Sunday, January 5, 2014

Laughing his way to New York

Anthony Duclair (Lapresse.ca)
To say that Anthony Duclair (NYR 2013 3rd) of the Quebec Remparts has not had a good 2 weeks is a huge understatement. Last week's QMJHL Telus First Star and the QMJHL Second Star of the Month for December, Duclair added signing his entry level contract with the New York Rangers all the while continuing the put on quite the show for his team.

On Sunday, Duclair scored a goal in his 6th straight game and added a primary assist to lead the Remparts to a 6-3 win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Duclair got the Remparts going scoring his 33rd goal of the season on the power play at the 9 minute mark of the first period. It was Duclair's 33rd goal of the season and the 10th that Duclair has scored on the power play.

Duclair would pick up his 27th assist when he fed Adam Erne for an even strength goal at 19:50 also in the 1st period. That would cap a 4 goal first period for the Remparts as they would cruise the rest of the way to extend their unbeaten streak to 6 games (4-0-0-2) and 7-1-0-2 in their last 10.

Duclair was 1-1-2 +1 on 4 shots as he improves to 33-27-60 on the season.

Mackenzie Skapski (Kootenay Ice)
The goalie prospect of the New York Rangers AKA Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Mackenzie Skapski (NYR 2013 6th) showed his Dr. Jekyll on Sunday night stealing a win for his Kootenay Ice 4-3 from the Medicine Hat Tigers and yes this win was all Skapski.

The Tigers dominated the Ice all in every area but on the scoreboard as the Tigers held a 54-20 advantage in shots. Skapski was very much up to the task especially in the 3rd period when the Tigers in trying to mount a comeback would out shoot the Ice 20-4.

Yet as solid as this "first star of the game" performance was, the question remains so why can't Skapski put a run of these kinds of performances together? Skapski has not won back to back starts since October 13th and 19th and the way Kootenay has been playing then any hope of even making the WHL playoffs is going to be on Skapski's shoulders.

Skapski is a much better goalie than his 11-12-2-1, 2.96 goals against and 0.912 save percentage show. Yes he faces more shots than most goalies do but the more he faces today just could help him become an NHL goalie later.

Ryan Graves (NYR 2013 4th) registered his 9th assist and 12th point of the season when he was credited with the only assist on Alexandre Goulet's 18th goal just 34 seconds into the game as their Charlottetown Islanders dominated the Moncton Wildcats with a 4-1 win. Graves and friends held the Wildcats to just 22 shots and a 0 for 3 on the power play.

Jesse Graham (NYI 2012 6th)
was scoreless as his Saginaw Spirit held off the Guelph Storm 3-2 to win their 2nd straight game. The Spirit moved back over the 500 mark (18-17-4-1) with their win.


No comments: