European trio guides Amerks to victory

Mikhail Grigorenko (1st star) scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as Rochester earned their third straight victory Friday with a 4-1 decision over Adirondack. Andrey Makarov (2nd star) made 34 saves to earn the win in his first start of the year, while Joel Armia (3rd star) produced a goal and an assist for his second multi-point game of the young season.

After a Markus Granlund power play tally put the Flames up 1-0 early, the Amerks got one back with a man advantage of their own at 12:38 when Phil Varone swatted at a rebound for his third goal of the year. A hard-working Luke Adam and Chad Ruhwedel drew assists on the play.



Grigorenko added his third goal of the year less than a minute later when he drilled an Armia pass to give the Amerks the 2-1 lead at 13:11. Mark Pysyk earned the second helper.



The teams would play a scoreless middle frame before Grigorenko returned the favor, assisting on Armia's second goal of the season in the 51st minute to make it a 3-1 Amerks advantage.



Johan Larsson put the icing on the cake with an empty-net goal with 1:46 left on the clock. Jake McCabe was credited with an assist for his first point of the season. Tim Schaller was given the other to give him points in two straight games.

Makarov was excellent all game, shaking off the early goal against to shut the door the rest of the way. He was especially sharp in the final period with the Flames applying plenty of late-game pressure.


The two squads will square off again Saturday in Glens Falls.

Four score as Amerks down Marlies

Dan Catenacci, Akim Aliu, Phil Varone (2nd star) and Mikhail Grogorenko (1st star) all picked up goals Saturday as Rochester defeated Toronto 4-1. Nathan Lieuwen stopped 24 of 25 shots while the Amerks received points from 10 different players to collect their second victory in three tries to open the 2014-15 season.

With the Amerks applying pressure, Catenacci snuck into the middle lane with his stick on the ice and buried a Matt Ellis feed at 5:15 of the opening period for the 1-0 lead. The goal was Catenacci's first of the season. Mark Pysyk drew a secondary assist on the play.


The Amerks would keep the hits coming quickly in the second period, beginning with an Aliu tally just 24 seconds in to make it a 2-0 lead. Luke Adam and Nick Petrecki were credited with the helpers.

Rochester struck again at 4:07 when Varone entered the zone and threw a puck at the net for his second of the season. Chad Ruhwedel earned the assist for his team-leading fifth point of the season.



Grigorenko extended Rochester's lead to 4-0 midway through the middle frame with a spinning backhand finish at the doorstep. William Carrier picked up the lone assist to give him points in each of his first three professional games.



Toronto closed out the scoring early in the third period when Connor Brown roofed a shot for his first professional goal.

The Amerks are off until Wednesday when they host Rockford.

10/11 Recap: Bailey tricks; Carrier gets first

Justin Bailey recorded the second hat trick of his OHL career Saturday and added a shootout marker as Kitchener lost at Erie 5-4. The game's number two star, Bailey now has six goals, a team-best 10 points and the first five-game point streak of his OHL career since returning from Buffalo. He has also converted both of his shootout attempts. For the Otters, Connor McDavid ('15) record two assists and the first fight of his OHL career while fellow '15 eligible Dylan Strome connected for a pair of goals and the game's first star honor. Next up for Kitchener is a Monday meeting with Guelph.

Elsewhere in the OHL, Brendan Lemieux notched a goal and an assist as Barrie defeated Sudbury 6-4. The helper came via good work to get the puck out of his zone and the goal came from his usual spot at the front of the net. Lemieux now has seven points (4+3) through the first six games of the year. The Colts visit North Bay on Monday.


Eric Cornel saw his three-game point streak snapped as Peterborough was doubled by Plymouth 8-4. Cornel did not point but out forth a solid two-way effort while recording slashing and roughing minors. Peterborough continues their swing through Michigan Sunday at Saginaw.

***

In the AHL, William Carrier scored his first professional goal as Rochester coughed up a late third-period lead in a 6-4 loss to Hamilton.

The rookie winger, who recorded two assists in his first professional game on Friday, used speed around the edge to convert his own rebound just 3:25 into the game. Tim Schaller and Chad Ruhwedel assisted on the goal to give the trio points in each of Rochester's first two games.


Johan Larsson added to the lead when he scored his first of the year at 10:04 of the second period. The Amerks did a nice job sustaining pressure with solid back end support leading to the goal getting scored in traffic. With an assist on the play, Luke Adam notched his 100th point as an Amerk.


The Bulldogs evened the score with two quick ones following the Larsson tally before Akim Aliu connected for his first as an Amerk at 15:36. Adam and Larsson earned assists on the play.

The lead lasted all of 1:28 before Hamilton's Charles Hudon tied the game 3-3 with his first of the year.

For the second straight night, the Amerks would come out quickly to start the third period as Aliu buried a Phil Varone feed at 4:22 to give Rochester a 4-3 lead.

The lead would hold until the Amerks collapsed by surrendering three goals, including one into an empty net, in the final 2:57 to settle on the 6-4 loss.

Nathan Lieuwen earned his second-straight start, stopping 25 of 30 shots to move to 1-1 on the year.

The Amerks will look to learn from the result as they prepare for Saturday's tilt at division rival Toronto.

***

In case you missed it earlier, you may want to check out Victor Olofsson's goal from MODO's Saturday loss.

***

In the QMJHL, Vaclav Karabacek (-2) recorded one assist as Gatineau lost at Baie-Comeau 5-2. Karabacek has maintained a point-per-game pace with Gatineau, notching three goals and five assists in eight games since being returned from Buffalo. The Olympiques visit Chicoutimi on Sunday.

In USHL play, Christopher Brown picked up an assist as Green Bay got past Madison 5-4 in overtime. The Boston College commit has four points (2+2) in his first four games with the Gamblers, who next travel to Tri-City for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.

In the collegiate ranks, Anthony Florentino (-1, SOG) notched an assist while skating on the Friars' top defensive pair as No. 4 Providence edged Ohio State 2-1 in overtime. Providence defenseman Mark Adams finished with an even rating. The Friars will next host Team USA U-18 for a recruiting exhibition on Thursday.

Judd Peterson posted three shots on goal as No. 6 St. Cloud State defeated No. 5 Colgate 3-1. The Huskies will take a week off before visiting Union for key non-conference set beginning Oct. 24.

Brad Navin contributed three shots on goal from the top line left wing spot as No. 12 Wisconsin lost to Alaska-Anchorage 4-2 at the Kendall Hockey Classic. The Badgers, who were swept by the two Alaskan schools in the weekend jaunt, will return home to host Northern Michigan next weekend in Green Bay.

In the WHL, Brycen Martin logged a plus-one as Swift Current defeated Tri-City 2-0. Martin has gathered four assists through his first 10 games. The Broncos are off until Wednesday when they face Saskatoon.

A Dozen Questions Entering 2014-15

It's that time again.

Before we know it, the 2014-15 schedule will be in full gear. The buzz surrounding the future Sabres has hit its peak, and with that comes many compelling questions on the eve of what should be an exciting season of sticks and pucks. Here are 12 of them:

Will Sam Reinhart stay in the NHL all year?

Photo by Graig Abel/NHLI via Getty Images

From the moment he was selected with the second overall pick in June, Reinhart has been rightfully targeted for immediate NHL duty.

