North American Juniors

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League s

(14)Acadie-Bathurst Titan 1 @ (3)Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 6
Blainville-Boisbriand leads best-of-7 first round, 1-0

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM, 5 SOG, 2 Hits
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

After sitting out the last few games of the regular season, Paquette was back in the Armada lineup for Game 1 of their opening round series against the Titan. Paquette had a helper on the game’s first goal, but that was all the scoring he’d do on the night. Game 2 is Friday.

Ontario Hockey League

(W5)Sudbury Wolves 1 @ (W4)Brampton Battalion 4
Brampton leads best-of-7 Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1-0

D Dylan Blujus, BRAM: 1-0-1, +2, 0 PIM
Season totals: 68 GP, 2-27-29, -8, 57 PIM

Blujus, our reigning Bolt Prospect of the Week, had two goals all year, yet scored in his playoff opener against the visiting Wolves. His second career playoff goal came on the power play. He had a goal and four assists last year in eight playoff games. Game 2 is Sunday in Brampton.

(E7)Kingston Frontenacs 1 @ (W2)Barrie Colts 3
Barrie leads best-of-7 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 1-0

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM
Season totals: 66 GP, 4-18-22, E, 81 PIM
With Barrie: 28 GP, 2-6-8, -1, 42 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Barrie outshot a young Kingston team 44-34 en route to a 3-1 win in Game 1 of their conference quarterfinal series. Jets first rounder Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist for the Colts. Jake Dotchin has three career playoff points, coming in five games last year with Owen Sound. Game 2 is Saturday.

We continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The Prospect of the Week for March 19 is … Dylan Blujus, D, Brampton (OHL – Canada).

For years Lightning prospect followers have pounded their fists on their computer tables in demand of a right-handed defenseman capable of impacting a game at both ends of the ice. They got their wish last June when the Bolts selected Brampton (OHL) defenseman Dylan Blujus in the second round (40th overall).

Blujus had just completed a 34-point season with the Battalion and was a prime candidate for a breakout season offensively in 2012-2013.

That hasn’t exactly happened for the young Amherst, New York, native, as he just finished his third OHL season with fewer goals and points than his second season despite playing more games. Not everything shows up on the stat sheet, obviously, and Blujus has further developed his physical game while playing big minutes for a defense-first club.

Ontario Hockey League

Peterborough Petes 2 @ Brampton Battalion 5

D Dylan Blujus, BRAM: 0-2-2, +2, 0 PIM, *First Star*
Season totals: 68 GP, 2-27-29, -8, 57 PIM

Blujus had two assists for the second time this week, helping the Battalion to a regular season-ending 5-2 win over the Petes. The 2012 second rounder was named first star for his efforts. He finishes the regular season with a new career high in penalty minutes. He tied his career high for assists in a season with 27. Fourth-seeded Brampton will play No. 5 Sudbury in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 1 @ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: Did not play
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 2-2-4, +3, 0 PIM, 0 SOG, 1 Hit
Season totals: 33 GP, 29-34-63, +17, 14 PIM
With R-N: 27 GP, 26-27-53, +18, 12 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Nikita Kucherov (pictured) responded to a zero point game with four points on Saturday against Blainville-Boisbriand. Paquette was out of the lineup again for the Armada, who have already clinched their division title. The regular season is finished for both Lightning prospects. Paquette set career highs in assists, points, plus/minus, and penalty minutes. This was Kucherov’s first and last year in the QMJHL. The Lightning already signed him and he will begin his pro contract next year.

Sherbrooke Phoenix 4 @ Val-d’Or Foreurs 3

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 2 Hits
Season totals: 55 GP, 6-33-39, +20, 65 PIM

Val-d’Or gave up three third period goals to fall to the Phoenix, 4-3. Sergeev finishes the regular season with career highs in assists, points, plus/minus, and penalty minutes.

Ontario Hockey League

Niagara IceDogs 2 @ Barrie Colts 3

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM
Season totals: 66 GP, 4-18-22, E, 81 PIM
With Barrie: 28 GP, 2-6-8, -1, 42 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Dotchin finishes his regular season with career highs in goals, assists, points, plus/minus, and penalty minutes. Barrie will start the playoffs as the two-seed in the East as Central Division champs.

Guelph Storm 4 @ Erie Otters 5 (OT)

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 52 GP, 11-51-62, +18, 94 PIM

Erie scored with one second left in regulation to force overtime, then won the game in the extra period. Richard finishes his regular season with career highs in assists, points, plus/minus, and penalty minutes.

Note: Windsor’s Slater Koekkoek is out for the season with an injured shoulder.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League s

Sherbrooke Phoenix 4 @ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 5 (SO)

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 0 SOG, 1 Hit
Season totals: 32 GP, 27-32-59, +16, 14 PIM
With R-N: 26 GP, 24-25-49, +15, 12 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Kucherov had a rare game without a point, but the Huskies picked up two points with a shootout win. Rouyn-Noranda only needed two shooters to win the shootout, 2-0.

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3 @ Val-d’Or Foreurs 1

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: Did not play
Season totals: 63 GP, 27-56-83, +29, 103 PIM

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 5 SOG, 1 Hit
Season totals: 54 GP, 6-33-39, +21, 61 PIM

Paquette was out of the lineup again for the Armada, who has already clinched their division title. Sergeev was scoreless for the Foreurs, who look locked into the 10-seed of the 16-team playoff tournament.

Ontario Hockey League

Brampton Battalion 5 @ Niagara IceDogs 2

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, -1, 7 PIM
Season totals: 65 GP, 4-18-22, E, 77 PIM
With Barrie: 27 GP, 2-6-8, -1, 38 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

D Dylan Blujus, BRAM: 0-0-0, -2, 4 PIM
Season totals: 67 GP, 2-25-27, -10, 57 PIM

Blujus’ Battalion topped Dotchin’s Colts on Friday night, though neither prospect registered a point. Dotchin fought Barclay Goodrow of the Colts. Brampton is locked into the East’s four-seed for the playoffs, while Barrie is No. 2 in the East.

Erie Otters 1 @ Guelph Storm 2 (OT)

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 51 GP, 11-51-62, +18, 92 PIM

Former Lightning prospect Brock Beukeboom had an assist and was named second star for Guelph in their 2-1 overtime win over Erie on Friday. Beukeboom was traded to St. Louis by the Lightning in the Eric Brewer deal. The Blues passed on signing him.

Note: Windsor’s Slater Koekkoek is out for the season with an injured shoulder.