Friday, February 1, 2008

Mixed Messages

First Star

After missing 18 days due to a hamstring injury Antoine Lafleur had to be eager to get back into the action. The injury that he had suffered could not have come at a worse time as Lafleur was starting to find his game.

Lafleur had 3 straight games before getting hurt in a loss to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on January 13th. It was looking like Lafleur was finally beginning to show the form that led to the Rangers picking him in the 3nd round of the 2007 NHL Draft.

Despite the layoff, Lafleur backstopped his Prince Edward Island Rocket to a 7-3 win over the Victoriaville Tigres. The win stopped a 2 game losing streak for the Rocket.

Lafleur on the evening stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced including a penalty shot by the Tigre's Alexandre Monahan in the 3rd period. It was a very solid performance by Lafleur as he got better as the game went on.

Lafleur gave up 1 goal in the first period while facing 11 shots, then 2 goals on 12 shots in the second then blanking the Tigres in the 3rd period while facing 17 shots. It was a good way to ease himself back into action as Lafleur raised his season record to 10-14-0 on the season.

Second Star

Danny Hobbs and his Ohio Junior Bluejackets have been on a bit of a roll as of late. Hobb's 6th goal of the season gave his Junior Bluejacket's their first lead of the game as they went on to defeat the Cedar Rapids Roughriders 4-3 at home.

Hobbs who was named the game's 3rd star has been playing well as of late, becoming more aggressive on the offensive end as his Junior Bluejackets now have won 7 of their last 9 games.

While a 6-10-16 may not seem like much the difference this season for Hobbs has been the massive reduction in his plus/minus as Hobbs has gone from last season's-28 to this season's -1.

The Rest of the Prospect Action

Max Campbell now has a 3 game scoring streak after an assist but his Western Michigan Broncos dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks.

Also in Alaska was Jordan Foote and his Michigan Tech Huskies as they were shut out by the University of Alaska Seawolves 4-0.

Eric Hunter had an assist as his University of Alberta Golden Bears had to go to the shootout before defeating the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 5-4.

Ryan Hillier was scoreless as his Halifax Mooseheads lost to the St Johns Fog Devils 3-1.

David Skokan and his Rimouski Oceanic were able to defeat the Gatineau Olympiques 3-1. Skokan was scoreless but went 13-11 on his faceoffs.

Bobby Sanguinetti was also scoreless as he has now gone 9 games without a goal but his Brampton Battalion were able to come back to beat the Sudbury Wolves 2-1.

Carl Hagelin and his 2nd ranked Michigan Wolverines were held to a 3-3 overtime tie by the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Hagelin was also scoreless.

Finally Billy Ryan remains on the sidelines with his lower body injury as his Maine Blackbears lost to UMass Lowell 3-1.

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