Three New York Rangers prospects played Wednesday night, including two in sudden‑death playoff games. One moved on. One saw his NCAA career end.
Lamb Ends NCAA Career
Tenth‑ranked Penn State eliminated Brody Lamb and Minnesota with a 6–2 win in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Lamb finished scoreless on two shots with a minus‑2 rating and went 4–8 on faceoffs.
Lamb, a 2021 fourth‑round pick, spent a season with Green Bay in the USHL before joining the Golden Gophers. Over four years and 152 games at Minnesota, he posted a 47–44–91 line while playing all three forward positions. The senior captain finished this season with 14 goals and 16 assists.
Whether that résumé earns him an entry‑level contract from the Rangers is unclear. New York has only five contract slots available, and Lamb never showed the consistent scoring touch that typically forces a decision. An amateur tryout and potential AHL deal may be the more realistic path.
Minnesota ended its season 11‑22‑3, snapping a streak of five straight NCAA tournament appearances.
Spence And Michigan Advance
In Ann Arbor, Malcom Spence and top‑ranked Michigan rolled past Notre Dame 6–1 to advance to the Big Ten semifinals. Spence recorded a secondary assist on Michigan’s fourth goal, giving him 12 assists and 21 points on the season.
Michigan will face Penn State on Saturday at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST on the Big Ten Network.
Gonchar The Magician
The Rangers appear to have found real value with defenseman Artem Gonchar, their third‑round pick in 2025. He scored his 14th goal of the season for Sudbury and later set up the game‑winner in a 5–4 comeback victory.
Artem Gonchar gets his 14th of the season and gets us on the board! @OHLHockey | @FloHockey pic.twitter.com/gOQyGzNgke
— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) March 12, 2026
Sudbury trailed 4–1 before rallying to tie the game and then taking the lead with 27 seconds left. Gonchar jumped down from the point and threaded a pass to Adam Nemec for the deciding goal. It was the kind of playmaking touch the Rangers really need.
ADAM NEMEC CALLS THE GAME WITH 27 SECONDS LEFT!! @OHLHockey | @FloHockey pic.twitter.com/PNTxk6RhLJ
— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) March 12, 2026
Gonchar now has 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points and ranks seventh among OHL defensemen in scoring.
