It is the time of the year where the Rangers prospects can see their season end with their next loss. Just five games involving New York Rangers prospects and it was a mixed bag of results.
NCHC Frozen Playoffs
The surprise of the night came from Denver Colorado as Noah Laba and his sixth-seeded Colorado College Tigers upset third seeded Denver University 3-1 in game one of their NCHC quarterfinal series. The series between archrivals should have warned us not to count anyone out as the Tigers who trailed Denver for most of the game rallied with three third period goals to steal away game one of this best of three series.
Noah Laba recorded an empty net goal to seal the win had an otherwise quiet night credited with just two shots while going 12-12 on his faceoffs. For Colorado College it was the first time they had won a game on Denver’s ice since 2019 but they will need a second win if they are to advance to the NCHC semifinals next week.
Game two is Saturday evening also in Denver.
Ty Henricks and his top-seeded Western Michigan Broncos had little trouble knocking off eighth-seeded St. Cloud St in the first game of their NCHC quarterfinals series 6-2. Henricks was scoreless with one shot as the left wing on the Bronco’s fourth line.
Game two is also Saturday evening.
ECAC Playoffs
Zakary Karpa and Harvard dropped game one of their ECAC quarterfinals series with Clarkson 3-2. Karpa was scoreless with no shots and a -1 as he did however go 15-6 on his faceoffs.
The captain of the Harvard team is facing what could be his final game for the Crimson if they lose on Saturday evening.
QMJHL
Rauol Boilard had a two assist game as his Baie-Comeau Drakkar defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 4-2 in QMJHL play. Boilard earned a primary assist on the Drakkar’s first goal and a secondary assist on their second goal.
For Boilard, the twin assists were part of a two shot, +1 with minors for cross-checking and roughing along with a 9-7 faceoff record. The Drakkar won their third straight game as they leaped back into fourth place in the QMJHL’s Eastern Conference standings with seven regular season games left in the schedule.
Boilard improved to 12-32-44 on the season as his passes Nathan Aspinall for second place among Rangers prospect scoring.
Did Not Play
E. J. Emery was not in the lineup for North Dakota as they played Nebraska-Omaha in game one of their NCHC quarterfinals series. Emery missed his fifth straight game with what is being called a lower body injury.
There is no update as to when he might return to the North Dakota lineup.
