Weekly Wrap-Up - North Division (Week 19)

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

The latest from the North Division Notebook!

First, the latest off ice news, because it was another busy week for all 7 teams. . .

Belleville

Ottawa recalled forward Max McCormick on Tuesday, and in turn Belleville recalled Vincent Dunn from Brampton on Wednesday.  Captain Mike Blunden joined Ottawa on Thursday, then was returned with McCormick on Friday.  Ben Harpur signed a two-year contract extension on Friday.  Goaltender Chris Driedger was reassigned to Brampton on Sunday.

Binghamton

Binghamton swapped goalies with the parent Devils on Sunday: Ken Appleby returned to the Southern Tier, while Eddie Lack went up after finally returning to action on Friday after an injury.  On Thursday, defenseman Viktor Loov was dealt to the Wild for forwards Christoph Bertschy and Mario Lucia, who will head to Binghamton.  Jimmy Hayes returned to New Jersey after a three-game conditioning stint.

Laval

The Rocket signed forwards Chris Leveille and Luc-Olivier Blain, and defenseman Matt Petgrave, all from Brampton, to professional tryout deals.

Rochester

The Amerks released defenseman Conor Allen, who is headed overseas to Germany.  Goaltender Jonas Johansson and defenseman Devante Stephens were returned to Cincinnati on Thursday.  Nick Baptiste was recalled to Buffalo on Sunday.

Syracuse

Tampa Bay returned Michael Bournival to Syracuse on Tuesday, then recalled Adam Erne on Thursday.  With two forwards about to return from injury, Shane Conacher was returned to Adirondack.

Toronto

Forward Andreas Johnsson was named AHL Player of the Week on Monday, after helping the North Division All-Stars win the AHL All Star Challenge in Utica, then returning to the Marlies and putting up 5 points in two wins over the weekend.

Utica

Vancouver signed—then recalled—forward Darren Archibald from the Comets on Wednesday, marking his first NHL appearance since the 2013-14 season.  Reid Boucher would also be recalled to the Canucks on Thursday.  Nikolay Goldobin would then join Vancouver on Saturday.  The Comets would bring in forwards David Dziurzynski, Tony Cameranesi, and Justin Taylor on professional tryout agreements.

Now for on the ice. . .

Wednesday, February 7th

Laval 4, Binghamton 1

In front of an intimate crowd at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena due to a snowstorm, the Rocket broke a four-game losing streak with a road win over the Devils.  Four different skaters would each have a goal, and Zachary Fucale stopped 24 of 25 shots for the win.  Blake Speers would score the lone Devil goal in the third, and Appleby made his first start since returning from New Jersey, stopping 22 of 25 in the loss.

Belleville 2, Rochester 0

Trivia question: Who is the first goaltender to record a shutout for Belleville?  Answer: Marcus Hogberg.  The rookie netminder would stop all 33 Amerk shots for his third win of the season.  Kyle Flanagan and Max Reinhart would each have goals, while three others added one assist each.  Adam Wilcox stopped 24 of 25 shots in the hard luck loss.

Friday, February 9th

Toronto 7, Belleville 4

Is there anyone that can stop the Marlies train?  Toronto visited the Senators and used a 4 goal second period to extend their point streak to 14 games.  Mason Marchment and Miro Aaltonen each scored twice, Johnsson added three assists, Nikita Soshnikov had two helpers, and Garret Sparks had 21 saves.  Max Reinhart and Ben Sexton each had a goal and an assist for Belleville.

Hartford 4, Syracuse 3 (SO)

Down 3-1 in the second to the Wolfpack at home, and after seeing starting goaltender Connor Ingram pulled, the Crunch would rally to tie the game in the third, but they would ultimately lose in a shootout.  Mathieu Joseph would score the tying goal in the third on his 21st birthday and added an assist, while Alexander Volkov and Mitchell Stephens also had goals.

