The Sea Dogs are streaking through the 'Q' while Flames prospect Ryan Howse continues to strive.
The Saint John Sea Dogs kept their streak alive as the lone team not to lose a game in regulation since the new year began. Saint John is running away in the race for top spot in the QMJHL standings.
Meanwhile, Calgary Flames draft pick Ryan Howse continues striving towards career-best totals this season.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Saint John Sea Dogs
The only thing scarier than the Sea Dogs' lead for top spot in the league standings is their dominance in obtaining it. Saint John defeated Acadie-Bathurst, Moncton and Halifax by a combined score of 22-7 last week. The Sea Dogs rattled off their ninth-consecutive victory last week and are unbeaten in regulation since Dec. 30. Their lead is now 12 points.
Cold team: Rimouski Océanic
The Océanic aren't in danger of missing the playoffs, but will need to break out of their current slump to avoid a tough first-round match-up. Rimouski lost its last six games and all three last week. The team won just three of their last 10 games and sit 13th in league standings. They now trail Chicoutimi, a team that fired its head coach last week.
Game of the week: Québec Remparts vs. Lewiston MAINEiacs, Friday
This could be a season-defining week for the Lewiston MAINEiacs. The MAINEiacs head to Montreal on Tuesday to play the Telus West Division-leading Juniors before hosting the Remparts on back-to-back nights this weekend. Québec holds a seven-point lead over Lewiston for first in the Telus East Division standings. The two-game home-stand will go a long way in determining which team will take the division and earn a coveted top-three playoff position.
Canadian NHL teams' QMJHL prospects:
Louis Leblanc, Montreal (Montreal) - drafted 18th overall in 2009
Leblanc helped the Juniors to a win over rival Québec in the team's only game last week in spite of not picking up a point, the fifth-consecutive game he has not been on the score sheet. He has 40 points in 36 games this season.
Olivier Roy, Edmonton (Acadie-Bathurst) - drafted 133rd overall in 2009
Roy bounced back from an overtime loss to P.E.I. with a 28-save effort in a win over Drummondville. The Titan are placing a lot of pressure on their goaltender this season and with the exception of a mini-slump last week, Roy is delivering.
Jakub Culek, Ottawa (Rimouski) - drafted 76th overall in 2010
Culek broke out of his eight-game goal-less drought in his team's 5-3 loss to Chicoutimi on Wednesday. Although the points aren't coming with the same regularity as they were a year ago, Culek is starting to produce more of late.
Steven Anthony, Vancouver (Saint John) - drafted 187th overall in 2009
Anthony continued to pile up the points with another goal and four assists in three games last week. He is back above a point-per-game pace with 48 points in 46 games. Anthony is helping his team separate from the pack in the standings.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Owen Sound Attack
The Attack overtook the Saginaw Spirit for first in the Western Conference standings after a big week. Owen Sound won its last seven straight and nine of the last 10 games. The Attack defeated some of the teams they're in direct competition with during the streak in Windsor, Kitchener and Saginaw.
Cold team: Saginaw Spirit
If it's true a team can be measured by the way it plays down the stretch, then the Spirit is in trouble. Saginaw dropped its last five straight games and has won just two of the last 10. One of the big criticisms was a relatively quiet trade deadline following the acquisition of John McFarland. One can't help but wonder if this team peaked.
Game of the week: Owen Sound Attack vs. Saginaw Spirit, Friday
The Spirit's previously comfortable lead for top spot in the Western Conference evaporated and now the team is in danger of relinquishing first place in the West Division. Owen Sound, meanwhile, is proving its mettle with a red-hot end of January and beginning of February. Next week will present the Attack with several tough tests with road games in Windsor, Saginaw then Plymouth. The Spirit can't afford to lose a four-point game against Owen Sound now that the Attack leads the conference standings. Expect a statement game, one way or another.
Canadian NHL teams' OHL prospects:
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) - drafted 22nd overall in 2010
Tinordi picked up assists in back-to-back games against Kingston and Belleville last week. He was a minus-2 in London's 4-0 loss to Ottawa on Sunday. It was the second week in a row where Tinordi had two assists. He has nine on the season.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) - drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg broke out of a mini-slump with a pair of assists in back-to-back wins for the Otters. He hasn't scored since his hat-trick in London on Jan. 28, a four-game goal-less drought. McKegg is just 19 points shy of tying his season-high point total of 85.
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) - drafted 172nd overall in 2010
Friesen continued inching his way towards his career season of 60 points set last season. He picked up an assist in Niagara's 6-2 win over Sault Ste. Marie, giving him 53 on the season.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Saskatoon Blades
The Blades snapped Red Deer's 11-game winning-streak in a heated 7-5 win on Tuesday. Saskatoon retained top spot in overall league standings and the Eastern Conference with wins over Red Deer, Regina and Lethbridge last week. The Blades boast an eight-game winning-streak and won nine of the last 10 games.
Cold team: Lethbridge Hurricanes
The Hurricanes aren't doing themselves any favours with a six-game losing streak. Lethbridge is still within three points of the final playoff spot, but can't afford to remain on the losing side of games. The team will need to find a way to score more goals if they're going to break out of this slump.
Game of the week: Portland Winterhawks vs. Spokane Chiefs, Wednesday
The Chiefs are still nipping at the Winterhawks' heels, but don't have much room for error now that the Winterhawks have re-discovered their game. Portland holds a five-point lead on Spokane for the top spot in both the Western Conference and U.S. Division. The Chiefs, however, hold two games in hand. Portland won nine of its last 10 while the Chiefs are winners of six of 10. This will be the second-last meeting of the season. Spokane leads the season series with four wins and three losses.
Canadian NHL teams' WHL prospects:
Jared Cowen, Ottawa (Spokane) - drafted ninth overall in 2009
Cowen achieved a first in his career with a shorthanded goal in a loss to Tri-City on Friday. The Chiefs captain set career bests for goals with 14 and points with 32, but needs four more assists to tie his best total of 22, set last season.
Ryan Howse, Calgary (Chilliwack) - drafted 74th overall in 2009
Howse regained his scoring touch after going five games without scoring a goal. He scored three goals and two assists in three games last week and was a plus-2. Howse is 12 points shy of tying last season's career-best point total of 72.
Tyler Pitlick, Edmonton (Medicine Hat) - drafted 31st overall in 2010
Pitlick scored twice, including the winner, in Medicine Hat's 6-1 win over Swift Current on Friday. He picked up an assist in a win over Moose Jaw the next night after being held without a point in a loss to Vancouver on Tuesday. He has 53 points in 47 games this season.
Brad Ross, Toronto (Portland) - drafted 43rd overall in 2010
Ross was held off the score sheet in his only game last week, a 5-2 win over Edmonton on Friday. He suffered a concussion in that game. Ross has 43 points in 49 games this season.
Max Reinhart, Calgary (Kootenay) - drafted 64th overall in 2010
Reinhart picked up three assists in three games last week with a plus-1 rating. He already set career bests in goals (26), assists (32) and points (58) in 54 games this season.
