4/6 Recap: Late touchdown sinks Amerks

The forgettable season for the Rochester Americans endured another head-shaking blemish yesterday with a 10-3 loss to Syracuse. Dylan Hunter notched his 20th goal in defeat. The Rundown: Hunter - goal, -1 Mancari - assist, -1 Funk - assist, -3 Kaleta - fight with Derek Dorsett MacArthur - 5 SOG, -1 Gragnani - 1 SOG, -2 Zagrapan - 1 SOG, -3 Whitmore - -4 In another Sunday contest, Drew Schiestel was -1 as Niagara fell to Oshawa, 4-1. The Generals rode a two-goal first period en route to taking a 2-1 series lead over the Dogs. Adding insult to the pain of defeat for Niagara is the indefinite loss of defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Projected as a top-five pick in the June draft, Pietrangelo sits in a St. Catharines hospital diagnosed with mononucleosis and fluid in his abdomen due to a small tear in his spleen. Schiestel and the rest of the Dogs D will have to step it up a notch when play resumes Tuesday night.

4/6 Recap: Gogulla Goal-unga

Philip Gogulla scored the game's first goal as Cologne needed overtime to defeat Frankfurt, 2-1. The goal was the second of the playoffs for the left wing, and was cashed on one of his game-high 10 shots on goal. The Sharks now lead the semi-final series 2-1, and will look to advance to the DEL finals with a win on Tuesday. Pardon the Caddyshack reference in the title, but it's strange that Western New York's first gorgeous day of the year comes on the first day of the Sabres offseason...

4/5 Recap: Byron, Schiestel, MacKenzie pot big goals

Paul Byron scored a pair of goals, including his second straight game winner, as Gatineau defeated Quebec, 5-2. The Remparts were up 2-0 before Byron finished a Claude Giroux (PHI) feed to get les Olympiques on the board in the second period. He put Gatineau up for good with his sixth of the playoffs midway through the third, and added an assist in the final minute to push his playoff point total to nine in seven games. Gatineau leads the series 2-0 with the teams heading to QC for game three on Tuesday. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel scored his first goal of the playoffs in Niagara's 5-3 win over Oshawa. The Generals continued their dominance early, scoring three times in a span of 1:26 to jump ahead 3-0, but the Dogs would score five unanswered to even the series at one game each. Just minutes after the Generals surge, Schiestel notched the second of two Niagara power play goals in :24 to spur the Dogs home-ice comeback. Niagara looks to carry their momentum into Oshawa's barn for tomorrow's game three. The entire Dogs roster struggled there in Thursday's 6-1 road loss, including Schiestel, whose giveaway led to Dale Mitchell's game winner. Oshawa will be without Shea Kewin for the rest of their run, as the RW broke his leg after falling in a fight with Matt Corrente. In a USHL playoff preview, Waterloo defenseman Drew MacKenzie blasted the overtime game-winner as the Black Hawks edged Cedar Rapids, 3-2. The Connecticut native finishes his only tier one season 4-14-18 with 103 PIM and a +7 in 57 games. The same two teams will square off in round one of the Clark Cup Playoffs, beginning next Friday with a back-to-back set in Waterloo. Four of their regular season games went to OT. On the farm, Marek Zagrapan banged in a rebound and Mark Mancari tapped a backhander five-hole for the Rochester goals in their 3-2 loss to Grand Rapids. Adam Dennis made 36 saves while goaltender coach Bob Janosz watched from the bench as the Amerks back-up for the evening. The Rundown: Zagrapan - goal (17) Mancari - goal (19) Hunter - assist MacArthur - assist Whitmore - -1 Gragnani - -1 Funk - 0's

Former Sabres scout talks Bogosian, process

In today's Peterborough Examiner, former Sabres scout Don Barrie discusses '08 stud defender, Zach Bogosian, and served up a few details about the whole draft process.

