2/2 Recap: Eno busy in defeat

Bowling Green frosh Nick Eno stopped 40 Buckeye shots, but Ohio State avoided the home sweep by defeating his Falcons, 4-2. Eno, a 7th round pick in 2007, stopped 79 shots over the two-game split. His 9-5 record computes to fifth-best in the CCHA, while his GAA (2.65) and save percentage (.907) are each ranked seventh.

After walking into a scholarship over the summer thanks to a Josh Unice renege, the Howell, MI native has asserted himself as the Falcons #1 goaltender. Saying this, don't be surprised if Scott Paluch gives Jimmy Spratt a nod next weekend when the Falcons welcome last-place Alaska.

#4 Denver's grip on a #1 NCAA tourney seed continues to loosen after a 3-2 loss at Mankato. 2006 4th round pick Chris Butler (+1) assisted on the first Pioneers goal as the Mavs swept DU for the first time since 1999. Coach Gwozdecky noted an improved effort tonight, with the team having all week to tune-up before hosting Minnesota on Friday. Meanwhile, the DU faithful eagerly await news regarding leading scorer Brock Trotter, who didn't travel with the club this weekend.

In Niagara Falls, Matt Generous had an assist as St. Lawrence and Niagara played to a 4-4 tie. With a man advantage in the third, the Chesire, CT native fed a pass to Brock Mcbride to give SLU the go-ahead goal. However, Niagara would force OT less than a minute later. The steady Generous failed to cash in an overtime opportunity, ringing a shot of the pipe with 2:20 left.

#5 Michigan State avenged last night's upset loss to Nebraska-Omaha with a 4-2 win at Munn. Centered by Justin Abdelkader (DET), Sabres prospects Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp were held off the scoresheet after combining for five points in the series opener. The contest marked Kennedy's 100th as a Spartan.

In the AJHL, Brad Eidsness made 35 saves in Okotoks' 4-3 double-overtime win over Brooks. The UFA "AAA" Bisons product hasn't lost a start since a January 5th overtime loss to Sherwood Park.

Waterloo's Drew MacKenzie missed his second consecutive game in the Black Hawks 5-3 loss to Lincoln.

2/2 "Q" round-up: Breault pots winner

Drakkar C Benjamin Breault scored the game winning goal, his 25th of the year, midway through the third period in Baie-Comeau's 6-3 win over Val-d'Or. He also assisted on an empty-netter, raising his point total to 55 on the year (1.15 ppg). Paul Byron scored his 22nd goal of the season on the power-play as les Olympiques lost to Quebec, 4-3 in OT. The 5'10 center added three blocked shots, and a team-best six shots on goal in the loss. Halifax jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and held on to defeat St. John's, 3-2. J.S. Allard (+2) picked up an assist on the first Foggies goal. The helper was his 40th of the year, good for 11th in the QMJHL. Defenseman T.J. Brennan went pointless and picked up seven minutes in penalties after a second period bout with the Mooseheads' Guillaume Monast. The fight ensued after T.J. Brennan injured Anaheim first-rounder Logan MacMillan with a knee.

Dennis cracks Marlies code

In a late afternoon game, the Rochester Americans rode a 28-save shutout performance by Adam Dennis to defeat the Toronto Marlies, 3-0. Mark Mancari had a hand in all three goals, scoring the game winner in the final minute of the second period, and setting up two others in the third to cement the win. Skating as a forward, Marc-Andre Gragnani scored off a Mancari pass to make it 2-1 at 11:03 of the third. Dylan Hunter potted an empty netter with with :23 left on the clock. Dennis bounced back well from his last outing, which saw him pulled by Randy Cunneyworth after allowing goals on the first three shots of the second period in a 7-2 loss to Cleveland. Playing in front of his hometown crowd, Dennis entered today's game 0-9 with a 4.11 GAA since the beginning of December. RUNDOWN Dennis - 28 saves Mancari - goal, two assists, +3 Hunter - goal, assist, +3, 2 PIM Gragnani - goal, assist +2 Sekera - assist, +3, 4 SOG Weber - +1, 2 PIM Zagrapan - 4 PIM Three Stars 1. RCH - 53 Adam Dennis 2. RCH - 26 Mark Mancari 3. RCH - 21 Marc-Andre Gragnani Rochester ended a nine game losing streak with the win. They'll look to begin a streak of a different flavor at the BCA on Wednesday against Syracuse.

Enroth sparks rally

Entering the game in relief, SSK's Jhonas Enroth continued to play like one of the top goaltenders in Europe by making 33 saves in a 4-4 tie with Farjestad. The nationally televised contest saw Linus Klasen give SSK the 1-0 lead just 2:20 in. Farjestad took over from there, out-shooting SSK 14-3 to take a 4-1 lead after the opening frame. Sodertalje starter Bjorn Bjurling was chased after allowing three goals in a 10:33 stretch. The switch to Enroth at the 12:53 mark seemed to spark the troops, as he made 29 saves the rest of the way while the SSK offense dug its way out to earn overtime. With eleven games to play in the SEL regular season, SSK holds the last playoff spot by two points over Skelleftea.

