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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 26, 2022 7:10:12 GMT -5
So, all the NCAA regional finals are set and four Habs prospects remain alive. Pitlick had an assist as Minnesota won 4-3 in OT. Quinnipiac advanced with a 5-4 win, and Smilanic did not get a point. Both those guys play on Sunday.
The big matchup to watch for Habs prospects today (Saturday) is:
UMD (Biondi) vs Denver (Stapley) 4:00pm ET on TSN App/TSN.ca
These two rivals should make this a great game to watch. Duluth’s stingy goaltending and balanced attack versus Denver’s high octane offence. For Hab watchers, it is a battle of #7s against each other. One of them will be going to the Frozen Four.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 26, 2022 10:01:56 GMT -5
I have watched a fair number of Farrell’s games over the years, and the eye test also backs this up. In his draft year, he was well known for his passing and set up abilities, but was not the greatest skater. In his D+1 year, he became quicker and added a very dangerous shooting threat to his game. Oh yeah, Chicago Steel’s skills development coach at the time was Adam Nicholas 😉. He also has adapted well to both the NCAA competition and had a very nice showing in the brief Olympic tourney.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 26, 2022 11:32:41 GMT -5
Three CHL guys in action last night. Hamilton fell in OT, but Myšák still scored his 29th and Xhejak added an assist. In a big blowout Bathurst win, Kidney had a goal and an assist.
Today in Finland, Kapanen scored as his junior team won 5-4 and evened their quarter final series at one game apiece.
Heineman missed Leksands playoff game again today. No word on when he might be back.
Dichow plays later today as Kristiansands trails 1-0 in their quarter final series despite only giving up one goal so far to MoDo.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 26, 2022 14:46:10 GMT -5
Some Kapanen clips from his recent games.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 26, 2022 20:22:10 GMT -5
All Dropkick fans will appreciate this reference.
Stapley to the Frozen Four. Biondi is done.
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Post by Willie Dog on Mar 26, 2022 20:39:07 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 27, 2022 4:23:44 GMT -5
NCAA regional finals today and both have a prospect playing looking to book their spots in the Final Four:
Minnesota (Pitlick) vs Western Michigan at 4:00pm ET
Quinnipiac (Smilanic) vs Michigan at 6:30pm ET
Both games on TSN app/TSN.ca
Quinnipiac will be in tough against that star studded Michigan team.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 27, 2022 11:00:50 GMT -5
Olofsson did not register a point today in Björklöven’s 3-2 loss.
Kapanen was one of the seven scorers in a big 7-2 win by KalPa U20 team to win their quarter final series 2-1. He really seems to be finding his groove since joining the junior team after his injury. For a guy who has bounced around a lot of teams this season, some continuity/stability down the stretch is a good thing. He will be one of the Habs prospects who almost assuredly will be back in Edmonton in August for the rescheduled WJC.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 27, 2022 11:45:32 GMT -5
Xhejak and Myšák’s points from Friday night. Arber is big #8 and Jan is #19.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 28, 2022 9:05:30 GMT -5
Yesterday, two more prospects were in the NCAA regional finals hoping to book their spot in the Frozen Four. In the end, Pitlick and Minnesota advanced with a 3-0 win. Pitlick did not register a point but was buzzing when he was on the ice. Smilanic had an assist, but Quinnipiac lost a wild 7-4 match against the top ranked and star studded Michigan Wolverines and all their first rounders.
The Quinnipiac game was all Michigan for two periods, with the blue and maize up 4-0 heading into the third. Then Quinnipiac had quite the rally and scored three goals to bring the game to within one with about 7 minutes left. Smilanic had a really nice wrap around assist which his line mate easily tapped in to make it 4-3. With all the momentum going Quinnipiac’s way, their coach decided to pull the goalie with four minutes left. A call that seemed too early, and it backfired. Two quick empty netters and the crazy finish ended up with a 7-4 final. I thought Smilanic had a decent game. He was on the third line playing mainly a defensive role as the 3F on his line, playing back and using his speed to keep the talented Michigan forwards in check. He did get off a few shots that show that it is a decent strength of his. He made that very good play to rush and pull off the wrap around for his assist. His skating is very good. They also used him a bit on the point on the PP where his mobility was an asset. Anyway, his season is over. The Bobcats have a whole bunch of graduating seniors that played in the lineup ahead of him, so he should move up to a more significant role next season.
So, the Habs will have two prospects to watch in the Frozen Four in Boston in just under two weeks: Pitlick with Minnesota and Stapley with Denver.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 28, 2022 9:12:50 GMT -5
There were six CHL prospects in action on Sunday.
Trudeau was held pointless as Charlottetown suffered a rare shutout 1-0. Kidney added to his assist totals with one assist in their 4-0 win. Sobolev had an assist in Windsor’s 5-4 win over SSM. Vrbetic was the third star as he made 33 saves in a 2-1 North Bay win over Mississauga and some of their talented forwards. Myšák had an assist and Xhekaj did not register a point as the Bulldogs kept rolling with a 3-0 win.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 28, 2022 14:32:12 GMT -5
Dichow on the good end of a 25 save 4-2 win for Kristianstads today. That is their first win of the series, but a big one as they now trail their quarter final series 2-1.
