The numbers aren’t going to be massive as there isn’t any 40 or 50 goal scorers from this year’s crop of prospects. But what there are is some seriously clutch players who when their team is needing a big play, they come through,
Even better is seeing how each week we are seeing a different prospect as the hero of the night so increasing the number of scoring lines on the roster only helps. After Friday night’s games, three prospects have combined for 13 game winning goals and of those six were scored in the overtime period.
Tonight’s hero is right wing Brody Lamb of the ninth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers who were visiting the third-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in a Big-Ten matchup. Lamb’s 11th goal of the season scored at 1:02 of the overtime period was the difference as Minnesota edges Wisconsin 2-1.
The goal was the result of Lamb racing down the right side of the ice on a “two-on-one” breakaway and beating the Wisconsin goalie to the glove side for the upset win.
Goodnight from Madison 😴#PrideOnIce pic.twitter.com/1zHj1j4ufq
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) February 3, 2024
It was Lamb’s fourth game winner this season and to honest if Lamb shot the puck more than he would have a lot more goals than the 11 he has. In this one Lamb had only two shots for the entire game and if he wants to be more than a role player in the NHL then he needs to average four-five shots a game.
Especially when one has the vast shot selection as Lamb has. Make no mistake, Lamb can score from any spot on the ice whether it is a wrist shot from the perimeter or a rebound in the crease.
But one can’t score if one doesn’t shot the puck can he? Lamb is 11-9-20 new career bests for the sophomore winger but there is little question that Lamb can develop into a top six scorer at least at Minnesota given that he has good size as well as skill.
This win gives Minnesota a 6-2 record since they returned from winter break. The same two teams play on Saturday night.
Gabe Perreault (1-2-3) and Drew Fortescue (0-1-1) helped top-ranked extend their winning streak to five straight games with a 6-1 win over UMass-Lowell in Hockey East play. Perreault scored Boston College’s second goal of the game when on the power play, a UML defender forgot about Perreault leaving him to skate to the right of the UML goalie all by himself and slam a pass past the UML goalie for a power play goal.
Leonard to Smith to Perreault! Everyone on the freshman line touches the puck on the BC goal.
📺 https://t.co/5s2DsDrJfa@espnplus x @hockey_east pic.twitter.com/GZwerOvzzG
— BC Men’s Hockey (@BC_MHockey) February 3, 2024
It was his 10th goal of the season along with it being his sixth power play goal and it eventually also proved to be the game-winning goal, his third of the season but that was just the beginning. After UML scored in the second period to cut Boston College’s lead to 2-1, Perreault a secondary assist with Boston College on another power play. The assist was Perreault’s 28th of the season and it made it a 3-1 game.
Still in the second period it was Fortescue’s turn to get on the scoresheet when he earned his third assist and sixth point of the season on an even strength goal as it extended the Boston College lead to 4-1. In the third period, Perreault earned his third point of the night when he earned the primary assist on linemate Ryan Leonard’s goal which closed the scoring with the sixth goal of the game.
The first year forward, Perreault extended his scoring streak to ten games (7-12-19), one game shy of his first streak which was 11 games. He is now 10-29-39 as he is the leading scorer in the Hockey East and is third overall nationally. Perreault has six power play goals and three game winners and he is also a +16 on the season.
Fortescue is 3-3-6 on the season with an impressive +12 as a first-year defenseman.
Dylan Roobroeck earned second star honors with a two assist performance to help his Oshawa Generals earn a 5-3 win over the Kingston Frontenacs in OHL play. The 6’7 center also was a +3 and 10-11 on his faceoffs as the Generals extended their unbeaten streaks to seven games (5-0-1-1).
Roobroeck had the primary assists on the Generals third and fifth goals as the leading scorer among the Rangers prospects improved to 14-29-43.
Victor Mancini was scoreless as his 19th-ranked Omaha Mavericks defeated Minnesota-Duluth 5-1 in NCHC play. The game was televised on the CBS Sports Network saw the Mavericks jump out to a 3-0 first period lead and cruised to the win.
Mancini was the first pair right defenseman and while he is never going to score Brian Leetch numbers, his defensive work will remind Ranger fans of Jaw Wells the way he protects his goalie and rarely gets caught out of position defensively. Mancini was a +3 on one shot while getting called for a roughing minor.
Hank Kempf was scoreless as his 13th-ranked Cornell Big Red extended their unbeaten streak to nine games (6-0-0-2-1) with a 5-1 win over St. Lawrence in ECAC play. Kempf did not record a stat while playing second pair left side defense.
Bryce McConnell-Barker had a goal and two assists in a losing cause as his Soo Greyhounds dropped a 6-3 decision to the Mississauga Steelheads in OHL play. McConnell-Barker took over the prospect goal scoring lead with his 15th goal on the season and it was the Greyhound’s highlight of the night.
Tonight’s play of the game is presented by @DeltaSSM pic.twitter.com/rXvCcePYwL
— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) February 3, 2024
The goal which gave the Soo a 1-0 lead was pretty much the only highlight for them. McConnell-Barker added the primary assist on the Soo’s second and third goals for the three point night to improve his season totals to 15-23-38. He has an eight game scoring streak (6-9-15) and since returning from his extended injury is 3-4-7 in four games.
Zakary Karpa was scoreless as his Harvard Crimson lost to seventh-ranked Quinnipiac 2-1 in ECAC play. Karpa recorded one shot and was 13-6 on his faceoffs.
Noah Laba was scoreless as his 16th-ranked Colorado College Tigers lost to 15th-ranked St. Cloud State 2-1 in overtime. It was clear role reversal for the Tigers who won both of last weekends games in overtime 2-1.
Laba saw his five game goal scoring streak stopped (six goals) was limited to two shots on goal but was a very impressive 12-2 on his faceoffs.
Did Not Play
Hugo Ollas was the backup goalie for Merrimack as they lost 3-2 to UMass.
Jaroslav Chmelar is still out as he recovers from wrist surgery.
