Greetings all! A small change is going to occur with these “week in review” posts – normally the content has covered the week starting on Monday ending on Sunday; starting this week that’s going to change. From now on, the week I’m updating will start on Sunday and end with Saturday’s games. If you’re wondering why the change it’s because we thought Monday mornings would be a good time to post and also this happened. So here we go.
Fans in Springfield got a rare treat this weekend with a hockey doubleheader as the Falcons played three games in two days last week. Friday night the Falcons would welcome the Adirondack Phantoms. The two teams first had to finish the February 17th game that was postponed due to Wade MacLeod’s seizure. Starting with 3:42 left in the second period with the Falcons trailing 2-1, the game would feature eight players that didn’t play on the 17th. Ryan Craig scored on the 17th and would then pick up an assist this weekend on Scott Howes‘ game tying goal. As Craig and Sean Collins were creating havoc in front, the loose puck came to Howes who knocked it home for his fourth of the season. The game would go to a shootout with OSU alum Cal Heeter and Allen York in net. Both goalies would be perfect until Jonathan Audy-Marchessault got to shoot and well there’s no way I can do this justice so just click the link and enjoy I’ll wait…you back? good. JAM’s goal would be the only goal Heeter would allow while Allen York on the other end would stop all five shooters to pick up a 3-2 shootout win (his seventh).
After a short commercial break/jersey change the teams would meet again with Curtis McElhinney taking over the Falcons crease and Heeter staying in for the Phantoms. Ryan Russell opened the scoring. Coming off a Sean Collins faceoff win, Russell would drive to the net and go top shelf to make it 1-0. Scott Howes would score to make it 2-0 when he sent a cross rink pass to Howes who’d score his second of the day and fifth of the season. Four minutes later, a familiar name to my long time followers would strike for his first AHL goal. Dublin native and one time Jackets prospect Trent Vogelhuber would score on a breakaway making it 3-0. Early in the second period, Scott Howes who showed great hustle would find Andrew Joudrey in front for Joudrey’s fifth of the season. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault would score his team leading 17h goal off a three on one with Sean Collins and Ryan Russell to make it 5-0. Sean Collins would make it 6-1 Falcons when he’d deflect in a David Savard shot for his seventh goal of the season and third point of the night. After a ugly goal by the Phantoms, Nathan Moon scored his first of the season when he tapped in the rebound of a Mike Banwell shot for his first of the season and seventh of the game for the Falcons. Curtis McEllhinney would make 21 saves for his 22nd win of the season in the 7-2 Falcons victory. Saturday night the Providence Bruins would come to town for Pink in the Rink night. In the second period, with the Falcons trailing 2-1, Andrew Joudrey would find Scott Howes behind the net and, after a bit of skating, found Cody Bass in front for Bass’ 2nd of the season. The game would go to a shootout with Sean Collins and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault being the only Falcons to score. Allen York would stop all four Bruins shooters. York is 2-0 in AHL shootouts stopping all nine shooters he’s faced.
On the weekend Sean Collins and Scott Howes would lead the team in scoring with four points; Howes had two goals and two assists; while Collins had a goal and three assists. Other Falcons with multiple points included Andrew Joudrey with a goal and two assists while JAM, Cody Bass, Ryan Russell, Nathan Moon and Ryan Craig each with a goal and a assist. Allen York would pick up two wins both in shootouts stopping 22 of 25.
Quickly in Evansville: the IceMen would go 1-1 last week with Jackets prospect Oliver Gabriel playing in both games. Gabriel picked up his second assist of the season in a 6-3 win over Toledo on Thursday. In the rematch on Saturday it’d be all Walleye as they’d defeat Evansville 7-1 with Oliver being held scoreless.
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otters(OHL)
Season Stats 38GP 10-21-2-3 4.13GAA .889Sv%
A light week for the Otters going 1-1 and snapping their six game losing streak. Starting off on Friday, the Plymouth Whalers came to town. Oscar would go the distance in a 7-2 Otters loss making 30 saves. Saturday night the Windsor Spitfires came to town and with the way the game started it probably led some Otters fans to say “here we go again.” Oscar allowed a goal just 12 seconds into the game but he’d settle down. Ultimately Dansk picked up his 10th win of the season making 21 saves in a 5-4 overtime win when Spencer Abraham won it 31 seconds in.
