2020-2021 PLAYER & GOALIE OF THE WEEK #17

EASTERN SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASISSTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Kyle Connor TBN 4 4 3 7 2 7 15 27%
                   
EASTERN GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Jaroslav Halak BGR 2 3 1.5 69 .958
                   
WESTERN SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Evander Kane BCR 4 3 6 9 4 4 18 17%
                   
WESTERN GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Semyon Varlamov LGD 2 2 0.96 55 .965
                   

Bathgate Rangers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: NOTE: Feb 29th games need to be started from the UPCOMING GAMES section on your screen (calendar mismatch between 2020 and 2021 – go figure).

Rangers host Jagr and Brentwood this week….

 
Jagr Mullets
@
Bathgate Rangers
In a shocking turn of events – the Rangers point 4 goals past Kuemper in the 1st period! No kidding! Tavares, Tatar, Vrana and McCann light up the goal. Tanev gets one of those back for Jagr in the final minute and the Rangers skate off the 1st with a big 4-1 lead.

And they have no problem maintaining it – and Pionk adds a PP goal in the second running i to 5-1 which is the final as the Rangers pull a big win. Halak was strong enough in goal (34 saves to get #1 star. Vrana (1 goal, 1 assist) gets #2 and Tatar (goal and assist) gets #3!

 
Brentwood Bandits
@
Bathgate Rangers
On the mysterious Feb 29th (a holdover date from 2020) -the Bandits come into the Round Garden and STEAL one from the Rangers (ouch).
Brentwood scores the 1st 3 – Braun in the 1st, then Josi (26 seconds into the 2nd) and Connolly a PP goal 2 minutes later and the good guys are suddenly down 3-0. Well, ZBad works the Rangers back into the game with 2 PP goals in the 2nd and it’s 3-2 heading into the final 20 minutes.Well – Foegele from Brentwood gets the only 3rd period goal as Vasilevsky and the Bandits defense clamps down on the Rangers for a final score of 4-2 in favor of the bad guys.
STARS
1. BGR – Zibandjad 2 goals
2. BWB – Vasilevskiy 33 saves
3. BWB – Josi 1 goal
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: 2 games – 2 points, big win over Jagr but then big loss to Brentwood….
Chicago Cosa Nostra
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Chicago with 1 home game for the weekly series & lots of hope & prayers for a good week on the road.
 
Bucks County Raccoons
@
Chicago Cosa Nostra
A back & forth game until the Cosa Nostra break it open & take the lead in the 2nd. They hold it through the 3rd-Period for the win.

Final Score: Chicago 5 – Bucks County 3

Labatt’s 3-Star Selection:
Star 1: CHI – David Pastrnak 2G
Star 2: BCR – Connor McDavid 1G, 2Pts
Star 3: CHI – Thomas Chabot 1G

GWG: David Pastrnak

Notables:
BCR – Ben Bishop 43 Saves, Doughty 5 Blocked Shots
CHI – Jonathan Toews 21 Faceoff Wins

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Again hopes & prayers for some solid play on the road this weekend is what the Cosa Nostra need.
Gilbert Sharks
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Just one home game this week for Gilbert versus LA
 
LA Great Danes
@
Gilbert Sharks
Gilbert gets a hot start with goals from Panarin and Hedman to jump out to a 2-0 lead but LA comes back to tie it up before the end of the 1st period with goals from Scheifele and Schenn. Panarin puts Gilbert up 3-2 in the 2nd with his 2nd goal of the game and Kubalik scores in the 3rd to extend the lead to 4-2. La gets 1 from Benstrom coming down the stretch but Gilbert hangs on for the 4-3 win.
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Gilbert wins their only home game and hopes for some good Road wins to go along with it
LA Great Danes
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Single home game versus Alamo
 
Alamo Defenders
@
LA Great Danes
With visions of a Great Dane being fleeced in their heads, LA plays with something to prove in this one and rolls to a 4-1 win. Jack Roslovic opens the scoring 42 seconds into the game and LA builds a 3-0 lead in the 2nd period on goals by Scheifele and Kuraly. Jesper Bratt closes the gap to 3-1 early in the 3rd, but Adam Henrique closes out the game with an empty netter in the final minute.

