2021-2022 PLAYER & GOALIE OF THE WEEK #12

EASTERN SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASISSTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Kirill Kaprizov JAG 4 3 4 7 0 5 7 43%
                   
EASTERN GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Jake Oettinger POR 2 2 1 76 .974
                   
WESTERN SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Sidney Crosby ALA 3 2 4 6 0 3 10 20%
                   
WESTERN GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Elvis Merzilkins GIL 2 2 0.99 42 .955
                   

Chicago Cosa Nostra
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Chicago gets one home game for the week & takes on the LA Great Danes in a matinee day game at the Capone Center.
   
LA GREAT DANES

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CHICAGO COSA NOSTRA

Scoreless through 2 periods of play the teams exchange goals, with LA scoring early in the 3rd & Chicago tying it at 18:09. As it looks like it’s headed to overtime, the Great Danes score with just :06 seconds left on the clock to walk away victorious.

Final Score: LA 2 – Chicago 1

Labatts 3-Star Selection:

Star 1: LGD – Claude Giroux 1G
Star 2: LGD – Darnell Nurse 1G
Star 3: CHI – Oliver Wahlstrom 1G

Game Winner: – Claude Giroux

Notables:
LGD – Aleksander Barkov 17 Faceoff Wins
CHI – Juuse Saros 31 Saves

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Chicago suffers a loss at home in its only home game of the week.
Yellowknife Braves
WEEKLY PREVIEW: California and Portland visit Yellowknife
   
CALIFORNIA REGULATORS

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YELLOWKNIFE BRAVES

The Braves eek out a 1-0 win
Stars #1 YEL Greiss 26 saves
#2 YEL Rantanen 1G
#3 Cal Grubauer 27 saves
   
PORTLAND STORM

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YELLOWKNIFE BRAVES

Storm take it 5-2
Stars #1 POR Brown 1G 2pts
#2 POR Granlund 1G 2pts
#3 POR Binnington 31 saves
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Yellowknife splits their home series
Bathgate Rangers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Bathgate slumping lately, and on the road a lot, gets one home game this week hosting Bucks County – hmmm, this looks familiar to a Stanley Cup Final. The Racoons are not doing so well this year however.
   
BUCKS COUNTY RACCOONS

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BATHGATE RANGERS

A tight game sees some strange play in the final 4 minutes and 10 seconds where 4 goals are scored – and none of them even strength. In fact, the final 5 goals are anything but even.

Ritchie gets the only goal in the 1st as Bathgate gets a 1-0 lead with a midperiod goal. In the 2nd Tavares gets the only goal (again just past midway) and the Rangers skate into the 3rd with a 2-0 lead. Can they hold that, or will the defense get shaky again?

Well the tough news was, the Rangers end the 2nd period a man down and it carries into the 3rd and the Raccoons take advantage when Oshie puts one past Kahkonen to cut the score to 2-1.But the Rangers hold tight and with 5 1/2 to go, Hagel goes off for the Raccoons and the Rangers have the PP and chance to ice the game. However, as they work the PP, Oshie checks Zibanejad and gains the puck and then ends up on a breakaway and he dekes and slaps and Kahkonen gets a piece of it, but not enough to alter it’s course into the net for SH game tying goal. 4:09 to go and it’s all tied up! But the Rangers are still on the PP and they finally convert 35 seconds later when Hertl scores to make it 3-2. But the Racoons are still fighting and going into the final 2 minutes, Campbell leaves the ice and the Rangers take advantage of the empty net – TWICE. First Panarin with a minute and half to go. And then on the center ice face off the puck is quickly moved to Provorov who fires at the empty net and it goes in – 4 SECONDS after the previous goal!! And that makes its 5-2 Rangers and that’s the final. First time in a long time it seems that the Rangers got the SOG edge (31-30) but it was the PP and empty net that turned the tide in this one.

STARS
1. BCR – Oshie 2 goals
2. BGR – Panarin 1 goal, 1 assist
3. BRG – Provorov 1 goal, 1 assist

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: 1 game, 1 win, 2 points – but the Raccoons made it tough and were in it until the end!
LA Great Danes
WEEKLY PREVIEW: A short week, with only 2 games this week, one on the road and one at home. Roope Hintz sat out last week and sat out the road win this week against Chicago (LA won 4 of 5 with Hintz out of the lineup), but he’s back in the lineup at home versus Yellowknife.
   
