NOTE: Because of issues uploading stats from HockeyDB, I have switched to Quant Hockey. This should not affect you in any way.
Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
Vaxjo squared off against Vashek Blanar and HV71 on Wednesday and came away with a 5–1 victory. Pettersson added a late power‑play marker to make it 4–1 and effectively put the game out of reach, giving the blueliner his fifth goal of the season in just his 15th appearance. Pettersson took a pass at the left point, skated into the slot and unleashed a perfectly placed shot. Pettersson finished a plus-1 and had 6 shots on goal – five less than the previous Wednesday.
On Saturday, Vaxjo lost 5-2 to Linkoping. Pettersson did not factor into the scoring. He finished a minus-1 with 2 shots on goal.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
In Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to Vaxjo, Blanar had zeroes across the board. Blanar finished a minus-1 with 2 shots on goal.
On Friday, HV71 came up short in a 5–4 loss to Frolunda. Blanar was held off the scoresheet as HV71 fell to 9‑19‑2 on the season, a record that leaves the club unlikely to qualify for the next round of the J20 Nationell. Blanar finished a minus-1 with one shot on goal.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko responded emphatically to Sunday’s shootout loss to Krasnaya Armiya, rolling to a 7–2 win on Monday. Yemelyanov led the way with a goal and an assist, adding three shots on goal while going 14‑for‑26 on draws in 16:25 of ice time. He opened the scoring with 17 seconds left in the first period, carrying the puck into the zone before a broken drop pass deflected off a defender, allowing a teammate to jump on it and find Yemelyanov at the top of the crease for a redirect — a familiar spot for him.
On Thursday, Loko edged JHC Spartak 3–2, bringing an end to Yemelyanov’s impressive seven‑game point streak in which he piled up seven goals and seven assists. The forward finished minus‑1 on the night, registered three shots on goal, went 13‑for‑17 in the faceoff circle, and logged 18:15 of ice time.
Spartak responded in Friday’s rematch with a 6–3 victory, handing Yemelyanov a second straight game without a point. The forward failed to record a shot on goal, went 11‑for‑16 in the faceoff circle, and logged 12:33 of ice time, including just 1:40 in the opening period.
Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)
Miami was shut out 1–0 by North Dakota on Friday night. Nassen, who has recently been skating on the fourth line, posted zeros across the board in the loss.
The rematch required overtime, and North Dakota emerged with a 4–3 victory. Nassen posted zeros across the board while skating on the fourth line once again.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
As noted above, North Dakota shut out Miami 1–0 on Friday. Zellers did not factor into UND’s lone goal and turned in a relatively quiet outing, finishing with two shots on net.
North Dakota took the rematch as well, this time in overtime. Zellers was held off the scoresheet again, finished at minus‑1, and registered three shots on goal.
Since returning from the World Junior Championships, Zellers production has dipped to 4 goals (.36 GPG) and 4 assists in 11 games (.72 PPG). He had 10 goals (.55 GPG) and 5 assists in 18 games prior (.83 PPG).
James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College
Boston College claimed the Beanpot title with a 6–2 win over Boston University on Monday, overcoming a shaky first period in which they looked disconnected and out of rhythm. Trailing 1–0 late in the opening frame, Gasseau pulled BC even on the power play, driving to the net, taking a feed, and slipping it through the goaltender. Tournament MVP James Hagens picked up the secondary assist on the play.
With a 2–1 lead, Hagens set up the eventual game‑winner late in the second period, again working the power play. Holding the puck in the left corner, he curled up toward the blue line, shifted his angle, and fed the point for a shot that navigated traffic and stretched the lead to two.
Gasseau pushed the lead to 4–1 with his second power‑play marker of the night, once again driving the net and showcasing his strength in tight. He battled through a defender’s stick to hammer home a rebound into an open cage.
After BU cut the deficit to two, Dean Letourneau restored control, showcasing his soft hands in tight. Taking a pass at the top of the crease, he quickly pulled the puck forehand‑to‑backhand and buried his 16th of the season to put the game out of reach.
Will Moore missed the game and BC was forced to go with 11 forwards and 8 defensemen. Kristian Kostadinski finished with a plus-1 and 15:18 time on ice on the blueline. Oskar Jellvik is still out with an injury.