When I was working with Buffalo, we interviewed Alex Ovechkin, even though we were picking 13th. There was some interest in some of our players and there was a possibility we could move to that coveted first pick in the draft. But Ovechkin's body language throughout the interview said, "Why are you wasting my time when it is obvious I'm going first overall?"

I remember him as being pleasant and accommodating and so confident of his English that he did the interview without an interpreter - a rarity for Russian players.

Later in the article...

After the combine, some seriously interested teams will bring in the prospect to meet the entire staff. The year Eric Staal was drafted, 2003, Buffalo had the fifth pick overall. I drove Staal down to Buffalo to meet the Sabres' staff. The Sabres also brought in Nathan Horton, Dustin Brown and flew to the University of Minnesota to see Thomas Vanek, their eventual pick, before the draft. Goalie Marc-Jean Fleury went first to Pittsburgh with Eric going second to Carolina.

Barrie joined Rudy Miguay, Mike Racicot, and David Volek as scouts let go by the Sabres in the 2005 offseason. Peterborough's Bogosian, meanwhile, is considered a lock to be chosen in the top five of the June draft.

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

Gerbe named Hockey East Player of the Month

Hobey finalist Nathan Gerbe of Boston College stays in the headlines by earning Hockey East Player of the Month honors for March. League Release

Gerbe registered a team-high 15 points (8g,7a) in nine games. He registered six multiple-point performances in the month of March and recorded a point in eight of the nine games. Gerbe earned Hockey East Tournament MVP honors after he totaled nine points (4g,5a) in four league tournament wins and captured NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament team honors after tallied three points (2g,1a) in BC victories over No. 3 seed Minnesota and No. 1 seed Miami. Runners-up: Pete MacArthur, BU (Sr., F, Clifton Park, N.Y.) 7 GP, 9 points (7g,2a) Jerry Pollastrone, UNH (Jr., F, Revere, Mass.) 7GP, 8 points (7g,1a)

The good folks over at Gerbe-for-Hobey have already added the award to his impressive 2007-08 trophy case: -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER -NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: DECEMBER -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE WEEK - 3/24 -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE WEEK - 2/11 -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE WEEK - 1/14 -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE WEEK - 12/17 -CCM/RBK PLAYER OF THE WEEK - 12/3 -INCH PLAYER OF THE WEEK - 11/26 -Hockey East First Team All Star -Hobey Baker Award Finalist -Walter Brown Award Semi-Finalist -2008 Hockey East Tournament MVP -2008 NCAA NE Regional All Tournament Team Next Thursday, Gerbe and fellow Sabres prospect Andrew Orpik will take on North Dakota at the NCAA Frozen Four in Denver.

4/3 Recap: Taylor goal buries Sharks; Dogs pounded

Philip Gogulla notched his fifth point of the DEL playoffs, a power-play assist, in Cologne's 5-4 overtime loss to Frankfurt. Former Sabre Chris Taylor scored the game winning goal for the Lions. The semifinal series is now locked at a game apiece with the action shifting back to Cologne's home sheet for Sunday's game three. Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara got spanked by Oshawa, 6-1. The home ice win puts the Generals up 1-0 over the Ice Dogs in their OHL second round series. Last night, Waterloo D Drew MacKenzie punched five shots on the Gamblers goal in their 2-1 come-from-behind win over Green Bay.

Gerbe lands in Hobey Hat Trick

And then there were three. Hobey finalists, that is. Congratulations to Michigan's Kevin Porter, Miami's Ryan Jones, and Boston College's Nathan Gerbe, who today were tabbed as the three finalists for the NCAA's Hobey Baker Award - also known as the Hobey Hat Trick.

Gerbe, a junior forward, has helped guide his Eagles to their third straight NCAA Frozen Four. He has produced 30 goals and 30 assists in 41 games and ranks second in the nation in scoring. Gerbe was named first-team Hockey East and the league's playoff MVP, The Dodge Holiday Classic MVP and was the Hockey Commissioner's December National Player of the Month.

