2018-2019 PLAYER & GOALIE OF THE WEEK #9
| EASTERN SKATER | TEAM | GP | GOALS | ASISSTS | POINTS | PM | +/- | SOG | S% |
| Kessel, Phil | BWB | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 44% |
| EASTERN GOALIE | TEAM | GP | GOALS AGAINST | G.A. AVERAGE | SAVES | SAVE % | |||
| Vasilevsky, Andrei | BWB | 3 | 6 | 2 | 114 | .950 | |||
| WESTERN SKATER | TEAM | GP | GOALS | ASSISTS | POINTS | PM | +/- | SOG | S% |
| Barzal, Mathew | CAL | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 25% |
| WESTERN GOALIE | TEAM | GP | GOALS AGAINST | G.A. AVERAGE | SAVES | SAVE % | |||
| Elliott, Brian | BCR | 3 | 7 | 2.31 | 93 | .930 | |||
| Thunder Bay NorWesters | |
| Weekly Preview: | Two home games vs LA Great Danes and the Guentzel Gunners. Jake Muzzin will sit out LA game and Calle Jarnkrok is out for both games replaced by Charlie Coyle. Howard gets both starts in goal. |
| LA Great Danes @ Thunder Bay NorWesters | Joe Thornton opens the scoring his 4th of the season giving LA a 1-0 thru the 1st period.
Brandon Saad (10) ties the game at 1-1 in the second but then Mike Hoffman gives the lead back to the Danes scoring his 9th of the season. After two periods Danes 2 Nor’Westers 1 Gabe Landeskog (15) scores to tie the game at 3-3 and some exciting play as the regulation play winds down. 3-3 after 3 periods and we are heading to OT. Kyle Connor intercepts an errant cross ice pass and streaks in on a breakaway and he scores giving the Home team a hard fought 3-2 win in Overtime. |
| Guentzel Gunners @ Thunder Bay NorWesters | No scoring in the 1st and a sloppy game with lost of missed opportunities.
In the second period Haula scores his 18th of the season to give the Gunners a 1-0 lead. The Thunder Bay’s 1st line roars back with back to back goals by Kyle Connor (13 & 14) to turn the tables and after 40 minutes of play Thunder Bay leads 2-1. Guentzel must have gotten an ass chewing because the came out with jump scoring twice Bergeron (9) and Faska (5) to give the road team a 3-2 win at Thunder Bay. |
| Weekly Summary: | Two hard fought 1 goal games but in reality the play was sloppy. The line-up changes did not jell as hoped. Looks like a re-mix will be coming next week. Something needs to be done to get this team on a long winning run. |
| California Regulators | |
| Weekly Summary: | California drops 2 at home this week. |
| Chicago Cosa Nostra | |
| Weekly Preview: | Chicago with two home games at the Capone Center this week. Can they stay close to a playoff spot or will they start slipping back into oblivion. |
| Gilbert Sharks @ Chicago Cosa Nostra | Chicago can’t win a game in regular time for the life of them. This one was another one of those instances. Tied 1-1 after regulation the Sharks score 2 in the Shootout & beat the Cosa Nostra at the Capone Center.
Final Score: Gilbert 2 – Chicago 1 (2-0 Gilbert in the Shootout) 3 Star Selection: Game Winning Goal: Artemi Panarin |
| LA Great Danes @ Chicago Cosa Nostra | The Great Danes score first, but that’s all they would get past Ryan Miller who was in net for the Cosa Nostra.
Final Score: Chicago 3 – LA 1 3 Star Selection: Game Winning Goal: Alex DeBrincat |
| Weekly Summary: | Chicago gets 2 Points at home and plays just about as their head coach expected. Road games will be crucial for the Cosa Nostra to still have Playoff hopes. |
| Cincinnati Inferno | |
| Weekly Preview: | The Cincinnati Inferno enter the week showing signs of life with a huge test against two playoff bound teams in Brentwood and Yellowknife. The Inferno have moved into second place in the Atlantic Division and won all four games last week. |
| Brentwood Bandits @ Cincinnati Inferno | The Inferno come out flying in this one, outshooting Brentwood–17-3–in the opening stanza. Cincinnati gets the first goal at 8:03 when William Karlsson nets his tenth of the year from John Carlson on a re-direction.
