The Canadian Hockey League announced the NHL Network will be carrying games for the remainder of February as well as the Memorial Cup. On February 28, you’ll get to see Jackson Edward, some of you for the first time. So, mark your calendars and get ready.
In Monday’s Beanpot action, Northeastern (upset?) defeated Boston University 4-3 in overtime to win their fifth Beanpot Championship in 6 years. BU played a near perfect game outshooting the Huskies 36-17, but could never extend their lead beyond one. The Huskies kept plugging away, scored the tying goal halfway through the third to force overtime and then won in with 28 seconds remaining in overtime. Ty Gallagher was once again the 7th defenceman for BU.
Oskar Jellvik scored his 12th of the season as Boston College blanked Harvard 5-0. It was a beautiful goal set up by Cutter Gauthier (you know that name). Jellvik found enough space in the slot area to rip home the goal on a perfect shot to put BC up 2-0. He would finish the game with 6 SOG, second only to Gauthier. Andre Gasseau would miss the game with an injury.
On Tuesday, Linkoping defeated Oskarshamn 5-3 to move into fifth place in the SHL standings just 4 points out of third. Jonathan Myrenberg returned after missing the last two games with an injury – both losses for Linkoping. In his return, Myrenberg did not register a point in 15:12 TOI but he helped steady the blueline defensively.
Wednesday’s J20 Nationell Top-10 action saw Frolunda drop another game, this time by a 4-2 margin to HV71. Frolunda drops to 1-7-2 which places them 9th out of 10 teams just 2 points ahead of the basement and 10 points behind 8th place. All 10 teams make the playoff round as well as 6 teams from the continuation group. But standings are important because the top 7 teams get to pick their opponent in the opening round. Casper Nassen recorded his 5th goal in 10 Top-10 games well above the 3 he scored in 22 regular league games. Kristian Kostadinski was kept of the scoresheet for the 9th consecutive game.
In the WHL, the Swift Current Broncos defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-1 to move into sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference now just 4 points out of fourth. Reid Dyck stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced and has won his last 6 starts allowing just 7 goals. On the one shot that got by him on this night, he moved laterally and out to the top of the paint in time to get set for the shot. Unfortunately, he did not move far enough to his right and the shot beat him short side.
On Thursday, Linkoping suffered a heartbreaking loss to Skelleftea by a 3-2 margin in overtime. Myrenberg had just 14:39 TOI in this one and finished a minus-1 and did not register a point. The 6’3”, 200-pound blueliner is tied for second on his squad and leads all defencemen with a plus-9. Of Linkoping’s 9 defenceman on San Jose prospect Mattias Havelid is younger.
A busy Friday night starts in the OHL where the Soo Greyhounds stopped the London Knights point streak at 23 games (21 wins) by pounding them 8-2 in their own rink and taking their season series 3-0. Nothing positive to say about the Knights. Edward finished pointless, was a minus-1 and had 3 SOG.
In the WHL, the Swift Current Broncos pounded the Regina Pats 7-2. The Pats had a 2-1 lead in the first and Dyck couldn’t do much on either goal. On the first one he had half a dozen bodies in front of him and the puck found its way through. The second was a deflection on what looked to be a high stick, but video review allowed the goal. He shut the door the rest of the way stopping 22 of 24 shots.
In the USHL, the Sioux Falls Stampede dropped their fifth in a row by a 5-4 score to the Green Bay Gamblers. Beckett Hendrickson scored his 18th of the season on the PP when he took the puck at the right post, moved out in from and beat the goaltender to give Sioux Falls a 4-3 lead. However, they couldn’t hold on. Hendrickson also had 2 helpers with 1 SOG and was a plus-2. Chris Pelosi had a helper with 3 SOG and also a plus-2. Pelosi is in kind of a slump for him.
In the NCAA, Boston College defeated U-Mass 5-1. Gasseau returned from missing his last game with an injury and finished this one with a goal and an assist, 6 SOG and a plus-3. Although his apple came on a fluky goal that never should go in, I loved his ability to gain the line, survey the situation quickly and stop in his tracks to find the trailer for the goal. Jellvik was his usual playmaking self throughout the game. He didn’t score in this one, hard to do with no SOG, but had 2 helpers and was also a plus-3. Dans Locmelis has an assist in the loss with no SOG and an even plus/minus. He went 4 for 6 on the dot.
Harvard defeated St Lawrence 2-1 for just their fifth on the season (5-15-4). Mason Langenbrunner did not figure in the scoring, was a plus-1 and had 1-SOG. Langenbrunner is such an intriguing prospect because of his skating and defensive abilities but it’s difficult to get a true read on his offensive potential and such a bad team.
Denver defeated Minnesota-Duluth 5-4 in overtime. Quinn Olson ended a 13-game goal drought with his 4th of the season on the PP. It was a wicked wrister from the top of the circle that went straight in and I wonder with that shot why he isn’t producing more. Olson is not having the season he or the Bruins had hoped, now in his graduation year. He may not reach his career highs. Olson had 4 SOG and was a plus-1.
Colorado College blasted North Dakota 7-1. Jake Schmaltz had an assist on North Dakota’s only goal. He finished a minus-1 with 1 SOG and 3 for 7 on the dot. He has yet to score a goal in 25 games and is only halfway to his career high in assists he had as a freshman (16 in 39 games).