After all, the last eight drafts have seen Aleksander Barkov (2013), Gabriel Landeskog (2011), Tyler Seguin (2010), Viktor Hedman (2009), Drew Doughty (2008) and Jordan Staal (2006) make the jump from the No. 2 spot. As far as those who stayed back, Ryan Murray (2012) remained in the WHL due to the lockout while James Van Riemsdyk (2007) went off to college.

Answer: Tough one here. Reinhart is mentally mature, but he could obviously afford to get physically stronger. Little is gained by rushing "kids" into the league, but his skills and two-way smarts as a 19-year old (November birth date) are good enough to stick in the NHL. The added vet presence could only help the transition for a kid with future captain material. We need to see how camp and preseason go, but the nine-game NHL tryout is a foregone conclusion, and something tells me he'll be around longer.

Can Linus Ullmark repeat as the Honken Trophy winner?

Ullmark was one of European hockey's greatest revelations last season as a 20-year old, posting a 2.08 GAA and league-best .931 save% to earn the award as the SHL's top netminder. The performance helped get Ullmark an entry-level deal, but he'll remain with MODO for the final year of his European contract before coming to North America for 2015-16.

Answer: If his development camp performance was any indication, all signs point to Ullmark again being at the top of the class among SHL netminders. His numbers will be challenged by vets like Bernard Starkbaum (BIF), David Rautio (LHF), Oscar Alsenfelt (LIF), Fredrik Petterson-Wentzel (FBK) and former Sabre Mikael Tellqvist (DIF), but there is no reason why Ullmark can't maintain a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save% to defend his title as Sweden's top dog.

Will a Sabres prospect score 50 goals?

It has been 14 seasons since Jason Pominville snatched 57 goals in his final year of juniors with Shawinigan. Luke Adam came close with 49 for Cape Breton in 2009-10, but other than that no other Sabres prospect has seriously approached the milestone.

Answer: Even if Reinhart returns to Kootenay, it's hard to see him connecting for 50 given how he'd miss nearly a month at the World Juniors. The same holds true for Nick Baptiste, who hit the 45-goal mark in 2013-14 in 66 games (.682 goals/game). In realty, the number 50 is less important than it is seeing one of these players get to .75 goals/game like Nathan Gerbe did in 2007-08 (.814).

Will Gustav Possler return to form? 

A season ago, Possler stormed out of the gates for MODO with eight goals in his first 11 games, including a run of seven straight outings with a marker. Scoring line duty was cemented as MODO's co-leading scorer, but then a November knee injury lingered into December, ultimately resulting in surgery and effectively ending an impressive rookie campaign.

Answer: The rehabilitation process extended into summer, but all signs point to a complete recovery. Possler has skated with no issues thus far in preseason action on MODO's top line. He hasn't scored in the exhibition schedule, but it's expected that he'll restore his game to a high level by December. Netting 20 goals is possible (he'd be MODO's first since 2011-12) pending a clean run through the 55-game schedule, but coming up just shy (say 17) seems a little more reasonable.

Who will be the starting goalie in Rochester?

Last season was a wild ride in the Amerks crease. Matt Hackett was penciled in for the lion's share of starts, only to surrender the top gig to Nathan Lieuwen in January. When both shuttled up to Buffalo in the dizzying post-Miller frenzy, Andrey Makarov rose from the ECHL to guide the Amerks into the playoffs with seven-straight wins.

Answer: What a great situation for Amerks fans. With Hackett out until mid-year, Makarov could get an early competitive edge with a solid Traverse City showing, but let's be clear - this is Lieuwen's job to lose. Chadd Cassidy will need both goalies to be sharp to be successful, and it's possible that both will get their fair share of starts with Lieuwen, at the very least, garnering the better end of a 60/40 split.

Who will score more goals - Hudson Fasching or JT Compher?

The B1G counterparts are coming off impressive freshman seasons. Compher scored 11 times in 35 games (.31 goals per game) for Michigan to help earn the honor of Big Ten Freshman of the Year. A few states to the west, Fasching piled up 14 goals in 40 tilts (.35) to capture Minnesota's Freshman of the Year award.

Answer: This will be a fun little competition to monitor this season. Compher is a little more creative and will generally possess the puck more. Fasching works equally hard for his chances with a propensity to hit the net front for tips and second chance put-backs. We're taking Compher in this race, thinking that both that will reach the 18-goal barrier while hoping that one or both can cash 20.

Can Joel Armia pick up where he left off?

After an up-and-down regular season, Armia caught fire in his first North American playoff series. The light seemingly went on with the games having more meaning, as Armia played big en route to more than doubling his per-game output with six points (3+3) in the Amerks' five-game loss to Chicago. At one point, he even dropped the gloves. The performance gave Sabres management confidence moving forward, so expectations will be high in 2014-15 as Armia looks to prove that he's an NHL level player.

Answer: Thinking that Armia can produce a point per game could be a stretch, but upping his shots on goal should lead to more lamps being lit. He scored just seven times in 54 regular season games a year ago, but I'm setting a benchmark of 10 goals at the 20-game mark to really judge his progress. A hot start could have him well-positioned for a late fall recall.

Will Justin Bailey earn an entry-level contract?

News flash: the Sabres currently enjoy a luxurious prospect stable jammed with quality forward talent. Bailey is right in the middle of it all with his combination of size and scoring skill, but it's clear that the WNY native will need to stand out from the competition with a big year in Kitchener to maintain his position in the pipeline.

Answer: You always want to impress your new bosses. Bailey put in the summer work, and it's easy to think that a bigger, stronger forward should be able to reach new heights, especially coming off a 2013-14 season that saw him capture Kitchener's MVP award. The USA camp snub is behind him. This year is all about scoring 35 goals and targeting AHL duty a year from now. He can do it.

Will Nikita Zadorov be a full-time NHLer?

We all know the drill by now. In order for a player to be AHL eligible, he must turn 20 years old on or before Dec. 31 of the season being played. Zadorov doesn't turn 20 until next April, so he either needs to make the Sabres NHL roster or be dispatched back to London of the OHL. Playing in Rochester is not an option until the completion of his junior season. So...

Answer: If you ask London coach Dale Hunter, he'll tell you that the Sabres have Zadorov pegged for an NHL roster spot.

Not so fast!

If he earns it, great. The additions of Josh Gorges, Andrej Meszaros and Andre Benoit, though, suggest that Tim Murray is leery of having too much youth on the back end, especially if Rasmus Ristolainen stays in the NHL (as I believe he should/will). Jake McCabe, Mark Pysyk and Chad Ruhwedel (20, 22 and 24 respectively) are also knocking at the door. Slow cooking a defensive prospect is never a bad thing, so it's fair to think Zadorov waits his turn for one more year regardless of his projected dominance at the junior level.

What do you want to see from Mikhail Grigorenko this year?

It's time to get the Sabres and the talented Russian on the same page. He was in the NHL at 18, then sent back to junior. He was again in the NHL at 19, but again was sent back to junior. He didn't want to play in the QMJHL, tried to get a deal to play in Finland, and eventually took his medicine and reported to his junior club before finishing his year with Rochester. So now what?

Answer: Right or wrong, both sides have been understandably frustrated with the other. The slate is now clean, though, and it's time to rightfully earn big league time. If Grigorenko can pay his AHL dues by carrying his bags, producing points and being an all-around good solider like he hinted at in his summer interviews, well, everything should take care of itself. His season-ending stint in Rochester showed a committed defensive player who couldn't quite capitalize on his chances. This year, a hungry playmaker with his head screwed on straight should come out and own it every shift. Mathematically, how about 60 points with ~70 percent of his take coming at even strength?

How many Sabres prospects will play in the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship?

An NHL club having a few of its draft picks playing in the annual U20 tournament is usually par for the course. The Sabres have been no different in recent years, sending three (2014), four (2013), two (2012), two (2011) and one (2010) to the last five events.

Answer:

"The Sabres could have NINE guys at the WJC"

If the stars align, the 2015 WJC could resemble Sabres Development Camp 2.0 with as many as NINE future Sabres battling for medals. At the very least, expect a minimum of six.

Compher, Fasching, Baptiste, Jonas Johansson, Vaclav Karabacek and Victor Olofsson are essentially locks to represent their countries. Aforementioned NHL bubble players Reinhart and Zadorov are mild possibilities to get the best of both pro and World Junior worlds, while Anthony Florentino should get off to a good start in Providence and crack the USA roster as the seventh defender (even if USA decides to bring in 2015 draft stud Noah Hanifin, who was not on the NJEC roster).

Is there a "surprise" breakout player on the way that we're not thinking of?

Every year, there is a player that exceeds expectations and shoots up the prospect rankings. Baptiste, Fasching, Possler and Ullmark come to mind as recent examples of spiked trajectories. With a loaded stable on tap, some new candidates are set to emerge.

Answer: While I expect 2014 classmates Karabacek and Eric Cornel to elevate their play as "standouts", the dark horse in the bunch is Max Willman. We rarely talk about perennial underdog Brown University, an Ivy League school that hasn't had a winning record in ECAC play since 2003-04. Willman will be one of two NHL draft picks on the Bears roster, and like Harvard's Sean Malone a season ago, has the offensive goods to approach the 20-point line to get his name on the All-Ivy awards list at the close of his freshman season.

5/4 Recap: Amerks bounced; Petersen moves on

The Rochester Americans saw their season come to an end Sunday with a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Wolves in the fifth and deciding game of the first round AHL playoff series. Brayden Irwin and Luke Adam scored the Rochester goals, while Andrey Makarov made 32 saves in his season finale. Irwin and Kevin Porter led the way with four shots on goal each for the Amerks.

Chicago was quick to produce out of the blocks as Shane Harper jammed the boards, forced Chad Ruhwedel into turnover, and finished off a give-and-go to put the Wolves up 1-0 just 2:02 into play.

The Amerks were able to even the score before heading to the first intermission when Irwin went straight to the post and finished off a Luke Adam feed at 15:21. The power play marker was Irwin's third of the series. Phil Varone added the secondary helper on the play thanks to his zone entry.



The Wolves were quick to score in the first period, and the Amerks returned the favor in the second as the power play would continue to pay off with an Adam beauty at 2:01. Deke, cradle, fire. Adam has scored both of his playoff goals with the man advantage following a regular season that saw him connect on the power play for 16 of his 29 markers. Varone earned his second helper of the game, while Rasmus Ristolainen was credited with an assist for his second point of the series.



Things got testy midway through the second period, culminating with a fight between Nick Deslauriers and former Amerks toughguy Eric Selleck. Selleck received the extra minor for instigating the tilt way behind the play, but the Amerks were unable to produce on the ensuing power play to keep it a 2-1 game.



The momentum shifted from there with the Wolves striking twice before the end of the period on two power plays of their own to take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

With Andrey Makarov unable to regain position after falling on his backside, Brent Regner would pound the puck into the net to tie the game at 17:28.



The pressure continued immediately following the goal, leading to Grigorenko getting whistled for a hooking penalty with 1:17 to play in the period. Dmitrij Jaskin made the Amerks pay less than a minute later by burying a Keith Aucoin pass at the edge of the crease to give the Wolves the 3-2 lead.



The teams would trade opportunities in the third period, but the Amerks were unable to convert the rest of the way. Taylor Chorney's empty-netter sealed the deal with 1:01 left on the clock to shut the door on the Amerks season.

Three stars:
#3 - Jake Allen (21 saves)
#2 - Brent Regner (goal)
#1 - Dmitrij Jaskin (1+1)

***

In the USHL, Cal Petersen made 37 saves to earn the game's number three star as Waterloo advanced to the Clark Cup Final with a 5-1 victory over Sioux City. The Black Hawks, who won the best-of-five semifinal round by a 3-1 count, move on to face the Indiana Ice in the championship series beginning Friday. Petersen has started all seven postseason games for the Black Hawks, racking up six wins, a 2.34 GAA and a .922 save%.

4/26 Recap: Amerks even series; Petersen locked in

Colton Gillies (first star) and Chad Ruhwedel (second star) each scored a goal and an assist Saturday as Rochester held on for a 3-2 victory over Chicago in Game 2 of the AHL Western Conference quarterfinal series. The best-of-five tilt is now even at one game apiece with the teams heading to Chicago for Thursday's Game 3.

A Nathan Longpre goal gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead at the first intermission, but the Amerks would take control with a pair of markers in the middle frame beginning with Gillies pouncing on a bouncing puck at 6:14. Gillies picked up his second point of the night in the game's 31st minute when he hit Ruhwedel in the high slot from beneath the goal line to give the hosts a 2-1 lead at the end of forty minutes.



Rochester would find themselves in familiar territory with another early power play opportunity in the third period, and this time they connected with Luke Adam (third star) capitalizing on a rebound at 4:07 to make it a 3-1 game.



A night after coughing up a two-goal lead in the final five minutes, Rochester hit the highway to the danger zone again when penalties to Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Petrecki gave the Wolves a two-man advantage with 3:47 to play. Chicago's Keith Aucoin would get one back while on the five-on-three at 16:38, but there would be no déjà voodoo as this time the Amerks shut the door the rest of the way to get the win.

Andrey Makarov made 26 saves to record his first career playoff win, while Jerome Gauthier-Leduc earned an assist on the Gillies goal for his first career AHL playoff point.

In the USHL, Cal Petersen made his fifth consecutive start, stopping 25 of 26 shots as Waterloo defeated Sioux City 3-1 in Game 2 of the Clark Cup Semifinal. The victory puts the Black Hawks ahead 2-0 in the series with Game 3 taking place Friday in Sioux City. Petersen has posted a perfect 5-0 record thus far in postseason play while managing a 2.40 GAA and .915 save%.

4/25 Recap: Amerks open playoffs with OT loss

Joel Armia and Chad Ruhwedel each notched a goal and an assist Friday as Rochester squandered a late two-goal lead to drop a 4-3 overtime decision to Chicago in the opening game of their AHL first round playoff series. Nick Deslauriers added the other Amerks marker, while Andrey Makarov finished the night with 35 saves.

Armia got the Amerks on the board at 14:09 when he drifted just inside the faceoff circle and got a piece of a Nick Crawford shot. Johan Larsson made a nice play along the boards to kick it back to the point and earn the secondary helper on the play.



Less than two minutes later, Deslauriers connected from the right point on the power play to give Rochester a 2-0 lead. Armia and Ruhwedel earned the assists on the first of the Amerks two power play goals on the night.



Chicago would halve the deficit with a late first period goal, but the Amerks would restore the two-goal lead early in the middle frame when Ruhwedel made a great zone entry with the man advantage, fed the puck to Luke Adam on the left wing, and continued on his path to the net to deflect the Adam shot for the goal.