The second period begins with the Bandits on a five-on-three power play for 56 seconds and just three minutes after that–Brentwood would have another five-on-three advantage. Both opportunities were held at bay by Cincinnati and at 9:56 Alexander Edler notched his first of the year with a bad angle shot. The Inferno would block ten shots in the frame. In the third, Brentwood narrowed the gap to 2-1, at 16:57 when Nino Niederreiter deposited his tenth goal with a shot from the left circle. Phil Kessel and John Tavarres had the helpers on the score. The score would hold and Cincinnati skated off with the 2-1 win. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 17 shots in taking the win, while Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 30 shots for the Bandits. Brentwood went zero-for-seven on the power play, while the Inferno went zero-for-three. Edler had a goal, five hits and a pair of blocks for the winners. |
| Yellowknife Braves @ Cincinnati Inferno | Two expansion teams entered and Evgeni Malkin was a man among boys in a 4-1 Yellowknife win, scoring three goals.
Cincinnati trailing 4-2 with three minutes to go in the game, stole a page from Chris McSorley and the old Las Vegas Thunder (IHL) by pulling the goaltender when getting a power play. A score 42 seconds later allowed the Inferno to have a chance at 4-3. Kari Lehtonen was able to hold off the charge for the last 2:18 to preserve the win. Brent Seabrook had the other goal for the Braves, while Cincinnati got goals from Alexander Edler, Williams Karlsson and Brayden Point. |
| Weekly Summary: | Cincinnati picked up a key win, but also suffered a painful loss. The best player of the week at The Incinerator was Evgeni Malkin–and he doesn’t play for the Inferno! |
| Yellowknife Braves | |
| Weekly Preview: | The Braves defend their Teepee against 2 top teams |
| Lafayette Homesteaders @ Yellowknife Braves | Lafayette steals one in a shootout 3-2 Stars#1 YEL Monahan 1G 2 YEL Kuznetsov 1G 3 LAF Duchene 1G |
| Clearfield Bison @ Yellowknife Braves | The home team dodge a bullet as the Bison hit the post 3 times and fall short 5-4 Stars #1 YEL Monahan 2G YEL Rantanen 1G 2pts YEL Kuznetsov 1G 2 pts |
| Weekly Summary: | Yellowknife gets 3 out of 4 much needed pts in their tough division |
| Lafayette Homesteaders | |
| Weekly Preview: | Bucks County ( Montgomery is better ) and California come to the Hills and Hollers |
| Bucks County Raccoons @ Lafayette Homesteaders | The Coons come to Tennessee..
The first and second periods are scoreless and may I say if Brian Elliott played this way for the Flyers last year we would have won the friggin Cup! 5 breakaways in the first 2 periods by the Steaders and not a goal. The 3rd started with Pitlick scoring his 2nd of the year shorthanded and that was all Jonesy needed in goal. Duchene and Ristolainen score put the icing on the game Stars Jones/Ristolainen/Duchene LAF 3 BUCKS 0 |
| California Regulators @ Lafayette Homesteaders | Jones gets the start after his shutout and within 50 seconds California is up 1-0 On Schmatz 7th of the year. But Lafayette storms back with goals by Bozak (3), Dadonov (13) Duchene (16) to take a commanding 3-1 lead
But in the second the Regs would tie it up on goals by Nelson and Reinhart The 3rd period is end to end with both goalies coming up big…that was until 52 seconds left in the game when Huberdeau puts one past Jones and wins the game CALIF 4 LAF 3 |
| Weekly Summary: | Two solid games for Lafayette. |
| Bathgate Rangers | |
| Weekly Preview: | The Rangers have been fading from their earlier lofty perch when they had delusions of grandeur when they were in 2nd place. Scoring has gone down, defense has too many holes and this week they host two teams that are better – Charlotte and rival Columbus. |
| Charlotte Buzzards @ Bathgate Rangers | Charlotte wastes no time in asserting itself getting the 1st goal (Grabner) 5 and 1/2 in. The Lee makes it 2-0 with a PP goal with 5 1/2 left in the period – what symmetry. Bathgate makes it close when Wood scores with just under 2 to go in the 1st – but that was their offense Henrik stops all the rest of their shots. Pavelski and Tarasenko make it a 4-1 victory for the Buzzards are they gobble up the carrion. STARS – all CHA 1. Lundqvist 38 saves (Bathgate actually tried – 88 shots/39 on goal – only 9 chances) 2. Tarasenko 1 goal 1 assist 3. Lee 1 goal 1 assist |
