsewhere in the Q, Luke Adam, Jacob Lagacé, and Maxime Legault all posted obvious bagels as Cape Breton got smoked by Moncton, 6-0. The Wildcats look to be on cruise control with a 2-0 series lead.

In the OHL, Nick Crawford picked up a power play assist as Barrie edged Sudbury, 2-1. A tighter affair after the Colts 11-4 shellacking to open the series, the physical affair was settled on special teams as all three goals were scored with the man advantage. Marcus Foligno was credited with an assist for the Wolves.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb was +1 with an assist as Kootenay pitched a 4-0 shutout of Medicine Hat. The Ice victory gives them a 2-0 series edge heading into game #3 in Medicine Hat.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was +1 as Chicago lost to Green Bay, 3-1.

3/19 Recap: Eids guides Sioux; McNabb chips in

Brad Eidsness made 23 saves Friday as #5 North Dakota trumped #1 Denver in the WCHA semifinal, 4-3. The Chestermere, Alberta native, who made a highlight reel save with his skate midway through the third period, was beaten by a 4-4 wrister from the dot, another wrister from the point, and a quick backhand down low in the final minute. Corey Fienhage finished +1 on the Sioux blueline. North Dakota moves on to face #6 St. Cloud State for the Broadmoor Trophy on Saturday. An Eidness start would be the second consecutive weekend of back-to-back-to-backers for the sophomore.

Connor Knapp stopped all four shots he faced in the final 12:53 of relief as #2 Miami lost their CCHA semifinal to #17 Michigan, 5-2 in Joe Louis Arena. Knapp is expected to get the start when the RedHawks play what should be a hotly contested third place game with #8 Ferris State on Saturday afternoon. A solid performance could see him keep the starting gig into the NCAA tourney after three poor showings by Hobey Baker finalist Cody Reichard.

In the Hockey East semifinal, Drew MacKenzie (-1) posted three shots on goal as #14 Vermont was shut out by #4 Boston College, 3-0. Jimmy Hayes (TOR) had a goal and two assists, while Chris Kreider (NYR) added a goal and an assist to pace the Eagles. The Catamounts season is for now on hold as they will be in the running for an at-large bid when the NCAA tournament field is announced on Sunday.

In the WHL playoffs, Brayden McNabb hit for a pair of assists as Kootenay defeated Medicine Hat, 6-3. Trailing 1-0 in the first period, the 6'4 defenseman helped put Kootenay on the board when his high wrist shot was deflected past the Tigers Tyler Bunz. Earlier in the day, McNabb was named a WHL Eastern Conference First Team All Star. The Ice will look to hold serve entering game #2 Saturday in Cranbrook.

In the QMJHL, Luke Adam (-2) and Jacob Lagacé (-2) each had assists as Cape Breton opened their playoff year with a 6-3 loss to Moncton. Adam, who won just 8 of 21 faceoffs, saw his line get outplayed by the Cats counter-punching trio led by Kelsey Tessier (3G, 1A). Maxime Legault (-1) picked up a pair of minor penalties for the losing side. Game #2 will be played on Saturday.

Jordon Southorn registered a game-high six hits as PEI got blasted 8-3 by Saint John. The Rocket fall behind 1-0 in their best-of-seven first round series, with the two clubs playing it back on Saturday.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was -1 as Chicago lost to Team USA, 5-3.

3/14 Recap: Knapp nips Buckeyes; Adam not quite nifty

Connor Knapp made 22 saves Sunday as #2 Miami held on to defeat Ohio State, 2-1. Facing little action in the opening stanza, the 6'5 Knapp was excellent in the final 40-minutes, making 20 of his saves while allowing a single Buckeye marker off a quick feed to a wide open C.J. Severyn. The York, NY native was particularly stout against a flurry in the closing minutes to earn the game's #1 star.

The win sends the RedHawks to Detroit next weekend for a CCHA semifinal match-up against surging Michigan. With Knapp stepping up after Cody Reichard's poor performance on Saturday, it would behoove Miami bench boss Enrico Blasi to, at the very least, extend his regular season logic of the Friday/Saturday rotation. Last year, Knapp and Reichard split duties before Blasi tabbed Reichard as the lead man for their run to the NCAA final.

In the WCHA, Brad Eidsness made 18 saves as North Dakota ended Minnesota's season with a 4-1 win in game three of the first round series. Backing a strong two-way effort by the Sioux, Eidsness shut the door after getting beaten early by a 30-footer through traffic to notch his 21st win of the year. North Dakota moves on to the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul where they'll face Minnesota-Duluth in Thursday's 4/5 play-in. Corey Fienhage is expected to remain as the Sioux's #7 defenseman.

