Janus, Jaroslav

GoErie.com reported Thursday Lightning prospect Jaroslav Janus of the Erie Otters has signed with Tampa Bay. The report states it's a two-way contract, and will end the young goaltender's junior career.

Update: The Lightning have confirmed the signing, saying it's a standard three-year deal, and Janus has been assigned to Norfolk.

Dustin Tokarski and Riku Helenius have been splitting No.1 duties in Norfolk, but after Lightning goaltender Antero Niittymaki missed a game last week, Tampa Bay recalled Helenius and Norfolk was forced to sign a goaltender for just a two days to fill the second slot with the Ads.

Update 2: Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reports Tokarski and Janus will get the majority of the work in Norfolk with Helenius waiting his turn. Erlendsson spoke with Lightning/Admirals GM Brian Lawton Saturday.

Janus, a sixth round pick of the Bolts this past summer, went 7-4-2-0 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage with Erie after returning to the team in November from a long amateur tryout with the Admirals. He made two starts in Norfolk, allowing three goals.

QMJHL

Moncton Wildcats 4 @ Acadie-Bathurst Titan 3
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 1-1-2, +1, 2 PIM, 6 SOG
Season Totals: 35 GP, 5-24-29, +16, 38 PIM

Mark Barberio tallied a first period power play goal to help the Moncton Wildcats ring up a 3 for 6 night with the man advantage and defeat Bathurst 4-3. Barberio added an even strength assist in the 2nd period before finishing the night with 6 of the Wildcats 35 shots.

OHL

Barrie Colts 7 @ Kitchener Rangers 4
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 3-0-3, +3, 2 PIM, *First Star*
Season Totals: 35 GP, 24-22-46, +28, 26 PIM

Alex Hutchings and the Barrie Colts resumed OHL play after the holiday break with a bang as Hutchings rung up a hat trick while earning FIRST STAR honors as the Colts defeated the Kitchener Rangers 7-4 Tuesday night. It was Barrie's league-leading 30th win in 35 contests on the season.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2 @ Sudbury Wolves 4
LW Matias Sointu, SBY: DNP (at WJC)
Season Totals: 31 GP, 5-9-14, E, 14 PIM
With Sudbury: 10 GP, 2-2-4, -5, 8 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

Matias Sointu didn't dress for Wolves Tuesday night as the Finnish winger remains with the Team Finland at the U2O WJC tournament. Sudbury doubled up the rival Soo 4-2 behind Eric O'Dell's first star effort.

Erie Otters 4 @ Saginaw Spirit 1
G Jaroslav Janus, ERIE: Win, 36 saves on 37 shots, *Second Star*
Season Totals: 13 GP, 7-4-2-0, 2.81 GAA, .918 sv%
With Norfolk (AHL): 2 GP, 0-2-0, 1.52 GAA, .939 sv%

Jaroslav Janus stopped 36 Spirit shots Tuesday night enroute to SECOND STAR honors, and reportedly single-handedly won the game for the Otters against an onslaught of Saginaw offense.

Belleville Bulls 2 @ Ottawa 67's 4
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM
Season Totals: 32 GP, 10-8-18, -2, 35 PIM
With Bulls: 19 GP, 8-7-15, E, 15 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM

Kyle DeCoste was held scoreless as the 67's defeated the Bulls 4-2 in Belleville's first game back from the holiday break. The Bulls were 0 for 8 on the power play for the night.

WHL

Regina Pats 1 @ Calgary Hitmen 3
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 0-0-0, E, 5 PIM (fighting)
Season Totals: 35 GP, 14-16-30, -14, 67 PIM
With Regina: 7 GP, 1-3-4, -6, 15 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

Carter Ashton was held scoreless for the second straight game as the Hitmen edged the Pats 4-3 on Tuesday night. Ashton was assessed a fightning major when he and Calgary center Chase Schaber tangled four minutes into the 3rd period.