| Columbus Brew Jackets @ Bathgate Rangers | This series has always been hard fought – Bathgate owned it the first year, but Columbus has been asserting itself as of late and this game proved interesting. Hischier scored just past the 1 minute mark, but then Couture, Kempe and KEMPE powered the puck past Mrazek during the next 11 minutes end the first period 3-1 Brew Jackets. Both teams fired 13 on goal. In the 2nd the SOG totals when 12-9 Rangers, but the goals went 1-0 Columbus. Bathgate enter period 3 down 4-1 (familiar total) and Columbus clamps down – and only fires 3 shots on goal in the 3rd – NONE went in, imagine that. But the Rangers lit up the SOG board firing 20 on next and Hischier put 2 more goals in for the hat trick – but those 3 goals weren’t enough to pull out any points and Columbus wins 4-3. STARS 1. (BGR) Hischier 3 goals 2. (CBJ) Couture 2 goals, 2 assists 3. (CBJ) Kempe 2 goals, 2 assists |
| Weekly Summary: | Dismal week – Rangers drop 2 at home, bah humbug |
| Columbus Brew Jackets | |
| Weekly Preview: | Columbus is in the hunt – with 2 other teams – in the tough Metropolitan division. Jagr keeps trying to build the superstar team, and its working, Brentwood is making a big move – they have the best defense in the division, so Columbus can’t afford to slip – but defense has not been their strong suit….And they get to host Jagr this week in a pivotal match. |
| Jagr Mullets @ Columbus Brew Jackets | It’s just December but this game feels like the playoffs. Kucherov scores a B&B goal 39 seconds in (assisted by Benn and Burns) to quickly get Columbus up 1-0. But Jagr makes it 2-1 when Kadri and Marleau score less than a minute apart as the midpoint of the period nears. After that, the defenses take over and the first ends 2-1 Jagr. The 2nd period see Benn and Radalov go off for fighting – it was called a draw, but the hometown fans know who really won. Then a couple of minutes later Staal is called for tripping putting Jackets on a PP that ends up with Miller getting his own rebound and going behind the net and putting the wraparound in for a tying PP goal. Jagr regains the lead on a wrist shot from Granlund with 3 to go in the 2nd. Then Jagr goes up 4-2 when Kempe is whistled for tripping and Laine shots, Halak blocks it but the rebound goes right to Kadri – shoots – GOAL. 17 minutes left in period 3. Jackets heat up (17 SOG in P3) – and Benn scores 6 minutes late to cut it to 4-3. Just over a minute left and Halak leaves – Kucherov in. Miler shots, rebound, Miller shoots, rebound, Miller shoots, denied but Gibson can’t control it. Johnson shots -GIBSON GLOVES it. 57 seconds left. Miller wins the faceoff … to Hayes… to Miller…to Kucherov….to Hayes – GOAL! Tie game with 54 seconds to go. Period 3 ends, we go to OT. Jagr was not happy giving up 1 point to Columbus – and they wanted to keep it at 1 and they game out firing and controlling – Jackets were playing for the shootout. It took 4 minutes and 25 seconds, but the Mullets finally wore down Halak as Hall scores the winner (from Laine and Brodie). 5-4 Jagr OT Stars 1 JAG – Kadri 2 goals 2 JAG – Hall 1 goal, 2 assists 3 CBJ – Kucherov 1 goal, 2 assists |
| Thunder Bay NorWesters @ Columbus Brew Jackets | Thunder Bay rumbles and blows into Columbus and the Brew Jackets take out the frustrations from the Jagr game quickly racking up 3 goals in the 1st – Kucherov, Miller and Benn. Sandwiched in there was Thunder Bay goal from Connor. Then Miller and Khaira add goals in the 2nd to make it 5-1. Smith scores for Thunder Bay a minute into the 3rd but the Brew Jackets clamp down and stop most everything at the blue line the rest of the way for the 5-2 win. STARS (ALL CBJ) 1. Benn 1 goal, 3 assists 2. Miller 2 goals 3. Kucherov 1 goal, 2 assists |
| Weekly Summary: | 3 of 4 points not too bad – but they did lose ground to Jagr! Next time….. |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs | |
| Weekly Summary: | Long Beach loses 2 of 3 at home. |
| LA Great Danes | |
| Weekly Preview: | One home game this week for the Great Danes, against division rival Alamo, who dominated them last year and beat LA earlier this season. |
| Alamo Defenders @ LA Great Danes | LA’s struggles against Alamo continue in period 1, getting outshot 18-7, and Derek Ryan put Alamo up 5 minutes in and they led 1-0 after 1. An early goal in period 2 by Paul Byron got LA even, but midway through the 2nd a Tanner Pearson wrap-around goal was upheld after a review, and Alamo led 2-1 after 2. Dane Mikkel Boedker brought LA even 4 minutes into the 3rd, and things stayed that way until the final minute of regulation.
