Enroth dismisses Admirals

Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy continued their scoring binge with a goal each, and Felix Schutz knocked him home his first of the year as Portland defeated Norfolk, 4-0. Jhonas Enroth made 29 saves on the road to earn the first shutout of his contract. Gerbe's goal gives him seven in as many games, including five in his last four. Meanwhile Kennedy's marker puts him on a seven-game scoring streak heading into tomorrow's rematch with the Admirals. The Rundown: Enroth: 29 saves, SO Schutz: 1 G, +2 Kennedy: 1 G, +1 Gerbe: 1 G, +1 Mancari: 1 A +1 Gragnani: 1 A, +1 Butler: +3 Kostka: +1 Zagrapan: +1 Card: even Weber: even Whitmore: even

10/29 Recap: Gerbe, Kennedy keep firing

Playing catch-up... In a mid-week AHL tilt, Nathan Gerbe scored on the power play and Tim Kennedy added another assist as Portland dropped a 3-2 decision to Hartford. Gerbe's goal was his sixth in as many games, while Kennedy now has a point all six. Chris Butler, Marek Zagrapan, and Mike Kostka also posted assists in the loss. The Rundown: Gerbe: 1 G, 4 SOG Kennedy: 1 A, -1 Zagrapan: 1 A, -2, 4 PIM Kostka: 1 A, -1 Butler: 1 A, 3 SOG Schutz: 2 SOG Gragnani: -1 Mancari: -1 Whitmore: -1 Card: -2 Dennis: 20 saves, L It was also announced this week that Dylan Hunter will be out four-six weeks after taking a puck in the foot during Sunday's win. Mike Funk (concussion) has started skating with the team, but is expected to be held back until next week. Also on Wednesday, Tyler Myers skated to a +2 as Kelowna cruised to a 7-2 win over Seattle. In the Q, Jacob Lagacé (+2, 5 SOG) scored an empty-netter as Chicoutimi topped Rimouski, 5-2.

Zagrapan, Gerbe pace Pirates

Down on the farm, Marek Zagrapan and Nathan Gerbe each potted a pair of goals as the Pirates extended their record to 4-1 with a 5-4 win over Wilkes Barre-Scranton. The goals were the first points of the season for Zagrapan, who also had an assist on the night, while Gerbe now has five in as many games. Marc-Andre Gragnani scored the first Pirates goal. Mark Mancari added three assists, while Jhonas Enroth made 33 stops to notch his first AHL win. Tim Kennedy racked up another assist, giving him points in all five games this season. The Rundown: Zagrapan: 2 G, 1 A, +1 Gerbe: 2 G, +2, 6 SOG Mancari: 3 A, +2 Gragnani: 1 G, +1 Card: 1 A, +1 Schutz: 1 A, +1 Kennedy: 1 A, -1 Weber: +2, 4 PIM Kostka: +1 Whitmore: 4 SOG Butler: -2 Hunter: left game (foot) Enroth: 33 saves, W

Enroth gets first start; Kennedy streaking

In Portland, Tim Kennedy and Mark Mancari assisted on the only Pirates goal in their 4-1 loss to Providence. From behind the B's net, Kennedy found Mancari who shuttled the puck to Paul Baier at the left circle. His shot beat Tuukka Rask at the 4:03 mark of the first period to give the Pirates the 1-0 lead. Kennedy's helper gives him a point in each of Portland's three games this season and a total five on the year. Jhonas Enroth got his first start out of the way for the Pirates, stopping 26 of 29 shots in defeat. Meanwhile, Marek Zagrapan would like to improve on the 0-0-0 -2 line he's put up in the young season. The Rundown: Kennedy: 1A, +1 Mancari: 1A, +1 Gerbe: +1 Butler: 3 SOG Weber: 3 SOG Card: even Zagrapan: 2 PIM Schutz: 1 SOG Whitmore: -1, 2 PIM Kostka: -1 Hunter: -1 Gragnani: -2, 2 PIM Enroth: 26 saves, L

Gerbe guns for two in Pirates win

Returning to the state where he achieved collegiate stardom, Nathan Gerbe scored a pair of goals to earn the game's #1 star as Portland won their second straight, 3-2 over Springfield. The explosive rookie was active throughout, firing a game-high seven shots on goal to lead the attack. Colton Fretter scored the other Portland goal. All three Pirates goals on the evening came with the man advantage. Gerbe closed a passing play with Tim Kennedy to give Portland a 2-0 lead in the first, then later lit the game winner in the mid-second. Marc-Andre Gragnani added a pair of power play assists for the Pirates, while Adam Dennis made 21 saves to get the win. The Rundown: Gerbe: 2 G, 7 SOG Gragnani: 2 A Kennedy: 1 A Butler: 1 A, -2 Kostka: 1 A Mancari: 5 SOG Weber: 4 PIM Hunter: 2 SOG Whitmore: 2 SOG Schutz: -1 Zagrapan: -1 Card: 4 PIM Dennis: W, 21 saves Look for Jhonas Enroth to get his first AHL start on Sunday when the Pirates do battle with Providence.

