Joe Snively Scores Hat Trick, Brian Pinho Scores Two Goals, Damien Riat Continues Scoring Streak: Week 24 Capitals Prospect Report

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Jon Sorensen
Photo: Caroline O’Connor/Great Save Productions/Hershey Bears

Welcome to the week 24 Washington Capitals Prospect Report. The following includes a summary of game action and news for Capitals prospects that occurred between February 24th and March 1st, 2020. (Reminder: you can always access all of our prospect news and analysis in the top menu under the “Prospects” tab. You can also follow the latest Capitals prospect news on Twitter under the #CapsProspect hashtag.

2019-2020 Top-20 Prospects Mid-Year Rankings

PREVIOUS WEEKLY REPORTS

MONTHLY PROSPECT REPORTS

AHL/HERSHEY BEARS
The trade deadline saw the Capitals deal defenseman Christian Djoos to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Daniel Sprong. While the move detracts from the Bears blueline strength, Sprong will bring depth scoring to the Bears, which is needed.

The Bears opened the week of play with a 6-1 drubbing of the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday night at Giant Center. It’s worth noting that the Checkers went with a goalie called up from the ECHL, as both of their regular netminders were recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes due to the injuries their netminders sustained. On Saturday the Bears trounced a tired Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Team 5-1. On Sunday the Bears were crushed by the Checkers 6-3.

The loss drops the Bears record to 35-18-3-3 (76 points) on the season. With the loss, the Bears maintain a two-point lead over the Providence Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Vitek Vanecek – stopped 22 of 23 shots faced on Tuesday night versus the Checkers for a .957% game save percentage. Vanecek stopped 24 of 25 shots for a game save percentage of .960% Saturday night against the Penguins. For the season, Vanecek is 17-10-1-1 with a 2.38 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

Pheonix Copley – stopped 28 of 34 shots faced for a game save percentage of .823%. For the season, Copley is 17-8-5-2 with a 2.49 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

Joe Snively – recorded a hat trick in Tuesday nights 6-1 victory over the Checkers. His first tally came 4:02 into the opening frame. Forward Matt Moulson and center Philippe Maillet had the assists.

Just 3:19 into the second period, Snively potted his second goal of the night from assists by defensemen Alex Alexeyev and Tyler Lewington.

Snively completed the hat trick with his 12th goal of the season late into the middle frame at the 17:34 mark. Defenseman Bobby Nardella had the lone assist. Not only is it his first of the season, but also Snively’s first professional career hat trick.

For the season, Snively has 12 goals and 12 assists in 44 games played. He’s shot the puck 78 times for a shooting percentage of 15.4%. Snively is second amongst all rookies in points (Bobby Nardella, 28), and tied for most goals amongst all rookies.

Brian Pinho – scored his 18th goal of the season on another breakaway Tuesday night against the Checkers.

Pinho would score his second goal of the week Sunday night in the Checkers rematch. The goal was setup by a beautiful backhanded lob pass from Colby Williams.

For the season, Pinho has 19 goals and 14 assists in 59 games played. He is second amongst all Bears in goals and 5th in points.

Shane Gersich – scored his 10th goal of the season on Tuesday night against the Checkers. For the season, Gersich has 10 goals and seven assists in 51 games played.

Bobby Nardella – notched his 4th goal of the season Tuesday night against the Checkers in Hershey.

Garrett Pilon – scored his 18th goal of the season Friday night in the Bears 5-1 win over the Penguins.

For the season, Pilon has 18 goals and 18  assists in 58 games played. He’s recorded 137 shots for a shooting percentage of 13.1%.

OHL

Connor McMichael – scored a power play goal in Wednesday night’s tilt with the Geulph Storm.

For the season, McMichael has 42 goals and 52 assists in 49 games. He’s recorded 249 shots for a shooting percentage of 16.8%.

Martin Hugo Has – missed Wednesday night’s game against Connor McMichael and the London Knights with an eye infection.

WHL

Aliaksei Protas – had another first part of the week. He had no points. On Friday he registered two shots and on Saturday he recorded seven shots. On Sunday he returned to the scoresheet.

For the season, Protas has 29 goals and 44 assists in 54 games played. He’s shot the puck 192 times for a shooting percentage of 15.1%.

Eric Florchuk – extended his point streak to a league-best 13-games last Sunday. During that span he recorded 5 goals and 17 assists for 22 points. That streak came to an end Friday night against Victoria. On Saturday, Florchuk returned to the scoresheet with a goal and an assist against Victoria.

EUROPE

Damien Riat – and EHC Biel Benne opened the week with a home game in front of no fans. Attendance was forbidden due to concerns related to Coronavirus.

Riat would score the fifth goal in a 5-1 win over the Lions.

NCAA

Mitchell Gibson – stopped 22 of 23 shots faced in a 2-0 loss to Rensselaer on Friday night. Gibson wraps up the regular season going 9-8-3, with a 2.66 GAA and a .917 save percentage.

By Jon Sorensen

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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