The Danes got careless, and Max Pacioretty capitalized on an odd-man rush and scored with just 33 seconds left in the game. The Danes win the subsequent face-off and 12 seconds later Mark Scheifele ties the game with the LA net empty. So 3-3 heading to OT. The Danes get stuck on a long shift at the start of OT, but rather than dump the puck and change, a tired trio of Danes head up ice and it pays off with a Brayden Schenn goal 1:44 into OT, giving LA a big 4-3 OT win. Brayden Schenn was the clear #1 star, centering a shutdown line that held the Seguin-Marchand-Wheeler line off the scoresheet (save a Wheeler assist on Pacioretty’s goal), and he then delivered an assist on the tying goal with 21 seconds left and the OT winner. Vladimir Sobotka, playing on Schenn’s line, won 16 of 20 faceoffs, mostly against Seguin. |
| Weekly Summary: | Partial road results are in for LA, with an OT and regulation loss. The Gilbert game on the road will determine if the Danes had a good or bad week, but either way, it was good to finally beat Alamo, even though they trailed much of the game and never led until the OT winner. |
| Brentwood Bandits | |
| Weekly Preview: | The surprising Bandits try to keep their winning ways alive. Will this be the week the wheels fall off and Kessel and Tavares come back down to earth? Or can they continue their “Cinderella Season”? |
| Clearfield Bison @ Brentwood Bandits | Clearfield comes to town in a battle of Pennsylvania rivals!
Brentwood draws first blood with Niederreiter potting his 10th on the PP. Giroux (7) and Rakell (9) score 5 minutes apart to give Clearfield the 2-1 lead. Bandits score 3 goals in 2:31 as Niederreiter (11), Krug (6), and Kessel (16) give the Bandits a quick 4-2 lead. 2nd period – 47 seconds in Tavares (18) makes it 5-2 Bandits. Midway through the second Kessel scores his 2nd of the night and 17th of the season on the PP to make it 6-2 Bandits. 3rd period – Clearfield gets a goal from Rakell, his 2nd of the night (10) at 2:10. Bandits lead 6-3 Kane and Company through everything they can at Vasilevskiy, but he’s up to the task as he shuts them down the rest of the way. Final score 6-3 Bandits win despite Clearfield outshooting them 50-35 |
| Bathgate Rangers @ Brentwood Bandits | Bathgate comes to town to try to clean up the Bandits winning ways (eye-roll, I know).
1st period – McGinn (4) gives the Bandits a 1-0 lead Hornqvist (9) ties it 1-1. McGinn (5) gets his second of the night to give the Bandits back the lead 2-1. 2nd Period – Kerfoot (10) scores on the PP. 3-1 Bandits lead. 3rd Period – Shaw (4) on the PP to cut the lead to 3-2. Bandits go on a scoring run… Niederreiter (12), McGinn completes the unlikely Hat Trick (6), and Dunn (3) rounds it out to give Brentwood a 6-2 lead. Bathgate mounts a comeback with goals from Ferland (11) and Staal (17) but comes up short as the Bandits win again 6-4. |
| Weekly Summary: | 2 home games, 4 points. That’s been the narrative lately. Kessel and Tavares continue to light it up. Vasilevskiy continues to prove trading Gibson was a good choice and not just monetarily, and the youngsters like Kerfoot (10 goals) as well as a blueline that has combined to score 20 goals in 34 games. Maybe this team just has good digital chemistry? Or maybe their luck will run out. Either way, it’s been a fun surprise in a “rebuilding” year. |
| Jagr Mullets | |
| Weekly Preview: | Two home games against Guentzel and Brentwood. We roll the dice and continue resting 3 regulars (Auston Matthews, Zach Parise, and Ryan Ellis) so we have them down the stretch. |
| Guentzel Gunners @ Jagr Mullets | We expected lots of goals in this one, and it didn’t disappoint. Kadri (10) strikes early at 3:44, and Haula (18) returns the favor at 5:13. Patrik Laine (19) scores at 15:40 of the first to put the Mullets up 2-1.