In Durham, Drew MacKenzie chipped in three shots on goal as Vermont stunned New Hampshire in overtime, 1-0. The sophomore defenseman had a good look in the final minute of regulation but was stopped by UNH netminder Brian Foster. Entering the Hockey East tourney as the #8 seed, the Catamounts grinded out back-to-back shutouts to knock out the top-seeded Wildcats and skate into Boston for Friday's semifinal match-up against Boston College.

Justin Jokinen did not play as Minnesota State saw their season end with a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Cloud State.

In the QMJHL, Luke Adam fired six shots on net but could not connect for goal #50 as Cape Breton closed the regular season with a 4-2 win over Bathurst. The big center, who missed a yawning net with four minutes left and another long attempt with the empty net as time expired, did earn an assist in the victory to finish with a career-best 90 points.

Jacob Lagacé opened scoring on the power play when he one-timed his 35th goal of the season past Titan netminder Francois Lacerte, while Maxime Legault took the Sunday day of rest as the confident Eagles completed a four-game winning streak to end the regular season. Finishing third in the Atlantic Division and seventh overall, Cape Breton will open the playoffs Friday in Moncton.

Elsewhere in the Q, Jordon Southorn was even with a fighting major as PEI defeated Halifax, 3-2 in overtime. Meaningless in terms of playoff implications, the chippy affair featured a total of five fights. The Rocket now face the tall task of winning a seven-game playoff series against the potent Saint John Sea Dogs.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno was even as Sudbury lost to Ottawa, 3-2. The 6'3 grinder ends the regular season with career highs in goals (14), points (39), and PIM (156). Ryan Martindale ('10) posted three assists to lead the 67's. The Wolves move on to the playoffs where they'll face Nick Crawford and the CHL's #1 ranked Barrie Colts in the first round.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was +2 with an assist as Chicago downed Indiana, 5-4.

3/12 Recap: Adam on cusp; Eidsness blanks Gophers

Luke Adam scored his 49th goal of the season Friday as Cape Breton defeated Moncton, 4-0. Adam, whose goal total trails Drummondville's Gabriel Dumont (50) for the QMJHL lead, will look to hit the half-century mark when the regular season concludes on Sunday. Maxime Legault continued to show why he was acquired at the deadline, scoring his 17th of the season, closing quickly on the forecheck, and earning a fighting major as the Screaming Eagles looked to make a statement against the team they will square off with in round one of the playoffs. Jacob Lagacé was assessed a pair of minor penalties in the win.

Elsewhere in the Q, Jordon Southorn was -1 as PEI lost to Saint John, 4-0. The Rocket are locked in to face the Sea Dogs when the playoffs begin next week.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno finished +2 with a fighting major as Sudbury clinched a playoff spot with a 5-3 win over Kingston. The Wolves will face either Barrie or Ottawa in the first round. In the final minutes of the game, Foligno dumped a Fronts player in the corner and had to defend his actions against Derek Froats.



Zack Kassian was even as Windsor sat five starters in a 4-3 overtime loss to London. On Thursday, the 6'3 forward netted a goal in his second game since returning from suspension as the Spits defeated Plymouth, 6-4. Kassian, who is still battling some rust, got in down low to take a pass and score his 10 goal of the year, and first since January 14th. After clinching the Western Conference title with the Thursday win, the Spits will finish the regular season Saturday in Sarnia.

Nick Crawford was -1 as Barrie beat Brampton, 4-2. Crawford still holds a three-point lead as the OHL's top scoring rearguard with one game remaining on the schedule.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb was +1 as Kootenay doubled Red Deer, 4-2. The Ice, who have one regular season game remaining versus Edmonton, will face Medicine Hat in the first round of the playoffs.

In the WCHA playoffs, Brad Eidsness stopped all 27 shots sent his way as #5 North Dakota pounded Minnesota, 6-0. The game #1 shutout, Eidsness' second of the season, gives the sophomore 20 wins for the second straight season. Corey Fienhage did not dress for the Sioux. Fast forward to the 2:00 mark below for a pretty sweet glove save by the 2007 fifth round pick.



In Hockey East, Drew MacKenzie scored his fourth goal of the season as #19 Vermont lost their playoff opener at #11 New Hampshire, 7-4. The sophomore roofed a wrister from the point to tie the game 1-1 in the first period.

In the opening game of an ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series, Alex Biega was -2 with four shots on goal as Harvard lost at #9 Cornell, 4-1. Cornell scored the final four goals of the game to pull away and take control of the best-of-three.

In the CCHA playoffs, Corey Tropp finished -3 as #10 Michigan State lost to rival Michigan 5-1. The Wolverines used three first period tallies to take the 1-0 road lead.

Connor Knapp looked on as #2 Miami opened their playoff year by cruising to a 6-2 win over Ohio State.

