2019-2020 PLAYER & GOALIE OF THE WEEK #22

     

EASTERN SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Sidney Crosby CIN 4 5 3 8 0 6 14 36%
                   
EASTERN GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Carey Price CHA 3 7 2.33 99 .934
                   
WESTERN SKATER TEAM GP GOALS ASSISTS POINTS PM  +/-  SOG S%
Brad Marchand ALA 4 4 9 13 4 9 11 36%
                   
WESTERN GOALIE TEAM GP GOALS AGAINST G.A. AVERAGE SAVES SAVE %
Jack Campbell BCR 2 5 2.5 90 .947
                   

Chicago Cosa Nostra
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Chicago needs the 2 Points at home vs. the Walleye of Toledo, but the fish have plans for the Cosa Nostra to sleep with the fishes – Italian style. Usually, when Chicago goes to Philly they sleep with the Firebirds wives, so this will be different.
Toledo Walleye @ Chicago Cosa Nostra Toledo put the hooks into the Cosa Nostra and take down the Chicago squad just when they needed the points the most.

Final Score: Toledo 5 – Chicago 3

Labatts – 3-Star Selection:

Star #1 – James van Riemsdyk 2G
Star #2 – Tyson Barrie 3A
Star #3 – Jordan Binnington 47 Saves

Notables:
(TOL) – Jordan Binnington 47 Saves, Tyson Barrie 3 Assists, Erik Cernak 15 Minutes in Penalties
(CHI) – Jonathan Toews 16 Faceoff Wins, Rasmus Dahlin 5 Blocked Shots.

Game-Winning Goal: James van Riemsdyk

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Chicago needs a road with at Bucks County to even have a shot at first place in the Norris Division. Great Finish either way for both Bucks County & Chicago.
Yellowknife Braves
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Last home game as Yellowknife vs Bucks Co
Bucks County Raccoons @ Yellowknife Braves Yellowknife plays spoiler winning it 4-3
Stars #1 YEL Tatar 1G 2pts
#2 YEL Williams 1G 2 pts
#3 YEL Monahan 1G
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Yellowknife wins their last game
Jagr Mullets
WEEKLY PREVIEW: One home game to finish out the season.
Lafayette Homesteaders @ Jagr Mullets In our final home game, we send the fans off happy as we win it 6-2.

Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews each score a pair, while Bergeron, Ovechkin, and McDonaugh all pick up two helpers.

Scoring Summary
Per Time Str Team
1 6:20 PP LAF Kucherov (46), assisted by Eichel (64)
1 11:53 PP JAG Matthews (31), assisted by Bergeron (68) and Ovechkin (38)
1 16:09 PP JAG Tkachuk (32), assisted by McDonagh (29) and Couture (34)
1 17:34 EV JAG Tkachuk (33), assisted by McDonagh (30)
1 19:59 EV JAG Ekholm (9), assisted by Tkachuk (41) and Lindholm (42)
2 5:57 EV LAF Gourde (13), assisted by Cizikas (10) and McCabe (4)
2 11:55 EV JAG Parise (15), unassisted
3 5:49 PP JAG Matthews (32), assisted by Ovechkin (39) and Bergeron (69)

Star 1: JAG Tkachuk 2 G, 3 Pts
Star 2: JAG Matthews 2 G
Star 3: JAG Ekholm 1 G

GWG: Matthew Tkachuk

Notables: LAF Eichel 16 faceoffs won
JAG None

WEEKLY SUMMARY: We hoped Ovie could score his 60th goal of the year in front of the home fans, but he has two chances on the road to reach that milestone. He’s also 2 points away from 100 on the year.
LA Great Danes
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Final home game of the year versus Alamo
Alamo Defenders @ LA Great Danes The story line was Alamo’s #1 line and a tough night for the Great Dane, Frederick Andersen.

Alamo wins 9-5. Andersen didn’t get much help and the team didn’t want to pull him from the game, but when the 9th goal went in with only 16 saves, his night ended partway through the 3rd period.

Stats for Alamo’s first line – 19 total points, 7 each from Stamkos and Marchand and 5 assists from Blake Wheeler. Stamkos had 4 goals and Marchand 3. I’d say the list of candidates for player of the week has been narrowed down quite a bit.

