• 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:
ZACHARY BOUTHILLIER -- Even in defeat, Bouthillier continued to shine in the QMJHL playoffs. The Chicoutimi goaltender made 47 saves in a 4-1 playoff loss at Bathurst to earn No. 2 star honors. He was remarkable for 40 minutes -- stopping 21 of 22 shots in the first period and 20 of 21 shots in the second. His team, however, couldn't score for him, and he ran out of gas in the third. This was his second 40-plus save effort in the postseason. (Note: 11th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
PAUL COTTER -- The Western Michigan recruit scored two goals and added an assist for Lincoln in the Stars' 7-2 win at Fargo. Cotter, the game's No. 1 star, scored at 10:44 of the opening period for a 1-1 tie. In the third, he scored again at 7:27 to make it 5-1, and he helped push the lead to 6-2 with an assist at 17:16. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ALEXIS GRAVEL -- Gravel, who has been so strong over the last half of the season, came up with a big playoff win for Halifax at Baie-Comeau. He made 41 saves to clinch the first-round QMJHL series with a 4-0 shutout, and was named the game's No. 2 star. Gravel stopped 11 shots in the first period, 13 in the second, and 17 in the third. He won four of five starts in the series and stopped 151 of 160 total shots for a .944 save percentage. (Note: 12th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
SAMPO RANTA -- Sioux City's Finnish import, a Wisconsin recruit, was the No. 1 star of a 5-2 win over Tri-City, scoring two goals and picking up an assist. Ranta got the ball rolling with the game's first goal at 9:04 of the opening period. Later in the first, he helped set up a power-play goal for a 3-0 lead at 16:11. He capped off his three-point night by making it 4-1 on a goal at 9:37 of the third. It was his first USHL multi-point performance in 15 games. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
KRISTIAN TANUS -- Tampere Tappara's energizer forward set up three goals in a 4-3 win over Helsinki Jokerit in Finland U18 playoff action. Tanus had a primary helper on the opening, power-play goal at 12:43 of the first period. He came up with two more assists in the third -- a primary one at 7:25 to make it 3-2, and a second assist on the game-winner at 16:56. Tanus had joined the Tappara U18 team after his U20 team was eliminated.