Making The Most Of Your Chances

Sunday was about making the most of your chances and what happens when you did not. Casey Cizikas (NYI 2009 4th) has been making the most of his chances as the captain of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors this season.

On Sunday Cizikas extended his goal scoring streak to 5 games when he scored his 23rd of the season as the Majors just dominated the Ottawa 67's 6-1. Cizikas scored his goal at 19:13 of the first period as the Majors jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Cizikas goal finished off a 19-3 first period as the Majors used this game to send a message to the leaders of OHL's East Division. The Majors held a 52-18 advantage in shots in winning their 3rd straight game while handing the 67's their 3rd straight loss.

The only goal that the 67's scored came in the 2nd period on a power play they got when Cizikas was sent off for slashing. The Majors added 3 more goals in the 3rd period including Cizikas earning a secondary assist on the Major's 5th goal of the game.

Cizikas is now up to 23-23-46 +30.

Our theme is about making the most of your chances for a reason as while the Majors were defeating the 67's, the Oshawa Generals who are chasing the 67's in the OHL's East Division gave away a game to the Sudbury Wolves 5-3.

Not even 24 hours after their dramatic 4 goal comeback win over the first place 67's, the Generals wasted a chance to pull within 3 points of the 67's.

The Wolves jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead, the Generals answered back with 3 straight goals to take a 3-2 lead. Dan Maggio (NYR 2009 6th) registered a secondary assist on the General's 2nd goal for his second point with the Generals.

Christian Thomas's (NYR 2010 2nd) 30th goal of the season was the General's 3rd and final goal of the game in the second period. Calvin De Haan (NYI 2009 1st) was scoreless and a -2 for the game while Tony DeHart (NYI 2010 5th) was a healthy scratch.
  

Kirill Kabanov (NYI 2010 3rd) on Saturday had a terrible game against the Victoriaville Tigre highlighted by a -4 as his Lewiston Maineaics lost 7-5. On Sunday against the same Tigre, Kabanov made the most of his chances as with a secondary assist for his 15th point with the Maineaics.

The game went to the shootout and Kabanov shooting first for the Maineaic made his attempt as the Maineaics won 4-3 thanks to making all of their shootout chances.

Chris Kreider (NYR 2009 1st) and his 3rd ranked Boston College Eagles dropped a 4-1 decision to 13th ranked Maine in a game televised on CBS College Sports. For the Eagles when they watch the game tape they will be regretting all the chances they missed in this one.

Kreider had a secondary assist on Boston College's only goal of the game but he just could not convert on several of his own chances. Can not fault Kreider for this loss as he was very much on the aggressive side looking for his shot.

Credit though has to go to the Maine goaltender Shawn Shirman who earned star of the game for stopping 23 out of the 24 shots he faced.

When we interviewed Dylan McIlrath (NYR 2010 1st) for the Blueshirt Bulletin, the one thing we talked about was McIlrath's looking for increased offense. McIlrath talked about how he was working on improving his shot and how his Moose Jaw coaches were using him more on the power play.

On Sunday, McIlrath made the most of his offensive chances on the power play when he scored his 4th goal of the season at 4:35 of the second period giving his Moose Jaw Warriors a 2-1 lead in a game they would eventually win 3-2 over the Edmonton Oil Kings.

It was McIlrath's 2nd power play goal of the season but his first goal in 13 games as the Warriors won their 2nd straight. McIlrath is now 4-12-16 on the season.


(Cizikas and Thomas/Aaron Bell/OHL Images, Kabanov/NHL Media, Kreider/Dennis Pause, McIlrath/Moose Jaw)