The Amerks would maintain the two-goal lead with under five minutes left to play in regulation before a bad bounce off the glass put the puck right in the slot, where Sebastian Wannstrom buried it past Makarov to once again make it a one-goal game.



The momentum had officially shifted from there, with the Wolves' Mark Cundari sneaking in from his point to score off a low shot and force extra time with 2:19 left. Dmitrij Jaskin used his big body beneath the hash marks to end it just 1:06 into overtime.

The Amerks will look to even series Saturday when the teams meet again at Blue Cross Arena.

In the USHL, Cal Petersen stopped 31 of 33 shots to earn the game's number three star as Waterloo edged Sioux City in Game One of the Clark Cup Semifinal series. Petersen improves his postseason record to 4-0, while posting a 2.75 GAA and .904 save%. The two clubs will reconvene Saturday for Game Two.

4/18 Recap: Amerks offense clicking at right time

Five different players provided goals, and Andrey Makarov (No. 2 star) stopped 22 of 23 shots to extend his winning streak to seven straight starts as Rochester downed in-state rival Syracuse 5-1 Friday in the 2013-14 home finale at Blue Cross Arena. Veteran forward Brayden Irwin (No. 1 star) and Phil Varone (No. 3 star) each contributed a goal and an assist, while Tim Schaller, Luke Adam and Nick Deslauriers supplied single markers.

Schaller, fresh off being named the Amerks' Most Improved Player prior to the opening faceoff, opened scoring at 7:44 when he finished off a Colton Gillies feed for his ninth goal of the season.



Rochester would get another goal at 11:04 when Adam stole the puck from Crunch netminder Cedrick Desjardins following a misplayed Dan Catenacci dump-in. The marker was Adam's team-leading 29th of the season.



Just under two minutes later, Irwin sent the Amerks to the dressing room with a 3-0 first intermission lead when he cashed a power play chance down low. Irwin, who draw a secondary helper on the Schaller marker, has 13 points in his last nine games.



Rochester would keep the goals coming early into period two, as Deslauriers scored his first in an Amerks uniform to extend the lead to 4-0 in the 23nd minute. Kevins Porter and Sundher would pick up assists on the play, which quickly prompted Crunch bench boss Rob Zettler to call a timeout to have some words with his group.


Syracuse would eventually score off a three-on-one rush at 3:33 of the third, but the Amerks would eventually restore the four-goal lead with less than five minutes to play when Varone redirected a Johan Larsson centering feed for the game's final tally.



Makarov has been a revelation for the Sabres organization of late, winning all seven of his April starts while compiling a 1.98 GAA and .931 save%.

Chad Ruhwedel earned an assist in his return the Amerks blueline after suffering a mild concussion during his stay in Buffalo, while Joel Armia remained out of the lineup for the second consecutive game due to illness.

The Amerks conclude regular season play Saturday afternoon in Toronto. 

In the USHL, Connor Hurley produced three shots on goal as the Green Bay Gamblers were eliminated from the playoffs with a 1-0 loss to Indiana in Game 4 of the best-of-five Eastern Conference semifinal. Hurley finishes postseason play with four points (2+2), all of which came in the Gamblers' Game 2 victory.

Also from the USHL East, Judd Peterson (injured) did not play as Cedar Rapids was blanked by Dubuque 1-0 in Game 3 of their semifinal tilt. The Roughriders will look to avoid elimination when the two clubs go back at it on Saturday.

4/11 Recap: Makarov the man; Knights bounced

The Rochester Americans continued their fight to get into the playoffs Friday with a 3-1 home-ice victory over the rival Toronto Marlies. Andrey Makarov was excellent in his seventh straight start, stopping 26 of 27 shots for his fourth win in a row and the game's number one star. The victory puts the Amerks back into seventh place in the AHL's Western Conference with five games remaining on the regular season schedule.

The teams traded goals in the opening frame, with Kevin Porter getting the Amerks on the board first at 13:22 thanks in part to a nice shift from Joel Armia, who earned a helper on the play. Armia's assist gives him 26 points (7+19) through his first 52 games of North American hockey.



The teams were unable to produce any goals in the second period, but they would continue the night's parade to the penalty box. Johan Larsson earned his share when he dropped the gloves late in the frame with Marlies forward Kenny Ryan.



With the teams deadlocked at 1-1 in the third period, the Amerks would capitalize on the power play as Luke Adam tipped a Phil Varone shot for his 28th goal of the year, and 16th with the man advantage. The game's second star, Adam's goal total ranks eighth overall in the league.



Minutes later with the Amerks again on the power play, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc connected on a slapper to give the Amerks the 3-1 lead. The insurance marker in the game's 44th minute was Gauthier-Leduc's third of the season and sixth of his two-year AHL career.


Mikhail Grigorenko went without a point for the first time since being assigned to Rochester after getting on the score sheet in his previous three outings. Phil Varone, the game's number two star, notched two assists while contributing five of the Amerks' 21 shots on goal.

The Amerks will get right back at it Saturday when they visit the Hamilton Bulldogs.

In the OHL, Nikita Zadorov and the London Knights were eliminated from the playoffs with a 5-4 loss to Guelph in Game 5 of their Western Conference Semifinal series. Zadorov, who started to show signs of fatigue after logging major minutes through the first four games, finishes the postseason with four goals and nine points in nine contests. London now gets a long break before hosting the 2014 Memorial Cup, with the club opening the festivities Fri., May 16 against the QMJHL representative.

William Carrier remained out of action as Drummondville dropped a 5-2 decision at Val-d'Or in Game 5 of their QMJHL quarterfinal series. The defeat puts Drummondville into a 3-2 series hole with the clubs resuming action on Sunday. Carrier, who has missed seven of the Voltigeurs' 10 postseason games with a lower body injury, has one goal and four points despite the limited duty.

The USHL playoffs kicked off on Friday, with all three Sabres prospects playing in the league this season getting in on the action.

Cal Petersen got the start for top-seeded Waterloo, stopping 25 of 29 shots as the Black Hawks opened the Western Conference semifinal round with a 7-4 triumph over Sioux Falls. Petersen entered the playoffs with 27 wins (t-1st in league), a 2.50 GAA (6th) and a .915 save% (8th) in 38 regular season appearances. The Black Hawks will look to keep the momentum when they host Saturday's Game 2.

Connor Hurley (-1, 3 SOG) was unable to point as Green Bay was blanked by Indiana 2-0 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal. The best-of-five series continues Saturday in Indianapolis.

On the other half of the Eastern Conference bracket, Judd Peterson (-1, 2 SOG) came up empty as Cedar Rapids was edged by Dubuque 2-1. The Roughriders will go for the home-ice split on Saturday before heading to Dubuque next Friday for Game 3.

3/15 Recap: Baptiste keeps stacking

Nick Baptiste scored a pair of goals Saturday as Sudbury lost in Belleville 7-4. Baptiste now has 46 goals and 89 points in 65 games this season, including 26 goals in 29 games since Jan. 1. The loss coupled with a Barrie win over Peterborough locks Sudbury into the No. 5 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Wolves cap a three-game weekend Sunday with their regular season finale at Oshawa.

