Bridgeport and Prospect Roundup 1/16

There's a lot of discussion over what to do with Kevin Poulin. If this week and the previous week are any sign, it might be better to keep him in the NHL. BP lost both games this week to Norfolk. On Friday night they lost 5-2, giving up 3 PP goals (Mikko Koskinen had 30 saves on 35 shots) on 4 PKs. Brett Motherwell [Brandon Svendsen] and Micheal Haley [Robin Figren, Mark Katic] scored goals for the Sound Tigers. On Saturday Joel Martin got his first start since 06-07. The 29 year old has had a long road, playing 5 years in the WHL, 1 year in the WCHL, 3 years in the CHL, 4 years in the ECHL, 1 year in the IHL and this is now his 4th short term stint in the AHL.

Norfolk decided to give him a warm welcome, plastering him with 51 shots including a 22 shot second period (while BP managed only 19 shots total on the night). Martin was up to the challenge, turning away 48 shots on the night in the 3-2 loss. Figren [Katic, Ty Wishart] and Motherwell [Katic, Figren] scored goals on the night, with Katic being named 3rd star. Just to give you an idea of how bad it is in BP, there are currently 17 players who have played in BP at one point or another that are currently not on the roster. The official AHL site lists the BP roster with 14 Forwards and 8 Defenseman.  (This made me laugh, Bonus points if anyone recognizes who the Sound Tigers were)

Natural Born Kirills

Kirill Petrov was held off the score sheet in 2 games this week making his season total 6 Goals, 7 Assists for 13 points in 35 games.

Kirill Kabanov had a goal and two assists (good enough for third star and a +5 in Lewiston's 9-3 win this week. In their 7-5 loss he finished the night with one assist and -4 (one of three players on Lewiston to finish -4). Kirill has 5 Goals, 9 Assists for 14 points and a +6 in 18 games.

WHL, OHL, NCAA and Europe

Calvin De Haan didn't get any points in Oshawa's first game this week (But was involved in a Line Brawl) and Tony Dehart sat out. In a come from behind (a 4 goal 3rd for Oshawa) 6-5 win over Ottawa, both De Haan and Dehart had a -3 on the night. But they each had a primary assist on important goals, with Dehart setting up the tieing goal and De Haan setting up the winner. In 29 games De Haan has 2 goals and 23 Assists for 25 points and a +11. Dehart has 2 goals and 19 assists for 21 points in 36 games and a +8.

In Two games this week Casey Cizikas scored two goals, including the game tieing goal against Belleville (good enough for third star on the night) and now has 22 goals, 22 assists for 44 points in 32 games and a +28. As of right now Cizikas is only 18 points his career high of 62 points in 68 games. (Casey knows Circle Drill)

Nino Niederreiter had 2 goals in 3 games for the Winterhawks and finished the week +1. On the year he has 16 goals, 13 assists for 29 points in 28 games and a +7. Nino has only been held pointless in 8 games this year so far.

David Toews and the Wheat Kings have been struggling, losing all four games this week. Toews had a goal and a -3 on the week. He has 10 goals, 13 assists for 23 points in 35 games for Brandon with a -13. The 23 points does place him 8th among WHL rookies.

Prospects Clash: Minnesota (Aaron Ness) Vs North Dakota (Brock Nelson, Jason Gregoire)

In game one Jason Gregoire announced his return with the game tieing goal in the third (also getting the 3rd star of the night) [Video Here] but it was Minnesota that took the game as Aaron Ness assisted on the game winner. Brock Nelson did manage 3 shots on net.

In Game two North Dakota won 4-1 as none of the Islanders prospects ended up on the scoring sheet.

Gregoire has 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 17 games. (Interview)
Nelson has 4 goals, 4 assists for 8 points this year in 24 games.
Ness has 9 assists in 21 games. (Interview)

Notre Dame played Alaska in back to back games, winning the first game 2-1. Anders Lee scored ND's opening goal and was named second star on the night. ND lost the following game 4-1 with Lee not scoring a point. So far this season Lee has 14 Goals, 12 Assists for 26 points in 25 games.

Matt Donovan had an assist and a +1 in two games against Minnesota State. He has 6 goals, 11 assists for 17 points in 23 games.

Jason Clark did not play in the Badgers two games this week.

Corey Trivino had an assist in BUs 5-2 win over Harvard. He has 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points in 18 games. He is only 2 points off his previous high of 15 points in 28 games.

Blake Kessel had 2 assists in UNH's 5-4 loss to Dartmouth. This year he has 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 20 games.

Colgate only scored a goal in each of it's two games this week, but Brian Day did assist on each of them. Day has 8 goals, 6 assists for 14 points in 21 games.

Anders Nilsson started both games this week for Lulea. He lost a 3-2 game in which he surrendered 3 goals on 22 shots [Highlights]. In the following game he bounced back a bit, giving up 2 goals on 20 shots in an overtime win [Highlights].

Cody Rosen did not play this week... because Clarkson was off this week.