Semyon Varlamov’s 33 saves earns him the #1 star, Mark Scheifele has another strong game with 1G-1A and a +3 rating, and Adam Henrique gets the 3rd star with a goal on 9 SOG and 7 scoring chances.

LA wins their 3rd straight game against Alamo over the last 2 weeks. Have a feeling Alamo will be ready for the rematch next week.

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Trade acquisitions Boeser, Hischier, Glass, and Merzlikins truly were nothings this week as they sit out the week, and after weeks of frustrating losses, the Danes are stringing together some wins no matter the lineup being used – go figure.
Alamo Defenders
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Alamo plays host to Gilbert and California this week.
 
Gilbert Sharks
@
Alamo Defenders
Good tight checking game. No scoring in the 1st period.

In the 2nd, Brad Marchand scores his 19th goal of the season.

3rd period – Bratt scores no. 17. Gilbert gets 2 straight goals from Coyle and Jason Zucker. Late in the 3rd, at the 18:23 mark, Draisaitl scores his 44th goal of the year for the Defenders and Alamo gets the close win, 3-2.

Alamo 3 Gilbert 2

1st – Ekblad 3 assists
2nd – Marchand 1 goal
3rd – Korpisalo 31 saves

 
California Regulators
@
Alamo Defenders
Another low scoring game. No goals in the 1st period. Defenders have had issues scoring on Raanta. In the 2nd period, Draisaitl scores number 45. The Regulators tie it later in the 2nd period on a Barzal goal. We go to the 3rd.

Marchand scores his 20th and Draisaitl scores his 2nd goal of the game. Lehner outplays Raanta.

Alamo 3 California 1

1st – Draisaitl 2 goals
2nd – Lehner 35 saves
3rd – Marchand 1 goal

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Alamo takes both home games against Gilbert and California.
Yellowknife Braves
WEEKLY PREVIEW: 3 division games vs Toledo, Chicago and Bucks Co
 
Toledo Walleye
@
Yellowknife Braves
8-5 Walleye
Stars #1 TOL Pageau 3 G 4pts
#2 TOL Bailey 1G 3pts
#3 TOL Hoffman 4a
 
Chicago Cosa Nostra
@
Yellowknife Braves
Yellowknife holds on 6-5
Stars #1 Chi Pastrnak 1G 3pts
#2 YEL Kuznetsov 1G 3pts
#3 YEL Palmieri 1G 2pts
 
Bucks County Raccoons
@
Yellowknife Braves
5-0 Bucks Co
Stars #1 BCR Bishop 46 saves
#2 BCR Kane 2g 3pts
#3 BCR Oshie 1G 2pts
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Season is winding down. Points are very important and the Braves didn’t earn vey many this week
Toledo Walleye
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Division rivals Chicago and Yellowknife come to Toledo for crucial games in their pursuit of a playoff berth. Time to create a little havoc.
 
Chicago Cosa Nostra
@
Toledo Walleye
Toledo 5, Chicago 1 – Toledo shows more life in the 1st period than they have in ages. Newcomer Frolik gets the first goal. That one stands for a while until Kreider gets the equalizer with 6 minutes to go. But that in enough time for the lively Walleye to score 2 more times, Hoffman and Pettersson, sending us to the 2nd 3-1 Toledo.

2nd period – Opens with a little fight between Subban and Mantha. Each team kills off one penalty getting us to the 2nd half, where Toledo claims the game with 2 more goals, Bailey and Pettersson (his 28th), to make it 5-1 at the end of 2.

3rd period = Toledo kills off the only penalty, and both goalies are perfect the final stanza. GAme ends 5-1.

1st star – Pettersson 2G
2nd – Bailey 1G 2pts
3rd – Binnington 33 saves

 
Yellowknife Braves
@
Toledo Walleye
Yellowknife 4, Toledo 3 OT – 1st period sees both goalies control the game, stopping all shots, 19 in all, and we go scoreless to the 2nd.

In the 2nd, Toledo continues the strong play from the earlier game, and rattles off 3 goals, with Pageau, Pettersson and Hoffman making the arena very happy. That comes crashing down when the Braves wake up and answer back, Kuznetsov and Palmieri adding 2 in this active period. We go to intermission 3-2 Walleye.

