DeCoste, Kyle

OHL

Barrie Colts 4 @ Bellville Bulls 2
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 0-1-1, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 65 GP, 45-30-75, +38, 54 PIM
C Richard Panik, BEL: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 57 GP, 19-16-35, +3, 47 PIM
With Bulls: 24 GP, 10-7-17, -12, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: Did not play.
Season Totals: 57 GP, 19-14-33, -19, 51 PIM
With Bulls: 44 GP, 17-13-30, -17, 31 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM

Barrie beat the Bulls for the second time in a week, and unlike last game, Panik couldn’t find the back of the net for Bellville. He had two in their previous meeting. Hutchings hit 75 points for the first time in his OHL career. Barrie clinched the overall top seed in the OHL with the win. The Bulls have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. According to the Belleville Intelligencer, DeCoste missed the game with a concussion sustained in Bellville’s last match-up with Barrie.

Sudbury Wolves 2 @ Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors 1
W Matias Sointu, SBY: 0-1-1, +1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 48 GP, 7-20-27, -4, 18 PIM
With Sudbury: 26 GP, 4-13-17, -9, 12 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

This was a huge win for the Wolves on the road against a team above them in the standings. With Niagara also winning and Oshawa losing, Sudbury is three points up on Oshawa for the last playoff spot in the East with three games remaining. They are one point behind No.7 Niagara and two behind No.6 Peterborough. While getting the eighth seed means you’re in, you’re also going to face Barrie – the CHL’s top ranked team who has just nine losses.

Peterborough Petes 6 @ Oshawa Generals 2
G Michael Zador, OSH: Did not play.
Season Totals: 45 GP, 14-24-2-1, 4.07 GAA, .886 sv%, 2 SO

The Gens are just now three points behind Sudbury for the final playoff spot with three games remaining. Zador hasn’t played in Oshawa’s last three games (2-1-0).

WHL

Vancouver Giants 6 @ Chilliwack Bruins 0
C/W James Wright, VAN: 1-0-1, +1, 7 PIM (roughing, fighting vs. Shayne Neigum)
Season Totals: 18 GP, 5-10-15, -1, 13 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants broke their four-game losing streak in a big way. Wright scored for the first time since February 15. This was Wright's first fighting major since he took on Atlanta's 6'7" Boris Valabik the day after Christmas. The Giants have basically clinched the B.C. Division title so they’re in line for the West’s No.2 seed, though they are tied for the fourth best point total in the conference with Portland behind Everett, Tri-City, and Spokane. They have three games remaining.

QMJHL

Moncton Wildcats 4 @ St. John Sea Dogs 3 (SO)
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG, *First Star*
Season Totals: 59 GP, 14-42-56, +39, 64 PIM

A big, confidence-building win for the Wildcats over the CHL’s second-ranked team on the Sea Dog’s home ice. Moncton is ranked No.4 in the CHL. Barberio’s goal came in the first period on the power play to tie the game at two for Moncton. He has goals in two straight games and is one off his career high with five games left. He did not participate in the shootout.

OHL

Belleville Bulls 3 @ Sudbury Wolves 4
C Richard Panik, BEL: 1-0-1, -2, 4 PIM (spearing double-minor)
Season Totals: 56 GP, 19-16-35, +4, 47 PIM
With Bulls: 23 GP, 10-7-17, -11, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: Did not play.
Season Totals: 57 GP, 19-14-33, -19, 51 PIM
With Bulls: 44 GP, 17-13-30, -17, 31 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM
W Matias Sointu, SBY: 0-4-4, +2, 2 PIM (holding opponent’s stick), *First Star*
Season Totals: 46 GP, 7-19-26, -4, 18 PIM
With Sudbury: 24 GP, 4-12-16, -9, 12 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

Sointu (pictured) has six points in his last two games. The four points in a game were a career high for the young Finn. Panik scored for the second game in a row, but took a double-minor for spearing as the game ended.

Barrie Colts 3 @ Ottawa 67’s 6
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 64 GP, 45-29-74, +38, 54 PIM

A rare loss for the CHL’s top-ranked team from Barrie. Hutchings saw his point streak end at 12 games and his goal streak end at seven. He’s five goals short of 50 with four games remaining.

Oshawa Generals 5 @ Kingston Frontenacs 2
G Michael Zador, OSH: Did not play.
Season Totals: 45 GP, 14-24-2-1, 4.07 GAA, .886 sv%, 2 SO

The Gens are two points behind Niagara for the East’s last playoff spot with five games remaining.

WHL

Lethbridge Hurricanes 2 @ Regina Pats 4
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 61 GP, 24-26-50, -5, 100 PIM
With Regina: 33 GP, 11-13-24, +3, 48 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

The Pats get a win despite being out of the playoff race. Ashton’s goal, which came on the power play, was his first in eight games. He tied his career high for points in a season at 50, set in 70 games last year with the Hurricanes (30 goals).

Vancouver Giants 1 @ Kamloops Blazers 6
C/W James Wright, VAN: 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM (hooking)
Season Totals: 16 GP, 4-10-14, -1, 6 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants have now lost three in a row. Wright hasn’t registered a point in his last four games and is minus-six during that time.

