Sam Bennett's big week buoys Kingston's darkhorse hopes: CHL Hot & Cold

With Sam Bennett gritting and bearing it through groin and shoulder ailments last spring, the Kingston Frontenacs could not win a playoff series as a favourite.

Nearly 12 months later, with the Calgary Flames top prospect back in characteristic form, Kingston is stouter on both lines of defence and has won 5-of-6 with their crafty centre-ice catalyst back at a very necessary spot on depth chart. Kingston won't have home-ice advantage in the first round, but with Bennett back, they are intriguing darkhose.

Here is the weekly look at who is flowing and who is fraying entering the penultimate week of the Canadian Hockey League regular season.

OHL

Hot: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

There is no alternative to going back to the 'Hounds well, what with the 12-win streak whilst Darnell Nurse, Nick Ritchie, Justin Bailey, Blake Speers, defenceman Tyler Hore (for the season) and now centre Jared McCann have variously gone down with injuries. With the short bench meaning no one could get upset about his ice time, the Soo played keep-away on Sunday to shut down a good Owen Sound team 1-0 to wrap up a three-game week. That was a welcome sign for a team that has been in some run-and-gun games, not that it hasn't been fun seeing Anthony DeAngelo put up two points a night as a defenceman.

Not: Ottawa 67's

Getting blown out 8-3 by odds-on first-round opponent Niagara on Saturday, as part of an 1-4-2-0 slide, does not seem like a great portent of playoff success. Neither does captain Travis Konecny sustaining a shoulder injury that will keep him out for 2-4 weeks, covering the rest of the regular season at first playoff round. The 67's had a fine run during a home-heavy February, but they are still a fledgling squad that averages only 2.7 goals on the road. The sporadic scoring has amplified the pressure on Ottawa's defence and young goalies Liam Herbst and Leo Lazarev, and likely cost it points in losses to both ninth-place teams, Windsor and Mississauga.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Sam Bennett, Kingston (No. 4 by Calgary in 2014) — Benefiting from having three home games spaced over five days, Bennett had seven points (4G-3A) and led the surging Frontenacs to a perfect week that included beating the London Knights.

Jared McCann, Sault Ste. Marie (No. 24 by Vancouver in '14) — Extended his point streak to 12 games before sustaining a broken finger that would be endurable in a must-win situation, but will instead result in a week off since the Soo has clinched its division.

Carter Verhaeghe, Niagara (No. 82 by Toronto in '13) — Far and away Niagara's most consistent forward over the year, Verhaeghe (4G, +3 in three games) helped the IceDogs extend their win streak to six.

Cole Cassels, Oshawa (No. 85 by Vancouver in '13) — Ended a three-game goal drought with a trifecta on Sunday against Windsor, scoring short-handed, at even strength and on the power play to complete the hat trick. And he blocked lots of shots.

QMJHL

Hot: Moncton Wildcats

The 'Cats have won four in a row, and nine of 10 to remain in the race for home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Coach Darren Rumble's charges might have to win out, though, since they are spotting a game in a hand to Rimouski as they come into the week tied with 89 points. It's clear by now Moncton is riding with the Conor Garland-Ivan Barbashev show, given that their combined 202 points is more than the next five most prolific Moncton forwards.

Not: Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Frontline forwards Frédéric Gamelin and Jérémy Grégoire have been banged up and B-C's season-long road woes have mushroomed, to the tune a seven-game skid away from the North Shore. The Drakkar were likely overextended last weekend when their overall loss skein reached four and they slipped back into sixth overall, which puts them in line for a travel nightmare in Round 1 against Rouyn-Noranda.

Baie-Comeau is third in the league in home wins, but only Acadie-Bathurst has fewer road victories.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax (No. 9 by Winnipeg in '14) — Well, this is an easy one: the dashing Dane was first star of the week after posting 12 points (5G-7A, +8) in three games.

Jan Kostalek, Winnipeg (No. 114 by Winnipeg in '13) — Leads the Quebec League with a plus-51, if you're still doing plus/minus.

Francis Perron, Rouyn-Noranda (No. 190 by Ottawa in '14) — Had five points over three games and a robust 12 shots on goal for a team that could be a tough out in the first round of playoffs..

WHL

Hot: Moose Jaw Warriors

Brayden Point and mates have their first three-game win streak since October, are 5-1 since returning from a galvanizing seven-game road trip and are two points behind Swift Current (which has dropped six in a row). Moose Jaw's complementary scorers Jesse Shynkaruk, Torrin White and Jiri Smejkal had a breakout weekend, while Point and Winnipeg Jets signing Axel Blomqvist found some chemistry last week while Point's regular wing, Tanner Eberle, was injured.

The Warriors' final fortnight includes three games against Brandon and two vs. Regina, each of which is locked into a playoff position. There is a chance to take advantage of a demotivated opponent.

Not: Vancouver Giants

The Giants are the best exhibit for cutting back to a 60- to 64-game schedule. Set back by a hand injury to captain Dalton Sward, they played six games in nine days and lost 'em all by a combined 28-6. The energy was better during losses against both Western Conference leaders, Kelowna (5-2 on Friday) and Everett (3-1 on Saturday), but the scoring wasn't.

It's somewhat understandable coming from a team forced to play so many games in a short span at the end of a too-long season. Vancouver, now in the Western cellar, has to get right back up on the mechanical bull on Tuesday against Spokane. After that, they play a three-game series with Victoria and two with powerful Kelowna to finish out the schedule. Sounds kinda daunting.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Leon Draisaitl, Kelowna (No. 3 by Edmonton in '14) — Six points over three games and has registered in 11 consecutive.

Morgan Klimchuk, Brandon (No. 28 by Calgary in '13) — Had eight points in three games, albeit against non-playoff or badly slumping teams. One goal away from 30.

Nic Petan, Portland (No. 43 by Winnipeg in '13) — Twenty assists across six games, with at least two in every contest, is all the more ridiculous considering power plays are way down Western league-wise. It just goes to show how advanced Petan is at reading the ice.

Axel Blomqvist, Moose Jaw (free agent by Winnipeg in '13) — As noted, the 6-foot-6 winger had two multi-point efforts and five points over three games help get the Warriors in contention for a playoff berth.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.