Boone Jenner-Oshawa Generals(OHL)
Season Stats 52Gp 40-37-77 +20 50PIM
The Generals opened the week on Wednesday with a game against the Fronternacs. In the 4-1 win, Boone picked up his 12th multi goal game of the season. Boone opened the scoring four minutes into the game when he fired a shot from the slot for his 38th goal of the season. He then scored his 39th to make it 3-1 Generals late in the third period. Boone and the Generals traveled to Brampton for the last time on Friday as the Battalion are moving to North Bay, Ontario next season. In the 3-2 Generals win, Boone would do his usual picking up a goal and an assist. For the 10th time this season, Boone opened the scoring when, after taking a hit, he worked a give and go with Cole Cassels resulting in Boone blasting his 40th goal of the season (go ahead read it again I know you want to) from the slot. Bonus points for the Captain Morgan celebration. Later in the third period, Boone picked up an assist on Tyler Biggs’ 25 of the season when Boone centered the puck and Tyler tapped it in for the game winner with three minutes remaining.
Gianluca Curcuruto-Plymouth Whalers(OHL)
Season Stats 61GP 9-33-42 +27 28PIM
Gianluca and the Whalers opened the week against the Niagara IceDogs with Plymouth picking up a 7-1 victory. In the second period, Gianluca broke up a Dogs rush and start the rush up ice sending a pass that Garrett Meurs would deflect into the net for his 25th of the season. Iif you keep watching the highlight, is it just me or does it look like Gianluca should have gotten an assist on the second goal?) The next night it was off to Erie for a matchup against fellow Jackets prospect Oscar Dansk. Gianluca would keep his point streak alive picking up an assist. In the first period with the Whalers leading 2-1, Vincent Trocheck would win a faceoff and Gianluca would fire a slapshot that Oscar would stop but Trocheck would drive to the net, pick up the rebound, and score his 44th goal of the season (21st with Plymouth). Plymouth would win the game 7-1 with Oscar making 30 saves.
Thomas Larkin-Colgate(ECAC)
Season Stats 34GP 3-11-14 51PIM
Thomas would play his last two regular season games at Colgate facing Yale and Brown. On Friday night Thomas picked up an assist on Robbie Bourdon’s third period goal that began the Raiders unsuccessful comeback bid. Colgate would lose 4-3 after trailing 2-0. Saturday night in a 5-1 Colgate loss to Brown, Thomas was held scoreless. As for next weekend, the Raiders will face St Lawrence in the ECAC quarterfinals in the 6-11 matchup with Colgate being the 11 seed.
Martin Ouellette-Maine(Hockey East)
Season Stats 26GP 8-10-7 2.30GAA .919Sv% 2SO
The Black Bears faced off against Northeastern fighting for their playoffs lives. Friday night Martin was solid again even though it didn’t sound like he was very busy only having to make 19 saves in a 3-1 Bears win. Saturday night, Martin faced a season high 39 shots making 35 saves in a 4-4 tie. Next weekend will be interesting as the 9th place team is only a point behind Maine (top 8 seeds make it) and Maine faces the top team in the league New Hampshire.
Kevin Lynch-Michigan(CCHA)
Season Stats 34GP 7-13-20 40PIM
It was Kevin’s last regular season weekend at Michigan as they welcomed Ferris State to town. On Friday night, Kevin was held scoreless in the 4-1 Michigan win. Saturday night, on senior night, Kevin opened the scoring eight minutes in. After a board battle he called for the puck in the slot firing a wrist shot past the Bulldogs goaltender for his seventh. The Bulldogs and Wolverines would need a shootout to decide the outcome – Kevin would shoot and miss but the Wolverines earned the final decision 2-1. Next week Michigan will face off against Northern Michigan in the 7-10 matchup of the CCHA quarterfinals.
