2018-2019 PLAYER & GOALIE OF THE WEEK #23
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| EASTERN SKATER | TEAM | GP | GOALS | ASISSTS | POINTS | PM | +/- | SOG | S% |
| Karlsson, William | CIN | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 23% |
| EASTERN GOALIE | TEAM | GP | GOALS AGAINST | G.A. AVERAGE | SAVES | SAVE % | |||
| Vasilevskiy, Andrei | BWB | 3 | 6 | 2.01 | 93 | .939 | |||
| WESTERN SKATER | TEAM | GP | GOALS | ASSISTS | POINTS | PM | +/- | SOG | S% |
| Bergeron, Patrice | GUE | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 14% |
| WESTERN GOALIE | TEAM | GP | GOALS AGAINST | G.A. AVERAGE | SAVES | SAVE % | |||
| Smith, Mike | GUE | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 48 | .941 | |||
| Chicago Cosa Nostra | |
| Weekly Preview: | Chicago has one lone home game to close out the 2018-2019 Season. THANK GOD! |
| LA Great Danes @ Chicago Cosa Nostra | Chicago scores first, but gives up 3, then scores 3 to have the one goal lead. LA ties the game at 4 each with 43 seconds left, and wins it in over time. Thus Chicago loses at home once again by 1 goal.
Final Score: LA 5 – Chicago 4 (Shoot out). Three Star Selection: Game Winning Goal – Nikolaj Ehlers |
| Weekly Summary: | In very fitting fashion Chicago loses the last home game of the year, by 1 Goal. They are banking on having a stronger team in 2019-2020, but maybe without some familiar faces. |
| Bathgate Rangers | |
| Weekly Preview: | Rangers have only 1 home game left in the season and it’s a game against tough New Jersey – and Rangers are looking to play spoiler! |
| New Jersey Grizzlies @ Bathgate Rangers | Grizzlies are a tough act at home – practically losing nothing. Not anywhere near the same on the road and Rangers try to exploit that and DO! But it was a tough game – Rangers actually out shoot them 37-30 – out hit them 26-17 and in shot attempts they lead again 74-58! And the Rangers are tame in penalties – only 8 minutes (very low for them), but NJ gets 1 of 3 in power play opportunities. Let’s see how the action unfolded: Period 1 – Grizzlies take the 1st, 2-0 on late goals from Andrighetto (5) and Hartnell (10). Period 2 – Rangers score the 1st 2 to tie it up, McCann (6) and then at 9:30 with Anderson sitting out a 2 minute roughing penaltie, Donski (6) get a SH goal! New Jersey would answer a minute and a half later when Werenski (19) scores give NJ the 3-2 lead. Then the Rangers erupt for 3 goals in the final 4 1/2 minutes of the period driving Holtby nuts – he was heard screaming at the defense “over there, no there, left, right – come on you guys do something” – but it didn’t work. Ferland (34), Wood (25 and ZBad (21) score – 5 goals for Bathgate in the 2nd and it’s 5-3 Rangers as period 2 ends. Period 3 – Subban (12) wants in on the scoring and makes it 6-3 2 minutes in. But New Jersey is not giving up. Dillon (1) gets his first goal with 15+ minutes left and it’s 6-4. Then Carlo is called for tripping late and Arvidsson (25) get the PP goal with 3 minutes to go and it’s 6-5. Fans stand for the final 3 minutes routing on their Rangers as the home season dwindles. Grizzlies find the kitchen sink and it along with everything else is thrown at Georgiev – 6 attackers for the final minute, but Georgiev and the Rangers hold firm and win 6-5 – making life for the Grizzlies a bit tougher. But they have 5 games in this final week, who knows?? STARS 1. NJG – Andrighetto 1 goal, 3 assists 2. BGR – Subban 1 goal, 1 assist 3. NJG – Werenski 1 goal 1 assist |
| Weekly Summary: | Rangers finish their home season with a nice 6-5 win over NJ. Now it’s take a week off to play golf and then focus on next year and climbing in the standings! |
| Columbus Brew Jackets | |
| Weekly Preview: | Columbus finishes out a disappointing season with games against Brentwood – a playoff team (they took the Columbus spot) and biggest rival – Bathgate. |