YELLOWKNIFE BRAVES

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LA GREAT DANES

The last time the Braves visited LA in early December, it was the disaster of all games, with LA getting buried 7-0 and giving up 3 goals on the game’s first 3 shots less than 3 minutes into the game.

So it’s a goaltender duel between Fleury (9.0 rating) and Varlamov (9.1 rating). Spoiler alert — no it wasn’t, instead it was a game to pad the offensive stats with 10 players ending up with multi-point games, 5 from each team.

Unlike the last game between these 2 teams, it’s LA with the early goal, Barkov 54 seconds into the game. But the teams then trade goals – Rantanen for Yellowknife, Stephenson for LA, and Rantanen again. So we’re tied 2-2 after one.

In the second, an early goal by Hintz off a 2 on 1 gives the Danes a 3-2 lead, and a goal in the period’s last minute by Rantanen ties it. So it’s a hat trick for Rantanen with another period to go, as we head to the 3rd tied at 3-3.

The Danes start strong in the period and are outshooting the Braves 12-2 in the period up until Denis Gurianov shocks the crowd and sneaks one by Varlamov. It’s not even a scoring chance, and everyone is looking at each other, thinking what just happened?! Then Oliver Bjorkstand fires a slapshot past Varlamov, and it’s 5-3 in favor of the Braves with over 5 minutes left. Damn these Braves, they seem to be dog killers.

But these big dogs have some fight left in them, as Mark Scheifele scores with 3:33 to make it a one-goal game. Then with 2:35 left, Chandler Stephenson ties it up. But the way this game has gone, no one thinks OT is inevitable. And captain Aleksander Barkov beats Fleury with 1:43 left to put the Danes ahead at 6-5. Still time left for Yellowknife, and they put the pressure on at the end but LA holds on for the win.

Rantanen is the game’s #1 star with the hat trick, and LA has the other 2 stars, Stephenson with 2G-1A, and Barkov with 2G. The notables include Sebastian Aho’s 3 assists for the Braves and William Nylander’s 4 assists for LA. And Roope Hintz had an impact in his return to the lineup with 1G and 1A.

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: The Great Danes’ short week 12 is in the books with 2 wins, both on late goals but in very different fashion. The Danes were in shutdown mode against Chicago in the 2-1 road win on a goal with just 6 seconds left. The Yellowknife game was a scoring fest.

We won’t see the Braves in LA again this year, but we do visit Yellowknife twice in March. They have 15 goals against LA in the 3 games they have played this year. Too early to anticipate the rematch, but if the previous games are an indication, the unexpected will happen.

Alamo Defenders
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Alamo is at home this week against Jagr, Bathgate, and Chicago
   
JAGR MULLETS

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ALAMO DEFENDERS

Four goals in the 1st period. Tippett and Miller score for the Mullets. Tolvanen and Jenner score for Alamo.

Matthews nets is 28th in the 2nd for Jagr. And, Glendenning matches the goal for Alamo.

No one scores in the 3rd.

In OT, Bergeron scores for Jagr and earn the win.

Jagr 4 Alamo 3 (OT)

1-Bergeron
2-Matthews
3-Miller

   
BATHGATE RANGERS

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ALAMO DEFENDERS

Bathgate goes up, 2-0 in the 1st as Sanheim scores both.

In the 2nd, Crosby and Chychrun score for Alamo to tie it up. In the 3rd, Wheeler and Comeau score goals for Alamo to win the game.

Alamo 4 Bathgate 2

1-Crosby
2-Sanheim
3-Wheeler

   
CHICAGO COSA NOSTRA

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ALAMO DEFENDERS

This game goes to OT, just like Alamo’s first game. Draisaitl scores 2 and Crosby scores 1. For Chicago, DeBrincat, Edmundson, and Pastrnak score.

In OT, Weegar scores for Chicago.

