IceCaps Players of the Week: Charles Hudon and Nikita Scherbak
It was an incredible week for the duo of Charles Hudon and Nikita Scherbak, as they combined to tally four goals and six assists in three games played. In a 6-5 loss to the Rochester Amerks, Scherbak grabbed the primary assist on a both of Hudon’s goals in the game. In both cases, the goals came on outstanding passes from Scherbak to a wide open Hudon.
Here’s the #IceCaps 1-0 goal. Gorgeous set up by Nikita Scherbak, finish courtesy of Charles Hudon. Great play. pic.twitter.com/2ibcGloDqm
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) March 24, 2016
In a rematch against Rochester, it was Scherbak who set up Hudon for his 25th goal of the year to open the scoring in a 5-3 IceCaps win. The rookie corralled the puck in his own end and fed a gorgeous saucer pass to the streaking Hudon, who in turn deked out Linus Ullmark, and then buried the puck in the net. Despite a 5-3 loss to the Toronto Marlies, Hudon also managed to record a multi-point game, with both an assist and his team leading 26th goal of the year. Scherbak also had two points, with a pair of assists, including one on Hudon’s third period goal.
Weekly Stats
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
| Bud Holloway | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +3 | 0 | 8 |
| Michael McCarron | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charles Hudon | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | +2 | 4 | 11 |
| Mark Barberio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Carr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabriel Dumont | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +2 | 6 | 6 |
| Morgan Ellis | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +1 | 0 | 4 |
| Sven Andrighetto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lucas Lessio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Dietz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joel Hanley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark MacMillan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +1 | 2 | 3 |
| Jeremy Gregoire | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 5 | 4 |
| Brett Lernout | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +3 | 2 | 5 |
| Jacob de la Rose | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nikita Scherbak | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | +3 | 0 | 4 |
| Mac Bennett | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Bournival | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Friberg | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +4 | 2 | 5 |
| Ryan Johnston | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 2 |
| Victor Bartley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Bozon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 4 | 3 |
| John Scott | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 8 | 5 |
| Connor Crisp | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | W | L | OTL | SO | GAA | SV% |
| Eddie Pasquale | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | .880 |
| Zachary Fucale | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.06 | .875 |
Bud Holloway: The veteran forward continues to be an unstoppable production machine for the IceCaps. With another three points this week, he moved into the top four for scoring in the AHL. Holloway registered one assist in each of the three games he played this week, and notched his 19th goal of the season in a 5-3 loss to the Toronto Marlies.
Michael McCarron: It’s been slow going for the rookie forward, since registering his first NHL goal he’s been held scoreless in every game.
Sven Andrighetto: After a short stint on the injured list, the Swiss forward returned to Montreal’s lineup and recorded an assist in a loss to the Rangers.
Daniel Carr: Still the shelf for up to three months with a major knee injury sustained on January 26.
Gabriel Dumont: The IceCaps’ captain surpassed his career high in points this past week. Dumont posted three points in three games, including two assists, also a career high. Additionally, he notched his 19th goal of the year in a 6-5 loss to Rochester on Wednesday night.
Morgan Ellis: The offence shows no sign of slowing down for Ellis, as he tallied another two goals, bringing his total this year to fourteen. Ellis is still second in the AHL for goals by a defenceman, and 9th in overall scoring by defenders.
Mark Barberio: Barberio is currently sidelined indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms.
Mac Bennett: Bennett was a healthy scratch in all three games this week before being sent down to the ECHL.
Lucas Lessio: The speedy winger’s hard work finally paid off, as he recorded his first goal for the Canadiens in a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. However after a loss to the Detroit Red Wings he was scratched from the lineup.
Jacob de la Rose: The young Swede played only one game for the Habs last week, recording no points before being made a healthy scratch.
Joel Hanley: After an uninspiring stint in the AHL, Joel Hanley has lit up the scoresheet in the NHL since his debut. He recorded four assists in two games against Detroit and Anaheim.
Victor Bartley: The veteran blueliner is currently sidelined with an injury.
Brett Lernout: Like many of the IceCaps, the final half of the season has seen Lernout’s play improve by leaps and bounds. He collected an assist on Brandon McNally’s game winning goal against Rochester, and then scored his 2nd goal of the year in the loss to Toronto.
Connor Crisp: Crisp’s season is over after it was revealed the young forward suffered a concussion earlier this season.
Darren Dietz: After a rough stretch of games, Dietz registered a pair of assists for the Canadiens.
Jeremy Grégoire: It was another productive series of games for the bottom six anchor. He notched 5th goal of the year in the loss to the Amerks, and then registered an assist in the rematch on Friday night.