3rd period – Good goalie play once again holds the score steady, until Malkin ties it up with 6 minutes to go. Neither team is able to add the winner, and we go to OT.

OT – 24 seconds in, and the only shot of OT, Palmieri ends it quickly.

1st star – Palmieri 2G 3pts
2nd – Kuznetsov 1G
3rd – Malkin 1G

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: 3 points in 2 games is a very good homestand for this team. Yellowknife gains 2 points on Chicago in the playoff hunt.
Bucks County Raccoons
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Two division home games as Bucks County looks to strengthen it’s lead in the Central Division…..
 
Toledo Walleye
@
Bucks County Raccoons
Bucks County tallies 5 first period goals on it’s way to a 6-2 win over the Toledo Walleye. Anton Khudobin turns aside 39 SOG and Timo Meier records a hat trick for BCR.
 
Chicago Cosa Nostra
@
Bucks County Raccoons
Bucks County scores 3 unanswered goals in the middle period and never relinquishes that lead as they skate to a 6-4 win over Chicago. Evander Kane had a goal and 3 assists and the Racs went 2-5 on the PP in the contest.
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: You can’t stop them, you can only hope to contain them. Bucks County scores 12 goals in it’s 2 home games to pick up 4 crucial points in divisional games.
Brentwood Bandits
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Three home games. The retooled for the future Bandits are just having fun the rest of the season!
 
Bathgate Rangers
@
Brentwood Bandits
Bathgate smacks backup goalie Nilsson around a bit, winning 6-2. Captain Horvat scores a goal to continue enjoying his new captaincy and role on the 1st line.
 
New Jersey Black Aces
@
Brentwood Bandits
NJ comes to town and scores two in the first for a 2-0 lead… then the Bandits score 4 unanswered for the win, 4-2. Captain Horvat with 2 goals.
 
Jagr Mullets
@
Brentwood Bandits
The Brotherly Brawl doesn’t have the same feel to it when one of us is not “in the hunt” but it’s still fun to beat my big brother… and we did, in a shoot out, 4-3. Captain Horvat with another 2 goal game.
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Won 2 of 3 games. Captain Horvat with 5 goals on the home stand. Tavares who?
Portland Storm
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Portland hosts Thunder Bay and Charlotte
 
Thunder Bay NorWesters
@
Portland Storm
February 28 2021 02-22-2021

1 2 3 F
2020-21 Thunder Bay 38-22-0-2 1 3 1 5
2020-21 Portland 11-43-0-7 1 2 1 4

Scoring Summary
Per Time Str Team
1 14:36 EV POR Domi (7), assisted by Olofsson (15) and Gallagher (21)
1 18:42 EV TBN Jones (4), assisted by O’Reilly (38) and Couturier (30)
2 6:01 EV TBN Necas (23), assisted by Quinn Hughes (38) and Bertuzzi (14)
2 7:25 EV POR Gallagher (11), assisted by Niskanen (13) and Olofsson (16)
2 11:35 EV TBN Necas (24), assisted by Connor (35) and Jones (19)
2 17:50 EV POR Greenway (3), assisted by Brown (7) and Dvorak (5)
2 19:55 EV TBN Necas (25), assisted by Connor (36) and Eichel (52)
3 8:25 EV TBN Quinn Hughes (7), assisted by Andreas Athanasiou (8) and Hronek (13)
3 13:22 EV POR Palat (9), assisted by Zuccarello (13) and Montour (10)

Penalty Summary
Per Time Team
1 4:50 TBN O’Reilly (14), 2:00 – hooking
1 7:45 POR Backlund (28), 2:00 – elbowing
2 2:48 TBN Eichel (30), 2:00 – cross checking
3 3:11 TBN Couturier (26), 2:00 – tripping

SOG 1 SOG 2 SOG 3
Thunder Bay 10 8 7
Portland 7 7 9

TBN POR
SOG 25 23
FOW 32 25
FO% 56.1 43.9
Hits 21 22
Blocks 17 11
Missed Net 13 11
Shot Attempts 49 51
Scoring Chances 22 27
PIM 6 2
PP 0-1 0-3
TOA 4:21 6:00

