Short and Sweet Bleech

Ryan Strome (OHL Images)

Really starting to feel bad for Ryan Strome (NYI 2011 1st) as the New York Islander prospect doesn't belong in the OHL but yet there he is being the best player on a one line team. I get it the Islanders didn't want to burn a year of his entry level contract during this shortened NHL season.

And Strome is trying his best to help his Niagara IceDogs remain competitive but Strome deserves a better fate. Strome and his Niagara IceDogs saw their winless streak reach 8 games (0-7-1-0) after losing to the Sudbury Wolves 4-1.

It was Strome who had the only goal for Niagara as he had against Brampton. Jesse Graham (NYI 2012 6th) had the secondary assist on the goal but his defensive play was nothing to write home about.

From the folks at TVCogecoOntario



Graham made 2 bad plays on the first Sudbury goal, first he lost his man in the defensive zone and then he screened his own goalie on the goal itself. Life is getting really hard for the IceDogs who have no idea as to how to right the ship.

In Windsor, Peter Ceresnak (NYR 2011 6th) and his Peterborough Petes took on the Windsor Spitfires in the battle of 9th placed teams in the OHL. It wasn't pretty but it was entertaining as both teams played terrible defense as Peterborough came away with a 7-5 win.

Ceresnak was scoreless and a +2 as the Petes jumped out to a 4-1 lead only to see Windsor battle back to tie the game at 5-5. The Petes scored last and won the game bringing them to within 7 points of 8th placed Saginaw.



Friday means February and for me then it means the countdown is on for the rematch of the 2012 WHL Finals. February 27th, Michael St. Croix and Griffin Reinhart will lead their Edmonton Oil Kings into Portland Oregon for the only regular season meeting of last year's WHL finalists.

I expect both teams to meet once again in the WHL finals but this time Portland should wind up with Game 7 on their home ice.