The story of the game going forward – Jagr couldn’t stay out of the box, but Guentzel couldn’t convert (0-5) on the power play. Jagr gets a pair of EV goals from Staal (7) and Letang (5) to pull ahead 4-1. Haula (19) scores his 2nd of the game midway through the 3rd to cut it to 4-2, and it’s getting tense for the home crowd. But then Guentzel gets their first penalty of the game – and it’s fatal. Patrik Laine (20) buries the biscuit behind Luongo to lock up the 5-2 victory. Scoring Summary Star 1: JAG Laine 2 G GWG: Jordan Staal Notables: GUE None |
| Brentwood Bandits @ Jagr Mullets | The Battle of the Brothers!
Lots of familiar faces on both sides, as the Nez Brothers are notorious for their wheeling and dealing. In net, we have former Mullet Vasilevskiy facing former Bandit John Gibson. Also skating against their former teams are Phil Kessel, Justin Braun, Hampus Lindholm, Alexander Radulov, Ron Hainsey, Riley Nash, and Patrick Marleau. Who will get revenge against their former employer? Jordan Eberle goes off at 5:18 of the first for hooking, and immediately goes into the Brentwood doghouse as Ovie (23) scores on the ensuing power play. But Brentwood strikes back shortly thereafter, with McGinn (4) collecting a goal to tie it up. The Brentwood forecheck is formidable, as Malgin, McGinn, and Backes seem to break up every Mullet opportunity that arises. Finally, Phil The Thrill Kessel (16) knocks down the door at 14:13 to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. That score holds up until late in the 3rd, when the Mullets are forced to pull John Gibson in an aggressive attempt to tie the game. But Kessel makes his run at the empty net, and like a shark sensing blood he makes the kill at 19:29 to put the game away and secure the Bandit upset at Jagr. Coach Chris buys a round of hot dogs for the team as they leave town on a high note. |
| Weekly Summary: | Only two points at home this week, but the boys played well in defeat so there’s little concern at this time. The Mullet PK continues to be strong, and the PP also remains lethal. The coaches will be reviewing lots of even strength film to find the magic formula. |
| Toledo Walleye | |
| Weekly Preview: | Toledo continues to tread water at .500, hosting division rival Chicago (15-13-4) and Pacific foe Long Beach (10-18-4). Mike Green and Brandon Sutter return from the DL, while Ty Rattie (14 pts. in 12 games) reinjures his knee and goes back on the DL, and Andrew MacDonald goes on paternity leave. |
| Chicago Cosa Nostra @ Toledo Walleye | Toledo 4, Chicago 3 – Toledo comes out sluggish, and although able to throw a lot of rubber at the net, not much was quality. For Chicago, better organization and strategy, especially from William Nylander who scored once, and assisted on another (Dubois), keeping the home team crowd in their seats as the first period ends 2-0 Thugs. Toledo comes out in the 2nd with a change in strategy which pays off in an early goal by Spooner, but Chicago matches up well the rest of the period and is able to answer the goal late in the 2nd when Nugent-Hopkins puts in another, and Chicago goes to the 2nd intermission perserving their 2 goal lead, with a 3-1 lead. In the 3rd, Toledo cranks the dial up a few more notches, trying to leverage the gains of the 2nd period, and it works well. Chicago spends a little less time in the offensive zone, and Toledo converts a power play early, with Green cutting the lead to 1. With the crowd getting ansy as the clock drops below 6 minutes, Daley ignites them with a rocket to tie the game at 3. At that point both teams are riled up, inspiration for the home team and desperation for the visitors, and two minutes later the arena errupts as Vaned nets one to give the home team a 4-3 lead with under 4 minutes left. The last 4 minutes is balls out frantic with Chicago pulling out the stops to get some momentum going, and the Toledo defense hitting anything that moved to hang on. Great effort of both sides is an even match and Toledo sees the horn blow before Chicago can even the game.
