Had to take care of some other business so I apologize for not have a game report on Monday. There were two games involving New York Rangers prospects going on then. Plus we had two games on Tuesday
Monday
Game three of the Soo Greyhounds versus the Saginaw Spirit was not a happy affair for Bryce McConnell-Barker and his Greyhounds as they dropped the home game 7-2 to the Spirit to trail in the series 2-1. McConnell-Barker had a secondary assist on the Greyhounds first goal to increase his playoff totals to 2-7-9.
McConnell-Barker was an impressive 12-5 on his faceoffs which is a good sign to see from the already signed prospect. However he really needs to do better than one shot on goal if his Greyhounds are to have any chance against a very loaded Spirit team that is guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Memorial Cup as the hosts of it.
Also Monday saw the start of the USHL’s Clark Cup playoffs as Rasmus Larsson and his Green Bay Gamblers were the hosts to the Chicago Steel in a “best of three” series with all three games to be played in Green Bay. Game one went to the Gamblers as they took a 3-2 lead into the third period and held off the Steel for a 6-5 win and a 1-0 series lead.
Larsson was scoreless on one shot and a +1 for his Gamblers.
Tuesday
For the third straight game Dylan Roobroeck would earn a game’s star as he earned the game’s second star after his Oshawa Generals scored at 17:07 of the first overtime to earn a 4-3 win over the Ottawa 67’s and take a commanding 3-0 lead in this series. Roobroeck who is currently the leading scorer in the OHL playoffs with a 6-9-15 mark after Roobroeck added another 1-1-2 line to his performances so far in the playoffs.
Roobroeck would score his sixth goal of the playoffs from what those who root for the Generals would call “his office”. It is a one-timer fired from the high slot and from there Roobroeck is lethal. Setting the goal up, the Generals were trailing 1-0 and were on the power play.
Teammate Beckett Sennecke (keep an eye on this name he was 13th in the final CSB rankings) found Roobroeck in “his office” and Roobroeck “one-timed” a shot past the Ottawa goalie to tied the game at 1-1 at 15:25 of the first period.
ROOBROECK FROM HIS OFFICE!
He’s the @OHLHockey Player of the Week for a reason.😏#RedHot🔥 | #OSHvsOTT | #NYR pic.twitter.com/BdKMw7radf
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) April 16, 2024
Not only was it Roobroeck’s sixth goal of the playoffs but it was his first power play goal of the playoffs and extended Roobroeck’s scoring streak to four games (3-6-9). But the big center was not done after Ottawa would regain the lead in the second period, Roobroeck would set up the game-goal when set up Ben Danford’s goal at 10:40 of the third period.
Roobroeck would have a good game except with his faceoffs as he was 2-11 on them after going 1-1-2 on five shots with a +1 for the game. Game four will be Thursday in Ottawa as the Generals look for the sweep and advance to the conference finals.
In Green Bay, Rasmus Larsson and his Green Bay Gamblers just ran out gas as they dropped game two of their best of three series with the Chicago Steel and tied the series at one game apiece. Larsson was scoreless on two shots as the Steel stayed alive.
Green Bay is set up for a “winner-take all” game three Wednesday in Green Bay.