Boston College jumped out to a strong start Friday, with Hagens and Letourneau staking the Eagles to a 2–0 lead with five minutes remaining in the opening period. But Merrimack seized momentum from there, striking for four unanswered goals to rally for a 4–2 victory.
Hagens opened the scoring when Gasseau won a battle behind the net and delivered a slick, behind‑the‑back feed into the slot, where an unmarked Hagens buried it for the early lead. Letourneau doubled the advantage minutes later, taking a pass at the Merrimack blue line, skating into the left circle, and ripping home a shorthanded wrist shot to make it 2–0.
That would be it for BC. Hagens had 4 shots on goal, was an even plus/minus and went 2 for 8 on the dot with 21:28 time on ice. Letourneau also had 4 shots on goal, was a minus-1 and was 4 for 11 on the dot with 20:08 time on ice. Gasseau had 1 shot on goal and was a minus-1 with 21:36 time on ice while Kostadinski had 1 shot on goal and was a minus-1 with 12:35 time on ice. Will Moore and Oskar Jellvik did not play because of injury.
BC bounced back with a 4–2 win in Saturday’s rematch. Trailing 2–1 with 1:28 left in the second period, Hagens pulled the Eagles even on the power play. Skating down the right wing, he sent a backhand pass toward the front of the net that deflected off a defender’s skate and in before reaching his intended target.
Hagens then picked up the secondary assist on the game‑winner with 36 seconds remaining. BC sealed it with an empty‑net goal in the final two seconds.
Hagens finished a plus-1, 4 shots on goal and 19:33 time on ice. Letourneau was pointless, had three shots on goal and was 9 for 18 on the dot with 21:09 time on ice. Kostadinski had zeroes across the board with 8:30 time on ice. Gasseau was also pointless, a plus-1 and 9 for 12 on the dot with 21:53 time on ice. Jellvik and Moore are out with injuries.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac rolled past Princeton 4–1 on Saturday, once again without Chris Pelosi in the lineup. With the game knotted at 1–1, Groenewold delivered the go‑ahead goal just 22 seconds into the second period, slipping free to the left side of the crease and tapping in a back‑door feed.
He then helped put the game out of reach with a highlight‑reel stretch pass, threading it from his own blue line to a teammate at the opposing blue line. The feed landed right on the tape despite two defenders closing in.
Sunday brought the same result against the same opponent, with Pelosi still out of the lineup. Groenewold didn’t factor into the scoring, failed to record a shot on goal, and logged 23:03 of ice time – his sixth highest total of the season.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
Boston University fell 4–1 to New Hampshire on Friday night. Morello was held off the scoresheet, finishing 5‑for‑12 on faceoffs with just 8:55 of ice time.
BU responded with a 5–3 win in Saturday’s rematch. Morello was held off the scoresheet, finished at minus‑1, and recorded one shot on goal while going 7‑for‑12 on draws in 12:33 of ice time.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
Minnesota and Notre Dame officially skated to a 2–2 draw on Friday, with the Irish securing the shootout. Hendrickson, elevated to the second line for this matchup, finished minus‑1 with three shots on goal and logged 18:38 of ice time.
Minnesota dropped the rematch on Saturday, falling 3–2 to the same Irish squad. Hendrickson went pointless, finished at minus‑1, and recorded two shots on goal in 16:47 of ice time while skating on the second line again.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
Cornell also went to a shootout Friday, though the game is officially recorded as a 1–1 tie despite the Big Red winning the skills competition. Walsh was held off the scoresheet, finishing with one shot on goal while going 10‑for‑19 on faceoffs and logging 21:44 of ice time. He converted on his shootout attempt.
Cornell’s winless streak stretched to three games with Saturday’s 4–1 loss to Union. Walsh picked up an assist on Cornell’s lone goal, finished at minus‑2, and went 9‑for‑16 on draws while logging 20:19 of ice time.
Walsh, who led his team in scoring for much of the season, is now tied for third in team scoring.
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
Harvard secured third place at the Beanpot on Monday with a 4–1 win over Northeastern. Langenbrunner didn’t factor into the scoring but registered two shots on goal and logged 22:15 of ice time — the twelfth time in 23 games he’s topped the 20‑minute mark.