TJ Tynan-Notre Dame(CCHA)
Season Stats 36GP 9-16-25 28PIM
TJ and the Irish faced off against Bowling Green with Notre Dame earning a sweep. In the second period with the Irish leading 1-0, TJ was set up on just below the blueline and he fired a wristshot that got past the Falcons goaltender for his ninth of the season. The Irish would go onto win the game 4-3. TJ would be held scoreless in the Irish’s 4-1 win on Saturday night. Notre Dame finished second in the CCHA meaning they earned a bye and will play the second highest seed out of this week’s quarterfinals.
Joonas Korpisalo-Jokerit J20(Finland)
Season Stats 13GP 6-7 2.67GAA .914Sv% 1SO
The Finland season is wrapping up with Joonas and the Jokerit J20s playing one of their last two games this week and the final game Sunday the 3rd. Jokerit played Karpat with Joonas making 30 saves in a 3-2 victory for his sixth with the J20 team. It appears that Joonas will join Oscar Dansk as the only Jacket not to make the playoffs as Jokerit sits four points out of eighth place getting three points for a win.
Daniel Zaar-BIK Karlskoga(SEL-2 Sweden)
Final Regular Season Stats 15GP 0-7-7 +3
Daniel and BIK closed out the regular season going 3-0 in their final three games (that link takes you to all highlights – you’ll have to select the game to watch). They opened the week against league bottom feeder Karlskrona HK. Daniel put on a show picking up his first multi point game. Daniel’s first assist came when he was swarming the puck and broke up a pass that would lead to a loose puck. Marcus Nilsson grabbed it finding Ken-Andre Olimb in front. Later in the game with BIK trailing 3-2 and off a faceoff, BIK’s goalie would make a save with Daniel corralling the puck in the corner sending Olimb and Nilsson on a breakaway. Daniel would pick up his third assist when he went behind the net sending a pass to Olimb who’d shoot. The goalie would stop that shot but the puck would bounce out to Nicholas Plastino who fired it past the goalie. BIK would win the game 6-4. Thursday, BIK faced the top team in the league Leksands IF. Daniel continued his point streak picking up an assist on Henrik Larsson’s goal that made it 2-0. BIK would win the game 5-3. To close out the regular season Daniel and BIK played Orebro Hockey with BIK picking up a 1-0 victory with Daniel being held scoreless.
Anton Forsberg-Sodertalje SK(SEL-2 Sweden)
Final Regular Season Stats 33GP 24-9 2.04GAA .933Sv% 3 Shutouts
Anton and SSK opened the week against Malmo with Anton winning his 23rd game of the season making 38 saves in a 2-1 overtime win. Michael Nylander’s (remember him?) 16 year old son William won the game 10 seconds into overtime. Anton would earn a day off in SSK’s overtime win over Almtuna. Anton would go back in the crease in Sodertalje’s last game of the season making 36 saves in a 4-2 victory over Troja/Ljungby. Anton finished in the top five in every statistical category including finishing second in both GAA and save percentage and fifth in wins and shutouts. Now Anton and SSK are off for a few days while their opponent for a chance to move up in the SEL can be decided.
Quickly, I’ll try and explain how the Swedish playoffs work. Sweden has two leagues, the higher tier league is called Elitserien, or the Swedish Elite League(SEL) as its more commonly known, the lower league is called Allsvenken or SEL-2. The SEL has twelve teams and SEL-2 has 14. The playoffs are set up with the bottom two teams in SEL and the top three teams in SEL-2 playing a home and away against each other with the top two teams either moving up or staying in SEL-2 next season. Before these games can happen the teams that finish in fourth through seventh in SEL-2 will play a home and away with the top team being the sixth team in the group that can move up. Anton Forsberg and his 24 wins has SSK second in SEL-2 meaning they’ve earned a chance to move back up to the SEL after playing in SEL-2 for the last two seasons. SSK, Leksands and Vasteras are the top three in SEL-2 and they’ll play Rogle and Timra along with whoever wins the group of four I’m about to talk about. As for Daniel Zaar and BIK KArlskoga they sit in fourth in SEL-2 going 30-19-3 meaning they will play Djurgarden, Orebro and Oskarshamn to play for a chance to move up. Due to finishing fourth, BIK will start with four points, Djurgardens with three, Orebro with two, and Oskarshamn with one point.
Next week we’ll have the last game for Finland along with the final weekend of Hockey East and the WCHA along with playoff updates from Sweden and the CCHA and ECAC.
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