Avalanche Farm Report - Feb. 27

Prospect Spotlight: Cam Morrison

Colorado Eagles
The Colorado Eagles swept a back-to-back series last weekend, winning both contests in overtime. The Eagles defeated the Ontario Reign 2-1 in the extra period on Friday. In his first game back from a stint with the Avalanche, T.J. Tynan scored the game-winner in overtime with helpers from Logan O'Connor and Conor Timmins. Jayson Megna scored the first goal of the game assisted by Calle Rosen. Tynan was named the first star of the game while goaltender Adam Werner and his 29 saves earned second star honors.
Colorado overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second period on Saturday and ended up defeating the Bakersfield Condors 5-4 in overtime. A.J. Greer, with assists from Tynan and Shane Bowers, scored a power-play goal with 13 seconds left in the second period for the Eagles' first goal of the game. Colorado scored three straight goals in the third period--including another by Greer--to tie the game 4-4 and send it to the extra period where Megna tallied the game-winner.
In addition to his two goals, Greer recorded two assists for a season-high four-point game. Bowers and Kevin Connauton both notched a pair of assists for multi-point games as well, while Rosen and Tynan each grabbed a helper.
Rosen was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday in exchange for goaltender Michael Hutchinson. Hutchinson owns a 92-56-9 record, 2.49 goals-against average .919 save percentage and 14 shutouts in 172 career AHL appearances with the Toronto Marlies, Springfield Thunderbirds, Manitoba Moose, St. John's IceCaps and Providence Bruins.
Colorado now owns a 30-16-4 record this season and has earned 64 points in the tight Pacific Division race. The Eagles are 7-2-0 so far in February with only one game remaining this month.
Upcoming Games:
Feb. 29 vs. Milwaukee Admirals
March 1 vs. Milwaukee Admirals
March 6 vs. Ontario Reign

Utah Grizzlies

The Utah Grizzlies began the week with a three-game series against the Kansas City Mavericks. Utah was shut out 1-0 on Friday with the only goal of the game coming 25 seconds into the third period. The Grizzlies got on the scoreboard in the third period on Saturday to tie the game at 1-1, but the Mavericks claimed a shootout victory in the end. In the final game on Monday, the Grizzlies shutout Kansas City 3-0. Utah played again on Wednesday at the Idaho Steelheads and fell 4-3 in a shootout. The Grizzlies moved to 32-16-9 on the season and have earned 73 points. Utah will continue its three-game series against Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

NCAA

Boston College: Alex Newhook extended his point streak to eight games on Thursday when the No. 4 Boston College Eagles defeated Northeastern University 3-2. Newhook recorded an assist on the Eagles' second goal of the game. Boston College completed its sweep of Northeastern on Saturday with a decisive 10-1 victory. Of the Eagles' 21-man roster, 14 players earned a point including Newhook, who had a goal and two assists. He is tied for the second rank on Boston College after tallying 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) so far this season. Drew Helleson did not play last weekend, but he has earned six points (one goal, five assists) in 24 games this campaign. The Eagles (21-8-1) will host Merrimack University on Thursday before traveling to Boston University on Saturday.
University of Notre Dame: Cam Morrison led Notre Dame (No. 17) to a sweep of the University of Michigan in a back-to-back series last weekend. Morrison scored the first goal of the game in the third period on Friday to lead the Fighting Irish to a 2-1 victory over the Wolverines, as well as notched one of Notre Dame's three goals in Saturday's 3-0 shutout win. He remains tied for the leading point-getting spot on the Fighting Irish after recording 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) so far this season. Nick Leivermann (12 points; five goals, seven assists) and Nate Clurman (nine assists) rank 10th and 14th respectively. Notre Dame owns a 14-12-6 record this season and will wrap up this month with a back-to-back series against Michigan State University beginning Friday.
Sampo Ranta (University of Minnesota): The University of Minnesota (14-12-6) fell twice to Penn State University last weekend. The clubs technically tied 3-3 on Friday, but the Nittany Lions claimed the final victory in double overtime. The No. 14 Golden Gophers went ahead 2-0 on Saturday, but Penn State scored three unanswered goals beginning in the second period and won 5-2. Sampo Ranta notched an assist on Friday to move his season total to 19 points (11 goals, eight assists). The Golden Gophers host a back-to-back series against the University of Michigan beginning Friday.
Denis Smirnov (Penn State University): No. 7 Penn State swept the University of Minnesota last weekend. The Nittany Lions defeated the Golden Gophers 4-3 on Friday. While the game officially ended in a 3-3 tie, Penn State scored the game-winner in the second 3-on-3 overtime period. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions claimed a 3-2 victory in regulation, scoring three unanswered goals after going down 2-0 in the first period. Denis Smirnov ranks seventh on Penn State after tallying 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists). Penn State finished its regular season at 20-10-4, first in the Big Ten, and will participate in the Big Ten Quarterfinals which begin March 6.
Matthew Stienburg (Cornell University): Matt Stienberg helped to lead no. 3 Cornell to two shutout wins last weekend. Stienburg notched a goal and an assist in Friday's 4-0 victory over Yale University. His goal in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Brown University moved his season total to nine points (four goals, five assists). Cornell owns a 21-2-4 mark so far this campaign and will finish its regular season by hosting St. Lawrence University on Friday and Clarkson University on Saturday.
Tyler Weiss (University of Nebraska Omaha): The University of Nebraska Omaha (No. 25) shut out Colorado College 5-0 on Friday. Tyler Weiss recorded his only point of the weekend with an assist in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers. Weiss ranks third overall on the Mavericks after notching 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 31 games this season. Omaha (13-14-5) will travel for a back-to-back series at Miami University beginning Friday.