Chicago 4 Alamo 3 (OT)

1-Draisaitl
2-Pastrnak
3-Crosby

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Alamo takes earns 4 out of 6 points with a win against Bathgate and ties against Jagr and Chicago.
Gilbert Sharks
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Gilbert has 3 home games versus Portland, Bathgate, and Thunder Bay
   
PORTLAND STORM

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GILBERT SHARKS

Merzilikens saves 23 shots on goal for the shutout versus Portland. Gilbert gets goals from Backstrom, Tkachuk, and Leddy get the goals for Gilbert in the 3-0 victory.
   
BATHGATE RANGERS

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GILBERT SHARKS

Kiviranta opens the scoring for Gilbert early in the 1st but Bathgate comes back with 2 goals from Hertl and Hagel before the end of the period to take the lead. Tavares extends the lead for Bathgate in the 2nd period. Mackinnon would score late in the 3rd to bring Gilbert to within 1 but that is all the closer it would get. 3-2 Bathgate win
   
 THUNDER BAY NORWESTERS

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GILBERT SHARKS

No scoring in the 1st period but Thunder Bay jumps all over the Sharks in the 2nd period. Goals from Jack Hughes, Couturier, and Connor open a 3-0 lead. Gilbert gets 1 back with about 5 minutes left but things are looking bleak when they pull the goalie with just over 2 minutes left. Hornqvist is able to bring the Sharks within 1 with under 2 minutes left and then Burakovsky ties the game with just 21 seconds left! This game improbably goes to OT and Hornqvist is again the hero for the Sharks with the Game Winning Goal in OT. 4-3 Gilbert
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: An amazing comeback salvages this block and Gilbert continues to hang around
Brentwood Bandits
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Brentwood hosts a pair of division leaders this week.
   
TOLEDO WALLEYE

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BRENTWOOD BANDITS

The Walleye comes to town fishing for a win…

Joe Pavelski (30) has other plans as he scores a mere 16 seconds in… 1-0 Bandits!

About 1:37 later, Foegele (8) makes it 2-0 Bandits!

In the 2nd period, Saad (10) cuts the lead to 2-1, but Pavelski (31) gets the 2 goal lead back before the end of the period, 3-1 Bandits.

3rd Period, the Walleye swim deep and score two goal, Saad (11) and Trocheck (21 – on PP)… and it’s tied 3-3!!

But less than a minute later, Frankie V (8) puts the Bandits back up 4-3!

That’s where it would end.

   
CINCINNATI INFERNO

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BRENTWOOD BANDITS

The Inferno come in hot and score first in this one as Toffoli (12) gets them up 1-0.

Later in the 1st, Kessel (12) ties it 1-1 on the PP.

2nd period, Malkin scores his 2nd (only 2nd?) of the season to make it 2-1 Inferno!

Later in the period, Rielly (1) scores his first of the season to tie it up 2-2!!

3rd period – the goalies earn their paychecks as they turn away 9 shots each to take us to OT.

Brentwood gains the shot advantage in OT 6-3, but again both goalies stand tall. So we head to a shootout!

Pacioretty against Vasilevskiy… SCORES!
Pavelski against Hellebuyck… SAVED
Tuch against Vasilevskiy… SAVED
Vatrano against Hellebuyck… SAVED
Toffoli against Vasilevskiy… SAVED

The game on Guentzel’s stick… he shoots… SAVED!!

And the Inferno come into town and steal a win in a shootout! 3-2.

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Two home games against two a pair of division leaders, 3 out of 4 points. Can’t ask for much more!

Coach Tom Atkins after the shootout loss…

“I hate the shootout… but we managed to get a point against another division leader, and a win against Toledo as well. We’re firing on all cylinders and getting points even when we lose! Now… where’s my beer?”

Bucks County Raccoons
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Two home games against Thunder Bay and Pittsburgh as Bucks County tries to right the ship for the rest of the season
   
 THUNDER BAY NORWESTERS

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BUCKS COUNTY RACCOONS

The NorWesters overcome a PP goal by Oshie by scoring a little over a minute later and then add 3 goals in the 2nd period to skate to a relative easy 4-1 win over Bucks County.
   
