A win two lose two Thursday

Ryan Graves (Jean Francois Plante)

It was a "win 2 lost 2" Thursday for the New York Ranger and New York Islander prospects. Two teams earning wins badly needed them starting with Ryan Graves (NYR 2013 4th) and his Charlottetown Islanders who entered their game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on a 7 game winless streak. Graves was returning from his double game misconduct game that saw him ejected early in the 2nd period against the Moncton Wildcats.

Against the Titan, Graves was scoreless but a +3 on 2 shots as he stayed out of trouble and helped his Islanders end their winless streak with a 5-3 win.

Jesse Graham (NYI 2012 6th) scored his 4th goal of the season as his Niagara IceDogs ended a 5 game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Sarnia Sting. Graham who was also a +2 on the night played a solid game and if you check out this highlight video from TVCogecoOntario you will see the goal Starting at the one minute mark.



My only question for Graham is why isn't he using that point shot more? It is an effective on target shot that would do wonders for helping Graham earn an NHL contract.

Victor Crus-Rydberg (NYI 2013 5th) had an assist on his Plymouth Whalers 2nd goal of the game but his Whalers let a 4-1 first period lead slip away as the Windsor Spitfires came roaring back for a 6-5 win. The loss was the 3rd straight for the Whalers who are 7-12 on the season.

Crus-Rydberg is 3-12-15 on the year for the Whalers.

Ryan Pulock (NYI 2013 1st) and his Brandon Wheat Kings returned home after a 6 game road trip and promptly lost to the Saskatoon Blades 3-1. Not the way you want to return home but Pulock had the primary assist on Brandon's only goal.

Mackenzie Skapski (NYR 2013 6th) is expected to be out 7-10 days according to his Kootenay Ice after suffering what is being called a "lower body" injury. Not good news for an Ice team that was hoping to go deep in this year's WHL playoffs.