• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Well, the Hockey Draft Central home office had a major power-outage in early March. The power came back after a few days, but it took weeks to catch up to the work of daily prospect updates.
So, in the spirit of moving along, check out abbreviated versions of each lost day's events:
MATTHEW ARMITAGE -- Calgary's backup goalie, a hometown boy, stopped 27 shots in a 7-1 win at Edmonton. He made five saves in the first period, nine in the second, and was 13-for-14 in the third. That gave him back-to-back wins and a 3-0-1 record in his four most recent WHL starts.
ADAM BOQVIST -- The projected top-five pick showed his might with two goals in Gavle U20's 3-2 playoff win over Sodertalje. The high-scoring defenseman found the back of the net at 12:15 of the second period to make it 2-1 and a 15:51 of the third, breaking a 2-2 tie with the game-winner that swept the best-of-3 series. Through two playoff games, Boqvist had three goals and five points. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
EVAN BOUCHARD -- The OHL's top-scoring draft-eligible defenseman picked up another goal and assist, while firing seven shots, in London's 4-3 overtime win at Saginaw. The game's No. 1 star helped set up a goal at 12:10 of the first period for a 1-1 tie. He went on to score the winner 43 seconds into OT. Over his previous two games, he had 17 shots on net. (Note: 18th appearance on this list in 2017-18 -- leads all defensemen)
LUKA BURZAN -- Burzan scored twice in Brandon's 5-4 OT shootout win over Moose Jaw, bringing him to 15 goals in 72 WHL games. His first tally, at 13:49 of the second period, cut the Warriors' lead to 4-2. His second goal, scored with 1:07 left in regulation, forced the overtime. That made it back-to-back two-point games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
TRISTAN COTE-CAZENAVE -- Victoriaville's goaltender picked up another QMJHL win by beating Baie-Comeau 3-1 on the road. Cote-Cazenave stopped all six first-period shots, all 14 in the second, and 10 of 11 in the third. His 30 saves included a shutout run of 56:24 in what only his first start in two weeks. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ZACHARY EMOND -- Emond made 35 saves in Rouyn-Noranda's 5-1 win at Chicoutimi. The Huskies backup was sharp, stopping 13 of 14 shots in the first period, all seven in the second, and an impressive 15-for-15 in the third. After allowing the game's first goal, he pitched a shutout for the remaining 52:56. That lifted him to 3-1-1 in his last five QMJHL starts. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)
SAMUEL ERSSON -- Gavle's U20 goaltender continued his playoff surge with 29 saves in a 3-2 win over Sodertalje, as Brynas won the best-of-3 series 2-1. Ersson stopped nine of 10 shots in the first period, all eight in the second, and 12 of 13 in the third. Overall in the series, he turned aside 57 of 61 for a .934 save percentage. (Note: 11th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ISAC LUNDESTROM -- One of the top Swedish draft prospects, SHL regular Lundestrom joined Lulea's Under-20 team for the postseason, and his three assists paved the way to a 6-3 win at Skelleftea. All three assists came in the second period --a primary helper at 16:46 to cut the lead to 3-1, an assist at 18:47 to make it 3-2, and a primary assist on a power-play goal at 18:47 to tie the score. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
OTAKAR SIK -- Playing for Karlovy Vary's Czech U18 team, Sik had three assists and was plus-3 in a 3-2 playoff-opening win over Jihlava. Sik had the lone assist on a goal at 1:04 of the second period to cut the lead to 2-1 and also assisted on the tying goal at 10:15 of the third. He closed with the lone assist on the game-winner at 11:47. He has points in 11 of his last 15 games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JONNY TYCHONICK -- A North Dakota recruit, defenseman Tychonick continued to impress with the BCHL's Penticton Vees, chipping in three assists in a 7-3 playoff win over Trail. The game's No. 3 star had a primary assist on the opening goal at 3:46 of the first period. He also assisted on power-play goals and9:18 of the second and 17:02 of the third. He has a six-game playoff point streak with nine assists in his last five games. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)