A Sundae Named Grachev

If possible the Brampton Battalion should seriously consider on playing on Sundays given the kinds of numbers that Evgeny Grachev (2008 3rd) puts up on that day.

Over the last 6 games that the Battalion have played on Sunday, Grachev is an impressive 10-3-13. That is including the 2 goals and 1 assist that Grachev scored in Brampton's 5-3 win over the Niagara IceDogs.

Let us let Grachev himself tell you about his day (courtesy of the Battalion): “I was skating a lot today and I felt good,” said Grachev. “I probably could have had six goals if everything had gone in. We had a lot of important goals today.”

Grachev is being modest as his goals were the important ones starting with his first of the day as Grachev got the Troop going with his 15th goal at 7:53 of the 2nd period with the Troop trailing 2-0 at the time. Grachev's second goal of the game, his 16th of the season was his typical shot from the left faceoff circle as it gave the Troop a 3-2 at 10:29 of the 3rd period.

Grachev should have had 2 more as he was robbed on a breakaway by IceDog goalie John Cullen and hit a post on a chippie as well. And if you think that all we care about is Grachev's scoring then let us also point out who was on the ice in the last minute of the game for defensive purposes in Grachev.

For his efforts, Grachev earned the game's first star giving him back to back first stars for the first time in his OHL career.

Grachev is now leading all Ranger prospects in goals scored with 16, at 16-13-29, Grachev is now more than just leading OHL first year players in scoring as he has also entered the OHL top 20 jumping in at 16th.

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Ssh do not tell anyone but very quietly Michael Del Zotto (2008 1st) is starting to heat up at both ends of the ice. Del Zotto had his 2rd straight game with a +2 (no minus games in his last 7 games) as well as an assist but his Oshawa Generals fell in the shootout 3-2 to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.

Since returning to the General's lineup on November 14th, Del Zotto is now 2-6-8 with a +10. Whatever was wrong with Del Zotto has cleared up so the young defenseman is playing some of his best hockey all season.

Against the Major's, Del Zotto set up John Tavares for the General's first goal of the game. If Tavares had not lost his cool and taken 12 minutes in penalties in the 3rd period then the outcome of this game would have been different.

Del Zotto is now at 4-19-23 -3 in 23 games which are pretty good numbers considering that we believe Del Zotto played hurt for 4 games before leaving the lineup.

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Chris Doyle (2008 5th) was held scoreless as his Prince Edward Island Rocket were defeated by the Moncton Wildcats 3-1. Doyle was more snakebit in this one than it was the Wildcat defense as Doyle had 5 legit scoring chances that just did not fall for him.

Doyle remains at 14-27-41 which keeps him as the leading scorer among Ranger prospects as well as 4th overall.

(Grachev pic courtesy of the Brampton Battalion, Del Zotto courtesy of the New York Rangers)