It's worth noting that Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna suggested over a month ago that Gerbe's November suspension should not factor into the award voting.

"I think that would be a shame," Bertagna said. "Believe me, I believe whether it's players or coaches I've always been a stickler for people doing what's expected of them. I think it would be a shame if someone took it that far [to punish Gerbe in the Hobey Baker voting]. I really don't believe there's a body of evidence to make that a factor in the voting, just a couple incidents that happened. It seems like a long time ago to me, and he paid the price for it. To me, he's been a great player since, and I haven't had an incident, or anything anybody has asked me to look at or anything."

This is the first year since 2002 that a goaltender was not part of the 'Hat Trick', and for the first time since 2001 (Ryan Miller - Mich. St./CCHA), the winner will come from a non-WCHA school. The award will be handed out on Friday, April 11th. The Sabres selected Gerbe in the 5th round (142nd overall) of the 2005 Draft.

4/1 Recap: Cologne strong; Allard, Brennan done

In the DEL semifinals, LW Philip Gogulla picked up an assist as rested Cologne pounded Frankfurt, 7-1. Gogulla now has a goal and three assists in six playoff games. The win puts the Sharks up 1-0 over the Lions in the best-of-five series with play resuming on Thursday. Last night, J.S. Allard had a pair of assists as St. John's was eliminated from the postseason with a 4-3 loss to Acadie-Bathurst. In the six series games, Allard went 4-8-12 to lead all Foggies scorers. Defenseman T.J. Brennan was held off the scoresheet in the loss, potting two goals and four assists in the short playoff year. Now the search for new billets begins for the pair of 2007 draftees, as the franchise will be leaving the Newfoundland outpost for Montreal (Verdun) in 2008-09.

The Butler, in the library, with the deal?

On Sunday, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post speculated on the future of Pioneers junior rearguard, Chris Butler:

Two big question marks, and a smaller third one, exist with the Pios. One, will junior defenseman Chris Butler be back? DU’s best two-way player had a nice summer camp with the Buffalo Sabres last year and will probably have a tough decision to make. If he stays, he’ll be the WCHA’s top D-man and possible team captain. I talked to him briefly about it after Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Badgers, and he didn’t say much — other than the loss could inspire him to come back and give it another shot. But once he’s offered a contract and the Sabres present a plan for him next season, certainly the sting of the season-ending loss will be history. My take: 70-30 he signs.

Chambers says 70/30 he signs. I'll say 89/11. Other than winning a college championship, which is a dangerous motivator for a player reknowned as a "team guy", there isn't a whole lot left for Butler to prove in the WCHA. Of course, completing his education has to be a primary goal, but that can always be done over the offseason. Developmentally, the St. Louis native is good to go as a professional hockey player. Andrej Sekera is certain to be on Buffalo's blueline next season, and it looks like Mike Weber is on the verge of joining him. With a twice-concussed Mike Card engaged in rehabilitation, and still-defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani showing chops best served as a left wing, Mike Funk and Mike Kostka could be the only defensive prospects under contract for the Sabres AHL affiliate in 2008-09. (The recently signed Kostka will attend training camp after leaving his Amerks ATO to finish his UMass coursework.) Enter Butler, 21, and perhaps even 2006 first-rounder Dennis Persson. Butler would obviously be an early signing, while the Sabres are inside of 60 days away from a decision on Persson. 2007 picks T.J. Brennan and Drew Schiestel both would benefit from another junior season, and as 19-year olds, would have to make the Sabres roster outright (unlikely) since they won't meet AHL age requirements. Harvard sophomore Alex Biega and St. Lawrence junior Matt Generous are expected to return to college, while '07 Drew MacKenzie hasn't even glanced at his first campus co-ed. SabresProspects is still keeping tabs on unsigned Miami D Mitch Ganzak, who recently completed his senior season with the Redhawks after attending Buffalo's prospect camp over the summer - the same camp that put Kostka on the radar.