Prospect Weekly: Light the Lamp

JC Beaudin was back in Colorado for the weekend and  responded with three assists in the first Eagles 5-3 victory over Idaho and a goal (as shown below) in the second 6-4 win against Idaho. Beaudin will continue to play for the Eagles through the week and not get the AHL All-Star break off like the rest of the Avalanche prospects. However, with the injuries to Avalanche forwards piling up it looks like it’s possible a development slot might open up for him in San Antonio sooner than later.

Shane Bowers and his BU Terriers travelled to Arizona for a pair of weekend victories against Arizona State University. Bowers scored a goal in each game in addition to 10 shots on goal and the second goal shown below was the game winner at the awesome Oceanside Arena. Bowers now has 12 goals on the year in 26 games, which is tied for second among all NCAA freshmen. Bowers is quietly having a very solid freshman season.

Denis Smirnov had a weekend doing what he does best and that’s scoring goals, three to be exact. Penn State didn’t fare as well by dropping the first contest against Wisconsin 4-2 and then they skated to a 4-4 tie the following evening. Below is Smirnov’s first of two goals that night. He now has 13 goals on the year in 20 games.

Nick Henry might not be filling the scoresheet as regularly as one would hope but when he does, he busts out some silky mitts like on this goal as seen below in Regina’s 7-3 victory over Saskatoon. Regina is still trying to sort themselves out before they hit the playoffs as Memorial Cup hosts.

Injury news:

Conor Timmins wasn’t available to play but word is the plan is to work on having him ready for next weekend. Sault Ste. Marie clinched a playoff spot in the OHL over the weekend, so clearly there’s still no reason to rush him back.

Cale Makar didn’t participate in either game over the weekend. The company line continues to be rest mostly and not rushing him back from some mysterious upper body injury but hopefully things get figured out and Makar can begin the stretch run of the last ten games of the season.

Nicky Leivermann is also on the shelf due to an injury he suffered earlier this month. He’s expected out a few more weeks.

For Your Viewing Pleasure:

Big showdown of the week both in the Avalanche prospect sense and in the Big 10 as Penn State takes on Notre Dame at 4pm ET on Saturday, February 3rd on the Big 10 Network.

Another possible prospect match with BU at UMass on Friday, February 2nd at 7pm ET on Eleven Sports (check your dish).

UMass will also be at New Hampshire the following night on Saturday at 7pm ET on ESPN 3 (ap) assuming Makar is available.