Star 1: TBN Necas 3 G
Star 2: TBN Jones 1 G, 2 Pts
Star 3: TBN Hughes 1 G, 2 Pts

GWG: Quinn Hughes

Notables: TBN Necas hat trick
POR None

 
Charlotte Buzzards
@
Portland Storm
February 29 2021 02-22-2021

1 2 3 F
2020-21 Charlotte 27-28-0-7 3 1 1 5
2020-21 Portland 11-44-0-7 0 1 0 1

Scoring Summary
Per Time Str Team
1 9:28 EV CHA Hamilton (8), assisted by Larkin (28) and Rust (21)
1 12:28 EV CHA Larkin (8), assisted by Hamilton (21) and Rust (22)
1 15:08 EV CHA Sissons (12), assisted by Dzingel (6) and Smith (9)
2 14:40 EV POR Domi (8), unassisted
2 19:50 EV CHA Killorn (25), assisted by Burns (28) and Marner (44)
3 2:04 EV CHA Ekman-Larsson (7), assisted by Lee (17) and Marner (45)

Penalty Summary
Per Time Team
1 6:11 POR Zaitsev (16), 2:00 – hooking
2 1:58 CHA Ekman-Larsson (34), 2:00 – tripping
2 7:26 POR Dumba (34), 2:00 – tripping
3 8:50 POR Taylor Hall (28), 2:00 – hooking

SOG 1 SOG 2 SOG 3
Charlotte 19 4 4
Portland 9 14 15

CHA POR
SOG 27 38
FOW 32 29
FO% 52.5 47.5
Hits 14 23
Blocks 14 10
Missed Net 7 20
Shot Attempts 44 72
Scoring Chances 16 7
PIM 2 6
PP 0-3 0-1
TOA 3:09 3:05

Star 1: CHA Allen 37 saves
Star 2: CHA Hamilton 1 G, 2 Pts
Star 3: CHA Larkin 1 G, 2 Pts

GWG: Dylan Larkin

Notables: CHA Allen 37 saves, Larkin 18 faceoffs won
POR None

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Portland scores 4 goals in the game versus Thunder Bay but continues to struggle as they lose both games
Cincinnati Inferno
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Another big week of Atlantic Division play, as the Cincinnati Inferno welcome Thunder Bay and Portland to town.
 
Thunder Bay NorWesters
@
Cincinnati Inferno
Thunder Bay 4, Cincinnati 2

Thunder Bay came to The Incinerator needing a win to close a six-point gap for the division lead and it got it. Kyle Connor’s hat trick paced an attack that fired 23 shots on goal and limited the Inferno to just 19.

Cincinnati’s defensive effort against Jack Eichel kept him from scoring a goal, but he did hand off three helpers to the aforementioned Connor. Mikko Koskinen re-routed 23 shots to collect the win, while Connor Hellebuyck stopped 15 in the loss.

 
Portland Storm
@
Cincinnati Inferno
Cincinnati 2, Portland 1

Jake Guentzel’s second period goal proved to be the game winner for Cincinnati. In a trademarked defensive effort, Cincinnati was outshot, 20-15. Dustin Brown, in a cameo appearance, delivered eight hits to highlight the stats sheet.

The Inferno went one-for-six on the man-advantage, while the Storm was zero-for-five. Cam Talbot picked up the win with 19 saves and Carter Hutton absorbed the loss with 15 saves.

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Cincinnati takes an unsatisfying split at home. The stretch run will be nerve-wracking, as the Inferno will try to reel in Jagr for the top spot overall in the East, while holding off Thunder Bay for the division title.

The drama builds next week, as everyone in the Atlantic Division comes to the Queen City.

Thunder Bay Nor’Westers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Two in-division games at home this week, so success will be crucial. We need 2-4 points.
 
Charlotte Buzzards
@
Thunder Bay NorWester
1st Period – No Scoring

2nd Period – Both teams score once so after 40 minutes the game is tied 1-1
Goal By Charlotte – Rust (24)
Goal by Thunder Bay – Eichel (31)

3rd Period Thunder Bay gets three goals to win the game 4-1
Bertuzzi (10), Eichel (32), Landeskog (21)

 
Cincinnati Inferno
@
Thunder Bay NorWesters
Thunder Bay jumps out 2-0 lead on goals by Connor (38) and Jones (4). The Cinci explodes for 5 goals Perron (20), Point (25), Point (26), Pacioretty (23) and Carlson (13). Where Oh where has the defense gone.