Justin Jokinen did not make the trip (healthy scratch) as Mankato opened the first round of the WCHA playoffs with a 4-3 OT win at #7 St. Cloud State.

In USHL action, Roo Adams was -2 as Chicago lost to Tri-City, 4-1.

3/5 Recap: Tourney season underway

Alex Biega fired up the SabresProspects playoff season on Friday, registering an assist as Harvard scored four third period goals to win at Princeton, 4-2. The Senior Biega head-manned the puck up ice to Louis LeBlanc, who found Michael Biega for the final Crimson goal with 2:10 left on the clock. The Crimson will look to advance to the second round of the ECAC bracket when the two teams take the ice on Saturday. A Tiger win will force a deciding game on Sunday.

In the CCHA playoffs, Nick Eno made 21 saves in relief of starter Andrew Hammond as Bowling Green was blown-out at Nebraska-Omaha, 6-1. Eno, who entered the game at 2:29 of the second period with the Falcons down 4-1, allowed two power play goals before stopping the bleeding with 13 saves in the third. The Falcons will look to extend their CCHA season one more day with a win in Saturday's rematch.

In the final weekend of WCHA regular season play, Brad Eidsness made 13 saves to guide # North Dakota to a 5-1 win over Michigan Tech. The sophomore, who allowed one goal off a bad turnover (below), was rather sharp in limited duty to improve his goals against average to 1.50 over the Sioux's current six-game winning streak. Sophomore blueliner Corey Fienhage was a healthy scratch for the Sioux.



Justin Jokinen was a healthy scratch as Minnesota State dumped St. Cloud State, 4-2.

In Hockey East, Drew MacKenzie was -1 with three shots on goal as #16 Vermont lost to Lowell, 5-2. Orchard Park, NY native Nick Schaus finsihed +2 with an assist for Lowell.

In the USHL, Providence commit Mark Adams scored his fourth goal of the year on the power play as Chicago blanked Lincoln, 3-0.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb was even with nine minutes in penalties as Kootenay lost to Medicine Hat, 2-1. The 6'4 defenseman picked up the bulk of his PIM after engaging in a short wrestling match with Tiger forward Bretton Cameron.



In the QMJHL, Luke Adam assisted on the lone Eagles goal as Cape Breton lost to PEI, 4-1. Jacob Lagacé had another quiet night for the losing side, while Maxime Legault missed his second straight game due to illness. Jordon Southorn gave a steady effort on the Rocket blueline, finishing the game +1 with a hit.

In OHL play, Nick Crawford skated to a -2 as Barrie was stopped by Ottawa, 6-3. The loss snaps the Colts eight-game winning streak, while Crawford's stretch of 21 games even or in the "plus" column comes to and end after being on the ice for a pair of third period goals against. Still, Crawford's +48 is tops in the OHL tied for 2nd overall in the entire CHL.

Marcus Foligno was even as Sudbury defeated Belleville, 4-3. The Wolves bell ringer flattened Bulls defenseman Julian Luciani with a huge hit in the first period that had the recipient down on the ice for minute or two before regaining his game wits.

3/2-4 Recap: Crawford connects as Colts close in on clinch

Nick Crawford scored his 11th goal of the year Thursday as Barrie worked out a 4-3 win over Belleville. Crawford's power play marker gave the home Colts a 2-0 lead before the teams traded five goals in an exciting final twenty minutes. The goal ups Crawford's OHL leading points for defensemen to 68, while the CHL #1 ranked Colts need one more win to secure first overall in the OHL playoffs.

On Tuesday, Crawford drew an assist on the game-tying goal as Barrie earned an exciting 6-5 overtime win over Sudbury. Marcus Foligno finished -1 with a fighting major for the Wolves. With Sudbury leading 2-1 late in the first, Colts forward Zac Rinaldo (PHI) took a run and instigated the scrap in hopes of sparking his club. The 5'11 Rinaldo took a head start before getting handled rather easily by the 6'3 Foligno.





In Thursday USHL action, Mark Adams was -1 as Chicago was shut out by Sioux Falls, 2-0.

On Wednesday, Brayden McNabb netted his 17th goal of the season as Kootenay finished off Edmonton, 7-3. The 6'4 defender, who remains fifth among WHL blueliners with 56 points, finished the game a season-best +4. The Ice victory was their 40th of the year, giving them a leg-up on Red Deer for the #4 home-ice playoff spot with five games to go.

In the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn assisted on the game-winning goal as PEI topped league front-runner Saint John, 3-1. A Sea Dog victory would have locked up first overall in the QMJHL with five games remaining on their regular season schedule.