QMJHL

Alex Beaucage (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies): Rouyn-Noranda played three straight games last weekend, ending the stretch with a 1-2-0 mark. The Huskies were shut out 3-0 by the Moncton Wildcats on Friday, where Alex Beaucage spent two minutes in the penalty box for high sticking. Beaucage was named the first star of the game when Rouyn-Noranda defeated the Halifax Mooseheads 4-1 on Saturday for his goal and assist in the contest. The Huskies fell 3-2 to the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday, but Beaucage notched another assist to move his season total to 64 points (36 goals, 28 assists), ranking first on Rouyn-Noranda and 21st in the league. The Huskies (26-27-4) sit in fifth place in the Western Conference heading into matchups against the Victoriaville Royals on Saturday and Sherbrooke Phoenix on Sunday.

WHL

Vancouver Giants: Bowen Byram led the Vancouver Giants to a 6-5 victory over the Calgary Hitmen on Friday by notching a goal and two assists to be named the second star of the game. Trent Miner was not between the pipes on Friday, but he was on Saturday for Vancouver's 2-1 loss to the Everett Silvertips. Byram recorded another helper on the Giants' only goal, while Miner made 33 saves before going to the bench in the final minute of the game to give Vancouver an extra attacker. Byram ranks fifth on the Giants after registering 43 points (10 goals, 43 assists) so far this season. Goalie Miner has now started in 23 games this campaign and owns a 12-8-3 record, a 2.29 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Vancouver (31-21-5) plays a home-and-home series against the Victoria Royals on Friday and Saturday.
Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings): Luka Burzan opened the scoring when the Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-2 on Friday. Burzan was quiet for the rest of the weekend when Brandon fell 2-1 to the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday and 4-3 in overtime to the Regina Pats on Sunday. However, he had two goals and an assist in tthe Wheat Kings 9-1 win against the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday. He ranks second on the Wheat Kings after tallying 60 points (35 goals, 25 assists) this campaign. Brandon owns a 32-21-6 mark this season and will next take on the Calgary Hitmen on Friday and Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday.
Sasha Mutala (Tri-City Americans): The Tri-City Americans fell 4-2 to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday despite a goal from Sasha Mutala. He scored twice the next night to extend his point streak to six games in Tri-City's 7-5 loss to the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday, and he was named the third star of the game and the only star for the Americans. On his six-game streak, he has recorded multi-point games in three of the contests. Tri-City took on the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday, leading to a 8-1 loss. Mutala is the leading point-getter for the Americans after registering 65 points (27 goals, 38 assists) so far this season. Tri-City (17-35-5) moves to take on the Portland Winterhawks on Friday and Spokane Chiefs on Saturday.

NAHL

Shamil Shmakov (Springfield Jr. Blues): Shamil Shmakov has not played since Nov. 28 when he was with the USHL's Cedar Rapid RoughRiders as he dealt with an injury. He was acquired by the NAHL's Springfield Jr. Blues on Dec. 31. He has yet to play in a game for his new team. The Jr. Blues defeated the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3-1 on Friday but fell 7-0 to the club on Saturday and 4-1 on Sunday.

Finland

Justus Annunen (Kärpät): Justus Annunen was not in net this weekend for Kärpät. The club defeated SaiPa 5-2 on Friday, KooKoo 2-1 on Saturday, and HPK 4-1 on Wednesday. Annunen owns a 15-4-2 record this season as well as a 1.60 goals-against average and .934 save percentage. Kärpät (34-10-9) next takes on KalPa on Friday and JYP on Saturday.

Russia

Sergei Boikov (Dynamo Moscow): Sergei Boikov did not play with Dynamo Moscow when the club defeated Spartak Moscow 2-1 in a shootout on Sunday and remained out in Dynamo's 3-2 overtime win versus Traktor Chelyabinsk on Tuesday. Boikov has played in nine games this season with Dynamo and has scored two goals. Dynamo (37-16-8) plays next against Dinamo Minsk on Thursday and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Region on Monday.
Nikolai Kovalenko (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl): Lokomotiv Yaroslavl shut out Avangard Omsk 1-0 on Sunday. Nikolai Kovalenko did not skate in the win or in Lokomotiv's 5-3 victory against Dinamo Minsk on Tuesday. Kovalenko has tallied 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 53 games played this season. Lokomotiv earned a 34-23-4 mark this season and will finish its regular season against Vityaz Moscow Region on Thursday.
Danila Zhuravlyov (Ak Bars Kazan): Danila Zhuravlyov did not skate in any of his team's games this week. Ak Bars Kazan fell 6-3 to Spartak Moscow on Thursday but defeated Dinamo Minsk 5-4 on Sunday and Salavat Yulaev Ufa 3-2 on Tuesday. Zhuravlyov has notched eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his 35 games this season. Ak Bars (44-12-5) will finish on top of the Eastern Conference regardless of the outcome of its matchup against Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg on Thursday, its last regular season outing.