Enroth's rest short-lived

In Sweden, SSK and Farjestad are underway in a battle of SEL playoff contenders. Sabres prospect Jhonas Enroth takes a rest today after three straight wins, giving way to Bjorn Bjurling (EDM) in the SSK crease. While Enroth wants to play as often as possible, it's probably a good move for Bjurling to get the nod. SSK will enjoy a 12-day rest after tonight's game, and the pair of talented goalies will need to stay sharp with eleven games left on the schedule. The 2007-08 season marks SSK's return to the SEL after a one-year demotion to the Allsvenskan. They're currently clinging to 8th place in the standings by a single point. Holding that spot down the stretch would land them in the final SEL playoff slot, keeping them out of a relegation series with a possible slip back to the Allsvenskan on the line. UPDATE: Enroth's rest lasted less than a period. As this was being posted, Bjurling let in three goals on nine shots, forcing the 19-year old to grab his gear. I guess the coaching decision wasn't such a great one after all. Enroth faced five shots through the end of the period, letting one by. We'll keep our eyes on this one.

Eidsness blanks Brooks

A night after creasemate Braely Torris posted a 9-0 win over Canmore, Okotoks' Brad Eidsness continued his dominance in the AJHL by pitching a 34-save shutout of his own versus Brooks. The Sioux recruit is now 23-2-3 on the year with a 1.90 GAA and equally impressive .941 save percentage. Tonight's shutout was his third of the year for the Oilers. The two teams will play it back tomorrow night in Okotoks. (note: Eidness' shutout total has been corrected.)

Amerks pick up where they left off

Rochester returned from the All-Star break Friday at the BCA, losing in overtime to Toronto, 3-2. The loss was the Amerks' ninth in a row, and 25th in their last 27 games. Down 1-0 at the end of two, Marek Zagrapan knotted the score 2:48 into the third. The Slovakian pivot took the return feed from David Brine on the give-and-go and deposited a shot over Justin Pogge's shoulder for his 15th goal of the season. Just over five minutes later, Mark Mancari would crash and bury a loose puck for an unassisted goal to give the Amerks the 2-1 lead. As is the case recently, the Amerks couldn't hold on to it. The Marlies would eventually tie the game, and later score off a turnover 1:20 into the extra session to seal the deal. Michael Funk didn't play tonight due to the infamous upper-body injury, and is out for at least a week. Mike Card remains out due to a serious concussion. The Amerks line: Zagrapan: goal Mancari: goal, 2 PIM Sekera: +1 Gragnani: +1 Weber: -1, 2 PIM Hunter: zeros Tomorrow afternoon, Rochester will attempt to beat the same Marlies club for the first time in seven tries.

2/1 Recap: Eno notches ninth; Kennedy-Tropp clicks

Bowling Green's Nick Eno held his ground through the final forty minutes to earn a key 5-2 road win at Ohio State. The freshman netminder stopped 39 Buckeye shots in all, backstopping his way to a hard-earned ninth win of the season. BGSU coach Scott Paluch would be wise to ride the hand hot tomorrow night as the Falcons go for the road sweep.

In E. Lansing, freshman Corey Tropp had his best night as a collegian, scoring a power-play goal and assisting on a pair of Justin Abdelkader tallies in #5 Michigan State's 5-4 OT loss to unranked Nebraska-Omaha. After UNO opened scoring 5:09 into the game, it was Tim Kennedy to Tropp to Abdelkader to tie it up a minute later. Kennedy would later assist on the second Abdelkader goal as well, with their line combining for eight points and 13 shots on goal.

#9 Boston College welcomed #13 Providence to Chestnut Hill, but had a hard time getting things going in a 3-2 loss to the Friars. LW Nathan Gerbe, once again named the Hockey East Player of the Month earlier in the day, was held without a point despite his game-best seven shots on net. The Hobey favorite finished a -1, after being on the ice for the game winning goal against in the third period. Andrew Orpik (7th, 2006) had an assist as he, Kyle Kucharski, and Matt Lombardi formed a swarming fourth-line attack for the Eagles in the loss.

#4 Denver, who has a history of struggling in Mankato, came out flat after a week off en route to getting bounced by the Mavs, 5-1. Chris Butler (-3) assisted on Rhett Rakhshani's power-play goal early in the second, but that's all the Pios could muster on a night that saw their defensemen get pounded on the forecheck. Coach George Gwozdecky chastised his team's defensive effort, so look for Denver to show equal output in all three zones as the two teams go at it again tomrrow.

Alex Biega pumped thorugh a game-high five shots on goal, but was -1 in Harvard's 4-2 loss to Brown. The Crimson will kick off the Beanpot on Monday against Northeastern.