1st star – Nylander 1g2a |
| Long Beach Ice Dogs @ Toledo Walleye | Toledo 6, Long Beach 5 – Toledo come out flat, similar to the Chicago game, Long Beach plays like its a practive session, making Dubnyk feel like he’s their b***h, allowing 3 goals (Matheson, Skinner, Gallagher) while Toledo rarely gets any offense organized, but lucks in one goal (Barrie), Gallagher and Brouwer take offense at each others face, dropping gloves and dancing for a while, before spending the last 5 minutes of the first in the box, and the period quietly end 3-1 Long Beach. Toledo changes strategy on each on every line during the 1st intermission and initial results look promising as they cut the lead to one at the midpoint (Backstrom), but then Long Beach answers on a powerplay (Stamkos) and before the next line is off the ice, Gallagher scores another and the score is 5-2 visitors in a very depressed Huntington Arena. Toledo then goes all out on defense and offense and it seems to spark the team which gets an answering goal before the 2nd period ends, to negate both Ice Dog goals. Vanek and Cole hook up for a gloves off confrontation which earns them both extended rest time into the 3rd period. Toledo heads into the 2nd intermission with heads up and down only 2 goals 5-3. Toledo is able to keep ‘mo’ on thier side and although it takes 7 minutes to get something going, is able to get goals from Cirelli, Mantha and with the Arena fully cranked up, the game winner from Rodrigues, and then hold off the extra attacker for 2 minutes. Another sweaty 3rd period comeback for the Walleye. 1st star – Backstrom 1g2a 2nd – Stamkos 1g3a 3rd – Gallagher 2g |
| Lafayette Homesteaders @ Toledo Walleye | Toledo 5, Lafayette 3 – Finally a game that is not a come from behind effort. Toledo gets on the board first with goals from Barrie and Vanek. Lafayette answers early in the 2nd when Forsberg takes advantage on the power play to cut the lead to 1. Toledo answers 10 minutes later with Anisimov, and the game goes to the 3rd with Toledo up 3-1. Lafayette cuts the lead to 1 again with an early goal from Hanifin. JVR pushes the lead back up to 2 on a deflection at the midway point of the 3rd, making it 4-2 Walleye. Both teams with a few opportunities as the game nears the end, but it isn’t until the Homesteaders pull their goalie late, that they cut the lead to 1 on another Forsberg goal at the 1 minute mark. Toledo is able to meet the extra man threat the last minute and Vanek adds an empty netter at the end to make it 5-3. 1st star Vanek 2g 2nd van Riemsdyk 1g2a 3rd Forsberg 2g |
| Weekly Summary: | If only the Walleye could play in the first 2 periods like they do in the 3rd. Outscored a cumulative 8-4 in the first 2, then dominating the 3rd 6-0. A very exciting 2 games to get 4 points. Toledo glad to see this good play with 4 players going off the roster and 4 new players coming on the roster.
Best of the week: Stamkos with 4pts, Nylander 3pts, each in one game for the visitors. Toledo finishes a perfect week at home with their 3rd win, and 6 total points. |
| Alamo Defenders | |
| Weekly Preview: | Gilbert and Charlotte invade the Alamo for two games. |
| Gilbert Sharks @ Alamo Defenders | In the first period, Alamo scores the first 2 goals. The goals were scored by Marchand and Yandle. But, the Sharks get it going and score 4 consecutive goals. Alamo scores one in the 3rd, but the Sharks score 2 more goals to close it out. Keller and Atkinson score the last two goals.
Gilbert 6 Alamo 3 1st – Keller 2 goals and 1 assist |
| Charlotte Buzzards @ Alamo Defenders | Alamo scores early in the 1st on a Jenner goal to take the lead. Then, Yandle and Marchand score 2 in a row. Lee and Dzingel score for Charlotte to make it interesting. The Defenders score 2 in a row to close it out. Wheeler and Caggiula score to close it out. The Buzzards get a late one from Grabner.