Utica 2, Laval 1 (OT)

Another North point streak would be extended on Friday, as the Comets made it 11 straight with an overtime win over the Rocket on home ice.  Michael Chaput’s 10th of the season just 49 seconds into the extra frame would be the difference.  Richard Bachman stopped 27 of 28 Laval shots.  Jordan Boucher would have the lone Rocket goal on a first period power play, and Charlie Lindgren added 25 saves in defeat.

Saturday, February 10th

Toronto 3, Binghamton 1

The Marlies extended their point streak to 15—and their current winning streak to six—with a win over the Devils.  Andrew Nielsen, Rinat Valiev, and Frederik Gauthier would have one goal each, while Calvin Pickard only needed to make 15 saves.  Ben Thomson had the lone Binghamton goal, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 of 27 shots in the loss.

Syracuse 3, Laval 2

Olivier Archambault’s 5th goal since joining the Crunch with 9:13 remaining in regulation would give Syracuse a much needed win over the Rocket at the War Memorial.  Volkov and Cirelli each had goals, Jamie McBain added two assists, and Eddie Pasquale had 22 saves.  Adam Cracknell and David Broll each had goals for Laval, and Fucale had 16 saves.

Utica 4, Belleville 3

The Comets continued their roll, jumping into a second place tie in the North and extended their point streak to 12 with a win over the Senators.  Four different skaters would have goals, Philip Holm added two assists, and Thatcher Demko returned to the net for the first time since the All Star Challenge with 24 saves.  Max McCormick and Jim O’Brien each had a goal and an assist for Belleville, and Danny Taylor added 20 saves.

Lehigh Valley 5, Rochester 3

The Amerks fell behind 3-0 after two periods and were unable to recover in a loss to the Phantoms in Allentown.  Matt Tennyson and Sahir Gill each had a goal and an assist, and Linus Ullmark had 27 saves.

Sunday, February 11th

Toronto 5, Binghamton 2

Make it sweet sixteen for the Marlies, who finished off a two game sweep of the Devils.  Colin Greening scored twice, Soshnikov, Andreas Borgman, and Kerby Rychel each had a goal, Chris Mueller added two assists, and Sparks stopped 29 Devil shots.  Jan Mandat scored his first goal of the season for Binghamton, and Appleby had 31 saves.

Hershey 3, Rochester 2 (OT)

Eric Cornel would break a 1-1 tie with 2:37 remaining in regulation.  But, a one goal win for the Amerks would turn into an overtime loss to the Bears in a span of 1:35 between the end of the third and overtime.  Hershey would tie the game at 2 with 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation, then pick up the game winner 1:32 into overtime.  Ullmark had 29 saves in defeat, while Seth Griffith had the first goal in the second.

Syracuse 3, Bridgeport 2

Down 2-1 to the Sound Tigers going into the third, the Crunch got goals from Stephens and Dennis Yan to rally for their second win of the weekend.  Dominik Masin would complete the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, and Pasquale stopped 27 of 29 Bridgeport shots.

North Division Standings as of February 12th, 2018:

Toronto: 49 GP, 37-11-0-1, 75 points, .765 pct. Utica: 49 GP, 26-14-6-3, 61 points, .622 pct. Rochester: 50 GP, 25-13-7-5, 62 points, .620 pct. Syracuse: 50 GP, 28-17-2-3, 61 points, .610 pct. Laval: 50 GP, 18-24-6-2, 44 points, .440 pct. Belleville: 51 GP, 20-27-1-3, 44 points, .431 pct. Binghamton: 48 GP, 13-26-6-3, 35 points, .365 pct.

This Week's North Division Schedule

Wednesday, February 14th

Belleville at Laval, 7:00 PM Syracuse at Utica, 7:00 PM

Friday, February 16th

Toronto at Belleville, 7:00 PM Binghamton at Utica, 7:00 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Rochester, 7:05 PM Hershey at Laval, 7:30 PM

Saturday, February 17th

Syracuse at Charlotte, 6:00 PM Hershey at Belleville, 7:00 PM Toronto at Laval, 7:00 PM Rochester at Binghamton, 7:05 PM Utica at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 PM

Sunday, February 18th

Syracuse at Charlotte, 3:00 PM Binghamton at Rochester, 3:05 PM