What More Needs To Be Said

Ho hum, another Brampton Battalion game, another strong performance by Evgeny Grachev. It has gone way past the point when we have any new way to describe just how solid a performance that Grachev has just put up.

Maybe we should just post the scoresheets and update the numbers anytime Grachev plays. On Wednesday it was another 3 points for Grachev on his 40th goal as well as his 35th and 36th assists.

The Battalion had no problem defeating the Oshawa Generals 7-2 as Grachev also earned a second star for his efforts that included a +4 to bring that total to a mind boggling +47.

Grachev got his night going by setting up teammate Cody Hodgson's 41st goal of the season at 8:10 of the first period to give Brampton a 2-0 lead. Grachev then set up teammate Anthony Peluso's 19th goal at 4:22 of the second period which gave the Battalion a 4-1 lead.

Grachev's goal was a shorthanded marker that was more "right place, right time" as with just 53 seconds remaining in the game, Oshawa goalie Neil Conway misplayed the puck and Grachev just dumped the puck into the empty net for his 41st goal of the season.

Grachev is once again on a scoring streak, this time it is a 4 game goal scoring streak during which he has put up 4-5-9 +11.

Now that outside shot at 80 points is down to 3 points with the Battalion having 2 games left to play. Maybe if Grachev reaches 80 then some of those who are wanting a "disclaimer" for his breaking Jason Spezza's Brampton scoring record would cease.

There are those who are using Spezza being 15 at the time he set the record as an excuse to deny Grachev his due. One has to wonder if maybe the real reason for the disclaimer is because Grachev is Russian and now owning a Canadian record.

Tysen Dowzak and his Kelowna Rockets are heading toward a final game showdown with the Spokane Chiefs for the 3rd seed in the WHL Western Conference after whipping on the Portland Winterhawks 6-2. Dowzak was scoreless with a +2 to improve his plus/minus to a season high 17.

Dowzak is going to be the featured prospect in the next issue of the Blueshirt Bulletin has been playing his best hockey of the season over the last couple of months. The 6'5 defender is part of the reason why Kelowna has established themselves as a legit WHL championship contender with his defensive work.

The old saying is "Offense wins games but Defense wins championships" and Kelowna can say they have a solid 3 pairs of defensemen. Dowzak has taken advantage of his overage season to work on the areas the Rangers wanted of him.

Now a shot at a WHL title is a possibility.

Chris Doyle is not exactly known as a hitter on the ice but more as a scorer but trying telling the Halifax Mooseheads that. Doyle had 4 hits along with an assist as his Prince Edward Island Rocket were 7-5 winners on Wednesday.

Doyle's assist came on the Rocket's second goal which gave the Rocket a 2-1 lead at the time but for us the focus was the 4 "good" hits that he had. Doyle needs to be a complete 2 way player if he wants to have any shot at a professional career, the catch now is that he needs to do all this in the same game.

Doyle is 28-41-69 on the season with one regular season game remaining. It is doubtful that Doyle will be signed this off-season by the Rangers as we expect him to be sent back to the QMJHL for an overage season.

(Grachev courtesy of the Brampton Battalion)