Alamo 5 Charlotte 3 1st – Wheeler 1 goal, 2 assists |
| Weekly Summary: | Alamo splits against Gilbert and Charlotte |
| Bucks County Racoons | |
| Weekly Preview: | The struggling Raccoons face a death march at home with games against 3 of the top teams in the league. |
| Cincinnati Inferno @ Bucks County Racoons | Cincinnati scores twice in a 23 second span midway through the 3rd period and hold on to defeat Bucks County 4-3. As usual, the Racs give up a 3rd period lead. |
| Clearfield Bison @ Bucks County Racoons | Clearfield scores 3 in the third period (one into an empty net), and cruise to a 5-2 win against Bucks County. As usual, the Racs can’t close the deal after being tied in the 3rd period. |
| Jagr Mullets @ Bucks County Racoons | Jagr scores midway through the 3rd period to tie the game at 1, and as usual the Racs can’t hold a 3rd period lead. However, they do enough to force OT, and then prevail in the shootout to get a 2-1 win. The Mullets get a ‘thanks for coming, here’s a point’ for their efforts. |
| Weekly Summary: | 3 weak 3rd periods continue a trend as the Raccoons go 1-2 at home for the week. Bucks County is now 4-16-2 since Nov. 8th. |
| New Jersey Grizzlies | |
| Yellowknife Braves @ New Jersey Grizzlies | New Jersey defeated Yellowknife 5-3 |
| Toledo Walleye @ New Jersey Grizzlies | NJ defeated Toledo 3-1 |
| Weekly Summary: | New Jersey Grizzlies wins two this week. |
| Gilbert Sharks | |
| Weekly Preview: | Gilbert only has 1 home game in this block but it is a big one against LA who is directly in front of them in the standings. |
| LA Great Danes @ Gilbert Sharks | Cam Atkinson opened the scoring just a minute and a half into the game to give Gilbert a 1-0 lead. LA comes back quickly with goals from Schenn and Ehlers to take a 2-1 lead but Gilbert would tie it up before the end of the 1st period with an Adam Henrique goal. The 2nd period would be quieter with the lone goal coming off the stick of Derrick Brassard to give Gilbert a 3-2 lead. Ehlers would score his 2nd Goal of the game to tie up the score with about 5 minutes left in the game and we would head to OT. The overtime period sees a lot of shots but no goals and a shootout would decide this one. Nathan Mackinnon scores on the first shootout opportunity for Gilbert and Atkinson ends the game like he started it by putting one in the back of the net securing a huge win for Gilbert. |
| Weekly Summary: | Gilbert gets a big home win and awaits their road results to see if they can get back into the division race. |
| Charlotte Buzzards | |
| Weekly Preview: | Preview: As Charlotte nears the halfway point, some modest success on the road to ensure a winning record has been offset by a mediocre home record around .500 — additional wins are clearly needed in the tough Atlantic Division to attain the playoffs in the first year of the franchise. |
| Thunder Bay NorWesters @ Charlotte Buzzards | Thunder Bay 4 Charlotte 2 In a matchup between the Atlantic’s two bottom dwellers, the Nor’westers grabbed two first period goals, one off the stick of Kyle Connor and one from Calle Jarnkrok and never relinquished the lead. Connor, Reilly Smith and Aleksander Barkov each had one goal and two assists apiece for Thunder Bay in the balanced offensive effort. Barkov’s empty netter with 16 seconds to play sealed the win, after Charlotte’s Craig Smith scored his ninth goal of the season with five minutes to play, that had narrowed the Nor’westers lead at 3-2. |
| Gilbert Sharks @ Charlotte Buzzards | The Buzzards rebounded in its latest home contest, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to turn back the Sharks. Nathan McKinnon and Clayton Keller — the Sharks two top scorers to date — tallied Gilbert’s first two goals in the first period. But Milic Lucic spearheaded Charlotte’s comeback scoring two of the next three Buzzards goals, including one 5:08 into the second period to put the Buzzards ahead 3-2. Artemi Panerin’s goal about a minute later tied the contest at 3 for Gilbert. But Jon Marchessault’s sixth goal of the year late in the second period provided Charlotte with the winning margin. Tyler Myers chipped in with an even strength goal 3:50 in the third period to provide insurance for the Buzzards and cap the scoring. |
| Weekly Summary: | In a clear trend, Charlotte continues to follow up home losses with subsequent victories at the Bojangles Coliseum here in the Queen City. The slumping Antti Raanta (10 wins 11 losses) has lost several home contests that have been followed up by wins from backup netminder Henrik Lundqvist (8 wins and 4 losses). Raanta’s disappointing struggles have clearly hindered the Buzzards’ playoff aspirations and are a key story to the season. |