A big week for the Amerks and Brendan Guhle as well as SHL and NCAA prospects like Victor Olofsson, Casey Mittelstadt, and Christopher Brown.
Tuesday, October 31st
Victor Olofsson sets up a redirection with a one-time shot from the circle in CHL action with Frolunda. Highlights also include a sweet goal from Rasmus Dahlin, my number two ranked 2018 NHL Draft prospect.
Rasmus Asplund was named to Sweden’s roster for the Karjala Cup. The tournament will start on November 8th and will act as a tryout for Asplund for Team Sweden’s Olympic team.
Wednesday, November 1st
In Finnish action, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had the night off for LeKi and Oskari Laaksonen played to his strengths in Ilves U20’s 4-2 loss to Blues Espoo U20.
Rochester took on the Utica Comets on Wednesday night. Hudson Fasching got the game going right away, scoring 14 seconds into action. Then, with 13 seconds left in the first, Brendan Guhle plays a puck over to Kevin Porter who scores.
C.J. Smith had two assists on the night. Smith played terrific hockey Wednesday and really has been all this season. He is quick and powerful in the corners and he is skilled in open ice. While a Nick Baptiste call-up was fine by me, I really would have liked to see C.J. get some NHL time sooner rather than later.
Brandon Hagel continues to score in the WHL. It’s expected of him in this league, but it is good to see it come consistently. Hagel scores his sixth goal of the year in Red Deer’s 4-2 loss to Seattle.
Tip drill: Red Deer lost to Seattle 4-2, but Brandon Hagel extended his career-long point streak to eight games with his sixth goal #Sabres pic.twitter.com/L9WlD1r589
— Kris Baker (@SabresProspects) November 2, 2017
Quick note on another Red Deer Rebel and 2018 NHL Draft prospect Alexander Alexeyev: Smart, quick, an offensively minded defender with a great first pass. Times well coming back in his own end, but for the most part, he really is a fantastic puck mover and I expect him to rise high in the draft rankings.
Thursday, November 2nd
Victor Olofsson pulls off three shots, but no points in Frolunda’s 2-1 loss to Skelleftea.
In the CHL, Austin Osmanski and Vojtech Budik were pointless in their losses.
Friday, November 3rd
Casey Mittelstadt had an aggressive game against Michigan State in their first match of a back to back. Results in an assist in the Gophers 3-1 win.
Marcus Davidsson and Djurgarden get the better of Rasmus Asplund and Farjestad BK in Sunday’s game. Davidsson picks up an assist after a burst of speed and D.I.F wins 3-1.
Judd Peterson and Will Borgen continue to rack up assists while the Huskies rack up wins. Saint Cloud defeats Minnesota Duluth 5-3 with Peterson and Borgen carrying one assist.
Christopher Brown had a goal and an assist in BC’s 3-1 win over Merrimack on Friday. Casey Fitzgerald had a risky defensive game, but couldn’t quite make his presence known on offense.
The Americans overcame a three straight Hershey goals in the first and exploded for six in the second in their 6-7 SO win over the Bears. Brendan Guhle, Hudson Fasching, Eric Cornel, and CJ Smith all recorded points in the win. Guhle received second-star honors with a goal and assist.
Philip Nyberg picks up an assist after Spencer Naas throws home his original shot on UConn’s final goal in their 5-1 win over Vermont. Nyberg was a +4 on the night.
Cliff Pu starting to get things going again as he scored for London in Friday’s matchup against Saginaw.
Vojtech Budik, getting some time on the powerplay, picks up a secondary assist in Prince Albert’s 5-1 win over Swift Current
Saturday, November 4th
Brandon Hagel unable to score a point in the last two outings after just coming off of a nine-game point streak.
Will Borgen able to add another assist on the weekend in Saint Cloud State’s 5-0 win and weekend sweep over Minnesota Duluth.
Casey Fitzgerald opened the scoring with a bit of a floater in BC’s second game against Merrimack and produced 5 shots. Fitzgerald and Christopher Brown are tied for the team lead in goals now with 3.
Victor Olofsson puts up a big day with a goal and two assists for Frolunda in their 5-4 loss to HV71. Olofsson now has 7 goals and 5 assists in 16 games. His previous high in the SHL for goals is 14 and for points is 29.
Linus Weissbach had no points in Wisconsin’s 2-2 tie with North Dakota but did put up a goal in the consolation shootout with a quick shot over the shoulder.
Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen made 28 saves in LeKi’s 6-2 loss to Hermes. UPL was not getting much help on offense or on defense.
Cliff Pu assists on the empty-net goal for London in their 4-1 win over Owen Sound.
The Amerks couldn’t quite pull off another comeback shootout win on Saturday, as their plans were foiled by Utica 3-2 (SO). Rochester ties things up late in the third with two straight goals.
Brendan Guhle scores the tying goal with a nice setup from, you guessed it, CJ Smith.
Lastly, Casey Mittelstadt scored his third goal and ninth point of the year Saturday against Michigan State in classic Casey Mittelstadt style.
Casey forces turnover.
Casey gets puck in slot.
Casey shoots.
Casey scores.#Sabres pic.twitter.com/lIZsYEEaqE— Kris Baker (@SabresProspects) November 5, 2017
Sunday, November 5th
Only one game on Sunday with Peterborough and Mississauga facing off. Austin Osmanski finds an assist on the Petes second goal in a 9-2 loss.
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Another thanks goes out to @SabresProspects for his kind uploads.
Follow me on Twitter @MarkoLWOS
Come back next week to see what is going down in the Sabres pipeline.