With ten New York Rangers prospects in action on Friday, we saw eight assists but no goals. But considering how little production we have seen in recent weeks, this was a needed improvement.
OHL
Nathan Aspinall earned third star of the game honors as his Flint Firebirds lost in overtime to Evan Passmore’s Barrie Colts 6-5. It was a matchup of OHL division leaders as Passmore’s Colts defeated the Firebirds for second time in the last 15 days.
Passmore who is not known for his offensive play recorded his first ever two-assist game in the OHL. With his team trailing 1-0 in the first period, Passmore earned the primary assist on Joe Salandra’s goal at 12:24 tying the game.
It would be Aspinall’s turn with his team leading 2-1 in the second and on the power play. The Flint captain would earn a secondary assist on the Firebirds third goal at 17:48.
Just 22 seconds into the third period, Passmore would earn a secondary assist on the Colts second goal drawing them to within one at 3-2. After Barrie had tied the game up at 3-3, Aspinall would earn his second assist of the game at 10:06 giving Flint a 4-3 lead.
Flint would score again to make it 5-3 before Barrie would score three unanswered goals to come from behind for the 6-5 win. Passmore’s two assist improved his season totals to 2-6-8 while Aspinall’s two points improved him to 24-40-64.
That moved Aspinall back into first among OHL scorers as well as the Rangers prospects. The overtime lost dropped Flint from first place in the OHL’s West Division.
Artem Gonchar also had a two-assist night but his Sudbury Wolves lost to the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. Gonchar was earn both a primary and secondary assist in this one.
His first assist was the primary one as he helped Sudbury grab a 1-0 lead at 11:58 of the first. The other assist came in the third as he earned a secondary assist on the game-tying goal.
For the Sudbury defenseman, the twin assists improved his season totals to 10-25-35 on the season.
QMJHL
Raoul Boilard had an assist as his Cape Breton Eagles defeated the Newfoundland Regiment 3-1. Boilard earned the primary assist when Eliot Litalien put in the rebound of his shot for a power play goal at the 52 seconds mark of the first.
The Eagles put Boilard back at center and he responded with a 14-2 faceoff line in this game. The assist improved him to 9-19-28 while his faceoff numbers improved to 65.1.
NCAA
Brody Lamb had an assist as his Minnesota Golden Gophers upset seventh-ranked Wisconsin 4-1 in Big Ten play. For Minnesota the win snapped a seven-game Big Ten losing streak and a ten game streak to Wisconsin.
Lamb earned the secondary assist on Minnesota’s second goal of the game, a power play goal at 16:08 of the first period. That goal would also prove to be the game winning goal as Lamb improved to 11-13-24 on the season.
Same two on Saturday as Minnesota tries to get back into NCAA tournament contention.
Malcom Spence was scoreless as his top-ranked Michigan Wolverines defeated Ohio State 6-4 in Big Ten play. Michigan has won five straight and ten of last eleven games,
Sean Barnhill was scoreless as his second-ranked Michigan State Spartans defeated fifth-ranked Penn State 6-3 in Big Ten play. Just like Michigan, Michigan State has won five straight and ten of last eleven.
Ty Henricks was scoreless as his third-ranked Western Michigan Broncos defeated Omaha 5-2 in NCHC play. It was Western Michigan’s tenth straight win as they trail NCHC leading North Dakota by six points.
Drew Fortescue was scoreless as his 14th-ranked Boston College Eagles defeated Boston University 4-1 in Hockey East play. The win was Boston College’s third straight as they moved into a tie for the Hockey East lead.
Boston College is off until Monday when they will face Harvard in the opening round of the Beanpot Tournament. That game will be live on the NHL Network starting at 5 PM EDT/2 PM PDT.
Rasmus Larsson and his Robert Morris Colonials were shut out by Bentley 5-0 in Atlantic Hockey. Larsson was second pair right defense.
New Place to Catch Us
Starting most likely next Wednesday we will be doing a weekly feature over at ForeverBlueshirts.com. Considering how the Rangers season will need a miracle of the epic size, will be looking at the top prospects that might be on the Rangers radar.
Please take a look and support one of the brighter newer Rangers fans websites.