Providence College and Boston University battled to a 2-2 tie although Providence won the shootout. Riley Duran scored his 9th of the season to put PC up early in the first. He finished with 3 SOG and was an even plus/minus. Philip Svedeback stopped 27 of 29 shots he faced and made the saves he should make and also a couple that you wouldn’t blame him for had they gone in. Probably his best game in some time. Gallagher dressed as the 7th defenceman in the loss once again and I can’t remember him taking a shift. It’s a shame because he’s looked good when he’s playing. I don’t know what happens next season, but I can’t see any scenario where he returns to BU for his senior year.
In Saturday’s action, the Swift Current Broncos defeated the Regina Pats on consecutive nights in WHL play, this time by a 6-2 score. Dyck stopped 19 of 21 shots for the victory that moved the Broncos into 4th place in the Eastern Conference Standings. If there is one thing I can nitpick here (and that’s all it is) is that on the first goal it went off a defender’s stick and past Dyck. Dyck waived his glove at his teammate. I’m just not a fan of calling out your teammates on the ice.
In the OHL, the London Knights got back in the win column with a 5-2 victory over the Owen Sound Attack. Although Edward did not register a point, this was his type of game. He was physical and strong in his own end and was skating in transition throughout the night. There was one instance when he took a crosscheck to the face where I though “oh boy, he’s going to lose it.” Not the case. He let it be known that it was unnecessary and he wouldn’t stand for it, but he kept his cool.
In the SHL, Linkoping defeated Lulea by a 3-1 score and holding onto 5th place in the SHL standings. With 9 games remaining on the season, third place is possible as they trail Frolunda by 6 points. (Remember the SHL uses a 3-2-1-point system). Myrenberg was a minus-1 with 1 SOG in just 12:21 TOI. To me it looks like he is not 100% recovered from his injury.
In the NCAA Cornell and Yale officially battled to a 1-1 tie but Cornell did win the shootout. Walsh had zeroes right across the board and was 7 for 11 on the dot. The Freshman remains second on the team in goals just one off the pace and 6th in points.
Clarkson and old friend Dustyn McFaul edged Harvard by a 3-2 margin. Langenbrunner did not register a point in the loss and finished with 1 SOG. To say it’s been a tough season for Harvard would be an understatement. That can be hard on a player’s development but I am satisfied with how Langenbrunner has played this season.
Denver defeated Minnesota-Duluth by a score of 5-2. It was not a good game for Olson and his inconsistencies in the effort department sneaked it’s ugly head. He finished with zero points, a minus-3 and just 1 SOG.
Colorado College handled North Dakota by a 6-2 score thanks to some excellent goaltending. As for Schmaltz, he had no points, was a minus-2 and 14 for 24 on the dot.
Boston University defeated Providence College by a score of 5-2. Svedeback allowed 5 goals on 33 shots for the loss while Duran finished a minus-2 with 3 SOG and no points. On the winning side, Gallagher was once again the 7th defenceman with limited shifts but still managed to set up a goal.
The Sioux Falls Stampede’s last regulation win came almost one month ago on January 20 and Saturday night saw them lose their 6th straight USHL game, this time 6-1 to once again, Green Bay. Pelosi had 1 assist and a plus-1 with 1 SOG while Hendrickson did not register a point, had 1 SOG and was also a plus-1.
Sunday saw Boston College defeat U-Mass 6-4. Jellvik has an assist for the winning side, was a minus-2 with an uncharacteristic zero SOG. Gasseau has 3 SOG and was a minus-1 with no points. On the winning side, Locmelis had a goal on 4 SOG, was even and went 12 for 15 on the dot.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “value” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created and algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.
Coming up this week:
AROUND THE GLOBE
WHO’S HOT:
Reid Dyck has won his last 7 starts allowing just 9 goals and posting 2 shutouts for a .951 save percentage.
Beckett Hendrickson has 6 goals and 6 assists in 8 of his last 10 games.
Oskar Jellvik has a 4-game point streak going on 1 goal, 6 assists. He has 1 goal and 9 assists 6 of his last 7 games.
WHO’S WARM:
Ryan Walsh has 4 goals and 2 assists in 5 of his last 7 games. It is his most consistent stretch of the season.
Riley Duran has 4 goals and 3 assists 5 of his last 8 games. It’s his best stretch since the start of the season.
Chris Pelosi has 2 gaols and 7 assists in 6 of his last 10 games.
Andre Gasseau has 4 goals and 4 assists in 6 of his last 10 games.
Dans Locmelis has 2 goals and an assist in his last 4 games.
WHO’S COLD:
Jonathan Myrenberg is pointless in 16 games.
Jackson Edward is pointless in 5 games and has not scored a goal since November 15 – a span of 30 games.
Mason Langenbrunner is pointless in 6 games. He’s a minus-4 on the season on a team that is loaded with minuses.
Quinn Olson has just 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 11 games and will be looking for a contract after this, his final year.
Jake Schmaltz has just 2 assists in his last 15 games and no goals on the season through 26 games.
Philip Svedeback is 1-3-1 in his last 5 games allowing 14 goals on 129 shots for a .891 save percentage.
In case you missed it, check out Why the Bruins Should Sign Adam Mechura.
Not sure what to make of this. I was fine with giving Justin Brazeau a two-way contract for next season. But with trade deadline fast approaching and the NCAA free agent period not far behind, the Bruins have 2 open contracts for this season and not much room for maneuverability. Remember, one of the biggest negotiating tactics a team has to sign a college free agent is to allow them to burn a year off their ELC this year. And that requires contract spots.
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Dom - Hockey 