PITTSBURGH MINERS

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BUCKS COUNTY RACCOONS

Anthony Cirelli scores 4 minutes into the 3rd period to break a 2-2 tie and Pittsburgh holds the lead and defeats the Racs 3-2. Pittsburgh now is 3-0 versus Bucks County on the season, outscoring them 11-6.
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Sure wish we didn’t burn those boats when we landed ashore. Now would be a good time to get the hell out of here!
Charlotte Buzzards
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Buzzards are slumping dismally as the second half of the MWHL commences and as the week began they had slid to four points behind Cincinnati in the Atlantic division. Charlotte was seeking to recapture beginning-of-the-season magic (the team got a lightning start out of the gate), when it hosted California for its lone home game this week. (Short writeup as yours truly, an Orchard Park native, recovers from the most devastating sports evening of my life).
   
CALIFORNIA REGULATORS

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CHARLOTTE BUZZARDS

A scoring malaise continued for the Buzzards as they dropped a 3-2 decision where there was little offense from either side for most of the contest. The Regulators grabbed a 3-1 lead 36 seconds into the second period, courtesy of a Brok Nelson goal, and after a power play goal by Charlotte’s Alex Pietrangelo three minutes later, that was it: the teams proceeded to play the remaining 36 minutes without a goal being scored.

Charlotte flailed on the power play, whiffing in four opportunities outside of Pietrangelo’s goal (1 for 5 for the night) and in those latter two periods managed just 13 shots on goal to give winning goalie Phillip Grubbauer (28 saves total) an easy evening.

California’s Sam Reinhart and Jonathan Huberdeau, who are both seeking 40 goal seasons, each had goals in the first period that put the Regulators ahead 2-1 after one.

Three stars (all California)
1. Huberdeau 1 G
2. Nelson 1 G (the game-winner)
3. Reinhart 1 G

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: The Buzzards and their owner and lifelong Bills fan are licking their wounds, especially as 2022 begins.
Toledo Walleye
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Big Time Hockey in Toledo this week as 3 playoff hopefuls come to the Huntington Centre. Brentwood (28-9-3), Cincinnati (23-14-6) and Charlotte (22-17-4) all hope to get big road wins this week.
   
BRENTWOOD BANDITS

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TOLEDO WALLEYE

1st period sees a lot of great defense and very few shots. Just as we look to go to intermission scoreless, Jake Guentzel captures a rebound and sneaks it in. The Bandits go to intermission with a 1-0 lead.

2nd period sees a lot more shots with the same futile results. Brentwood kills of 2 minors and then buoyed by the success, rattle of 2 goals late in the period, Foegele and Kopitar kill the hopes of the Walleye and beer sales are up during intermission.

The Bandits send the fans home early with a goal just 44 seconds into the period. Toledo tries just about everything but the Bandits are all over the rink, limiting the Walleye to just 6 SOG in the period. A somber arena is pretty empty as the clock winds down.

Final – Brentwood 4, Toledo 0

1st star – Vasilevskiy 26 save shutout
2nd – Kopitar 1G 3pts
3rd – Guentzel 1G 3pts

   
CINCINNATI INFERNO

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TOLEDO WALLEYE

The Inferno come on the rink and continue were the Bandits left off, holding the Walleye scoreless yet one more period. Toledo helps the situation with 3 penalties, the last one setting up the only goal of the period, a PP by Perron. 1-0 at intermission.

Coach Borzenski rips the team a new one, and they come out on fire. throwing 24 SOG at the Inferno, and 3 go in. van Riemsdyk on the PP, Hoffman and Saad EV. The Walleye defense is perfect, and its 3-1 Toledo at the break.

After Arvidsson adds an insurance goal for Toledo, the Inferno find the on switch, and respond with 2 goals to make things interesting, 4-3, with 3 minutes to go. Toledo braces for the pulled goalie attack, but are able to keep the puck in the offensive zone until 80 seconds left in the game. The Inferno get a couple shots off, but the Toledo grabs the puck and hustles down ice for an empty net cushion goal by van Riemsdyk.