In Tuesday Q play, Luke Adam failed to inch closer to the 50-goal plateau as he and teammate Jacob Lagacé were blanked in Cape Breton's 2-0 loss to Moncton. The disappointing effort saw the Screaming Eagles register just 14 shots on goal against the team they're lined up to meet when the playoffs begin two weeks from now. With a QMJHL best 46 goals, Adam has five games left to hit the half century mark. Lagacé, on the other hand, has just three goals in 20 games since being dealt to Cape Breton. Maxime Legault did not play for the Eagles.

2/27 Recap: Adam plays trick, continues tear

Luke Adam notched a hat trick Saturday to lead Cape Breton past Bathurst, 6-1. The three-goal night, Adam's fourth of the season, gives him 46 goals with six games remaining in the regular season, and 21 since his mid-January return form Team Canada. Maxime Legault added his 14th goal for the winners, while Jacob Lagacé assisted on the first Adam tally.

Also from the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn scored his 4th goal of the season as PEI lost to Baie-Comeau, 4-3. As noted yesterday, the goal was Southorn's first in 39 games.

In the OHL, Nick Crawford rang up a pair of assists as Barrie throttled lowly Niagara, 6-1. Both helpers came with the man advantage.

In WHL play, Brayden McNabb finished -2 as Kootenay lost to Lethbridge, 4-1. The Hurricanes scored three goals in the third period to to seal the win.

In the NCAA, Connor Knapp made 23 stops as #2 Miami played to a rare 0-0 double shutout with Ohio State. Marked by some key stops late, the blanking was Knapp's fourth of the season and Miami's ninth overall. The RedHawks finish the regular season with a 21-2-5 record, good for first place and a bye when the CCHA playoffs begin next week.

Alex Biega finished -1 as Harvard fell to St. Lawrence, 4-3. The Saints outshot the Crimson 45-22 en route to forcing the Crimson into the #9 seed and a road trip to Princeton when the ECAC playoffs kick off next weekend.

Brad Eidsness made 27 saves as #8 North Dakota held off #13 Colorado College, 3-2. Eidsness was beaten off a drop pass in the second period, and had to stand tall in the final two minutes after the Tigers scored with the extra attacker. Corey Fienhage finished the night even for the Sioux.

Corey Tropp did not factor into the scoring as #12 Michigan State ended the regular season with a 2-2 tie at Bowling Green. Nick Eno served as back-up after a disappointing Friday start. The Spartans finish the CCHA slate in second place to earn a bye week.

Justin Jokinen was again scratched as Minnesota State battled hard in a 4-3 OT loss to #1 Denver.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was +1 as Chicago swept Tri-City, 3-2.

2/26 Recap: Crawford, Colts in full gallop as playoffs loom

Nick Crawford added two assists and a +2 to his fine season line on Friday as Barrie smoked Oshawa, 9-2. Crawford's 64 points are tops among OHL defensemen, while his +48 rating is tied for the lead in all of Canadian juniors with Colby Robak of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. At 48-8-0-2, the Colts are currently the top-ranked team in the CHL/Mastercard Rankings with two weeks left to play in the regular season.

In the NCAA, Corey Tropp (+1) picked up two assists as #12 Michigan State defeated Bowling Green, 5-2. The Spartans leading scorer, Tropp ranks 11th nationally with 42 points (20+22). Falcons goaltender Nick Eno allowed three goals on 16 shots before getting pulled at 17:54 of the first period.

Brad Eidsness made 26 saves as #8 North Dakota won a 3-2 overtime battle with #13 Colorado College. Eidsness was beaten on a 2-1 with only a forward back on the first goal, then saw a point shot hit traffic and go past him to give CC a 2-1 lead in the early third. Stay-at-home sophomore Corey Fienhage finished the night even for the Sioux.

Drew MacKenzie scored his 3rd goal of the season into an empty net as #18 Vermont dumped #20 Boston University, 7-3. The sophomore defenseman finished the night a game-high +3.

Alex Biega assisted on the only Crimson goal as Harvard dropped a 2-1 overtime decision at Clarkson. With the score knotted at zero in the third period, Biega forced a neutral zone turnover and fed the puck to Doug Rogers who wristed in his 6th of the season.

Justin Jokinen was a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game as Minnesota State lost to #1 Denver, 3-1.

Connor Knapp looked on as #2 Miami minted a 6-2 win over Ohio State.

Elsewhere, Marcus Foligno earned an assist as Sudbury lost to London, 3-2. Foligno had two nice chances early, getting stopped beautifully by Knights goalie Michael Houser before ringing a cross bar on his next shift. The night before, Foligno was even in the Wolves' embarrassing 6-0 loss to Brampton.

In the QMJHL, Maxime Legault posted an assist while Luke Adam and Jacob Lagacé each registered a -1 as Cape Breton defeated Bathurst, 3-1. The Eagles earned another W, while Adam (13 games) and Lagacé (4) see their respective point streaks snapped.

