Minor League Report: Rubtsov’s Success Continues, Madsen, Laberge

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

As the Flyers season continues to see-saw between playoffs and not, the Flyers prospects continue to keep hope high within the organization.

Here’s a look at some of the prospects and their performances from the last week.

What more can you say about 2016 first-round pick German Rubtsov. The 18-year-old is tearing up the QMJHL with Chicoutimi.

Rubtsov had two three-point games over the weekend. He scored twice and added an assist in a 5-2 win against Val-d’Or on Thursday and had another assist on Friday in a 6-1 win over Val-d’Or. Then on Sunday, Rubtsov had a goal and two assists in a 4-3 win over Rimouski.

In 10 games with Chicoutimi, Rubtsov has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points.

In the NCAA, No. 3 Harvard claimed the Beanpot Tournament on Monday night with a 6-3 win over No. 4 Boston University. Flyers prospect goalie Merrick Madsen made 14 saves on 17 shots.

Madsen has wins in six straight starts and seven of his last eight with the other being a 1-1 tie against Yale. In 25 games this season, Madsen is 18-5-2 with a 2.25 goals against average and .916 save percentage.

Rubtsov may be making the most noise in the QMJHL, but don’t overlook Flyers second-round pick Pascal Laberge. In 34 games, Laberge has nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points with Victoriaville. But it was his shootout move on Saturday night that had everyone talking.

 

cash me outside how bout dat 🤓

A post shared by Pascal Laberge (@pascalaberge) on

In a goal that ultimately did not count, Laberge went between his legs for a dandy of a move before burying a shot. The goal was disallowed, presumably for backward motion of the puck and stopping, but Laberge made his impact on the game already with a goal and assist earlier. His team also won on the next shootout attempt, so the disallowed shootout tally wasn’t costly.

Here are a few more updates on prospects.

Philippe Myers – The defenseman for Rouyn-Noranda has started skating again after suffering a concussion during the World Junior Championships. While it was possible that he could return last week, Myers remains out as he works his way back.

Oskar Lindblom – The Flyers fifth-round pick from 2014 has led Brynas all season and continues to do so with 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 41 games. Brynas has been off since Feb. 4 and returns to the ice on Tuesday.

Connor Bunnaman – The Flyers fourth-round pick from 2016 has really flown under the radar, but don’t ignore some very good numbers for the forward. With Kitchener in the OHL, Bunnaman has 28 goals and 13 assists for 41 points in 50 games. Bunnaman most recently added his 28th goal of the season on Sunday against Sarnia.

Tanner Laczynski – The Ohio State product started to appear on the radar with his appearance at the World Junior Championships with Team USA, but has been a solid piece to the Buckeyes as a freshman. In 23 games, Laczynski has eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points.

Chris McCarthy – Leading the way for the Reading Royals in the ECHL with 47 points in 43 games earned McCarthy a call-up to the AHL with Lehigh Valley as injuries hit the Phantoms. He nearly scored in his first game with the Phantoms, but the goal was disallowed for goalie interference, so McCarthy remains scoreless through two games in the AHL. Reading sits in second place in the North Division in the Eastern Conference in the ECHL with 59 points, also good for a tie for third in the East.

Carter Hart – The top goalie in the WHL last season is continuing his winning ways in 2016-17. Hart has a 21-7-6 record in 38 games, posting a 2.01 goals against average and .925 save percentage. Hart’s last two starts have each been shutouts, making 21 saves on Feb. 4 against Vancouver and 31 saves on Saturday against Moose Jaw. Hart also has eight shutouts this season.

Felix Sandstrom – Sandstrom’s last start came on Feb. 4, making 25 saves and allowing two goals in a win. Sandstrom has a 10-5 record in 15 games played this season with a 2.20 goals against average and .909 save percentage.

Wade Allison – The Flyers third second-round pick from 2016, taken at 52nd overall, is a freshman at Western Michigan and performing well as well. In 28 games, Allison has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points.

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