| Brentwood Bandits @ Columbus Brew Jackets | Well, if we’d played this way all year, maybe we’d be the ones going to the big dance. Brew Jackets get 2 goals in the 1st and 2nd and hold off the charging Bandits down the stretch in the 3rd and win 4-3! And it was the PP that propelled the Jackets. Period 1 – 3 Brentwood penalties and the Jackets convert 2 of them. Johnson (16) and Couture (32) make the Bandits pay. Period 2 – another Brentwood penalty and Hayes (32) scores for 3-0 lead. But the Bandits steal a goal with 23 seconds left, Kessel (28). BUT Columbus scores (even strength no less) WITH 1 SECOND left (Benn [36]) and the period ends 4-1 Columbus. Period 3 – Brentwood however, is in it to win it and 17 seconds in the 3rd Kessel gets his 2nd goal (29) and it’s suddenly 4-2 Jackets. Bandits then keep pouring it on (15 SOG in the 3rd) and 6 1/2 in Niederreiter (35) gets 1 and it’s now a 1 goal game, 4-3 Jackets. Jackets close up on the Bandits (they only fire 6 shots at Vasilevskiy in the 3rd and concentrate on protecting Rinne – and it pays off even with 1+ minutes to the extra attacker. Game ends 4-3 Brew Jackets. STARS: 1. BWB – Kessel 2 goals 2. CBJ – Benn 1 goal, 1 assist 3. CBJ – Johnson 1 goal |
| Bathgate Rangers @ Columbus Brew Jackets | Finishing the season hosting the Rangers is a good way to end it – and extend it by going to overtime. Period 1 – Tough hard hitting game and Tierney (14) for the Rangers is the only one to find the back of the net. Period 2 – Then just past midway in the 2nd, Ferland (35) scores a PP goal and it’s 2-0 Rangers. Home town fans not happy, coaches are glarring at each other and old man Schindel is wearing the sly smile. That was enough for the younger Schindel to fire up his team – not now Pops! Fast (1) gets that 1st goal of the season with 2 1/2 to go. Then a minute later Vesey (3) scores and after 2 it’s tied up 2-2. Period 3 – Just past the halfway point, Fast scores his 2nd of the game and 2nd of the season and it’s 3-2 in favor of the Jackets and the younger Schindel. BUT NOT SO fast says Pops. With 1:12 to go, Off comes Halak and it works as ZBad (22) scores the tying goal and that’s how the 3rd period ends – tied up at 3 apiece. OT – These teams want to win as much as they don’t want the other team to score and OT goes into the final minute – lines change and Columbus gets the puck in the Ranger end – fighting in the corner, Miller comes up with it, to Edmundson at the point, he passes to Couture, over to Miller and he winds up and fires, GOAL! Game, set match – well you know what I mean. The Brew Jackets take it in OT and win the family grudge match, 4-3. STARS: 1. CBJ – Fast 2 goals 2. BGR – Ferland 1 goal, 1 assist 3. CBJ – Vesey 1 goal |
| Weekly Summary: | 2 games to close out the home schedule and 2 WINS, 4 POINTS – nice, but a bit late. NEXT YEAR we’ll be back in the playoffs, for now we have to think about that extra prospect we can get…… |
| Yellowknife Braves | |
| Weekly Preview: | Last game. Long Beach skates in to town |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs @ Yellowknife Braves | Long Beach dominates 3-1 Stars #1 LBD Stamkos 1G 2pts #2 LBD Gallagher 1G #3 Varlamov 22 saves |
| Weekly Summary: | Long Beach makes us their Long Bitch |
| California Regulators | |
| Toledo Walleye @ California Regulators | California wins its final home game in a shootout, beating Toledo 5-6 (so). |
| Weekly Summary: | California ends the regular season on a high note, prepares for a tough matchup in the playoffs. |
| Toledo Walleye | |
| Weekly Preview: | One final home game for the Walleye. Long Beach comes to Maumee Bay on their final road trip. |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs @ Toledo Walleye | Toledo 4, Long Beach 0 – First half of the game is a defensive struggle, but a goalies dream, as both defenses are perfect as Talbot saves all 20 shots and McElhinney saves all 14 shots they face before the halftime show.
