Sunday, March 2, 2014

Bad Breaking News-- Duclair reportedly has concussion (Updated 10 PM PDT)

Anthony Duclair (Quebec Remparts)
No matter how you look at things nobody ever likes hearing about a young player getting injured especially these days when the word "concussion" is used. Sunday Anthony Duclair (NYR 2013 3rd) was not in the Quebec Remparts lineup due to what the Remparts called an "upper body injury" but it is clear that Duclair suffered some type of head injury Friday night when in Shawinigan Duclair's head hit the goal post after being hit by Alex Filiatrault of the Cataractes.

With 2 weeks before the QMJHL playoffs are to begin, one has to wonder if or when Duclair might return to action. The number one concern is of course a full recovery by Duclair but given the time of year then the possibility of Duclair rushing back to play is a legit concern for all concerned. The problem is that Duclair's team the Quebec Remparts has been hit with a string of injuries that has knocked 4 of the top 5 scorers out of their lineup as Quebec is fighting for playoff positioning.

In case you are wondering the Rangers can offer medical support to Duclair but they have no say in whether or not Duclair returns to action. That is between Duclair's camp and the Remparts and we can hope that the Remparts will put Duclair's future over playoff consideration.

In game action, it was Ryan Graves (NYR 2013 4th) and his Val-d'Or Foreurs taking on the Quebec Remparts and it was the Foreurs who almost gave this game away. The Foreurs let a 4-2 lead slip away in the last 3 minutes of regulation and needed overtime to earn a 5-4 overtime win.

Graves had a mostly good game with just one burp as he earned a primary assist on 6 shots with 3 hits and a +2. The burp was a holding call that Quebec turned into a power play goal. Grave's assist was a primary assist on the Foreur's 2nd goal as it gives Graves a 5-15-20 mark on the season.

The win pulls the Foreurs to within 3 points of 4th place Rimouski and 3 points ahead of the Remparts.

Cristoval Nieves (NYR 2012 2nd) had 2 secondary assists including one on the game winning goal as Nieve's Michigan Wolverines held off Ohio State 4-3. It was part of a 0-2-2 +1 on 3 shots game for Nieves.

Nieves improves to 2-13-15 on the season.

Griffin Reinhart (NYI 2012 1st) was scoreless but picked up a fighting major as his Edmonton Oil Kings rebounded from Saturday's loss to Calgary with a 3-0 shutout of the Saskatoon Blades. Reinhart found himself in a fight at the end of the game when Ayrton Nikkel wanted a fight. In this case Nikkel made a bad decision as Reinhart had little trouble with him and beat him harshly.

Reinhart doesn't fight often as this was just his 3rd fight of the season but when he does, it is the other guy who regrets it the most. The win allows Edmonton to jump past Calgary in the WHL's Eastern Conference standings taking over first place due to tiebreakers as the two teams are tied with 93 points each.

Ryan Pulock (NYI 2013 1st) was scoreless as his Brandon Wheat Kings lost to the Swift Current Broncos 4-3 via the shootout. This was a tough loss for Brandon as they fall 4 points behind Swift Current in the battle for 6th place in the WHL's Eastern Conference playoffs.

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