From Penthouse To Outhouse

What a difference 24 hours makes for New York Ranger and New York Islander prospects. The Islander prospects had a so-so night but the Ranger prospects have a night most would like to forget.

Islander's Star Brock Nelson

Only Brock Nelson (NYI 2010 1st) earned a star and that is despite a 1-2-3 evening as his 6th ranked North Dakota lost to Wisconsin 5-4. North Dakota lost both games this weekend to Wisconsin and have only themselves to blame.

Nelson was moved back to left wing after going scoreless last night as a center but North Dakota spent most of this game chasing Wisconsin. Nelson netted his 1st assist of the night in the 2nd period to help North Dakota pull within 3-2.

Nelson set up Danny Kristo to tie the score at 3-3 in the 3rd but Wisconsin scored twice to take a 5-3 lead before Nelson scored his 4th at 19:19 for the final goal of the game. Nelson improved to 3-4-7 in 6 games.


Ranger's Star Shane McColgan

Shane McColgan (NYR 2011 5th) was really the only Ranger prospect to play a strong game but his Kelowna Rockets lost to the Victoria Royals 3-2. McColgan has been the most consistent Ranger prospect scoring wise this season as he has taken the lessons learned from Traverse City and put them to good use.

McColgan earned the game's second star for a strong overall game and he added a secondary assist late in the game (19:00 of 3rd on 2nd Kelowna goal) to extend his scoring streak to 8 games (2-8-10) as the leading scorer among Ranger prospects is now 2-11-13.

Battle Of The 2011 First Round Picks

It was supposed to be a look at the future asJT Miller (NYR 2011 1st) and his Plymouth Whalers took on the Niagara IceDogs with New York Islander prospects Ryan Strome (NYI 2011 1st) and Mitchell Theoret (NYI 2011 7th).

This was round 2 as the Whalers held home ice on October 14th with a 6-3 win so Niagara was looking for some revenge and revenge they got. The IceDogs shut out the Whalers 4-0 with Strome earning a primary assist on the IceDog's 2nd goal.

The IceDogs did a solid containing Miller and his linemates as Miller saw his 4 game scoring streak come to an end (2-3-5) while Strome saw his own scoring streak extended to 5 games (4-3-7). Theoret did not score but took 2 minor penalties.

What we learned is that Miller and Strome while very different players actually match up well against each other. It is going to be fun watching these 2 battle each other on the ice.

Ranger Prospects

Chris Kreider (NYR 2009 1st) had an assist on top ranked Boston College's first goal of the game, he took 7 shots and was a +2. You would think that was all the signs of a good night but Kreider hurt Boston College by taking one penalty that killed off a power play, took a second one that put Boston College down a 2nd man and added 2 more minors for a total of 4 penalties for the game.

Boston College was able to rally for a 4-3 overtime win over Northeastern but Kreider took the following: hooking,  hitting after the whistle, boarding, and another hooking. The last hooking came at 18:57 of the 3rd period and to be honest if we were coach Kreider is benched after the 3rd penalty star or not.

Christian Thomas (NYR 2010 2nd) had an assist for his 9th point and extended his scoring streak to 4 games (1-5-6) but his Oshawa Generals lost to the Sudbury Wolves 5-2. Thomas and his linemates had a really bad night with Thomas a -4 for the night.

Dylan McIlrath (NYR 2010 1st) and his Moose Jaw Warriors can not score these days as they dropped their 3rd straight game this one to the Kootenay Ice 2-1. McIlrath was scoreless and a -1 as his team did not score until 19:33 of the 3rd period.

Andrew Yogan (NYR 2010 3rd) and Peter Ceresnak (NYR 2011 6th) had a horror show of a night as their Peterborough Petes were smoked 9-1 by the Saginaw Spirit. Neither player scored as Yogan saw his 6 game scoring streak as well as 4 game goal scoring streak come to an end (4-2-6).

Not blaming Yogan but this had to frustrating as he was returned to his spot on the first line. The Petes just fell totally apart in the 3rd period giving up 5 goals.

Steven Fogarty (NYR 2011 3rd)was scoreless as his Penticton Vees defeated the Dale Purinton (yes that Dale Purinton) coached Cowichan Valley Capitals 2-1. Fogarty was scoreless as had a quiet game.

Randy McNaught (NYR 2010 7th) was scoreless as his Calgary Dinos defeated their cross town rivals University of Albert Golden Bears 2-1 to sweep the weekend series.

Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) was a healthy scratch for the Owen Sound Attack.

Islander Prospects

Corey Trivino (NYI 2008 2nd)on paper had a good game with 2 assists but his 8th ranked Boston University Terriers dropped a 5-4 game to Holy Cross. BU can point the finger at themselves as here bad penalties cost them this game to a weaker foe.

Trivino did not play badly himself but he was not active enough for a guy who is holding down the 1st line center spot. 1 shot is not enough. Trivino is now 3-2-5 on the season.

Scott Mayfield (NYI 2011 2nd) scored his first career goal at the NCAA level as his 3rd ranked Denver Pioneers massacred Minnesota State 10-2. Mayfield scored Denver's 5th goal of the game as this one was ugly.

Brendan Kichton (NYI 2011 5th) had an assist as his Spokane Chiefs spotted the Everett Silvertips a 2-0 lead and scored 3 unanswered goals for a 3-2 win. Kichton is 1-6-7 on the season as the Chiefs won their 6th straight game.

John Persson (NYI 2011 5th) and his Red Deer Rebels hosted the Portland Winterhawks in what was a very good test for the Rebels. The Rebels are in a bit of a limbo as they wait to find out if the Edmonton Oilers were going to send Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back to them.

They took the Portland Winterhawks to a shootout and then the shootout needed 6 rounds before Red Deer earned a 2-1 shootout win.  The Rebels like the Chiefs are on a hot run as the win was Red Deer's 5th straight.

Persson did not score and missed on his shootout attempt.

Jason Clark (NYI 2010 3rd) Healthy Scratch

(Brock Nelson/Grand Forks Herald, Shane McColgan/Everett Silvertips)