After the bands clear the field, the Toledo offense hits the ON switch and Backstrom continues his hot streak from last week with a goal only 2 seconds past halftime. And then he scores again and again. After his hat trick, Foligno scores on a late breakaway to make the final score at 4. Meanwhile McElhinney stays focused and plays the brick wall to finish with a perfect 34 saves, no goals, and finishes the season 12-4-0 1st star – Backstrom hat trick |
| Weekly Summary: | 2 points at home in one game is a good finish to the season. Heading to the playoffs.
PLayers of the week – Backstrom with the hat trick and McElhinney with the shutout. For the season, peak performers include: |
| Guentzel Gunners | |
| Weekly Preview: | With 3 games to secure their division. |
| Toledo Walleye @ Guentzel Gunners | 2- 5 Guenzel wins Stars 1.GUE Guenzel 1G and 2 pts 2.GUE Leuongo 37 saves 3.GUE Kopitar 3pts |
| LA Great Danes @ Guentzel Gunners | 2-3 Guenzel wins. 1. GUE Haula 2G 2. GUE Zuccarello 1G 3. GUE Luengo 33 saves |
| Chicago Cosa Nostra @ Guentzel Gunners | Guenzel wins their home game 2-5. 1. GUE Bergeron 1G 3 pts 2. GUE Kopitar 1G 2pts 3. GUE Haula 1G 2pts |
| Weekly Summary: | Guenzel secures their division with 3 wins. |
| LA Great Danes | |
| Weekly Preview: | Final game of the year for the Great Danes. After this, attention will turn to seeing how the MWHL playoffs play out and to NCAA basketball – Geaux Tigers!!! |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs @ LA Great Danes | Looking ahead to next year, Kasperi Kapanen plays in his 5th game of the year, expecting to be a full-time regular next season. And he showcases his talents in this game, scoring the first 2 goals of the game. Mike Hoffman gives LA a 3-0 lead with 6 minutes left in the 2nd period, but just 14 seconds after that Danton Heinen gets Long Beach on the board on a long slap shot. About 1 1/2 minutes later, Nick Bjugstad deflects one past Andersen and it’s a 3-2 game heading to the final period. There were a number of shots/chances in the 3rd, but no more scoring, with Andersen making 2 big saves in the final seconds to preserve the 3-2 win for the Great Danes in the season finale.
The 4th line of Kapanen/Roslovic/Ehlers delivered 5 points total and a +2 rating each in ~8 minutes of ice time. Rick Nash was scoreless in the final game of his MWHL career but was active with 4 SOG, a hit, and a block. |
| Weekly Summary: | The Great Danes send the fans home happy and close out the season with 86 points and a winning record. Nikolaj Ehlers had a big year for the Danes, leading the team in both goals and assists with 29G-42A for 71 points. Now the team’s scouts will get busy planning for the draft.