Jordon Southorn played even as PEI took a 4-3 shootout over Chicoutimi. The 6'2 defenseman, who was also even in Wednesday's 3-1 loss at Drummondville, hasn't scored a goal since November 8th - a span of 39 games.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb (-2) picked up an assist as Kootenay stumbled against Medicine Hat, 5-3. The 6'4 defender was even in the Ice's 4-2 loss to Red Deer on Tuesday.

In USHL play, Mark Adams assisted on the first Chicago goal as the Steel edged Tri-City, 4-3. The Jr. A rookie now has three goals and four assists on the season.

2/20 Recap: Foligno nets winner; Eno stands tall

Marcus Foligno scored the game winning goal on Saturday as Sudbury silenced Guelph, 5-1. The wraparound marker, his 13th of the year, gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead at 13:24 of the first period while setting a new career high in goals for the grinding forward. Eight of Foligno's goals have come in the 2010 calendar year.

In a battle of the OHL's top two clubs, Nick Crawford posted two assists as Barrie bested Windsor, 8-5. The 6'1 shutdown rearguard, who now leads the league's defensemen in points with an even 60 on the year, was a game-high +3 for the second straight night.

In WHL action, Brayden McNabb finished -1 as Kootenay took a 2-1 shootout win over Lethbridge. The Ice workhorse is currently 3rd in goal (16) and 5th in points (53) among league defenders.

In QMJHL play, Jordon Southorn was even as PEI was hammered by Rimouski, 6-1.

In Saturday NCAA play, Nick Eno stopped a career-best 38 of 39 shots Saturday as Bowling Green played to a 1-1 tie with Notre Dame. The Irish went hard at Eno all evening long, but the 6'3 backstop was up to the task with several tough stops to get the Falcons to the OT. Eno would stop two of three Notre Dame attempts in the shootout to (technically) give BGSU their first sweep of the season.

Brad Eidsness had another solid outing with 22 saves as #11 North Dakota earned the weekend sweep of #6 Duluth, 5-1. The 6'0 netminder has allowed just four goals in his last three starts while lowering his goals against average to 2.22 and upping his save percentage to .909. The only goal against on Saturday came when Sioux dman Derrick LaPoint put the puck into his own net. Corey Fienhage, playing his 23d game of the season, finished the night +1.

In the CCHA, Connor Knapp made 27 saves as #1 Miami was shocked by Nebraska-Omaha, 4-2. The RedHawks (23-5-6) saw their eight-game win streak come to an end, while Knapp (7-3-3) dropped his first decision since a January 10th loss to unranked Robert Morris. Miami will close the regular season next weekend with a set against in-state rival Ohio State.

In Hockey East, Drew MacKenzie had an assist as #17 Vermont tied #13 New Hampshire, 3-3. The 6'1 defenseman has half of his 10 season points in his last seven games.

Alex Biega was even with a shot on goal as Harvard lost at Colgate, 4-2.

Corey Tropp was -1 with a shot on goal as #12 Michigan State edged #14 Ferris State, 3-2. After a hot 2009 start that saw him collect 17 goals in his first 21 games, Tropp has just registered three in his past 13.

Justin Jokinen was scratched for the third straight game as Minnesota State, 4-3.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was even in Chicago's 1-0 loss to Sioux Falls.

2/19 Recap: Adam gets 41st; Eidsness, Eno earns W's

Luke Adam coupled his 41st goal with a pair assists on Friday to lead Cape Breton in a 6-4 comeback win over Halifax. The league's leading goal getter, Adam also notched a career-best 10 shots on goal to pace the Screaming Eagle attack. Cape Breton trailed 3-0 after the first thirty minutes before evening the score entering the third. Jacob Lagacé added his 33rd goal of the year into an empty net with :15 to play, while Maxime Legault finished the night at -1.

Lagacé avoided serious injury when he took a knee-on-knee hit from Moose dman Garrett Clarke midway through the third period. The 2011 eligible Clarke received a major and a game misconduct, while Lagacé returned to see time on the ensuing power play.

On Wednesday Legault had a goal and two assists as the Screaming Eagles defeated Shawinigan, 5-3. Adam, who saw his ten-game goal scoring streak snapped, and Lagacé each had an assist in the win.

Elsewhere Friday, Jordon Southorn was even as PEI doubled Shawinigan, 4-2.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno scored his 12th goal of the year as Sudbury edged Niagara, 2-1. The big forward snapped home his own rebound on the power play to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead late in the first period.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb scored his 16th goal of the season as Kootenay dropped a 6-4 decision to Spokane. The 6'4 left-side defender went high glove side through a screen to give the Ice a 4-3 lead late in the second period, but the Chiefs answered back :26 later for their first of three unanswered goals to get the win.