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Post by seventeen on Mar 28, 2022 14:44:05 GMT -5
So, the Habs will have two prospects to watch in the Frozen Four in Boston in just under two weeks: Pitlick with Minnesota and Stapley with Denver. Unfortunately two of the guys with perhaps either not a great chance of making the NHL, or with less upside than some of the prospects eliminated. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 29, 2022 15:14:45 GMT -5
Some European action to report. Heineman was not in the lineup today (again) as Leksands were officially eliminated from the first round of the SHL playoffs. His season is done. Since the trade in mid February, he played 2:36 on February 17 and left the game injured early in the first. He returned on March 17 and was used sparingly for 10:13. He did not play again, so the season after the trade is basically a wash. Hopefully he is good to go for development camp in the summer and the SHL training camp in the fall.
Elsewhere in Sweden, Olofsson had an assist as Björklöven won 3-1 and are up 2-1 in their Allsvenskan quarters.
Kapanen did not register a point for a change, but KalPa U20 won 2-1 to take a 1-0 lead in their best of three semi-final series in the Finnish junior league.
The Habs still have Otto Leskinen’s NHL rights this season. He joined Tappara in the Liiga after his Finnish KHL team withdrew from the league playoffs. He had their only goal today in a 2-1 loss. Their Liiga quarter final series is now tied at one game apiece.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 30, 2022 3:44:56 GMT -5
Myšák gets #30 on the season while the Bulldogs set a franchise record of wins.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 30, 2022 8:34:19 GMT -5
Roy gets signed to his ELC. Well deserved. He should get a look for Team Canada, possibly in August if some guys opt out, and for sure in December.
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Post by Willie Dog on Mar 30, 2022 10:06:58 GMT -5
Roy gets signed to his ELC. Well deserved. He should get a look for Team Canada, possibly in August if some guys opt out, and for sure in December. Good stuff |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 31, 2022 15:09:45 GMT -5
Kapanen with a PP goal today in a 5-0 win. KalPa wins their semis 2-0 and move to the U20 finals.
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Post by Willie Dog on Mar 31, 2022 21:07:21 GMT -5
Who is Lucas Condotta and why did the Habs sign him to a 1 year entry level deal?
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2022 10:31:29 GMT -5
Getting caught up on some more games from last night.
Olofsson assisted on the GWG in OT in their playoff series.
Myšák had a goal and assist and was 61% on faceoffs in the Hammer’s 3-2 win.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2022 11:03:56 GMT -5
Who is Lucas Condotta and why did the Habs sign him to a 1 year entry level deal? Big two way centre that was captain at Lowell. Hits like a truck. Hard worker, decent skater. Likely a great depth guy for Laval and does not take up one of the AHL veteran spots. Laval has lost its two grittiest forwards in Baddock (Hamburglar trade) and Pezzetta (call up). He also can chip in with offense more than those two as well. |
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 1, 2022 11:34:27 GMT -5
Who is Lucas Condotta and why did the Habs sign him to a 1 year entry level deal? Big two way centre that was captain at Lowell. Hits like a truck. Hard worker, decent skater. Likely a great depth guy for Laval and does not take up one of the AHL veteran spots. Laval has lost its two grittiest forwards in Baddock (Hamburglar trade) and Pezzetta (call up). He also can chip in with offense more than those two as well. Saw that yesterday and wondered why... thanks for the info |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 2, 2022 10:57:52 GMT -5
Kidney with four assists in a 5-1 win last night. That’s good, right?
The Titan are streaming on CBC Gem today.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 2, 2022 14:28:00 GMT -5
Another solid day at the office for Dichow.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 3, 2022 13:18:53 GMT -5
Last night, Roy had the GWG and two assists in a 5-4 Sherbrooke victory. That is 97 points for Roy so far. Kidney had an assist on Bathurst’s only goal in a 2-1 OT loss.
Today, Kapanen assisted on KalPa’s only goal in a 6-1 loss to kick of the junior league finals. Leskinen had an assist as Tappara won its quarter final series and moves on to the Liiga semis.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 3, 2022 14:06:13 GMT -5
Dichow and Kristianstads lose today to fall 4-2 in their series. Heckuva season for the young Danish goalkeeper though.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 4, 2022 11:04:36 GMT -5
Some last night updates.
Norlinder had an assist as Frölunda go up 2-0 in their SHL quarters.
Kidney had two assists in a 5-1 win. The one below was a beauty.
Myšák had an assist and Xhekaj blasted home a goal in a Bulldogs win.
Vrbetic made 34 saves in a 6-3 victory.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 4, 2022 20:02:38 GMT -5
Habs sign Heineman to 3 year entry level contract. I have no other details to pass along.
The contract starts in 2022/23, but he will be signing a PTO with Laval so we’ll see him in AHL action.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 5, 2022 13:53:22 GMT -5
Looks like Smilanic will be moving schools. Interested.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 7, 2022 9:13:19 GMT -5
Stapley and Pitlick both battle in the Frozen Four semis today. Both games streamed on TSN app.
If Stapley and Denver lose to tough Michigan, then his NCAA career is over. NHL deal, AHL deal or free agency? We shall see.
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