And LA congratulates the MWHL playoff teams and wishes them best of luck as they go for the cup. |
| Bucks County Racoons | |
| Weekly Preview: | Last home game of the year and fan appreciation day as the Raccoons close the season with a game against a strong Yellowknife team headed to the playoffs….. |
| Yellowknife Braves @ Bucks County Racoons | The Racs fall behind early but then rally to take a 3-1 lead and hold on for the victory, defeating Yellowknife 5-3. The Racs put 23 shots on goal during the 2nd period when they built their lead. The teams took turns scoring in the 3rd, but Bucks County held on for the win…… |
| Weekly Summary: | Tee time is at 9am tomorrow if it’s not too cold….. |
| Gilbert Sharks | |
| Weekly Preview: | Gilbert with 1 final game to finish out an up and down year against division leading California |
| California Regulators @ Gilbert Sharks | Clayton Keller scores 4 points (1G, 3A) as the Sharks upset California 6-3 |
| Weekly Summary: | Good luck to all in the playoffs! |
| Thunder Bay Nor’Westers | |
| Weekly Preview: | Three home games to close out the season – Jagr, Lafayette and New Jersey. Thunder Bay has struggled to find consistency all season with breakdowns on defense and in goal the main concerns. Goal scoring is solid with young improving forwards, but changes will need to be made on defense and in goal. |
| Jagr Mullets @ Thunder Bay Nor’Westers | The league’s top team comes to town looking to feast on the Nor’Wester’s weak defense. That is just what happens – thrashing the young Nor’Westers 6-2. Jagr is lead by Ovechkin who scores twice (45 & 46), Parise(6), Nash(14), Mathews(32), and Letang(8). Thunder Bay scores four – Petry(5), Slavin(8), Athanasiou(12) and Landeskog scores his 29th. |
| Lafayette Homesteaders @ Thunder Bay Nor’Westers | Game 2 of the final homestand vs Lafayette. Should be a close game – several players on both teams still have to convince mngt they are in their future plans.
Lafayette jumps out early to a 3-0 lead on goals by Ritchie(4), Forsberg(45) and Dadonov(28). Seth Jones pulls Thunder Bay back into the game with his (14th goal). Then Sean Couturier scores his 23rd to make it a 1 goal game. Forsberg repeats Ovechkin’s two goal night on 3/28 as he scores twice also his 45th and 45th of the season. Homesteader’s lead by two. |
| New Jersey Grizziles @ Thunder Bay Nor’Westers | Already 1-1 at home with the final game of the season against New Jersey. Thunder Bay is mired deep in the standings but with good young forwards. If we can improve on defense we can move up the standings a possibly into the MWHL playoffs in 2020.Final score New Jersey 4 and Thunder Bay 5 Sean Couturier opened the scoring his 24th of the year, but Bratt(15) and Werenski(19) pushed New Jersey into a 2-1 lead. Ryan O’Reilly tied the game on his 16th goal. Then Athanasiou scored his 14th to push the Nor’Westers back into the lead 3-2. The Thunder Bay push continued with goals by Reilly Smith(9) and Jake Muzzin(10) to give Thunder Bay a commanding lead 5-2 over a powerful, playoff team. New Jersey rallied again when Dillion scored his 1st goal and Johansen scored his 16th but Thunder Bay held on for the 5-4 win. |
| Weekly Summary: | 3/28 Jagr rolls easily past Thunder Bay 6-4 as Ovechkin scores twice #45 & #46. Gabe Landeskog scores his 29th for Thunder Bay.
1-1 at home with one game left in the Hor’Wester’s 3rd season. In the three game home stand the Nor’Westers scored 17 goals (5.67 per game) a torrid pace for a young out of the playoffs team. With just 1 road game left the GM-coaches and scouts must come together to decide who will return and how the team can improve on defense and in Goal. Thanks for a fun season. |
| Cincinnati Inferno | |
| Weekly Preview: | Cincinnati battles to try to get into the postseaason in the final week… |
| Thunder Bay NorWesters @ Cincinnati Inferno | Flu-like conditions here. CIN 3, TBN 2 |
| Brentwood Bandits @ Cincinnati Inferno | In the second home game of the week, the Cincinnati Inferno battle Brentwood. This might be the game that puts the expansion Inferno into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The champaigne had to be stashed away. BWB 4, CIN 2 |
| Weekly Summary: | Cincinnati takes care of the first half of its business…..