#IceCaps 3-0 goal. The Mark MacMillan – Jeremy Gregoire connection strikes again. They’re great together. #Habs pic.twitter.com/pTFPmE2CZH
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) March 24, 2016
Mark MacMillan: MacMillan continues to string together strong games for St. John’s, and this week he collected three assists in two games against Rochester.
Tim Bozon: Bozon had arguably the roughest week of all the IceCaps forwards, playing with mostly tryout signees he did not record any points and was -6.
Michaël Bournival: The veteran forward is on the shelf indefinitely with concussion-related issues.
Max Friberg: A strong second half of the season continues for the Swedish forward. After a multitude of call-ups, Friberg has been given an increased role with the IceCaps. His play in the IceCaps top six, and on the powerplay has given head coach Sylvain Lefebvre another weapon to deploy.
Friberg started the week slowly by collecting a single assist in the 6-5 loss to Rochester, where he chipped the puck out of the zone and fed Gabriel Dumont a pass for the latter’s 19th goal of the year. In the 5-3 win over Rochester, he put up a multi-point game, with an assist, and his 12th goal of the year. Friberg would cap off the week by setting up Hudon’s 26th goal of the year in the loss to Toronto.
#IceCaps 4-0 goal. Max Friberg with some breakaway moves, Gabriel Dumont buries the rebound. #Habs pic.twitter.com/lPytxo7rHg
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) March 24, 2016
Ryan Johnston: Johnston had a quiet week, often paired with John Scott on defence, he was not able to register any points.
John Scott: Instead of playing Mac Bennett, the IceCaps turned to the NHL All-Star MVP forward to play defence. The results were poor, to say the least, as Scott was a -4 and arguably at fault for the IceCaps monumental collapse on Wednesday night.
Zach Fucale: Fucale received just one start this week, against the AHL leading Toronto Marlies. While he stopped 35 shots it was not enough to hold off the Marlies onslaught in a 5-3 loss.
Year to Date Stats
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
| Bud Holloway | 63 | 19 | 38 | 57 | -9 | 12 | 161 |
| Charles Hudon | 62 | 26 | 24 | 50 | -3 | 75 | 166 |
| Gabriel Dumont | 64 | 19 | 27 | 46 | -12 | 74 | 160 |
| Morgan Ellis | 66 | 14 | 23 | 37 | +4 | 47 | 146 |
| Max Friberg | 60 | 12 | 23 | 35 | -1 | 10 | 115 |
| Michael McCarron | 54 | 15 | 19 | 34 | -9 | 82 | 115 |
| Sven Andrighetto | 26 | 10 | 13 | 23 | +6 | 22 | 74 |
| Daniel Carr | 24 | 10 | 11 | 21 | +7 | 10 | 66 |
| Lucas Lessio | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | -16 | 41 | 102 |
| Nikita Scherbak | 41 | 6 | 15 | 21 | -21 | 16 | 70 |
| Mark Barberio | 26 | 2 | 18 | 20 | +0 | 25 | 51 |
| Mark MacMillian | 55 | 6 | 10 | 16 | -9 | 41 | 52 |
| Darren Dietz | 58 | 4 | 12 | 16 | -6 | 59 | 103 |
| Joel Hanley | 61 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -8 | 23 | 67 |
| Brett Lernout | 68 | 2 | 10 | 12 | -4 | 73 | 58 |
| Jacob de la Rose | 30 | 4 | 7 | 11 | -8 | 16 | 44 |
| Ryan Johnston | 31 | 0 | 9 | 9 | -16 | 12 | 29 |
| Jeremy Gregoire | 55 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -7 | 66 | 66 |
| Michael Bournival | 20 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -7 | 12 | 55 |
| Tim Bozon | 34 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -11 | 12 | 50 |
| Victor Bartley | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -11 | 16 | 39 |
| John Scott | 24 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 81 | 13 |
| Mac Bennett | 32 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -11 | 30 | 26 |
| Connor Crisp | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 25 | 8 |
| Player | W | L | OTL | SO | GAA | SV% |
| Eddie Pasquale | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2.60 | .916% |
| Zach Fucale | 15 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 3.14 | .901% |
Weekly Record
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Inspite of the outpooring of goals, it was a brutal week for St. John’s, as they saw a surefire win slip away in less than 12 minutes against Rochester. Despite the win on Friday night, the loss to Toronto on Saturday all but eliminates them from post-season contention
Game Recaps:
Record to Date
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | Conference | Division |
| 69 | 29 | 29 | 11 | 69 | 12th | 6th |
St. John’s will play three games in the upcoming week: on Tuesday they play their last road game of the season against Toronto. After that, the team returns home on April 1st for a two game series against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the Mile One Centre.