Alamo’s #1 line did not sweep the game’s 3 stars however, as Mark Scheifele’s 2 goals moved him ahead of Wheeler’s 5 assists as the 3rd star, at least in DK’s star selections. LA’s other highlight was a Dante Fabbro PPG in his MWHL debut.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: A game to remember for the Alamo and a game to forget for the Great Danes. See you next year!
Gilbert Sharks
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Gilbert has 1 last home game versus LA to possibly determine worst team in the league this year.
LA Great Danes @ Gilbert Sharks The game goes back and forth including a goal by each team in the last minute of regulation but LA wins it in OT 6-5.
WEEKLY SUMMARY: Gilbert’s season mercifully over
Bathgate Rangers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Rangers final game of the season is hosting Brentwood! What a way to finish….
Brentwood Bandits @ Bathgate Rangers Two and 1/2 minutes in, Johnson deflects a shot from Horvat past Lundqvist (in maybe his last ever game?). Then Brentwood starts to play dirty and it helps the home team. Dumoulin goes off for tripping at 13:15 after Vasilevskiy makes an out of nowhere save on Drouin, the rebound bounces right to Hertl and flick and it’s in for tying PP goal. Moore gets whistled for interference as period 1 comes to a close giving the Rangers 1:53 seconds worth of PP to start the 2nd period. They only need 17 seconds as they take the opening faceoff and control it into the Bandits zone. Hertl to Sanheim, he fires a slapper that ZBad tips for the redirect and it’s 2-1 Bathgate!
But the Bandits are the Bandits and they come back 7 minutes later and tie it up when Johnson wins the loose puck – to Braun to Horvat, oh, he’s crossing, he shoots, the light goes on as he scores 2-2 beating Lundqvist low on the glove side (doesn’t bend like he used to). 2nd period action continues and 3 minutes later it’s the Rangers going back on top when Buchnevich scores on a wraparound – he’s been scoring a lot lately! But as we get to the final 3 minutes, the Rangers get the next goal to take a 4-2 lead. This time it’s ZBad again after winning the faceoff and Giroux and Sanheim work it around back to him for a slapper that rockets it way to the back of the net. But those pesky Bandits don’t go away – just under 2 to go in the 2nd period, Tavares gets the puck from Kessel and bangs it home making it 4-3 after 2.
Then the Rangers went into prevent mode – and unlike football – they actually prevented anymore scoring. 12 Bandit shots hit Lundqvist in the 3rd and he stopped them all. Rangers actually fired 5 times on goal, but they were more defensive shots. Rangers actually mastered the faceoff in this game, 54.8%!!
STARS:
1. BGR – Zibanejad 2 goals
2. BGR – Hertl 1 goal, 1 assist
3. BWB – Johnson 1goal, 1 assist
Big shout out to Lundqvist – again it could be his last game and he was given this start for that reason – 36 saves and a WIN!!
WEEKLY SUMMARY: 1 game, 1 win and it was against the Cup Holders (hmm, that’s a cool phrase – where’s my beer).
Alamo Defenders
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Alamo takes on Thunder Bay and California to wrap up the Defenders’ home schedule.
Thunder Bay NorWesters @ Alamo Defenders Stamkos scores 2 goals for his 43rd and 44th goals of the season. With 43 seconds to go, the NorWesters get a goal by Couturier. But, Lehner holds off the Norwesters as they outshoot Alamo, 11-2 in the 3rd.

Alamo 2 Thunder Bay 1

1st – Stamkos
2nd – Lehner
3rd – Wheeler

California Regulators @ Alamo Defenders Hinostroza and Draisaitl score in the 1st for Alamo. In the 2nd, Spurgeon scores a short handed goal for the Regulators. Nelson scores his 28th in the 2nd to tie the game. In the 3rd, McAvoy and Jenner score for Alamo. Alamo wins 4-2.

Alamo 4 California 2

1st – Draisaitl
2nd -McAvoy
3rd – Jenner

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Alamo wins both home games against Thunder Bay and California to end the schedule. Alamo wins the Pacific division.
Cincinnati Inferno
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Cincinnati Inferno, who have advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in team history — look to win the Atlantic Division title as well.
Lafayette Homesteaders @ Cincinnati Inferno LAFAYETTE 5, CINCINNATI 3

Nikita Kucherov netted a pair of goals (46, 47), including the game winner. Martin Jones collected 33 saves in the win and the Homesteaders were perfect on the power play (2-of-2).