Final – Toledo 5, Cincinnati 3

1st star – van Riemsdyk 2G
2nd – Malkin 1G 2pts
3rd – Hoffman 1G

   
CHARLOTTE BUZZARDS

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TOLEDO WALLEYE

After scoreless 1st periods in the 2 previous games, the fans are truly happy to see the Walleye score the first goal of the game for once, when Barrie blasts a laser beam in just under 9 minutes into the game. Later in the period, Mantha camps out near the net and gets a nifty set up pass from Kempe for a nudge in goal. Walleye lead 2-0 at the break.

2nd period sees the Walleye control play and limit the Buzzards to only 6 SOG, none successful. On the other side, the same thing as Toledo comes up empty on 10 shots.

3rd period sees the Buzzards cut their own throats with penalties early, and the Walleye take advantage, converting one, Trocheck in front of the net, to make it 3-0. Charlotte does ramp up the offense with 13 SOG, but Petersen remains perfect in goal, and hangs on to the shutout.

Final Toledo 3, Charlotte 0

1st star – Petersen 26 saves
2nd – Barrie 1G 2pts
3rd – Trocheck 1G

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: After getting dominated by Brentwood, a couple nice wins to get the old confidence back up. Barrie gets back on the horse with 4 points after a dry spell.
Portland Storm
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Portland hosts Chicago and Pittsburgh in a two game slate
   
CHICAGO COSA NOSTRA

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PORTLAND STORM

A coreless 1st period indicates we are in for a defensive battle but Chicago opens the scoring on a Kyrou (10) goal in the second period. Portland’s Dvorak (9) ties the game 12:05 into the third period but Chicago’s Wahlstrom (7) give Chicago the win 49 seconds later 2-1
   
 PITTSBURGH MINERS

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PORTLAND STORM

Last place Pittsburgh visits Portland and the Storm get a much needed 3-0 win behind goals from Granlund (14), Farabee (12), and Dumba (4). Portland was outshot 38-13 in the game but Oettinger was solid in the net with 38 saves and the Star of the Game
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Portland earns a split with loss to Chicago and win versus Pittsburgh
Cincinnati Inferno
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Atlantic Division-leading Cincinnati Inferno welcome a pair of opponents from outside the division for contests at The Incinerator, as California and Bucks County roll in.
   
 CALIFORNIA REGULATORS

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CINCINNATI INFERNO

CIN 4, CAL 2

William Karlsson’s power play goal 73 seconds into the third period broke a 2-2 tie and provided the winning margin in Cincinnati’s 4-2 win over California. David Perron’s empty net goal (his second of the night) with 52 seconds remaining closed out the scoring.

Matthew Barzal and Jason Spezza had the lamplighters for the Regulators. California dominated the shots, 39-26, but Karlsson was up to the task in the faceoff circles, collecting 21 wins through the night. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 37 shots to pick up his 19th win. Phillipp Grubauer absorbed the loss, turning aside 22 shots.

   
BUCKS COUNTY RACCOONS

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CINCINNATI INFERNO

BCR 4, CIN 3

Connor McDavid’s 14th goal of the season at 15:52 of the second period proved to be the winner in Bucks County’s 4-3 win over Cincinnati. The Raccoons then held on, literally, in the third period to collect the win.

The Inferno outshot Bucks County, 17-0, in the final frame and got a measure of satisfaction by scoring at 19:21 of the third to close to the final margin. Cincinnati held a 32-15 shots advantage in the defeat, as Kevin Lankinen swatted away 29 shots to collect his third win of the campaign. Connor Hellebuyck took the loss with 11 saves.

   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: The Inferno split the games at The Incinerator this week and hold a modest lead in the Atlantic Division over Charlotte. Next week, two more out of division foes visits, as Gilbert and Pittsburgh come to town.
Thunder Bay Nor’Westers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Just one game this week at home for the Nor’Westers, against the powerful Brentwood squad.
   
BRENTWOOD BANDITS

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THUNDER BAY NOR’WESTERS

The Bandits take this one in workmanlike fashion, 3-1 in what was a pretty evenly played game except for the goal totals. Thunder Bay spoils Vasilevskiy’s shutout bid when Miles Woods beat him with under 2:00 to play.
   
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Thunder Bay’s home ice winning streak is snapped at 3 games.