The 2nd and 3rd periods are scoreless – so final score 5-2 Cinci wins on the road

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Cinci is too tough for us – We will need to re-group before we face them again.
Jagr Mullets
New Jersey Black Aces
@
Jagr Mullets
1 2 3 F
2020-21 New Jersey 21-38-0-3 0 1 1 2
2020-21 Jagr 39-14-0-8 1 2 1 4Scoring Summary
Per Time Str Team
1 15:37 EV JAG McGinn (2), assisted by Tanev (3) and Staal (4)
2 10:46 PP JAG Svechnikov (15), assisted by Ekholm (13) and Ovechkin (36)
2 14:39 PP NJB Pulock (8), assisted by Heinen (3)
2 15:31 PP JAG Miller (23), assisted by Marino (7) and Lindholm (14)
3 6:31 PP JAG Svechnikov (16), assisted by Matthews (38) and Toews (3)
3 19:06 EV NJB Lindblom (7), assisted by Pulock (16) and Hanifin (11)Star 1: JAG Svechnikov 2 G
Star 2: NJB Pulock 1 G, 2 Pts
Star 3: JAG Miller 1 G

GWG: J.T. Miller

Notables: NJB Hart 33 saves
JAG Miller 17 faceoffs won, Ekholm 5 blocks

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: W
Charlotte Buzzards
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Charlotte, mired in third place of the Atlantic, and likely out of playoff contention (unless there is a miraculous finish), muddled through this in-division part of the schedule with home games against Portland and red-hot Cincinnati.
 
Portland Storm
@
Charlotte Buzzards
Charlotte required three late unanswered goals to come from behind and defeat a Storm team that looked much better than its record indicates by a final of 6-4. Buzzard goals in the final eight minutes of play from a pair of Alex’s (Killorn and Iafallo), followed by a blast from Dougie Hamilton with 54 ticks left in the final period, enabled the home team to overcome a late 4-3 deficit.

The Portland loss spoiled the performance of first star Brendan Gallagher (two goals and one assist). Gallagher’s second goal, 1:58 into the third gave the Storm its final lead, 4-3, before Charlotte’s late rally.

Three stars:
Star 1: Gallagher
Star 2: (CHA) Jon Marchessault 1 G 2 Pts
Star 3: (CHA) Iafallo 1 G, 2 Pts

Notable: Portland’s Max Domi and Charlotte’s Bryan Rust each chipped in three assists apiece for their respective teams. Winning goalie Carey Price recorded 35 saves.

 
Cincinnati Inferno@
Charlotte Buzzards
The Inferno, who have been unstoppable since obtaining Nikita Kucherov and Teuvo Teravainen via trade for what essentially amounts to a bag of pucks, breezed to a 4-1 victory. Cincinnati broke open a scoreless tie with a four goal second period outburst; Braden Point and Jake Guntzel accounted for all the scoring with two goals apiece. The Buzzards only could scrape together an Alex Iafallo goal seven minutes into the third period, as Connor Hellebuyck was otherwise perfect with 32 saves.

Three Stars (all from Cincinnati):
Star 1: Braden Point (2 G, 3 pts)
Star 2: Guentzel (2 G, 3 points)
Star 3: Hellebuyck

Notable: Cincinnati defenseman Nate Schmidt was sensational blocking six shots. Dylan Larkin won 18 faceoffs for Charlotte and assisted on the Iafallo goal.

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: You have to keep your goals in front of you. For Charlotte (2 out of 4 points at home this week), that entails eclipsing its prior season-best of 79 points in three seasons. Sitting at 65 points with 17 games left to play, there is a glimmer of hope.
California Regulators
Alamo Defenders
@
California Regulators
Division rival Alamo beats the snot out of California, 8-4.
 
LA Great Danes
@
California Regulators
California wins 2-1 (SO).
 
Gilbert Sharks
@
California Regulators
California wins 3-2.
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: 3 home games, 4 points, but Alamo gains on California this week.