Nikita Zadorov and Brady Austin logged plus-three ratings as London rolled past Saginaw 6-2. Eric Locke (-4) and Justin Kea each picked up an assist for the Spirit in defeat. The Knights, who have clinched fourth place in the Western Conference to set up a first round playoff series with Windsor, wrap up the regular season schedule Sunday in Sault Ste. Marie. The Spirit finish up Monday versus the Greyhounds. 

In the WHL, Logan Nelson tied a career high with his 23rd goal as Victoria closed out the schedule with a 3-2 loss at Everett. The Royals end the season as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round playoff series against Spokane.



William Carrier notched an assist as Drummondville finished the regular season schedule with a 7-2 drubbing of Victoriaville in a preview of a QMJHL opening round playoff series. The left winger, who finished the year with points in 10 of his final 12 tilts, captured 22 goals and 43 assists in 66 games this season. The victory locks the Voltigeurs into the sixth seed, giving then home ice advantage for their series with the Tigres.

Mikhail Grigorenko saw his eight-game point streak end as Quebec completed regular season play with a 2-0 blanking of Rimouski. Grigorenko posted 15 goals and 39 points in 23 junior games for the Remparts, who finish in the seventh position in the QMJHL standings. They'll have home ice advantage for their first round playoffs series against No. 10 Rouyn-Noranda.

In NCAA action, J.T. Compher (+1, 3 SOG) recorded two assists as No. 13 Michigan finished off the conference schedule with a 6-2 victory over No. 1 Minnesota. Hudson Fasching produced a game-high five shots on goal for the Gophers, while Christian Isackson received fourth line minutes. Michigan will square off with Penn State in a B1G quarterfinal tilt on Thursday. Minnesota will get back to work Friday in a semifinal matchup against the winner of Thursday's Michigan State/Ohio State contest.



Jake McCabe (laceration/stitches) did not play, and Brad Navin manned fourth line minutes as Wisconsin rode a four-goal first period to a 4-3 win over Michigan State in the regular season finale for both clubs. The Badgers finished second in the B1G standings, earning a spot in a Friday semifinal versus the winner of Michigan/Penn State.

Anthony Florentino picked up an assist as Providence doubled Maine 4-2 to win the Hockey East quarterfinal series in two games. The Friars have now won their last six games heading into Friday's Hockey East semifinal at TD Garden. The opponent will be decided after the other three quarterfinal series are decided.

In the AHL, Johan Larsson scored his 15th goal of the year and Nathan Lieuwen stopped 31 of 33 shots as Rochester lost at Binghamton 2-1. Luke Adam led all skaters with a season-high nine shots on goal, while Joel Armia returned to the lineup after missing one game with a lower body injury. Lieuwen, who has started 12 of the Amerks' last 15 games, ranks among the top AHL netminders with a 2.34 GAA (8th) and .922 save% (7th).



In USHL action, Connor Hurley (1 SOG) was blanked as Green Bay was shut out by Indiana 2-0. The Gamblers are in a three-way tie for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with Chicago and Muskegon with seven games left to play.

Cal Petersen served as backup as Waterloo dumped Dubuque 7-3. 

In ECHL action, Connor Knapp made 24 saves to win back-to-back starts for just the second time all year as Alaska defeated Colorado 4-2.

Colin Jacobs registered two shots on goal in Elmira's 4-1 loss at Reading.

Shawn Szydlowski was unable to produce, and Andrey Makarov again served as backup Fort Wayne was defeated by Florida 3-1.

3/9 Recap: Baptiste marks; Amerks run out of gas

Nick Baptiste scored on the power play Sunday as Sudbury was defeated by North Bay 4-1 in a key divisional contest. Baptiste's 43rd goal comes in his 63rd game, nearly equaling previous 43-goal outputs by Tyler Ennis (61 games, 2008-09) and Derek Roy (62 games, 2001-02). The Battalion victory vaults them past Baptiste's Wolves into first place in the Central Division standings, with the two clubs set to play a rematch Friday in Sudbury as the Wolves begin a three-game weekend to close out the regular season schedule.

Mikhail Grigorenko captured two assists as Quebec cruised to a 6-1 victory over Sherbrooke. The talented pivot has recorded 12 points in four March tilts to elevate his season line to 14-21-35 through 20 games. The Remparts currently sit sixth overall in the QMJHL standings with three games remaining.

William Carrier finished with six shots on goals and his first fighting major of the year as Drummondville downed Victoriaville 3-2. Carrier's three-game point streak came to a halt in the victory, leaving him with 20 goals and 61 points with just two games left on the schedule. The Voltigeurs are currently in seventh place in the QMJHL standings, one point behind Grigorenko's Remparts.

Justin Kea (-1) and Eric Locke (-2) were unable to crack the score sheet as Saginaw dropped a 3-1 decision to in-state rival Plymouth. With a playoff spot already reserved, the Spirit currently occupy sixth place in the Western Conference standings with three games left to play. They'll play a home-and-home with West Division leader Sault Ste. Marie before completing the schedule Saturday at home versus London.

In the AHL, Phil Varone notched a three-point night with a goal and two assists as Rochester lost in overtime 5-4 to Oklahoma City. The Amerks took a 4-2 lead into the final frame, but ran out of gas playing the final stage of a three-games-in-three-nights run. Colton Gillies, Kevin Porter, and Luke Adam also scored for Rochester, while Rasmus Ristolainen contributed a pair of assists. Matt Hackett made 27 saves to lose his fourth consecutive start.



With the game tied 4-4 with less than two minutes to play in regulation, Joel Armia forced a turnover, took the puck to the net, and received a two-handed slash while getting his shot attempt off. The slash did not earn a penalty.

3/8 Recap: Larsson, Varone boost Amerks

In Saturday action, Johan Larsson scored two goals and Phil Varone chipped in with a goal and two helpers as Rochester defeated Syracuse 5-3 to sweep the home-and-home set. The two-goal night gives Larsson a line of 14-22-36 in 37 AHL games this season, while Varone's three-point effort expands his team-leading point total to 48 (13+35) through 51 outings. Nathan Lieuwen made 28 saves to improve to 17-9-2 on the year. Luke Adam and Mike Zigomanis provided the other Amerks markers. Rochester is at home Sunday to host Oklahoma City.

In Sweden, Linus Ullmark made 35 saves as MODO ended the regular season with a 5-3 loss to HV 71. Ullmark completes the regular season with a 17-16 record, backed by a 2.08 GAA and league-best .931 save%. MODO finishes in eighth place in the SHL standings, setting up a best-of-three play-in series with Linkopings beginning Monday.

In the USHL, Connor Hurley scored a power play goal and added an assist as Green Bay lost to Fargo 6-4. Hurley's 10th multi-point effort of the season, and fourth in his last seven games, boosts his season totals to 12 goals and 42 points through 47 games.

Cal Petersen stopped 27 of 29 shots in Waterloo's 3-2 win at Des Moines. The victory, Petersen's second in his last three starts after a four-game stretch of losses, moves the Notre Dame commit to 25-5-3 on the year with a 2.49 GAA and .916 save%. 

In OHL action, Nikita Zadorov notched an assist to snap his four-game point drought as London skated to a 5-1 victory at Owen Sound. The helper gives Zadorov 29 points (11+18) in 34 games this season on the Knights blue line. Fellow defender Brady Austin logged a plus-one rating, elevating him into a tie for second overall with a cumulative plus-48.

Logan Nelson picked up an assist as Victoria held on for a 3-2 win over Kamloops. The energetic forward has 51 points with four games remaining on the regular season schedule.