Pirates majestic in 6-3 win over Monarchs

Mark Mancari scored a hat trick and two assists to lead the Portland Pirates to a 6-3 season opening win over the Manchester Monarchs. One impressive first impression:

"(Mancari) put some points on the board, and he was a presence," Dineen said. "I think he is very aware he's playing with some guys who have some special skills, and he's embracing that."

The two "guys with special skills" happen to be prospects Tim Kennedy and Nathan Gerbe. Kennedy added a goal and two assists in his first professional game, while Gerbe posted a pair of helpers to propel the Pirates. Adam Dennis made 28 saves between the pipes to secure the win. The rundown: Mancari: 3 goals, 2 assists, Kennedy: 1 goal, two assists, +2 Gerbe: 2 assists, +2 Butler: 2 assists, +2 Gragnani: 1 assist, +1 Hunter: assist, +1 Whitmore: 1 assist Kostka: even Schutz: 2 PIM Zagrapan: -1 Weber: -2 Card: -2

Whitmore looking to make a play

Ethan Magoc of the BG News recently ran a feature on former Bowling Green standout, Derek Whitmore. The Rochester native signed with the Sabres as a free agent last spring, and is focused on making an immediate impression once camp commences.

BG's former tri-captain gained experience in his degree field this summer when he served as a strength and conditioning coach during an internship with Puckmasters Hockey Training Center in Buffalo. Whitmore also attended a Sabres summer training session with current Falcons Jake Cepis and Nick Eno - the Sabres' 2007 seventh round draft pick. The former Falcon teammates worked out together from June 25 to July 1 with other Buffalo players and prospects. "His goal, since he was signed, is to solidify his position with the Sabres and keep improving to give himself a chance to play in the NHL," said Scott Paluch, Whitmore's former coach at BGSU. "He has an opportunity to play with the world's elite, and he needs to continue to progress to that level." At five feet nine inches, the 23-year-old forward is the second smallest player on Buffalo's roster, but he said he's not intimidated by that because "so many small players have gone on to successful NHL careers." So is he the next Brian Gionta, the New Jersey Devils' forward who stands five feet seven inches and has more than 250 NHL points in six seasons? Rochester is about all the two players currently have in common - both were born there. But Whitmore does feel confident heading into his first NHL training camp. He said he thinks that by working out every morning before his afternoon internship with Puckmasters, he is in prime physical condition.

After a four year collegiate sheet that saw him pile up 70 goals and just 32 assists, Whitmore will begin his pro career finishing plays with Portland of the AHL.

4/4 Recap: Byron nets winner; Whitmore lights lamp in loss

In the QMJHL playoffs, Gatineau C Paul Byron notched the game winning goal as les Olympiques defeated Quebec, 3-1. The goal, Byron's fourth of the playoffs, put Gatineau in front 1-0 in their second round series. The Remparts will get their suspended coach, Patrick Roy, back behind the bench for tonight's game two. Roy's son Jonathan was also suspended after the first-round brawl with Chicoutimi, and will not return to the Quebec crease until game four.

Drew MacKenzie had four shots on net as Waterloo picked up their sixth straight win with a 7-1 dumping of Green Bay. The Black Hawks close their USHL regular season this evening against the same Cedar Rapids team they will meet next week in the first playoff round.

In the AHL, Rochester native Derek Whitmore scored his first professional goal in Rochester's 4-3 loss to Syracuse. The defeat came in the final minute of play, and was the Amerks' eighth straight loss against the state rival. Mark Mancari also scored for Rochester, while Marek Zagrapan added a pair of assists in a losing effort.

The Rundown:
Whitmore - goal, 4 SOG, +2
Mancari - goal, +1
Zagrapan - two assists, +2
Hunter - assist, +1
MacArthur - +1
Gragnani - 3 SOG
Funk - 2 PIM
Dennis - 27 saves