Cincinnati Inferno @ Guentzel Gunners CINCINNATI 4, GUENTZEL 3

Brayden Point scored goals (46, 47) 28 seconds apart in the final minute of the game to rescue victory for Cincinnati and give the Inferno the Atlantic title. Point’s goals at 19:05 and 19:33 were the final margin in the contest. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots and Sidney Crosby and Cody Eakin each won 15 faceoffs.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Cincinnati gets a split at home to end the regular season and now awaits the start of the postseason.
Bucks County Raccoons
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The season ends with home games against division leading Cincinnati and a game against Chicago for the Central Division title….
Cincinnati Inferno @ Bucks County Raccoons Bucks County explodes for 4 goals in the 1st period propelling them to a 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Inferno. Conner McDavid had 5 assists and goalie Jack Campbell stopped 48 shots as the Inferno had 93 shot attempts in the game.
Chicago Cosa Nostra @ Bucks County Raccoons Winner take all game for the division and the Raccoons rode the goal tending of Jack Campbell and came away with a 4-1 victory to finish with 102 points and take the division title. Conner McDavid had a goal and an assist and the Racs scored 3 times on special teams ( 2 on the PP, 1 on the PK) in the win. Pierre-Edward Bellemare had 20 face off wins for the Racs.
WEEKLY SUMMARY: There are easier ways to end a season but the Raccoons offense woke up just in time to get two wins and the division title…..
Toledo Walleye
WEEKLY PREVIEW: The Defenders and Braves come to Toledo for some fishing.
Alamo Defenders @ Toledo Walleye Alamo 7, Toledo 5 – Before the 1st beer is down, Alamo has 2 goals on the board, and we still have 58 minutes to play. Marchand scores only 19 seconds after the drop, and Hinostroza only 90 seconds later. Oh yes, Dubnyk in goal. Crap ! The rest of the team pulls themselves together and respond. First Barrie with a blast on a powerplay, and then Rodrigues off a nifty pass, and its tied at 2 with 8 minutes left in the 1st. Just as teams get ready to exit the ice, Stamkos scores on a last gasp effort with 2 seconds to go. 3-2 Alamo after 1.

Toledo comes out in the 2nd and evens it up on a Vanek goal, followed by Anisimov on the powerplay, and its 4-3 Walleye with 13 to go. The Defenders take umbrage to this, and a little while later its Draisaitl making it 4 all with 11 to go. Those 11 burn off with no more damage, 4-4 after 2.

McAvoy breaks the tie early, and Mantha ties it back up just minutes later, and its 5-5 with 14 minutes to go. Clock burns down, and the Defenders are getting more chances, but no blood. Just when it looks like we’ll have a tie, Stamkos and Hornqvist find Dubnyk napping again, and a sad Walleye crowd goes home on the short end of a 7-5 thriller.

1st star – Stamkos 2G 3pts
2nd – Marchand 1G 4pts
3rd – McAvoy 1G 3pts

Yellowknife Braves @ Toledo Walleye Toledo 5, Yellowknife 2 – The Walleye play like a team possessed, scoring 5 times in the first 14 minutes. Seabrook, Connolly, Mantha 2, and van Riemsdyk. But Dubnyk is in goal, so that may only last for one period, maybe 2. But Yellowknife struggles to find offense worse than Dubnyk struggles to see a puck on the move. They only manage 2 goals the rest of the way. Lemieux in the 2nd, and Bjorkstrand in the 3rd. The Walleye offense, exhausted after the initial attack, takes and early vacation and scores no more.

1st star – Mantha 2G
2nd – van Riemsdyk 1G 2pts
3rd = Connolly 1G 2pts

WEEKLY SUMMARY: 2 games, 2 points, very symbolic of the season. Come on prospect draft!!
Brentwood Bandits
WEEKLY PREVIEW: One final home game against our bitter brotherly rival… the Jagoff Nullets!
Jagr Mullets @ Brentwood Bandits Tavares starts the scoring with his 42nd of the season. He is celebrating his new contract!

Radulov scores for the Mullets to tie it 1-1.

To the 2nd we go…
Kerfoot (21) scores 1:34 into the 2nd to make it 2-1 Bandits.
Pavelski (46) scores on the PP to make it 3-1… a great deadline pickup!
Tavares (43) continues to celebrate that contract as he scores on the PP to make it 4-1.

Tkachuk (32) brings Jagr within 2… 4-2 Bandits lead.

To the 3rd period…
Halfway through, Konecny (34) makes it 5-2 Bandits.

With 42 seconds left, Lindholm (30) makes it 5-3, but that’s how it ends.

The Bandits beat their big brother bully!