In Friday NCAA play, Brad Eidsness made 31 saves in what may have been his best performance of the year as #11 North Dakota defeated #6 Duluth, 5-2. Clutch saves, good rebound control and better positioning than his previous Friday outing were marks of his solid all-around evening. Corey Fienhage was -1 for the Sioux.

Nick Eno made 21 saves and earned an assist on the game winning goal as Bowling Green upset Notre Dame, 4-3. The Falcons, who beat the Irish for the first time since January 2005, rallied for a quick-strike third period after entering the final 20-minutes trailing 3-1. Eno was beaten five-hole on a power play, by a clean wrister on a partial short-handed breakaway, and glove side on a screen by shot from the point.

Corey Tropp earned an assist in his first game at the center position as #12 Michigan State lost to #14 Ferris State, 4-2.

Drew MacKenzie picked up an assist as #17 Vermont lost in overtime to #13 New Hampshire, 5-4. The sophomore punched a shot to the net that caused a down-low goal on the rebound to tie the game 3-3.

Alex Biega contributed two shots on goal as Harvard was shut out by #10 Cornell, 3-0.

Connor Knapp served as backup as #1 Miami downed Nebraska-Omaha, 6-2.

Justin Jokinen was scratched as Minnesota State defeated visiting Alaska-Anchorage, 5-2.

In the USHL, Mark Adams registered a pair of minor penalties as Chicago defeated Sioux Falls, 1-0.

On Thursday, Nick Crawford was +3 with an assist as Barrie registered 55 shots on goal in a 6-4 win over Oshawa.

1/30 Recap: Adam's pair continues tear

Luke Adam extended his career-high streak to five straight games with a goal on Saturday by scoring a pair to lead Cape Breton to a 4-2 comeback win over Victoriaville. Trailing 2-1 midway through the third period, Adam tied the game for the Eagles before later finding the empty net to seal the victory with :37 to play.

The 6'2 center now has 32 goals on the year, half of which coming in his last 12 QMJHL contests. Maxime Legault offered his best all-around effort as a Screaming Eagle with an assist and several punishing hits to earn the game's #2 star. Jacob Lagacé added three shots on goal for the winning side.

Also from the Q, Jordon Southorn finished +3 as PEI bested Bathurst, 4-2. The surging Rocket have now won five straight.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb scored his 15th goal of the year as Kootenay held off Spokane, 4-3. The goal was McNabb's 10th power play mark of the 2009-10 campaign. Regina's Jordan Eberle (EDM) leads the WHL with 15.

In the OHL, Nick Crawford (+2) collected two more assists as Barrie defeated Kitchener, 5-2. Both of Crawford's helpers came at even strength to give him a distribution of 22-21 in terms of ES vs PP assists.

In NCAA play, Drew MacKenzie scored his second goal of the year as #17 Vermont played to a 4-4 tie with #19 Maine. The sophomore defenseman went straight down the seam and buried a rebound at the right post to tie the game 1-1 in the second period. MacKenzie now has points in three straight games for the second time this season.

Connor Knapp made 15 saves to up his season mark to 5-2-3 as #1 Miami edged Western Michigan, 2-1. The sophomore was beaten glove-side by a wrister in the second period to allow just his fifth goal in his last five games. The RedHawks are unbeaten in their last 18 conference tilts, while limiting 14 of their last 17 CCHA opponents to one goal or less.

At the Ralph, Brad Eidsness made 24 saves as #4 North Dakota dropped a 4-2 decision to #3 Denver. Ex-AJHL nemesis Joe Colborne (BOS) celebrated his 20th birthday by beating Eidsness for his second straight game-winning goal to give DU the first sweep of the Sioux on home ice since 2006. Corey Fienhage finished the night even on the North Dakota blueline.

At Joe Louis Arena, Corey Tropp finished -1 as #12 Michigan State lost to Michigan, 5-4. The junior will enter next weekend's set at Alaska-Fairbanks as the nation's third leading scorer with 19 goals and 38 points.

Justin Jokinen finished even as Minnesota State snapped a five-game skid with a 3-2 win over Michigan Tech. The Mavs fired a season-high 45 shots on net, with Jokinen registering one of them.

In the USHL, Roo Adams was -1 with a shot on goal as Chicago lost their second straight to Indiana, 4-3.

1/29 Recap: Tropp stops drought as Spartans top rival

Corey Tropp scored a pair of power play goals on Friday, his 18th and 19th of the season, as #12 Michigan State held off a late run to earn a 3-2 win over rival Michigan. The goals, a backhander through traffic and a tight-angle cashing of his own rebound, were his first in seven games dating back to December 29th.

The Spartans got off to a 3-0 lead before allowing the Wolverines to get back on the map with two third period goals. Michigan looked to have tied the game in the final minute, but Chris Brown's apparent marker was waved off to send MSU to victory.