In NCAA action, Sean Malone earned a power play assist as Harvard's season came to an end with a 2-1 loss at Yale. Malone finishes his freshman campaign with six goals and 20 points in 31 contests, earning All-Ivy Co-Rookie of the Year honors along the way.

J.T. Compher recorded four shots on goal as Michigan edged Michigan State 4-3. Compher has gone seven games without scoring a goal, but remains the Wolverines' leading point-getter with 29 (11+18) through 32 appearances.

Hudson Fasching logged one shot on goal as Minnesota played to a 2-2 tie with Ohio State (Buckeyes won the shootout). The freshman winger has gone three games without a point for the first time since December. Christian Isackson made his first appearance after a five-game absence, notching one shot on goal. The Gophers visit Michigan next weekend for a key, two-game series to end the regular season

Jake McCabe and Brad Navin each finished plus-one with one shot on goal as Wisconsin earned a 3-2 victory over Penn State in overtime. Winners of five straight, the Badgers close the regular season next weekend at Michigan State.

2/28 Recap: Kea shines; Baptiste nets 40th

Justin Kea scored twice Friday and added an assist to earn the game's number one star as Saginaw downed Kitchener 5-2. Kea's haul, which included his fourth short-handed marker of the season and his third game winner, puts the centerman at 19 goals and 41 points through 51 games. Eric Locke recorded an assist for the Spirit, while Rangers' forward Justin Bailey missed his seventh-straight game with an upper body injury.

Nick Baptiste scored the game winning goal with 2:17 to play to earn the game's number one star as Sudbury edged Guelph 6-5. Baptiste's 40th of the season was coupled with an assist to give him 27 multi-point efforts this season. 

Brady Austin notched an assist in London's 4-3 shootout victory over Owen Sound. Nikita Zadorov went without a point for the Knights.

Mikhail Grigorenko opened scoring at 2:57 of the first period as Quebec was defeated in a shootout by Shawinigan 2-1. The power play marker gives Grigorenko 12 goals and 23 points in 16 games with the Remparts.

New addition William Carrier (-1) posted six shots on goal as Drummondville fell to Blainville-Boisbriand 3-1. Carrier has 17 goals and 56 points this season with Cape Breton and the Voltigeurs.

Logan Nelson notched an assist as Victoria skated to a 5-3 victory over Prince George. The helper gets Nelson to the 50-point mark in his 52nd game.

In the USHL, Cal Petersen allowed five goals on 32 shots before exiting the game midway through the second period as Waterloo was dominated by Indiana 6-2. The Friday loss was the second time in a span of a week that the Notre Dame commit was pulled from a game.

Connor Hurley (-2) logged six shots on goal but saw his three-game point streak snapped as Green Bay was defeated at home by Omaha 4-1.

In NCAA action, J.T. Compher recorded an assist as Michigan played to a 2-2 tie with Ohio State. The true freshman has 28 points (11+17) through his first 29 collegiate contests.

Sean Malone contributed five shots on goal as Harvard got past Colgate 2-1. The freshman center has 18 points (5+13) in 28 tilts.

Anthony Florentino finished with one shot on goal and an even rating as Providence doubled Maine 4-2. The freshman rearguard has one point, an assist, in his last 16 games.

Christian Isackson was a scratch as Minnesota defeated Penn State 5-1.

In the AHL, Luke Adam and Kevin Porter supplied goals but Rochester saw their five-game point streak snapped with a 6-2 loss at Chicago. Johan Larsson picked up an assist to maintain his point-per-game pace (11-22-33 in 33gp), while Matt Hackett stopped 31 of 37 shots to suffer his third consecutive loss.

In ECHL action, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored his first goal since being re-assigned plus an assist as Gwinnett got past Florida 4-2. Gauthier-Leduc has three points in five coast league games.

Andrey Makarov allowed three goals on 18 shots as in Fort Wayne's 3-2 loss to Greenville. Shawn Szydlowski scored his sixth of the year for the Komets in defeat.

Jonathan Parker (-1) saw his three-game point streak snapped as Colorado lost in overtime 4-3 to Bakersfield.

2/27 Recap: Larsson pair paces Amerks

Johan Larsson scored twice Thursday, including the game winning goal, to guide Rochester to a 4-2 victory at Iowa. Mark Pysyk netted his first goal of the year, while Nathan Lieuwen stopped 21 shots to earn the win. Luke Adam sealed the win late with an empty-netter. Rasmus Ristolainen picked up two assists. Joel Armia and Phil Varone supplied single helpers for the Amerks, who continue the road trip Friday in Chicago.

2/22 Recap: Nelson produces; Zadorov gets winner

Logan Nelson connected for a pair of goals Saturday as Victoria doubled Saskatoon 6-3. The two-goal night, Nelson's third such effort of the year, gives the Minnesota native 49 points (22+27) through 51 games. Next up for the Royals is a two-game series in Prince George starting on Friday.



In the OHL, Nikita Zadorov scored with 5:35 left in regulation to thrust London to a 4-3 win over Plymouth. Zadorov's second game winner of the year puts him at 26 points (11+15) though 28 appearances. Brady Austin scored his ninth goal of the year for the Knights, who have now won seven straight heading into Wednesday's battle at Erie.

Eric Locke scored his 19th goal of the year and added two assists as Saginaw downed Owen Sound 5-2. Justin Kea, who earned an assist Thursday in his return from a hand injury, scored off a nice deflection to get his 17th goal for the Spirit. Saginaw visits Guelph on Saturday.



Nick Baptiste saw his three-game point streak snapped in Sudbury's 2-1 loss at Barrie. The speedy winger remains among the league's offensive leaders with 37 goals (7th) and 73 points (18th) in 55 games. The Wolves and Colts will complete the home-and-home set Sunday in Sudbury.

In NCAA action, Sean Malone saw his five-game point streak snapped as Harvard was blanked by Brown 2-0. The Crimson complete the regular season schedule next weekend with a New York road trip to Colgate and Cornell.

Jake McCabe tied his season-high with five shots on goal as Wisconsin pitched a 2-0 shutout of Michigan State. The win was Wisconsin's 17th on home ice this season, setting a new club record for the Kohl Center era. Brad Navin logged one shot on net for the Badgers, who are off next weekend before playing their first-ever series at Penn State Mar. 7-8.

J.T. Compher registered a plus-two rating as Michigan downed Penn State 5-2. Compher's 26 points (11+15) leads all Michigan skaters, while his 16 points in 14 conference contests places second among all Big Ten scorers. The Wolverines get back to it Friday when they host Ohio State (6:30 ET, BTN).

Anthony Florentino finished with a plus-one rating as Providence earned the weekend sweep with a 2-1 victory over Massachusetts. The Friars close out the regular season schedule next weekend with a pair of games at Maine.

In the USHL, Connor Hurley notched an assist as Green Bay stifled Youngstown 3-0. Hurley has collected seven goals and 22 points (including nine power play assists) in 21 games since joining the Gamblers. He previously played 21 games in Muskegon, collecting three goals and 14 points. The Gamblers are off until Friday's tilt with Omaha.

Cal Petersen allowed four goals on 21 shots before exiting the game late in the second period as Waterloo got whacked by Omaha 5-0. The Black Hawks will look to shake it off Tuesday when they host Lincoln.

Judd Peterson missed his fourth game with a lower body injury as Cedar Rapids suffered a 5-2 loss at Dubuque.

