It was a pretty quiet Friday night for the 11 New York Rangers prospects, but Noah Laba of Colorado College continued to make big plays to lead his team to wins. In a game televised nationally over the CBS Sports Network. Laba scored to game-tying goal then made the defensive play to start the game winning goal as his 18th-ranked Colorado College Tigers rallied to defeat Miami of Ohio 2-1 in NCHC play.
In the third period with his team trailing 1-0 and on the power play. Laba deflected teammate Chase Foley’s shot into the Miami goal to tie the game up 21 seconds into the period. It was Laba’s 10th goal of the season and third power play goal.
Laba was just skating in front of the crease area when he stuck his stick out just a little way and enough to deflect a shot past Miami’s goaltender who never had a chance to make the save. The game was tied, and it set Laba up for even more heroics.
Here while there isn’t a video of his goal, the game’s first star talked about the play he made to tie the game up.
Comments from Noah Laba following 18th-ranked CC’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Miami Friday night at Robson Arena!!#CCTigers pic.twitter.com/HInqaoOQDH
— CC Hockey (@CCTigerHKY) January 20, 2024
With time winding down in regulation, it was Laba once again making a key play. First, he broke up a pass attempt and sent the puck against the side boards, then Laba grabbed the puck and started up the ice carrying the puck into the Miami defensive zone. He dropped the puck off to teammate Evan Werner who in turn hit Tommy Middleton who “one-timed” a shot past the Miami goalie for the goal with just 1:36 remaining and a 2-1 Colorado College lead.
The goal had to stand up against an offsides video challenge and it did as Colorado College holds on for the 2-1 win. Laba finished the game 1-1-2 on three shots with a +1 and was 7-9 on his faceoffs. The two points improved Laba to a team best 10-8-18 with three power play goals and four game winners.
The same two teams will play Saturday also on the CBS Sports Network starting at 6 PM EDT/ 3 PM PDT so plenty of time to watch the game before the Rangers play the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30/7:30.
Gabe Perrault had a two-assist game as his second-ranked Boston College Eagles held off the Merrimack Warriors 5-4 in Hockey East play. Boston College trailed 2-0 going into the second period then scored five unanswered goals to take a 5-2 lead and then held off Merrimack for the win. Perreault was credited with the primary assist on Boston College’s third goal which broke a 2-2 team with just 45 seconds remaining in the second period.
It was on a Boston College power play and at the time, Perreault’s team leading 25th assist. About the middle of the third period, Perreault recorded his second assist also on the power play but this time a secondary assist. This one came on Boston College’s fifth goal of the game and was the eventual game-winner.
For Perreault it was a 0-2-2 night on three shots with a +1 as he improved to a team best 6-26-32. Perreault is fourth in overall NCAA scoring; he is the leading scorer among first-year players and his 26 assists are tied for second in the NCAA.
Teammate Drew Fortescue was scoreless and the only stat he earned was a minor penalty for holding. For Merrimack goalie Hugo Ollas did not play but is expected to get the start when the same two teams face each other Sunday afternoon.
Zakary Karpa had a shorthanded secondary assist as his Harvard Crimson earned their second straight win 6-3 over Rensselaer in ECAC play. Karpa broke a three-game scoreless streak when he was credited with the secondary assist on Harvard’s fourth goal which also proved to be their game-winning goal.
Karpa has been finding points hard to come by over the last couple of seasons might find himself needing to transfer to play his senior year elsewhere if he has any hope of being signed by the Rangers. The junior center was 0-1-1 on one shot with a +1 while going 13-6 on his faceoffs.
Karpa is 2-2-4 after 15 games this season, a number that will scare off most NHL teams.
Dylan Roobroeck had an assist as his Oshawa Generals spanked the Peterborough Petes 7-1 in OHL play. The current leading scorer among New York Ranger prospects saw Roobroeck record a secondary assist on the General’s third goal.
Roobroeck 0-1-1 on three shots and an 11-5 on his faceoffs improved his season totals to 13-25-28.
Defenseman Hank Kempf was scoreless as his 15th-ranked Cornell Big Red handed Princeton a 6-2 defeat in ECAC action. Kempf was credited with just one shot but was a game high +5.
Brody Lamb did not record a single stat as his 10th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 5-2 in Big Ten action. Disappointing to see Lamb having these kinds of nights when he gets elevated to the first line.
Victor Mancini was scoreless as his 19th-ranked Omaha Mavericks dropped a 6-3 decision to sixth-ranked Denver University in NCHC play. Mancini was credited with three shots and was a -1 for the game.
Maxim Barbashev was scoreless as his Rimouski Oceanic dropped a 6-4 decision to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in QMJHL play. Barbashev took two shots and was a -1 with one hit.
Ty Henricks was scoreless on one shot as his Muskegon Lumberjacks shut out the Omaha Lancers 3-0 in USHL play.
Rasmus Lawsson was scoreless on one shot with a +1 as his Green Bay Gamblers earned a 5-4 overtime win over the Youngstown Phantoms in USHL play.
DID NOT PLAY
Bryce McConnell-Barker missed his 13th game with a concussion.
Jaroslav Chmelar missed his fourth recovering from wrist surgery