The game's #1 star, Tropp below speaks about the win as part of BTN's post-game coverage:



In the OHL, Marcus Foligno scored a goal and an assist as Sudbury suffered their second defeat in as many nights in a 5-2 loss to Kitchener. Foligno, who was -1 with a pair of minor penalties in the Wolves 4-1 loss to Barrie the night before, registered his fourth multi-point game in the month of January after having just three in the 2009 portion of the season.

Nick Crawford was even as Barrie beat Mississauga, 4-0. On Thursday, the 6'1 defender racked up four assists in the Colts cruise over Foligno's Wolves. The Thursday effort, his fourth four-point game of the season, thrusted Crawford into a tie for the OHL assist lead for defensemen with 41. The shutdown dman remains as the 2nd leading defensive point-getter with 51 through 48 games played.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb collected a pair of power-play assists as Kootenay earned a 4-1 win over Prince Albert. The two-point night comes after his one goal, one assist effort in Tuesday's 6-5 OT loss to Brandon. The 6'4 McNabb is currently fourth among WHL defensemen with 48 points (14+34).

Rounding out the Friday slate, Drew MacKenzie (+1) posted an assist and four shots on goal as #17 Vermont lost to #19 Maine, 6-3. The 6'2 rearguard now has a goal and six assists this season.

Brad Eidsness stopped all nine shots he faced through 40-minutes of relief work as #4 North Dakota stumbled on home ice against #3 Denver, 2-0. The sophomore netminder was put in to spark a flat Sioux squad after freshman Aaron Dell gave up two goals on the Pioneers' first four shots. Corey Fienhage was even with a shot on goal stemming from a good opportunity off a rush.

Alex Biega was even with three shots on goal as Harvard lost to Princeton, 2-1. The loss snaps the Crimson's five-game ECAC unbeaten streak.

Justin Jokinen finished even as Minnesota State lost to Michigan Tech, 4-1. Jokinen's Mavericks have now lost five straight, while the Huskies notched their first victory in 15 games.

Per the usual, Connor Knapp watched in his Friday bench posture as #1 Miami downed Western Michigan, 4-1. The sophomore netminder is expected to vie for his second consecutive shutout when the RedHawks go for the sweep of the Broncos on Saturday.

In the USHL, Mark Adams finished -1 as Chicago got smoked by Indiana, 6-2.

In Wednesday QMJHL action, Jordon Southorn was +2 with an assist in PEI's 4-1 win over Val-d'Or.

1/22 Recap: Adam hits 27; Biega keys Crimson

In Friday QMJHL action, Luke Adam scored a goal and an assist and Jacob Lagacé added a helper as Cape Breton closed out Baie-Comeau, 6-2. Adam connected for his 27th goal of the season on a feed from Lagacé for the fourth of four third period goals for the Eagles. Maxime Legault, who returned to the Cape Breton lineup after missing five games with an ankle injury, finished +2 on a line with Nick MacNeil and Brad Cuzner.

Jordon Southorn was +1 with a power play assist as PEI downed Bathurst, 4-3. On Wednesday, the 6'2 defenseman punched three shots on goal in the Rocket's 5-4 win over Shawinigan.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno collected a pair of assists as Sudbury lost to Barrie, 6-4. Foligno, who snapped a three-game point drought, raises his season line to 8-17-25. Colts defenseman Nick Crawford (+2) recorded an assist for his 47th point of the year - good for 2nd overall among OHL rearguards.

In WHL play, Brayden McNabb (+1) picked up an assist as Kootenay edged Saskatoon, 5-4. On Wednesday, McNabb was +2 with a power play goal and an assist in the Ice's 8-6 win at Swift Current. His 44 points have him slotted as the sixth highest scoring defenseman in the WHL this season.

Alex Biega assisted on the game winning goal as Harvard cruised past #13 Union, 4-1. The senior captain, who finished with a season-high +3, saw his point shot deflected in by Eric Kroshus to put the Crimson ahead 2-1 at 12:07 of the middle period. Harvard has now won four straight ECAC contests, including three straight wins against ranked opponents.

At Munn, Corey Tropp finished +1 as #10 Michigan State handled Ohio State, 5-2. The Grosse Point, MI native is currently fourth in NCAA scoring with 35 points in 27 games. With the win, MSU improves to 16-7-4 overall, and 11-4-4-1 in conference play.

Nick Eno made 32 saves as Bowling Green tied Western Michigan, 4-4. The Falcons held a two-goal lead late in the third period until the Broncos pulled their goalie and scored a pair in the final 4:10, including the game-tying tally with just :03 left in regulation.