3/28 Recap: Kennedy clicks; Allard goes hard

Tim Kennedy scored a power play goal and added an assist as Michigan State opened the NCAA tourney with a 3-1 win over Colorado College. The defending champion Spartans got on the board when a dangling Kennedy scooped up a loose puck, and calmly slid it to his backhand past CC netminder Richard Bachman. Freshman forward Corey Tropp went pointless while moving to the left side on State's third-line with Dustin Gazley and Nick Sucharski. The Spartans advance to face Notre Dame, who earlier posted an upset win over #1 seed New Hampshire. In the USHL, Vermont recruit Drew MacKenzie scored the game-winning goal and later notched an assist in Waterloo's 3-0 defeat of Sioux Falls. The two-point night was the first multi-point output of the season for the Connecticut-born defenseman. J.S. Allard had a goal and an assist as St. John's was overpowered by Acadie-Bathurst, 7-2. Acadie-Bathurst now leads the series three games to two, and will look to put a nail in the final Foggies season on Monday. Currently the eighth-best scorer in the Q playoffs, Allard has four goals and six assists, and is +9 in the series. T.J. Brennan went scoreless for St. John's, failing to add to the two goals and four assists he had compiled in the previous four. His -3 on the evening lowers him to team-worst -7 in the playoffs. Paul Byron had an assist as Gatineau overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Shawinigan, 5-2, and close out their first round series four games to one. In the five games, the 5'10 center posted a goal and four assists for les Olympiques. On Thursday, Benjamin Breault had an assist in Baie-Comeau's 3-1 loss to Rimouski. The assist was Breault's third point of the playoff year. After finishing 2nd overall in the Q regular season, the Drakkar trail the Oceanic 3-1 in the best-of-seven, and will look to extend their season another day when the two clubs meet on Saturday. Drew Schiestel had three assists in Niagara's first round sweep of Mississauga-St.Michael's. The 2007 second-rounder was also a +5 in the series' four games, as the Dogs advance to face '09 stud John Tavares and the Oshawa Generals. Philip Gogulla went pointless as Cologne closed out their 4-1 series win over Mannheim on Wednesday. The German winger had one goal, a game winner, and two assists in the five games. The Sharks now await the winner of a game seven match-up between Iserlohn and Frankfurt. Ak Bars D Vjacheslav Buravchikov has skated without a point in three RSL semifinal contests against Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Ak Bars currently trail the series two games to one. In the AHL, Dylan Hunter scored a goal and an assist in Rochester's 5-4 shootout win over Manitoba. Clarke MacArthur, Marek Zagrapan, Mike Funk, and Marc-Andre Gragnani also added assist for Rochester. Gragnani's helper was his 48th point of the season, locking him in a tie with Mark Mancari atop the Amerks scoring list. Derek Whitmore was -1 with 2 PIM in his professional debut with the Amerks. The Rundown: Hunter - goal, assist, -1 Zagrapan - assist, +1 Funk - assist Gragnani - assist, -1 MacArthur - assist -2 Whitmore - 1 SOG, -1 Mancari - 1 SOG, -1 Kostka - DNP On Wednesday, the Amerks lost to the same Manitoba squad by a 4-1 score. Marek Zagrapan assisted on the only Rochester goal, while Mike Kostka was +1 in his first game after signing with the Sabres on Wednesday. Adam Dennis made 32 saves in the loss.

Sabres sign Kostka, Whitmore

Sorry for the lame update, but things are pretty hectic. Sabres sign defenseman Kostka

The Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday signed free-agent defenseman Mike Kostka, who just finished his senior season at the University of Massachusetts. Kostka, 22, was named to the Hockey East second team after scoring a career-high nine goals for the Minutemen. The Ontario native completed his collegiate career with 15 tallies and 38 assists in 143 games.

Sabres sign former Bowling Green forward Whitmore

Forward Derek Whitmore signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday after completing his four-year career at Bowling Green. An undrafted free agent, Whitmore had a career-high 27 goals and added 10 assists in 38 games as a senior, A native of Rochester, he finished his NCAA career with 103 points (70 goals, 33 assists) in 143 games.

They couldn't sign these guys before the Top 20 was figured?

Kennedy named to CCHA Second Team

Michigan State junior forward Tim Kennedy has been named to the CCHA All-Conference Second Team. Originally selected by Washington in the 2005 draft, Kennedy scored 18 goals and 20 assists to lead the Spartans. The point total was good for 7th overall in the CCHA. Other notables on the All-Conference list include Michigan forward and current Hobey Baker favorite, Kevin Porter (first team), Bowling Green forward and Rochester native Derek Whitmore (second team), and Sabres summer prospect camp invitee, Mitch Ganzak of Miami (second team). As prevously mentioned, 2007 seventh rounder Nick Eno was named to the All-Rookie Team. 2007-08 CCHA All-Conference Teams First Team F Kevin Porter, Sr., Michigan (11) 55 F Ryan Jones, Sr., Miami (10) 53 F Chad Kolarik, Sr., Michigan (7) 47 D Tyler Eckford, Jr., Alaska (9) 48 D Alec Martinez, Jr., Miami (6) 43 G Jeff Lerg, Jr., Michigan State (7) 42 Second Team F Bryan Marshall, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha (5) 40 F Derek Whitmore, Sr., Bowling Green (2) 31 F Tim Kennedy, Jr., Michigan State (1) 30 D Mitch Ganzak, Sr., Miami (3) 30 D Mark Mitera, Jr., Michigan (2) 23 G Jeff Zatkoff, Jr., Miami (4) 36 All-Rookie Team F Carter Camper, Miami F Max Pacioretty, Michigan F Jacob Cepis, Bowling Green F Mark Olver, Northern Michigan D Erik Gustafsson, Northern Michigan D Jeff Petry, Michigan State G Nick Eno, Bowling Green