In the QMJHL, Benjamin Breault had a goal and an assist as Baie-Comeau got pounded by Rouyn-Noranda, 8-4. Breault was busy with the man advantage, as both of his points and most of his seven shots on goal came on the power play. Even strength was a different story, as the Pembroke, Ontario native finished an unsavory -3 as the second-place Huskies doubled-up the first-place Drakkar.

Jean-Simon Allard opened scoring with his 15th of the year en route to being named the game's #2 star as St. John's defeated Halifax, 3-1. Defenseman T.J. Brennan was +1 with a air of minor penalties for the Fog Devils.

Paul Byron did everything but bury one for Gatineau in their 3-1 loss to Rimouski. The Sabres 6th round pick in 2007, Byron finished the night with four blocked shots, and a team leading four hits, and seven shots on goal.

Brad Eidsness was also in action tonight as Okotok's faced-off against Brooks. Those results will be posted shortly. In the meantime, check out a brief interview clip with the Sabres 2007 fifth-round pick on the front page of ajhl.ca.

Waterloo defender Drew MacKenzie did not play in Waterloo's 4-1 loss to Sioux City.

Germans to play in Skoda; Enroth with another W

In DEL action, Philip Gogulla (+2) scored an even-strength marker in the Sharks 7-3 rout of last-place Duisberg. The Dusseldorf native now has seven points in his last three games for Cologne.

Felix Schutz went pointless, registering a shot on goal, in Ingolstadt's 6-4 win over Wolfsburg.

The league will enter a ten day break, but the Sabres German prospects will still see action before league play resumes. Both Schutz and Gogulla were tabbed this week by national coach (and former Sabres defenseman) Uwe Krupp to represent Germany at the Skoda Cup, where they'll face clubs from France, Slovakia, and host Switzerland.

Last night, Drew Schiestel entered a one week break by going -1 with a holding minor in Niagara's 5-2 loss to Peterborough.

In an elitserien match-up, Jhonas Enroth made 23 saves in SSK's 3-2 overtime win over Mora. The win over the last-place club was a sloppy affair featuring poor passing, little checking, and numerous icing calls. In other words, the teams did not play up to SEL standards.

More to come on a busy Friday.

Friday Quick Hits

Some NCAA news and notes to kick off the weekend.... Leading up to the Beanpot opener on Monday, the Boston Herald ran a nice piece on Nathan Gerbe for today's edition. Laced with quotes from the diminutive Eagles forward, the article presents player who has defied odds to get where he is, and quite possibly will do so moving forward.

“When I was younger, I’d get upset when people would say I’m too small, but now I think it’s fun being able to prove people wrong. If you keep working hard, good things will happen. So far, that’s how it’s worked out.” While his reputation is firmly established now, Gerbe tended to catch opponents by surprise during his first two seasons at BC with his feistiness and refusal to back down to much larger opponents. That pugnacious nature developed at a young age in Michigan, where the youngest of Terrie and Joe Gerbe’s six children learned that nothing was ever going to come easy. “I’ve been undersized growing up, so I’ve been used to it since Day 1,” he said. “I’ve always been in the feisty situations, being the youngest kid, whether it was in sports or being picked on in the back yard or even when the food was put on the table. My three sisters and two brothers helped me learn to stand up on my own and reach for what I want and go for it. That’s how it’s always been at our house, everyone having the desire and passion to never give up.” Among the fastest skaters at any level, Gerbe is totally fearless and completely unafraid. “You can’t look at (size) as a negative or you’ll never make it,” said Gerbe, who has tallied 101 points in 103 career games. “I actually think it’s great. I can dodge in and out of people or maybe get in front of the net for a loose puck or spin out of the corner and it’s tough to get a hold of me because I’m so small. You can use it to your advantage.”

Elsewhere, #5 Michigan State's Tim Kennedy and Corey Tropp start their battle with Nebraska-Omaha tonight at Munn. Kennedy, the Spartans leading goal-getter with 13, enters play with a two-game pointless streak for the second time this season. His earlier scoring dearth came in the first two games of the season against North Dakota and Colgate, after which he proceded to score a point in eight straight. The Buffalo native, who also leads the team with 7 multiple point games, has been on the ice for nine MSU game winners - scoring five and assisting on two others. Corey Tropp's five goals lead all Spartan freshman, and his point total (12) is second to power play regular, D Jeff Petry. After last Friday's rocky outing against Notre Dame, it's hard to decipher whether Bowling Green will go with 2007 7th rounder Nick Eno, or Flames prospect Jimmy Spratt in net tonight at 11th place Ohio State. Either will have to be sharp as a struggling Falcons offense (0-26 on the power play over the last four games) looks to return the favor after the Buckeyes swept the Falcons last season on home ice. Lastly, D Chris Butler and the #4 Denver Pioneers will return after a weekend off, traveling north to Minnesota State for a two-game set. The Pioneers will look to keep their status as potential #1 NCAA tourney seed without the services of leading scorer Brock Trotter, who is out due to unspecified reasons. In total, sixteen Sabres prospects will see the ice tonight. Keep it here, as we'll offer updates at the close of each game.