Star 1 – Tavares 2G
Star 2 – Pavelski 1G, 2A
Star 3 – Konecny 1G, 1A

Notables
JAG – Bergeron 16 faceoffs won
BWB – Vasilevskiy 32 saves, Kessel 3 assists, Tavares 15 faceoffs won

*Kuemper gets the loss against his former team (Bandits) and Vasilevskiy gets the win against his former team (Mullets)!

WEEKLY SUMMARY: One home game, one win. Against the best team in the league (allegedly lol).

Coach Tom Atkins addressed the media from a Skype call…

“COVID-19 aside… bring on the playoffs! Anything can happen in a 7 game series!”

Thunder Bay Nor’Westers
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Three games to finish out the season. Two on the road and one at home.
Charlotte Buzzards @ Thunder Bay NorWesters After a scoreless 1st period. Thunder Bay’s Gus Nyquist scores to give the NorWester’s a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Mitch Marner tied the game early in the 3rd at 1-1. Then Thunder Bay post 3 unanswered goals to close out the game and the home season with a 4-1 win

Andreas Johnsson scored his 26th, Alexsander Barkov his 32nd and Gabe Landeskog his 39th.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: It appears that Thunder Bay will return to the playoff’s for the 2nd time in 4 seasons.
Charlotte Buzzards
WEEKLY PREVIEW: Charlotte hosts three games during the final week to close a disappointing regular season in which the Buzzards blew up in the 2020 part of the campaign following a promising start. Notably this week, the Buzzards become part of modern hockey history, becoming the first team to host a DOUBLEHEADER against different teams, on March 28 (obviously an Action Sports glitch).
Jagr Mullets @ Charlotte Buzzards The Buzzards, fielding a full squad with nearly all usage issues addressed for the year, upset the 120 point Mullets, 3-2. Jagr defenseman Shea Weber breaks a scoreless deadlock 8 minutes into the second period, but Charlotte answers with three unanswered goals from Alex Tuch, Dyan Larkin and Brent Burns (first star) later in the period and hold on. Carey Price is spectacular for the Buzzards with 39 saves. He stops 18 in the third and only surrenders a goal from Jagr’s Patrice Bergeron with 28 seconds in the third.
Bathgate Rangers @ Charlotte Buzzards Charlotte sweeps its second game of the March 28 doubleheader with a 3-1 win over Bathgate that evening. Early third period goals from Ryan Dzingel and Dylan Larkin break open a game that was deadlocked 1-1 after two. Jakub Vrana accounts for the only Rangers goal, 7:05 in the second which had tied the game at that time. An exhausted Carey Price not only plays in both ends of the doubleheader — he captures first star honors in this one! (28 saves).
Cincinnati InfernoCharlotte Buzzards In a fitting end to its home schedule and season the Buzzards’ fell short to its division nemesis, the Inferno, in a seesaw affair 7-6. Charlotte closes the season having lost eight straight to Cincinnati, and for the season Charlotte wins just once in 10 tries against the Inferno, going 1-7-2. Eliminate that dreadful head to head matchup and the Buzzards avert a losing season.

Jeff Skinner notches the game winning power play goal with 9:06 to play off of Charlotte goalie Jake Allen, who relieved a pitiful Louis Dominque in the first period. In a rare start with Carey Price (66 games) maxed out for the season, Dominque gave up four goals out of 13 shots.

Early in the game, Cincinnati overcame a 3-2 deficit with a goal from Sidney Crosby (two goals total for first star honors), followed by two straight from Max Pacioretty that put the Inferno ahead 5-3 by the :53 mark of the second period. Charlotte got its six goals from six different players but its rally effort fell short.

WEEKLY SUMMARY: Charlotte, hamstrung by the $49 contract of Vlad Tarasenko (a rookie expansion draft mistake), finishes with 75 points, failing to match the 79 points of its inaugural prior season. AN ATTRACTIVE TRADE PROPOSAL TO THE ENTIRE LEAGUE: Anyone who carves out cap space to assume the contract of Tarasenko can HAVE the top defenseman in the NHL, Brent Burns, free and clear. You can find me during the offseason for further details.
California Regulators
Gilbert Sharks @ California Regulators Gilbert – 4
California – 6
Yellowknife Braves @ California Regulators Yellowknife – 2
California – 5
WEEKLY SUMMARY: California takes 2 at home.

Simmed games

At Lafayette :  Lafayette 5, Bathgate 4

At Guentzel :  Thunder Bay 6, Guentzel 5 /  Brentwood 6, Guentzel 3