In the AHL, Nathan Lieuwen made 27 saves and Rasmus Ristolainen recorded two assists as Rochester held on for a 3-2 win over Hamilton. Frederick Roy, Luke Adam, and Mike Zigomanis provided the Amerks markers, while Dan Catenacci paced the offense with four shots on goal. Joel Armia notched a helper to give him points in three of his last four games. The Amerks begin a four-game road trip Thursday at Iowa.



In the ECHL, Jonathan Parker scored his 10th goal for Colorado in a 4-3 shootout loss to Stockton. The two clubs complete the three-game set on Sunday.

Shawn Szydlowski notched two assists as Fort Wayne defeated Florida. Connor Knapp made 25 saves in defeat to move to 2-4-1-2 since joining the Everblades. Andrey Makarov got the night off for the Komets.

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc played in his second game since being since to the coast league, producing one shot on goal as Gwinnett lost to Reading 2-1. The Gladiators host South Carolina on Sunday.

2/21 Recap: Amerks fall, Navin gets on board

Phil Varone and Brayden McNabb each scored a goal and an assist Friday as Rochester dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to San Antonio. Varone added a marker in the shootout, while Luke Adam chipped in with two assists. Nathan Lieuwen made 25 saves to move to 13-7-2 on the year. The Amerks get back to work Saturday when they host Hamilton.



In the NCAA ranks, Brad Navin snatched his fourth goal of the year, and Jake McCabe supplied a pair of power play assists as No. 8 Wisconsin earned a 5-2 victory over Michigan State. With 16 of their 18 wins this season coming at Kohl Center, the Badgers can set a school record for home wins Saturday when the teams complete the conference series.



J.T. Compher notched an assist as No. 10 Michigan was stunned in overtime by Penn State 5-4. The helper keeps the freshman centerman on a point-per-game pace with 27 (11+16) in as many games this season.



Sean Malone (-2) notched an assist as Harvard lost to No. 14 Yale 5-2. The helper gives Malone points in five straight games and a total of 18 (5+13) through 26 outings.

Anthony Florentino recorded two shots on goal as No. 12 Providence closed out their regular season home schedule with a 4-3 triumph over Massachusetts 4-3. The Friars and Minutemen travel to Amherst Saturday to complete the conference set.

In the WHL, Logan Nelson was blanked as Victoria lost at Regina 3-2. The Royals, who saw their streak of 14-straight games with a point come to an end, continue their eastern road trip Saturday in Saskatoon.

In the Ontario league, Nikita Zadorov (+1) and Brady Austin were each held without a point as London doubled Ottawa 6-3.The Knights take a six-game winning streak into Saturday's meeting at Plymouth.

Damaged ice in Sudbury caused the Wolves' game versus Erie to be postponed until Monday. Nick Baptiste, who has five goals in his last two games, will look to keep it going Saturday when Sudbury visits Barrie.

Justin Bailey (day-to-day, upper body) missed his third-straight game as Kitchener lost to Owen Sound 3-1.

In the QMJHL, Mikhail Grigorenko (-2) posted three shots on goal as Quebec was shut out by Victoriaville 3-1. The Remparts travel to Drummondville on Saturday.

In the USHL, Connor Hurley picked up two assists as Green Bay was defeated by Youngstown 7-3. Hurley has points in 15 of 20 games since joining the Gamblers.

Cal Petersen got the night off as Waterloo dominated Fargo 7-0. On Thursday, Petersen was named a midseason Western Conference First Team All-Star.

Judd Peterson (lower body injury) remained out of action as Cedar Rapids dumped Muskegon 6-3.

In ECHL action, Jonathan Parker scored a goal and an assist as Colorado notched a 6-4 win over Stockton. The points were Parker's first in three games since being returned to the Eagles from his two-and-a-half month stint with the Amerks.

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc logged one shot on goal and a minus-two rating in his ECHL debut as Gwinnett lost a 4-2 decision to Reading. The teams will rematch on Saturday.

Connor Knapp came on in relief midway through the second period, finishing with 14 saves and a number two star honor as Florida lost in a shootout 4-3 to Fort Wayne. Shawn Szydlowski recorded one shot on goal for the Komets, while Andrey Makarov served as backup.

2/7 Recap: Compher collecting; Malone nets winner

J.T. Compher snatched a goal and two assists Friday as No. 10 Michigan skated to a 7-3 win over Penn State. Compher leads the Wolverines with 10 goals and 24 points through his first 23 collegiate games, including nine points in his last five. He has produced seven multiple-point efforts this season.

Sean Malone knocked in his fifth goal of the season and a team-high four shots on goal as Harvard earned a 3-0 victory over Dartmouth. The power play marker gave the Crimson a 1-0 lead in the first period, and Malone his first game winning goal of his NCAA career.



Jake McCabe (+1) was ejected midway through the second period for a check to the head, and Brad Navin pumped four shots on goal as No. 12 Wisconsin earned the sweep of No. 1 Minnesota with a 2-1 win. Christian Isackson (-1) contributed one shot on goal for the Gophers, who lost back-to-back games for the first time all season.

In the AHL, Luke Adam notched a goal and an assist, and Matt Hackett stopped 25 of 26 shots as Rochester downed Hershey 4-1. Dan Catenacci pocketed his sixth goal of the year and Brayden McNabb added two helpers for the Amerks, who'll be in Buffalo Saturday for a big test against a talented Grand Rapids squad.



In OHL action, Eric Locke recorded a pair of assists in Saginaw's 4-2 loss to Niagara. Locke has three points in three February games following a productive 14-point January. Justin Kea remained out of action while nursing a hand injury.



Justin Bailey picked up an assist as Kitchener was defeated by Oshawa 3-2. The early helper gives Bailey 41 points in 51 games for the last-place Rangers.



Brady Austin netted two assists and a plus-three rating as London dominated Owen Sound 7-3. Nikita Zadorov was held without a point in the victory.

In the QMJHL, Mikhail Grigorenko posted an assist and three shots on goal as Quebec bested Drummondville 3-0. The assist was Grigorenko's 10th point (4+6) in eight games with the Remparts since leaving Buffalo.

In the USHL, Judd Peterson came up short on an overtime penalty shot as Cedar Rapids went on to lose in a shootout 4-3 to Indiana. Peterson's four-game point streak came an end in the loss.

Cal Petersen got the night off as Waterloo continued their winning ways with a 6-1 triumph over Tri-City. The Black Hawks have gone 22-straight games without a regulation loss.

Connor Hurley was held pointless for the second-straight game as Green Bay was blanked by Chicago 1-0. The Notre Dame commit has 13 points (6+7) in 14 games since joining the Gamblers from Muskegon.

In the ECHL, Andrey Makarov made 19 saves as Fort Wayne dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Kalamazoo. Makarov is 1-1-1 in three starts since returning from a mid-January concussion. Komets forward Shawn Szydlowski (-1) picked up his second fighting major of the year.

Connor Knapp stopped 18 of 24 shots as Florida was defeated by Gwinnett 6-5 in overtime. Knapp moves to 1-4-1 with a 3.64 GAA and .856 save% in six games since being re-assigned to Florida.

