Eight New York Rangers prospects took to the ice on Saturday with three of them standing out in helping their teams earn big wins. In many ways the overall efforts by these three were more than the goals they scored.
Lets face it the Rangers have gifted offensive players on their roster but what is very much missing from the Ranger lineup are players who will go into the corners and fight the puck battles. They are lacking the guys who can not only get their uniforms dirty but offer up clutch offensive play.
Noah Laba as a sophomore has been the first line center for his 18th-ranked Colorado College Tigers.So this year this team with Laba have been beating some of the top teams in the NCAAs and Laba has been a big reason why.
Laba is the leading scorer in goals and points, he leads the team in game winning goals, and as Laba goes so do the Tigers. Against Miami of Ohio, Laba got his team going with his 11th goal of the season as the Tigers defeated Miami 4-2 in NCHC play.
Laba was the player who went into the corners and came away with the puck, it was Laba who was 11-5 on his faceoffs, The center who led everyone in shots on goal with five.
And it was Laba who was coming back on defense and supporting the defensemen and goalie making sure nobody got second chances. And did we mention that Laba is all of 19?
At 11-8-19, he is one goal from setting a new career high and four more points will set a career best in points.
Brody Lamb had a two point night as his 10th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated Ohio State in Big Ten action 6-3. Lamb scored an empty net goal which clinched the win for his team, a power play goal with 34 seconds left.
Lamb also recorded the primary assist on Minnesota’s fourth goal which proved to be the game-winner. It was a solid hard working play where Lamb carried the puck right through two players to find teammate Aaron Huglen right in front of the net.
Lamb’s efforts were much more than his two points as he was solid all over the ice. He was the sandpaper on his line going into the corners and outworking others for the puck. In many ways the Lamb we saw tonight fits a huge need for grit and physical play in the dirty areas.
Lamb improves to 10-8-16 after a 1-1-2 night on three shots and a +2.
Maxim Barbashev had a two point game as his Rimouski Oceanic defeated the Moncton Wildcats 5-3 in QMJHL play. The games second star, Barbashev had a goal and a primary assist as he broke a couple of scoring slumps.
Barbashev scored the Oceanic’s first goal of the game, an even-strength goal in the first period that tied the game at 1-1. For Barbashev, it was his first goal in 10 games and just his ninth goal of the season.
Barbashev would add a primary assist on the Oceanic’s third goal of the game which put his team ahead for good. It was the first time in nine games that Barbashev had a multi-point game.
What is frustrating is that Barbashev the younger brother of the Golden Knights Ivan was coming off a a 32-33-65 point season last year. This is his contract season so it is maddening as to why Barbashev is not improving off last year.
Games like this where he was 1-1-2 on two shots and a +1 with two hits should be the norm. Instead Barbashev is 9-14-23.
Ty Henricks had a goal as his Muskegon Lumberjacks held off the Omaha Lancers 5-4 in USHL play. Henricks scored his 12th goal of the season while on the power play scoring with just four seconds remaining in the second period to put the Lumberjacks up 3-0.
Henricks was credited with just one shot as he improved to 12-5-17 on the season.
Rasmus Lawsson was scoreless as his Green Bay Gamblers defeated the Youngstown Phantoms 5-2 in USHL play. Lawsson was credited with one shot and was a +3 as he remains stuck on one goal and seven assists for eight points.
Lawsson has not scored a goal since September 22nd and has gone 29 games without a goal and five without a point. Would like to meet the person who called Lawsson an offensive weapon in their pre-draft scouting report.
Hank Kempf was scoreless as his 15th-ranked Cornell Big Red upset eighth-ranked Quinnipiac in overtime 3-2 in ECAC play. Kempf was credited with one shot and was called for delay of game and for holding.
Victor Mancini had an assist but his 19th-ranked Omaha Mavericks were beaten 6-2 by sixth-ranked Denver University in NCHC play. Mancini earned a primary assist on Omaha’s second goal at 18:34 of the second period.
Mancini was 0-1-1 on two shots with a +1 to improve his season totals to 3-4-7.
Zakary Karpa was scoreless as his Harvard Crimson lost in overtime 5-4 to Union College in ECAC play. Karpa was credited with one shot and was a -3 and was 10-10 on his faceoffs.
Did Not Play
Jaroslav Chmelar of Providence recovering from wrist surgery with a return expected late February to mid-March.