OHL

Erie Otters 2 @ Plymouth Whalers 3 OT
G Jaroslav Janus, ERIE: Loss, 31 saves on 34 shots
Season Totals: 12 GP, 6-4-2-0, 2.96 GAA, 0.913 sv%
With Norfolk (AHL): 2 GP, 0-2-0, 1.52 GAA, .939 sv%

Janus dueled Plymouth goalie Matt Hackett to a 2-2 draw in regulation, but gave up the OT goal to the Whalers 2:19 into the extra period. The match was the first OHL game on the schedule since the league's break for the Christmas holidays.

OHL

Sudbury Wolves 4 @ Barrie Colts 5
LW Matais Sointu, SBY: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 31 GP, 5-9-14, E, 12 PIM
With Sudbury: 10 GP, 2-2-4, -5, 6 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 0-0-0, +2, 2 PIM (roughing)
Season Totals: 34 GP, 21-22-43, +25, 24 PIM

Two streaks fell and one continued as Barrie edged Sudbury 5-4. Hutchings’ 11-game point streak came to an end, as did Sointu’s three-game point streak. Barrie’s 21-game winning streak lives. Hutchings streak was the fifth-longest point streak in the OHL this season.

Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 3 @ Erie Otters 1
G Jaroslav Janus, ERIE: Loss, 30 saves on 33 shots
Season Totals: 11 GP, 6-4-1-0, 2.96 GAA, .913 sv%
With Norfolk (AHL): 2 GP, 0-2-0, 1.52 GAA, .939 sv%

Janus lost for the first time in three games. He has a 3.02 GAA and a .909 save percentage in December (2-2).

Windsor Spitfires 6 @ Sarnia Sting 2
C Richard Panik, WSR: Did not play (WJC camp).
Season Totals: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM

Oshawa Generals 6 @ Owen Sound Attack 5
G Michael Zador, OSH: Did not play.
Season Totals: 25 GP, 11-10-2-1, 3.20 GAA, .902 sv%, 1 SO

Zador’s backup, Kevin Bailie, got the nod in net for Oshawa.

OHL

Belleville Bulls 1 @ Sudbury Wolves 4
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 30 GP, 10-8-18, -2, 31 PIM
With Bulls: 17 GP, 8-7-15, E, 11 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM
LW Matais Sointu, SBY: 0-1-1, E, 4 PIM (hooking, hooking)
Season Totals: 28 GP, 4-8-12, +3, 12 PIM
With Sudbury: 7 GP, 1-1-2, -2, 6 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

Sointu notched just his second point in seven games since moving to Sudbury. This was the first time in a month DeCoste has failed to register a point in back-to-back games.

Ottawa 67’s 1 @ Barrie Colts 4
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 1-0-1, +2, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 32 GP, 19-21-40, +20, 22 PIM

Hutchings extended his point streak to 10 games. He’s scored a goal in eight of his past nine contests. His plus-20 rating is second on the Colts.

Erie Otters 3 @ Sarnia Sting 2
G Jaroslav Janus, ERIE: Win, 29 saves on 31 shots, *First Star*
Season Totals: 9 GP, 5-3-1-0, 2.83 GAA, .921 sv%
With Norfolk (AHL): 2 GP, 0-2-0, 1.52 GAA, .939 sv%

Sarnia outshot Erie 12-3 in the third period while the Otters were clutching to their 3-2 lead. Janus shut the door, unofficially earning his first First Star of the season. If Janus had enough games to qualify, his save percentage would rank sixth in the league.

WHL

Regina Pats 1 @ Lethbridge Hurricanes 5
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 0-1-1, -1, 4 PIM (hooking, slashing)
Season Totals: 29 GP, 13-14-26, -10, 56 PIM
With Regina: 2 GP, 0-1-1, -2, 4 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

Ashton took a hooking penalty in the first minute of his first game back in Lethbridge. The last place Hurricanes easily took care of the Pats, outshooting them 40-16 (30-7 after two periods). This was Regina’s first game without Canadian national team stars Jordan Eberle and Colton Teubert, who are at the WJC camp. With the win, Lethbridge pulled into a second-last place tie with Edmonton in the Eastern Conference. Regina fell to last in the East Division, but are in eighth in the Eastern Conference.