OHL

Belleville Bulls 3 @ Barrie Colts 4
C Richard Panik, BEL: 2-0-2, +2, 2 PIM (interference), *Third Star*
Season Totals: 55 GP, 18-16-34, +6, 43 PIM
With Bulls: 22 GP, 9-7-16, -9, 24 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 57 GP, 19-14-33, -19, 51 PIM
With Bulls: 44 GP, 17-13-30, -17, 31 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 1-0-1, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 63 GP, 45-29-74, +40, 54 PIM

Although Hutchings scored his 45th of the year, fellow Lightning prospect Richard Panik (pictured) had the most goals of anyone in the game with two – good enough for a Third Star honor on the road. Panik’s goals cut Barrie’s leads to 2-1 and 3-2 respectively in the third period. The Bulls would later tie it at three before Barrie got a goal with just over three minutes remaining to win it. Hutchings extended his point streak to 12 games and his goal streak to seven games. Barrie has five games left and Hutchings is five goals from 50.

QMJHL

Moncton Wildcats 4 @ Halifax Mooseheads 3
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 0-0-0, -1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG
Season Totals: 56 GP, 12-40-52, +37, 54 PIM

Any win over your rival is a good win. In the game, Moncton goalie Nicola Riopel (Flyers 5/09) allowed his first goal in his last 179min 59sec played. It was the second longest shutout streak in the QMJHL history behind Mathieu Chouinard (Chicoutimi) in 97-98.

OHL

Kingston Frontenacs 5 @ Belleville Bulls 4 (OT)
C Richard Panik, BEL: 0-1-1, E, 2 PIM (holding)
Season Totals: 54 GP, 16-16-32, +4, 39 PIM
With Bulls: 21 GP, 7-7-14, -11, 20 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: 1-0-1, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 56 GP, 18-14-32, -19, 47 PIM
With Bulls: 43 GP, 16-13-29, -17, 29 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM

Both Lightning prospects broke personal three-game scoreless streaks.

Niagara IceDogs 1 @ Barrie Colts 6
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 61 GP, 43-29-72, +41, 52 PIM

Already with a career high for goals and points, Hutchings is starting to flirt with the 50-goal plateau.

WHL

Regina Pats 3 @ Saskatoon Blades 0
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 60 GP, 23-26-49, -5, 100 PIM
With Regina: 32 GP, 10-13-23, +3, 48 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

Ashton hasn’t scored a goal in eight games. A day after losing an important road game to eighth-place Swift Current, the Pats shutout the conference’s top team (tied) in their own barn, holding them to 19 shots. Swift Current also won, however, so Regina remains a seemingly insurmountable nine points back of a playoff spot.

Vancouver Giants 3 @ Swift Current Broncos 5
C/W James Wright, VAN: 0-0-0, -3, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 15 GP, 4-10-14, -1, 4 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants have now lost two in a row. Wright hasn’t registered a point in his last three games and is minus-six during that time.

OHL

Belleville Bulls 2 @ Kingston Frontenacs 5
C Richard Panik, BEL: 0-0-0, -4, 4 PIM (roughing, hooking)
Season Totals: 53 GP, 16-15-31, +4, 37 PIM
With Bulls: 20 GP, 7-6-13, -11, 18 PIM
With Windsor: 33 GP, 9-9-18, +15, 19 PIM
RW Kyle DeCoste, BEL: 0-0-0, -2, 4 PIM (roughing, roughing)
Season Totals: 55 GP, 17-14-31, -19, 47 PIM
With Bulls: 42 GP, 15-13-28, -17, 29 PIM
With SSM: 13 GP, 2-1-3, -2, 20 PIM

Kingston needed an empty netter to fully secure the win, but it was never really in doubt.

Barrie Colts 9 @ Oshawa Generals 2
LW/C Alex Hutchings, BAR: 1-2-3, +2, 0 PIM, *Second Star*
Season Totals: 60 GP, 42-29-71, +40, 52 PIM
G Michael Zador, OSH: 13 saves on 18 shots
Season Totals: 44 GP, 14-24-2-1, 3.99 GAA, .888 sv%, 2 SO

Congratulations to Alex Hutchings (pictured), who set a new career high for points in a season with 71. He had 68 in 63 games last year. He is two points shy of 200 for his OHL career. His plus/minus is second in the league. This game was already 4-0 in the early second period before Zador hit the nets, though he didn’t fare much better than his goaltending partner against the high-powered Colts.

London Knights 3 @ Sudbury Wolves 2
W Matias Sointu, SBY: 0-1-1, -1, 0 PIM, *Third Star*
Season Totals: 43 GP, 7-13-20, -5, 12 PIM
With Sudbury: 22 GP, 4-6-10, -10, 6 PIM
With Ottawa: 21 GP, 3-7-10, +5, 6 PIM

Sointu broke a personal six-game scoreless streak with an assist and an overall good effort.

WHL

Regina Pats 4 @ Swift Current Broncos 6
RW Carter Ashton, REG: 0-2-2, E, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 59 GP, 23-26-49, -5, 100 PIM
With Regina: 30 GP, 10-13-23, +3, 48 PIM
With Lethbridge: 28 GP, 13-13-26, -8, 52 PIM

Ashton hasn’t scored a goal in seven games. He’s going to have to push it to reach his previous career high of 30 goals in a season, set last year. This was a big loss for the Pats, who now trail the Broncos by nine points for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. That was a big four-point swing for the Broncos.

Vancouver Giants 0 @ Moose Jaw Warriors 2
C/W James Wright, VAN: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM
Season Totals: 14 GP, 4-10-14, +3, 4 PIM
With Tampa Bay: 43 GP, 2-3-5, -9, 18 PIM

The Giants lost in regulation for the first time in their Olympic road trip. They now stand at 3-1-1-0 after five of 10 games.