Texas Stars
Texas had another tough week as they lost both of their games last week to extend their losing streak to five games. One of those losses was in the shootout so they did manage at least one point.
Jack Campbell and Cristopher Nilstorp split starts last week and both guys struggled. Campbell was pulled midway through the second period of his start after allowing four goals on just 15 shots. Nilstorp was a perfect 14 of 14 in his time in that game but Texas came up one goal short.
Nilstorp started the second game of the week and allowed four goals on 25 shots before losing in a shootout that lasted 12 rounds.
Campbell has hit a rough patch and has lost his last three starts. He’s given up nine goals on 59 shots. Nilstorp has, amusingly, lost his all three of his last starts in a shootout.
The Stars weren’t too bad offensively with seven goals scored. All of the scoring came from pretty much just four guys though: Travis Morin (one goal, four points), Matt Fraser (one goal, two points), Tomas Vincour (three goals) and Colton Sceviour (one goal, three points). The final goal from last week came off the stick of Maxime Fortunus.
Despite the losing streak, Texas still sits atop the Western Conference and just three points behind the AHL leader, Syracuse Crunch. There’s one month remaining in the regular season for Texas.
Mar. 13 – Abbotsford Heat @ Texas Stars
Mar. 15 – Texas Stars @ Charlotte Checkers
Mar. 17 – Texas Stars @ Charlotte Checkers (again)
CHL Prospects
Radek Faksa – Kitchener Rangers
Faksa entered week two of his return from an MCL injury and scored his first points since the return. Faksa had one goal and two assists in three games last week.
It’s Faksa’s first goal since waaaaaay back on Dec. 1 (also the date of his last multi-point game) and just the fifth point he’s had since that time. Of course, Faksa has been all over the map with the WJC and Stars training camp and his injury. He’s played only 11 games since that Dec. 1 date.
Faksa is just now getting his feet back under him as the OHL enters the final week of the regular season. Kitchener has clinched a playoff spot (probably fourth or fifth) and will be hoping that Faksa is somewhere near 100 percent when the playoffs start.
The Rangers finish the regular season on a three game road trip.
Season totals: 37 games, 8 goals, 21 assists, 24 PIM, -5 rating
Mar. 13 – Kitchener Rangers @ Guelph Storm
Mar. 15 – Kitchener Rangers @ Saginaw Spirit
Mar. 16 – Kitchener Rangers @ Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Brett Ritchie – Niagara IceDogs
Niagara had a couple of high scoring games last week but ended up splitting the two. They had a 4-3 win over Mississauga and a 6-5 loss to Barrie.
Ritchie had his second productive week in a row with two goals and an assist. Ritchie has now scored a goal in six straight games (multiple goals in three of them) and has rediscovered his scoring touch at the perfect time for Niagara.
The IceDogs have locked up at least the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference of the OHL and are firmly in the playoffs. They’ll be extremely dangerous if Ritchie can continue to produce again.
Season totals: 51 games, 40 goals, 35 assists, 40 PIM, +35 rating
Mar. 14 – Brampton Battalion @ Niagara IceDogs
Mar. 15 – Niagara IceDogs @ Sudbury Wolves
Mar. 16 – Niagara IceDogs @ Barrie Colts
Gemel Smith – Owen Sound Attack
After a tough loss against London, Owen Sound took full advantage of a couple of games with the conference worst Erie Otters. The Attack scored 15 goals in two games against Erie and Gemel Smith netted two of them
Smith had two goals and an assist in the three games last week and is at his most productive since early January. He had points (and goals) in consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 9 and has one goal in three of the last four games.
This is Smith’s third week of games since returing from a lower body injury so he should be close to his full capabilities now.
The Attack have a firm hold on the third spot in the Western Conference of the OHL and enter the final week having won seven of their last 10 games (points in nine of them).
Season totals: 58 games, 22 goals, 25 assists, 52 PIM, +16 rating
Mar. 14 – Owen Sound Attack @ Windsor Spitfires
Mar. 15 – Owen Sound Attack @ Sarnia Sting
Mar. 16 – Windsor Spitfires @ Owen Sound Attack
Matej Stransky – Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon saw a lot of one thing last week, goals. It didn’t matter whether it was for them of the opponent; there were just a ton of goals. The Blades and their opponents combined for 38 goals in three games last week. Saskatoon prevailed in two of the three games.
Surprisingly though, Stransky wasn’t as big a part as one might expect. He only had one goal and three assists despite seeing his time score 19 goals during the week. He’s back on the board though and now has now at least a point in four straight games.
The Blades are second in the Eastern Conference of the WHL and are ramping things up in preparation for the playoffs.
Season totals: 69 games, 40 goals, 43 assists, 82 PIM, +32 rating
Mar. 12 – Saskatoon Blades @ Edmonton Oil Kings
Mar. 15 – Saskatoon Blades @ Prince Albert Raiders
Mar. 16 – Saskatoon Blades @ Prince Albert Raiders
Mike Winther – Prince Albert Raiders
Winther had one goal and one assist in four games last week for the Raiders. The week didn’t turn out so well for them as they lost all four of those games.
Winther is just slowly plodding along though and is in a pattern of recording a point in every other game right now.
Despite the four losses, the Raiders still managed to clinch a playoff spot last week as the teams behind them faltered. They’ll need to pick things up in the final week though in order to get some momentum on their side.
Season totals: 65 games, 22 goals, 27 assists, 59 PIM, +16 rating
Mar. 13 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Brandon Wheat Kings
Mar. 15 – Saskatoon Blades @ Prince Albert Raiders
Mar. 16 – Saskatoon Blades @ Prince Albert Raiders
Branden Troock – Seattle Thunderbirds
Seattle had three games last week but Troock wasn’t a part of them. He missed all of them and will miss the rest of the season with an injury.
It’s been a tough, injury-riddled year for Troock. He’s played in only 19 of the Thunderbirds’ 66 games. He’s been injury prone in his career (only nine games played two years ago) and that bug hit him again this season.
Season totals: 19 games, 5 goals, 6 assists, 19 PIM, -5 rating
Troy Vance – Prince Edward Island Rocket
Vance had his second pointless week in a row but the Rocket managed to win all three of their games. Vance doesn’t have a point this month.
The Rocket are locked into the playoffs in the QMJHL. They enter the final week in the seventh spot.
Season totals: 39 games, 3 goals, 15 assists, 41 PIM, -6 rating (With Victoriaville)
25 games, 1 goal, 7 assists, 14 PIM, +13 rating (With PEI)
Mar. 12 – Moncton Wildcats @ PEI Rocket
Mar. 15 – Moncton Wildcats @ PEI Rocket (again)
Mar. 17 – Saint John Sea Dogs @ PEI Rocket
Maxime Lagace – Prince Edward Island Rocket
Lagace didn’t play in any of the Rocket’s three games last week.
Season totals: 33 games, 13-12-1-0, 106 goals allowed, 4.05 GAA, .869 SV%, 1 shutout
