Finnigan's 8: Feb. 7, 2022
Philippe Daoust (Saint John/QMJHL)Season totals: 2GP / 1G / 3A / 0PIM / +3
Daoust made his return to the QMJHL with a dominant two-game performance with the Sea Dogs, who had acquired him from Moncton on Jan.6 while he was still playing in Belleville.
In his first game of the season Friday, Daoust scored in a 4-0 win over Blainville-Boisbriand before he followed that performance up with a one goal, three assist, effort Sunday as Saint John beat Rimouski 6-2.
In 15 games with Belleville this year, the 20-year-old had five assists.
Eric Engstrand (Malmo/SHL)Season totals: 24GP / 5G / 1A / 2PIM / -3
Engstrand scored his fifth goal of the season Saturday as he got on the scoresheet in Malmo's 7-4 win over Vaxjo.
His five goals this year are tied for seventh on the Redhawks, who sit one spot clear of the SHL playout.
Leevi Merilainen (Kingston/OHL)Season totals: 32GP / 19-10-3 / 3.43 GAA / .887 save percentage
Merilainen collected his 19th win of the season Thursday as he turned aside 32 of the 34 shots he faced in a 5-2 road win over Barrie.
However, he took the loss Sunday after the Frontenacs were beaten 5-2 in North Bay as he stopped 24 shots.
His 19 wins are tied for the second most in the OHL while his 32 games played ranks third, as do the 949 shots he's faced. The Fronts continue to lead the East Division and have the fourth most points in the OHL.
Jakov Novak (Northeastern/NCAA)Season totals: 26GP / 7G / 5A / 22PIM / +4
Novak tallied his fourth multi-point game of the season Friday in Northeastern's lone game of the week as he had one goal and one assist in a 5-4 win over Vermont.
His seven goals this year are the second most on the Huskies. Northeastern are 17-8-1 this year, and are in the NCAA's Top 25, but sit seventh in the Hockey East.
Zack Ostapchuk (Vancouver/WHL)Season totals: 35GP / 10G / 11A / 41PIM / -2
Ostapchuk reached double digit goals for the first time in his WHL career Friday as he scored short-handed in a 3-2 loss to Kamloops on Friday in the CHL's nationally televised game on TSN.
It was the second career shorty for Ostapchuk who sits tied for third in goals scored this year among all Giants skaters.
Vancouver sits seventh in the Western Conference and are six points clear of missing out on a spot in the WHL Playoffs.
Mads Sogaard (Belleville/AHL)Season totals: 20GP / 10-9-0 / 2.61 GAA / .909 save percentage
Sogaard played in all three games this week for the Sens, and collected the decision in all three contests.
The Dane replaced Filip Gustavsson after the first period Wednesday against Syracuse and made 11 saves over the final two frames in a 4-3 victory.
He'd make 20 saves Friday in a 4-2 loss to the Crunch before he stopped 22 shots Saturday in a 6-1 victory over Laval.
Of AHL goaltenders with at least 20 appearances, his 2.61 GAA ranks seventh and his .909 save percentage is tied for ninth.
Egor Sokolov (Belleville/AHL)Season totals: 30GP / 10G / 15A / 8PIM / +10
After Sokolov played four games with Ottawa, the Russian returned to Belleville this week and had himself a four-point week.
He was held pointless Wednesday against the Crunch but tallied an assist Friday in the rematch. On Saturday, he'd notch his third three-point game of the season as he had one goal and two assists against the Rocket.
Sokolov's 25 points are tied for the team lead while his 15 assists are a team high. Belleville currently sits sixth in the North Division, four points out of a playoff spot.
Lassi Thomson (Belleville/AHL)Season totals: 18GP / 6G / 5A / 30PIM / +3
With three points in three games this week, Thomson established a new career high point streak.
He had a power play assist Wednesday before he buried his sixth goal of the season in Friday's loss to Syracuse. He'd notch another assist Saturday on Belleville's opening goal of the night in their win over the Rocket.
Thomson's 11 points are the second most among Belleville d-men.
*photo credit: Saint John Sea Dogs
