Capitals Farm Report - March 15-21

This week's Capitals Farm Report joins the CHL and SEL playoffs in progress.  All of our prospects and their teams have played at least two games. 

The theme for this week:  First Blood

Here's Cody Eakin scoring a beauty forehand-to-backhand shorty against the Brandon Wheat Kings early in the third period on Saturday March 20.

Sadly, it is It is entirely possible that more people will see Cody score this goal at Japers' Rink than bothered to go see it in person.  That building was empty:

Cody Eakin, Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 2010 Playoffs Round One

The 7th-seed Broncos have been playing very tenacious hockey against the 2nd-seed Brandon Wheat Kings, but are down 0-2 in the series.  Both games were closer than the gamesheets suggest, especially in the first two periods.  But ultimately it's only the W that counts, and they don't have any yet. The series moves to Regina on Wednesday.

The WHL was kind enough to post highlight videos and gamesheets for both matches:

Game One:  [Video] [Gamesheet]

Game Two: [Video] [Gamesheet]

The second game is the one with Eakin's shorthanded goal, but you can see he is always in the play. Always.

Dmitry Kugryshev, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 2010 Playoffs Round One

via www.remparts.qc.ca

Technically, the Remparts have won both of their games in the series, but it almost doesn't seem like it.  Twice against a lesser opponent, they have had to take the game to overtime and twice the same player (Oliver Hinse) has scored the game winner.  But much like the Broncos, they don't ask how, but how many, and the Walls are two goals and two wins to the good.  Their series continues tonight on Titan ice.

Game One: [Gamesheet]

Game Two [Gamesheet]

The Krasny Cougar got four assists and the second star of the game on Friday.  He also gave an interview for the local press in which he wants Remparts fans to know that he's not thinking about his new contract and a possible future at Hershey and/or DC.  Nope, not thinking about it. Not one little bit, no sir:

Dmitry Kugryshev became pretty clear last night on the jersey he wanted to be in the coming weeks. Forget the club-school Washington Capitals, is his junior team close to his heart. "I do not want to go, all that interests me is the Quebec Remparts," the Russian said with a grin. [ed. note: A very toothy grin.]

There was a lot more atmosphere in the locker room after the win Walls compared to  that of the previous day, at least as regards the extension. Like what the effort is often rewarded. "Patrick [Roy] had reason we played so terrible, not like we were doing. Tonight [yesterday], we played much better. What is important is that we are preparing for the next two games, because it is there to win twice. I do not want to come back here for fifth, "stated the second star of the game, which gave credit to his trio mates.

Marcus Johansson, Farjestads BK (Swedish Elitserien) 2010 Playoffs Round One

The 5th-seed Ferries and their opponents, 4th-seeded Skelleftea AIK are very evenly matched.  So even, in fact, that all three of their games have been decided by one goal.  The first game was a 2-3 FBK loss in regulation, the second game a 3-2 FBK win in single overtime, and the third game a 5-4 FBK win at the end of double overtime.  Whichever team emerges from this series will be VERY tired.

Game One: [Video] It's all in Swedish, but it's not hard to follow.  You can see Mackan having a bit of a defensive breakdown on the first Skelleftea goal.

Bonus video/walk down memory lane:  Here's Kris Beech scoring the OT game-winner against Timra.

Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts (OHL) 2010 Playoff Series Round One

The Colts have dominated their series so far, but the gears in the OHL Wheel of Discipline appear to be freshly oiled and the Sudbury Wolves want Stefan Della Rovere go for a spin:

The Ontario Hockey League is taking a look at some incidents from Sunday's playoff game between the Barrie Colts and Sudbury Wolves, with suspensions likely on the way. "We do have some concerns," league commissioner David Branch told The Barrie Examiner on Monday night. "I think we'd like to be in a position to make some of our decisions (Tuesday)."

While Branch confirmed the league was reviewing a hit by Colts forward Zac Rinaldo, a crosscheck by the Wolves' Jared Staal and the late-game actions of the Wolves' Kain Allicock in Game 3 — a 6-2 Barrie win — the commissioner said, as of Monday night, neither team had submitted formal complaints to the league.

Rinaldo, 19, was given a five-minute interference major and a game misconduct for a hit on Sudbury winger Marcus Foligno. Staal received a game misconduct and slashing and cross-checking penalties following some illegal stick work on Colts forward Alexander Burmistrov, while Allicock received seven minutes in penalties and two game misconducts — for being the aggressor in a fight and abuse of official — after jumping Colts captain Stefan Della Rovere at the faceoff circle late in the game.

Speaking to The Sudbury Star following Sunday's game, Wolves general manager and head coach Mike Foligno said "there were some undignified comments made by the opponents and our players responded to those comments. There were incidents on the ice I will report to the league and we'll see what comes out of it," Foligno added.

The nature of the alleged on-ice comments weren't specified.

The Colts issued a statement on Monday, saying the Wolves' claim was "pure fabrication."

Branch wouldn't discuss specifics regarding Allicock's attack on Della Rovere, including what might have provoked it. "I don't want to prejudice (our investigation)," Branch said.

Joel Broda, Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 2010 Playoffs Round One

This picture pretty much sums it up.  The Hitmen have had a bad start to the playoffs.

That's it for the Capitals Farm Report for now, but we will update if necessary as the Barrie Colts/SDR situation evolves.