Harvard and Brown skated to yet another officially recorded 2–2 tie on Friday, with the Bears securing the shootout win. Langenbrunner was held off the scoresheet, registering one shot on goal and finishing minus‑1 while logging 21:27 of ice time.
Langenbrunner did not play in the team’s 3-2 overtime loss to Yale on Saturday.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
Injured.
Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL
Youngstown fell 3-2 to Muskegon in overtime on Friday. Simpson was held off the scoresheet, was a minus-2 and held to just one shot on goal.
On Saturday, Youngstown lost by the same 3-2 score to Muskegon, but this time in regulation. Simpson had an assist and was a minus-1 with three shots on goal in the loss.
On Sunday, Youngstown dropped its third straight game to Muskegon (all at home) —a 5–2 loss—leaving them outscored 11–6 across the three‑game set. Simpson picked up an assist on a power‑play goal with 11 seconds remaining, finished at minus‑1, and was held without a shot on goal for the first time this season.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Shawinigan came up short Wednesday, dropping a 6–2 decision to Charlottetown. Chandler did manage an assist for the Cataractes, recording an assist, finishing plus‑1, registering a shot on goal, and winning six of his 11 draws.
Halifax edged out a 2–1 shootout victory on Thursday, despite a more competitive effort from Shawinigan. Chandler was held off the scoresheet, finishing minus‑1 with three shots on goal while winning 10 of 16 faceoffs. The veteran forward remains in search of his first goal of February.
Shawinigan pushed Saint John to overtime on Saturday but ultimately fell 3–2. Chandler posted zeros across the board and went 4‑for‑12 on faceoffs.
Shawinigan closed out its Maritimes road trip with another setback, falling 6–2 to Moncton. Chandler opened the scoring with 5:22 left in the first, taking a pass to the right of the net and beating the goaltender before he could get across. He finished even on the night, recorded two shots on goal, and went 6‑for‑14 on draws. He also dropped the gloves and was assessed a game misconduct for fighting in the final five minutes with a two‑goal‑or‑more differential.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Western Michigan defeated Arizona State 6-2 on Friday. Cole Spicer did not play.
They also won Saturday’s game by a score of 7-2. Spicer did not play.
Providence Bruins
Providence 4 – Bridgeport 2
Providence pushed its winning streak to 11 games on Saturday with a 4–2 victory over Bridgeport. The Islanders struck first, opening the scoring midway through the opening period, and added to their lead just past the halfway mark of the second to make it 2–0.
Just 17 seconds later, Frederic Brunet took a pass at the left point, walked down to the left faceoff dot, and snapped a wrist shot off the post and in—a finish any left winger would appreciate. Patrick Brown and Riley Tufte picked up the assists.
With 6:03 remaining in the period, Matthew Poitras dropped a pass into the slot for Christian Wolanin, who stepped into a one‑timer and buried it to tie the game 2–2. Matej Blumel picked up the secondary assist.
Early in the third period, John Farinacci fired a shot on goal that was turned aside, but an Islanders defender inadvertently knocked the loose puck into his own net, giving Providence its first lead just 2:40 into the frame. Tufte later sealed the win with an empty‑netter.
Filling in for the injured Simon Zajicek, Luke Cavallin wasn’t overly taxed, turning aside 16 of 18 shots to improve to a perfect 5‑0‑0 on the season in the AHL.
Providence 3 – Bridgeport 2
The win marked Providence’s 12th straight, tying the franchise record for consecutive victories.
It took just 40 seconds to get things started. Victor Soderstrom’s point shot was turned aside, leaving a loose rebound in the crease. Fabian Lysell crashed the blue paint and knocked it home for his first goal in seven games, with Michael Callahan picking up the secondary assist.
Midway through the opening frame, Wolanin doubled the lead when his point shot found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. Lysell and Riley Duran picked up the assists on the play.
Bridgeport pulled one back before the period closed, then tied it late to force overtime with 2:01 remaining in regulation.
A perfectly executed 3‑on‑1 featuring Georgii Merkulov, Blumel, and Brunet ended with Merkulov sliding a pass across to Brunet, who buried it for the win.
Michael DiPietro—well on his way to a second straight AHL Goaltender of the Year campaign—turned aside 28 of 31 shots to secure the win, pushing his save percentage to .942. Providence mustered just 16 shots on goal, underscoring DiPietro’s value to this group.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an 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:
Dom - Hockey 