Boyko Earns Fifth Straight Win

Talyn Boyko (Kelowna Rockets)

There were 10 New York Ranger prospects originally scheduled to play on Saturday but only seven would actually see the ice. It was a different kind of night as bad starts yielded positive outcomes.

Talyn Boyko got off to a bad start allowing a goal on the first shot that he faced. It looked even worse when Boyko's Kelowna Rockets limited the Vancouver Giants to just two shots total in the first period.

Then it looked even worse when that 1-0 first-period lead carried all the way to the third period as Kelowna couldn't solve Vancouver's goalie. Finally, Kelowna would score to tie the game at 9:53 and then take the lead at 11:19 before finishing off the Giants with a shorthanded goal at 15:40 for a 3-1 lead and eventual win.

The second of the Ranger's two fourth-round draft picks, Boyko after the initial goal would stop 24 straight shots to earn the game's first star and extend the Rockets' winning streak to six straight games. Even better for the Rockets is that they pulled to within three points of fourth-seed Seattle (two games in hand) and five points of third seed Portland (four games in hand). 

This is very much not the same goalie who got off to a 1-6-1 record with Tri-City. The win improved Boyko to 15-5-1-1 2.59 GAA 0.919 SV% as a member of the Rockets and 16-11-2-1 with a goals-against of 3.05 and a save percentage of 0.910.

Brody Lamb (Green Bay Gamblers)

Brody Lamb earned the game's third star as his Green Bay Gamblers defeated the Muskegon Lumberjacks 5-4 in overtime in USHL action. Lamb had a goal and a secondary assist for the Gamblers as they split their weekend set with the Lumberjacks.

The Ranger's first of their 2021 fourth-round draft picks, Lamb earned his secondary assist on Cameron Lund's power-play goal in the second period. At the time it would give his Gamblers a 3-2 lead.

In the third, Lamb would score his 11th goal of the season at 15:43 giving his team a 4-3 lead. Lamb improved his season numbers to 11-9-20 in 34 games.

Ryder Korczak and his Moose Jaw Warriors won their sixth-straight game 4-1 over the Regina Pats. Korczak got the Warriors going when he scored his 16th goal of the season on the power play at 6:11 of the first period.

It won't be until the third replay that you can see Korczak jump into the play and fire the puck in the "five-hole" for goal. The more you see of the Warriors center, the more you are going to like of his all-around game.

Ryder Korczak opens the scoring for the Warriors with his 16th of the year!#AllInTogether | @Korzy19 | @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/0aieCJWe7P

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) January 30, 2022

For the game, Korczak was 1-0-1 -1 on four shots and 10-6 on faceoffs. Korczak is 16-36-52 with a seven-game scoring streak (4-7-11).

Brennan Othmann took over the OHL lead in goal scoring as his Flint Firebirds earned their fifth straight win 4-2 over their rivals the Saginaw Spirits. Othmann's goal was Flints' fourth of the game coming at 9:48 of the third period giving the Firebirds a 4-1 lead at the time. 

The Firebirds captain scored off a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle. The sixth-leading scorer in the OHL, Othmann improved to 29-26-55 on the season.

Jayden Grubbe set up the game-winning goal as his Red Deer Rebels won their third straight with an 8-1 spanking of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Grubbe set up Dallon Mellin for Red Deer's second goal of the game at 10:11 of the first period. 

A quiet game for Grubbe as he now has points in three straight games to improve to 8-12-20 on the season. Grubbe was 8-8 on his faceoffs but didn't record a shot on goal in this game. 

The win pulled the Rebels to within two points of the WHL's Central Division leaders the Edmonton Oil Kings and four-point of Eastern Conference-leading Winnipeg.

Evan Vierling and his Barrie Colts dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 overtime decision to the Soo Greyhounds. The Colts who scored at 19:59 of the third period lost when the Greyhounds scored just 46 seconds into the overtime period.

Vierling had a secondary assist on Barrie's first goal to give himself a three-game scoring streak (2-3-5) did not record any shots as he was a -1. He did however go 12-5 on his faceoffs as Vierling improves to 10-17-27 on the season

Hank Kempf and his eighth-ranked Cornell Big Red played rival Harvard to a 2-2 overtime tie. Harvard earned the extra point in the standings by winning the shootout.

Kempf was scoreless on one shot on goal.

Simon Kjellberg and his Rensselaer Engineers were shut out 2-0 by Union College in their annual Mayor's Cup matchup. Kjellberg was credited with one shot on goal and a -1.

Did Not Play

Will Cuylle and his Windsor Spitfires saw their road game against the Erie Otters postponed due to Covid protocols on the Otters' side.

Matthew Rempe missed his third straight game for his Seattle Thunderbirds. Covid is suspected since Rempe has not appeared on any injury list.

Dylan Garand got the night off as he served as the backup goalie for his Kamloops Blazers.