With two road games left in the regular season, the Cincinnati Inferno have 96 points. They may not make the playoffs, but no one can question the effort. |
| Alamo Defenders | |
| Weekly Preview: | Alamo concludes its season with three home games against Bucks County, Long Beach, and Guentzel |
| Bucks County Raccoons @ Alamo Defenders | Bucks County scores five goals. Alamo scores two in the middle of those goals, but it’s not enough to get the job done. McDavid scores 2 goals for the Raccoons to lead the way.
Bucks County 5 Alamo 2 1st – Meier 2 goals 1 assist |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs @ Alamo Defenders | Alamo gets off to a good start with McAvoy and Glendening goals. But, the Ice Dogs score 3 unanswered goals to win the game.
Long Beach 3 Alamo 2 1st – Stamkos 1 goal 1 assist |
| Guentzel Gunners @ Alamo Defenders | The Gunners and Defenders each have 22 shots on goal. But, the Gunners net 3 goals against the Defenders 1.
Guentzel 3 Alamo 1 1st – Bergeron 1 goal 1 assist |
| Weekly Summary: | Alamo concludes its season with losing three games at home. Alamo won the Cup last year, but sunk to some lows, particularly due to goaltending. |
| New Jersey Grizzlies | |
| Clearfield Bison @ New Jersey Grizzlies | New Jersey beat Clearfield 4-1 |
| Cincinnati Inferno @ New Jersey Grizzlies | New Jersey defeated Cincinnati in a sweaty game 2-1 with the secret weapon Keith Kinkaid in net. |
| Weekly Summary: | Season is over, NJ waits to see if they make the playoffs. |
| Charlotte Buzzards | |
| Weekly Preview: | The Buzzards played out the string, competing in their final two games of the season at home. Charlotte fought a New Jersey squad fighting for a final playoff spot over Cincinnati, followed by a meaningless contest against a Jagr Mullets’ team that is the class of the league and would win the Presidents Cup if one were awarded in the MWHL (114 points). |
| New Jersey Grizzlies @ Charlotte Buzzards | The Buzzards were hopeful to play the role of spoiler, but it was not to be. New Jersey, behind superlative goaltending by Braden Holtby edged Charlotte, 3-1. Holtby saved 37 shots in clearly outplaying King Henrik who saved just 13 in going the distance. Lundqvist surrendered two first period goals to Viktor Arvidsson (#25) at 10:48 of the first period and the second four minutes later to Jake Debrusk (22nd goal of the year). Charlotte’s Vincent Trocheck, whose underperforming season underscored the Buzzards’ mediocre inaugural campaign, netted just his 13th goal (versus 31 real goals) late in the first period, but from there Holtsby, the first star, was lights out. With the outcome of the game very much in question in the late stages, Brian Gibbons tacked on a critical insurance goal for the Grizzlies, with 5:39 remaining. |
| Jagr Mullets @ Charlotte Buzzards | The Mullets overcame a 3-1 deficit with three unanswered late goals in prevailing 4-3. Erik Staal, Patrick Laine and Nazem Kadri each scored during the comeback, and Kadri’s game winner came with just 2:01 remaining. Following two early power play goals from Anders Lee and Tyler Myers that staked Charlotte to a 2-0 first period lead, Ovechkin scored his 45th goal. As the season closes’ Jagr’s Ovechkin, Laine and Kadri have combined for 122 goals — impressive firepower as the team bids for a championship. Joe Pavelski accounted for the other goal that gave the Buzzards the early 3-1 first period lead but they were shut down from there as Jagr rallied. |
| Weekly Summary: | Against two of the best squads in the league this year, Charlotte (which closes with 37 wins against 40 losses and 5 OTL) played valiantly but came up short — a microcosm of its season. |