2/1 Recap: Zadorov rolling; Goalies come through

Nikita Zadorov scored twice on the power play Saturday to earn the game's number one star as London earned their fifth-straight victory 5-4 over Barrie. Zadorov has hit a dominant groove in the five wins, supplying five goals, eight points, and a plus-nine rating while logging major back end minutes. With the pair of first-period markers, Zadorov upped his total to seven in 19 games this season, eclipsing the six he posted in all of 2012-13 (63 games). Brady Austin finished with a plus-two rating in the win, giving him a cumulative plus-35 for the season (t-4th in OHL).



In WHL action, Logan Nelson scored a power play goal and added an assist as Victoria got past Vancouver 3-2 in overtime. Nelson, whose productive night gets him to the 40-point barrier for the second straight year, has collected four goals in his last three games. The mini-run arrives on the heels of a season-long eight-game goal drought.

Justin Bailey forced overtime with his 20th goal of the year and added a mark in the shootout as Kitchener defeated Niagara 5-4. Bailey now has 36 points in 49 games this season, equaling his total output from 57 games in 2012-13.



In the USHL, Cal Petersen stopped all 34 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the year as Waterloo throttled Sioux City 7-0. Petersen's 12th straight victory moves him to 23-2-1 with a 2.25 GAA (3rd in USHL) and .922 save% (2nd).

In the AHL, Nathan Lieuwen stopped all 26 shots sent his way as Rochester extended their winning streak to seven games with 4-0 shutout victory at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Luke Adam connected for his 19th goal of the year, while Frederick Roy, Johan Larsson, and Joel Armia rounded out the scoring. Armia's late tally combined with a gorgeous second-period assist to give him the second multi-point night of his North American career.



In Sweden, Linus Ullmark made 35 saves as MODO edged AIK 2-1. Ullmark, who continues to perform admirably while playing behind a struggling MODO offense (9th of 12 teams in goals for), boosts his record to 14-12 with a 1.93 GAA (3rd in SHL) and .938 save% (1st).



Elsewhere, Eric Locke notched an assist for his 40th point of the season as Saginaw came from behind to earn a 4-2 victory over Kingston. The helper gives Locke points in 13 of his last 16 games. Saginaw centerman Justin Kea missed his fourth-straight game due to injury.

Nick Baptiste sat out of Sudbury's 3-0 loss to Sault Ste. Marie with an upper body injury. The speedy winger was on the receiving end of a big hit in the first period of Friday's game with London.

Connor Hurley saw his 10-game point streak snapped as Green Bay was blanked 5-0 at Cedar Rapids. Judd Peterson recorded an assist for the RoughRiders, and now has points in four straight games and six of his last seven.

In the NCAA, Brad Navin registered an assist as Wisconsin played to a 2-2 tie with Michigan. Navin's assist give him eight points (3+5) in 24 games. Jake McCabe recorded one shot on goal for the Badgers, while Wolverines leading point man J.T. Compher (2 SOG) was held without a point.

Christian Isackson punched three shots on goal as Minnesota got past Michigan State 1-0. The junior forward has four points (1+3) in 15 games this season.

In the ECHL, Connor Knapp made 26 saves and stopped all four attempts in the shootout as Florida downed Greenville 5-4. The victory over his former club is Knapp's first in four appearances since joining the Everblades.

Andrey Makarov made 26 saves and Shawn Szydlowski posted a three-point night with a goal and two assists as Fort Wayne defeated Cincinnati 6-2. Makarov moves to 12-7-1-1 in the year, while amassing a 2.75 GAA and .911 save%.

1/25 Recap: Hurley heroic

Connor Hurley extended his point streak to eight games Saturday, snatching a goal at 3:40 of overtime to get Green Bay a 2-1 win over Team USA. Hurley, who assisted on the Gamblers' regulation tally, has 11 points (5+6) in 10 games since joining the Gamblers in a late December deal.

In the OHL, Nikita Zadorov (+3) notched a goal and an assist as London hammered Kitchener 6-1. The two-point night gives Zadorov four goals and 13 points in 16 games since being re-assigned by the Sabres. Brady Austin produced an assist on the Zadorov marker while improving to a plus-32 rating for the year (7th in league). Justin Bailey was minus-one for the Rangers.



Mikhail Grigorenko recorded a goal, an assist, and five shots on goal as Quebec bested Val-d'Or 8-5. Grigorenko has five points (2+3) in three games since returning to the QMJHL.

In the AHL, Luke Adam racked up a goal and two assists as Rochester completed their road trip with a 5-2 win at Binghamton. Matt Hackett made 32 saves for the Amerks, while Johan Larsson (1+1) and Brayden McNabb (0+2, 7 SOG) posted multi-point nights.



In WHL action, Logan Nelson scored his first goal since Dec. 3 as Victoria defeated Vancouver 3-1. The marker gives Nelson 13 goals and 36 points in 40 games.

In the USHL, Judd Peterson scored his team-leading 14th goal of the year as Cedar Rapids edged Indiana 2-1. The St. Cloud State commit has points in three of his  last four games.

A night after winning his 10th consecutive start, Cal Petersen served as backup as Waterloo smoked Fargo 6-2.

In Sweden , Linus Ullmark made 31 saves as MODO lost to Linkopings 3-1. Ullmark, who was making his fifth-straight start, slips to 13-12 with a 1.96 GAA and .936 save%.

In the college ranks, Brad Navin registered an assist as Wisconsin suffered a rare home blemish in a 3-1 loss to Ohio State. Jake McCabe (-2) recorded two shots on goal for the Badgers, who lost at home for just the second time all year..

Christian Isackson finished with a minus-one rating as Minnesota played to a 4-4 tie with Minnesota-Duluth. The Gophers won the tiebreaking shootout to earn the first place trophy at the North Star College Cup.

Providence defenders Anthony Florentino and Mark Adams remained out of action as the Friars were pasted by Lowell 6-1.

1/23 Recap: Baptiste pots pair; Ullmark streak halted

Nick Baptiste scored a pair of goals Thursday as Sudbury was defeated by Peterborough 7-4. The markers give the speedy winger 27 goals and 57 points through 45 games. Hunter Garlent had a hat trick and two assists for the Petes, while draft eligible forward Nick Ritchie pocketed a goal and three helpers.



Eric Locke picked up an assist as Saginaw lost to North Bay 5-1. The Spirit captain has 13 points (7+6) in 11 games since returning from a shoulder injury. Justin Kea finished with a minus-one rating for Saginaw, who meet up with Baptiste's Wolves on Friday.

In NCAA action, J.T.  Compher scored his seventh goal of the year as No. 14 Michigan edged rival Michigan State 2-1. Compher's goal gives him 16 points in 19 collegiate contests. The two clubs complete the B1G set on Friday.

In the QMJHL, Mikhail Grigorenko posted five shots on goal as Quebec came back to down Gatineau 6-2. Next up for the Remparts is a Saturday visit to Val-d'Or.

In the AHL, Luke Adam scored a pair of goals and Nathan Lieuwen stopped 31 shots as Rochester won at Lake Erie 4-1. Dan Catenacci added a pair of assist for the Amerks, who continue their road trip Saturday at Binghamton.



In Sweden, Linus Ullmark made 27 saves as MODO lost to Vaxjo 3-1. The loss ends Ullmark's season-best six-game winning streak. MODO hosts Linkopings on Saturday.

Connor Knapp made his Florida Everblades debut, stopping 20 shots in a 4-2 loss to South Carolina. Knapp was assigned to Florida after playing 16 games with the Greenville Road Warriors.