Brad Eidsness took a rest for North Dakota as the #5 Fighting Sioux lost a tough 1-0 battle at #9 Cornell. Corey Fienhage was even in defeat as the Sioux could not get any of their 28 shots past Big Red netminder, Ben Scrivens. The two clubs will get reacquainted Saturday evening at Lynah.

Connor Knapp watched from his usual Friday spot at the door as #2 Miami skated to a 1-1 tie at Alaska-Fairbanks. Cody Recihard made 20 saves in his third straight start for the RedHawks. As of now, it is unclear if Knapp will get his Saturday post back in the tail end of the RedHawks subzero Alaskan weekend.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was +2 as Chicago earned a 5-4 overtime victory over Des Moines.

1/16 Recap: Tropp assists pace Spartans

Corey Tropp stacked up three assists on Saturday as #7 Michigan State played to a 4-4 tie with Notre Dame. The junior helped the Spartans get off to a 2-0 lead at the end of one, and later set-up the game-tying goal with 2:21 left in regulation after the Irish uncorked four straight goals. With his eleventh multi-point effort of the year, the junior ups is total to 35 (17+18) in 26 games, good for third overall among NCAA skaters. The Spartans will host Ohio State next weekend.

As a reminder, you can cast a vote for Tropp in phase I of the Hobey Baker selection process here.

In WCHA action, Brad Eidsness made 18 saves but suffered his first defeat in his last six starts as #4 North Dakota was upset at Minnesota, 5-1. Corey Fienhage finished -1 in the loss after being on the ice for Josh Birkholz's rebound tally in the first period.

A three-goal second period paved the way for the Gophers, with the marks coming on a breakaway, a 2-1 off a turnover, and a flukey play that saw the puck float over Eidsness without him seeing it. The Sioux will look to rebound next week against #9 Cornell before taking on current #1 Denver two weeks from now.

Justin Jokinen finished even with two shots on goal as Minnesota State lost a 4-3 overtime decision to #10 Minnesota-Duluth. The Mavericks sophomore received a double minor for roughing in the second period after jostling with David Grun.

In the CCHA, Connor Knapp did not receive his usual Saturday night start as #2 Miami held on to sweep #6 Ferris State, 4-2. The RedHawks, who entered the weekend tied with the Bulldogs atop the league standings, went back to sophomore Cody Reichard after Friday's shutout victory. It was no surprise to see Enrico Blasi temporarily abandon his set rotation to stay hot on the road after being swept by unranked Robert Morris a week ago, but things could get a little hairy with Reichard emerging as a legit Hobey Baker candidate with a 12-2-1 record (10-0-1 in conference), a .932 save percentage, and four shutouts.

Elsewhere, Nick Eno made 33 saves as Bowling Green battled to a 3-3 overtime tie with Northern Michigan.

In Hockey East, Drew MacKenzie skated even as #18 Vermont trounced Northeastern, 9-2. Prospect camp veteran Brayden Irwin paced the Catamounts with a hat trick and an assist.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb assisted on the power play game-winner as Kootenay edged Spokane, 4-3.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno was even as Sudbury downed Owen Sound, 4-3 in overtime. Foligno made quite an impact on the road with his pesky play, drilling defenseman Geoffrey Schemitsch into the boards in the second period and not taking the bait to drop the gloves late in the game.

In the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn was -2 as PEI lost to Drummondville, 6-5 in a shootout. The Rocket at one point trailed 4-0 in the first period before completing a comeback with three goals in the final twenty minutes.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was -1 with three shots on goal as Chicago got smoked at Cedar Rapids, 6-1.

1/14 Recap: Kassian likely to sit after hit

Well Zack Kassian's first game in a Windsor Spitfire uniform on Thursday was certainly an interesting one.

The bruising winger, acquired in a Sunday deal with Peterborough, scored a goal and earned a game misconduct in the second period as Windsor lost to Barrie, 4-2. Defenseman Nick Crawford assisted on an empty net goal late for the Colts, while 2010 eligible Alexander Burmistrov scored the short-handed game winner.

Hitting is a big part of Kassian's game, but tonight he made a poor decision in the neutral zone as he left his feet to deliver a blow up high on Colts forward, Matt Kennedy.




Kassian is certain to earn a suspension for the hit. I won't sit on my soapbox and talk about blows to the head. Every hockey fan knows that they have no place in the sport. My initial reaction was that at least we saw some fire out a kid who was maybe trying a little too hard, but at the end of the day he will need to be spoken to and demonstrate that he has learned the boundaries of clean physical play.

In the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn was +1 with an assist as PEI defeated Cape Breton, 3-1. Jacob Lagacé assisted on the lone Eagle goal while Luke Adam had an off night with a possible World Junior hangover, finishing at -2 and having an outburst late that cost him a couple of shifts at the end of the game.