The Rimouski Océanic, Windsor Spitfires and Calgary Hitmen kept adding to their impressive winning-streaks while a cold player last week reversed his fortunes as hot player this week. Several big games with playoff implications highlight the week ahead with a big tilt on Rogers Sportsnet.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Rimouski Océanic
Like a heavyweight boxer, the Océanic aren't going down without a fight. The Memorial Cup-hosts are this week's hot team for the fourth-consecutive week, winning all three games including last week's game of the week against the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Rimouski's winning-streak now hits 14 games, begging the question whether they will lose once more this season with seven games remaining.
Hot player: Mikhail Stefanovich, Québec Remparts
Last week's slumbering sniper and cold player of the week awoke in a big way. Stefanovich scored six goals and three assists for nine points in four games with a plus-5. Although none of his six goals stood up as game-winners, two provided the insurance in victories. His most productive outing was Sunday as he scored half of his team's eight goals in a win over the Halifax Mooseheads.
Cold team: Victoriaville Tigres
Although the Tigres have clinched a playoff berth, the team must be concerned with the production of late. Victoriaville has not won in all of February, losing their last nine-consecutive games after another two last week. In spite of the results, they performed very well against rival and powerhouse Drummondville in a 3-2 loss on Tuesday but weren't able to gather any points.
Cold player: Olivier Roy, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
The second-year starting goaltender had an uncharacteristically poor week. Through four games, Roy was beat nine times on 71 shots for a 0.873 save percentage, winning just one of his four starts. While his numbers aren't terrible, it is a drop from the consistent goaltending he is known to provide.
Game of the week: Moncton Wildcats vs. Shawinigan Cataractes, Sunday
In a week filled with big tests for both teams, the Cataractes host the Wildcats in a game televised on Rogers Sportsnet. Moncton is riding a four-game winning-streak heading into this week's action while also having won seven of their last 10. While the Atlantic Division title is all but wrapped up for Moncton, the Cataractes have more on the line with their heated rival Drummondville holding a two-point edge in the Telus Central Division. The Wildcats won both previous games between these two teams, including Sunday's tilt in Moncton. These games will provide a good measuring stick should they meet late in the playoffs.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Windsor Spitfires
Neither the Erie Otters nor the London Knights could slow Ontario's hottest team, whose winning-streak now sits at nine games. The Spitfires have amassed 52 wins in 59 games so far, clinching the regular season title which gives them home-ice throughout the playoffs. Windsor also set a few franchise records for wins and points at 105 and counting.
Hot player: Matt Caria, Plymouth Whalers
The overage forward is making his final season a memorable one. In three games last week, the former Soo Greyhound scored twice and added eight assists for 10 points and a plus-5 rating. Caria, Chris Terry and Michal Jordan all had big weeks leading the Plymouth Whalers' attack. Plymouth has now won eight of their last 10 contests.
Cold team: Sarnia Sting
Although they won their first game of the week, a 7-4 win in Owen Sound, Sarnia dropped the next two against rival teams in Plymouth and London. The Sting were outscored 11-3 through those two losses while winning just four of their last 10 games. While they're still in good shape to make the playoffs, Sarnia will need stronger defensive efforts as they move forward.
Cold player: Scott Stajcer, Owen Sound Attack
One of the top goaltending prospects available for this summer's draft, Stajcer was rocked in goal last week. Through two starts, Stajcer was beat 12 times on 57 shots for a ghastly 0.789 save percentage. With just nine games left in the regular season, the Attack will need their goaltender to return to form if they're going to ward off the Kitchener Rangers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Game of the week: Brampton Battalion vs. Belleville Bulls, Saturday
If the Brampton Battalion have any chance at clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings, they will need a win in their final meeting with the defending conference champion Bulls. Belleville won the last two meetings, including Sunday's 3-2 decision in a game which was televised on Rogers Sportsnet, both games after the trade deadline. These two teams play each other with such passion that the previous two games had playoff intensity. Sitting six points behind the Bulls, Brampton will need this game for more than just conference positioning as they could gain confidence beating an opponent many predict they will meet in the playoffs.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Calgary Hitmen
Add another three wins to the Hitmen's running total of 11 and 15 in their last 16 games. Calgary has simply emerged as the front-running candidate for Rimouski in May with one of their best seasons in franchise history. The team handled the Saskatoon Blades 5-1 on Wednesday, a team many predict as being Calgary's biggest threat from the Eastern Conference this season.
Hot player: Chet Pickard, Tri-City Americans
The first round pick of the Nashville Predators and Canadian world junior goaltender Pickard was nearly unbeatable last week. Through four wins, Pickard allowed just four goals on 126 shots for a 0.968 save percentage. His finest performance came against heated-rival Spokane, where he stopped 41 shots en route to a 2-1 win. His performance should earn him CHL goaltender of the week honours.
Cold team: Red Deer Rebels
A long-shot to make the playoffs this season, the Red Deer Rebels didn't do much to help their cause last week. In three games, Red Deer lost all three yet managed a point through a shootout loss to Calgary on Saturday. It was perhaps the toughest schedule any team faced last week with Calgary twice and Saskatoon once. The Rebels sit 11 points back of eighth-place Prince Albert with 10 games remaining.
Cold player: Landon Ferraro, Red Deer Rebels
Son of former NHLer Ray Ferraro, Landon has had difficulty finding the back of the net in the month of February. Ferraro, considered a potential first round pick this summer, was held without a point through three games with a minus-4 rating. He has just four points in 11 games this month and is a minus-22 on the season.
Game of the week: Kelowna Rockets vs. Calgary Hitmen, Saturday
After gathering seven of a possible eight points last week, the Kelowna Rockets will face their biggest test when they head east for a date with the Eastern Conference-leading Calgary Hitmen. Calgary has lost just three games at home all season and has not lost in regulation since a shocking Jan. 18 loss to league cellar-dweller Chilliwack. Kelowna opens the week a point behind the Spokane Chiefs for third in the Western Conference standings, which could be crucial for playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the Hitmen have wrapped up first in their conference and set their sights on a franchise record. Calgary has 112 points this season, eight shy of their personal best with seven games remaining in their schedule.
