Welcome to another season of MiHockey’s Michi-gamer!
We take great pride in our homegrown talent. Whether they grew up in the Mitten or we welcomed them here for college or juniors, they are our own. They represent the best place in the world for hockey.
Every morning, we pick one Michi-gamer from the previous night’s slate of games across all professional levels of hockey – one Michigan player who stood out above the rest.
JANUARY 31 – JEFF ZATKOFF
Chesterfield native Jeff Zatkoff is stating his case to be the starting goaltender for one of hockey’s best teams. After another win last night, the Penguins goaltender is now 9-2-1 in his first taste of NHL hockey. Zatkoff, who played his college hockey with the Miami RedHawks, stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced last night to lead Pittsburgh to a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. He stopped every even-strength shot he faced, allowing only a power-play goal to Anze Kopitar in the first period. Two periods of scoreless hockey followed, and Zatkoff is still thriving in Pittsburgh. He currently holds a .909 save percentage and 2.64 goals-against average in his first slate of NHL games. Zatkoff spent five seasons in the minors waiting for his call-up. Now that he has it, he’s doing his best to stay on hockey’s highest stage.
Here are the highlights from the game:
More MiHockey articles on Zatkoff:
Penguins beat Red Wings Saturday night at The Joe
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Nov. 4)
JANUARY 30 – BRANDON SAAD
Former NTDP and Saginaw Spirit star Brandon Saad may now play for a team that the people of Michigan don’t necessarily cheer for, but he’s always on our Michi-gamer list anyways. The Chicago Blackhawks forward recorded a pair of goals last night, helping his club to a 5-2 win on the road against Vancouver. Halfway through the second period, Saad got his stick on a shot from Sheldon Brookbank, redirecting it past Roberto Luongo for his 16th goal of the season. Then, as the icing on the cake for his ‘Hawks, Saad scored an empty-netter at the 19:22 mark of the third to officially seal the game for the visitors. Saad, 21, now has 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points on the season, along with a +22 rating that is good for 10th in the entire NHL. All those numbers are career-highs, and you can be sure that he will keep adding to the totals for the rest of the season. Talk about making his former coaches in Ann Arbor and Saginaw proud.
Here are the highlights:
More MiHockey articles on Saad:
Photos: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks
Team USA Olympic camp roster announced
Saad defies NHL hangover myth
JANUARY 29 – ADAM HALL
Sorry Red Wings fans, but we had to pick somebody. Last night, Adam Hall scored arguably the goal that broke the Red Wings’ backs in the Flyers’ 5-0 win. Hall, a Kalamazoo native, helped create a turnover in the Red Wings’ zone, then ended up scoring later in the play, on a spinning backhand shot despite coverage from Riley Sheahan. It was the former Spartan’s third goal of the season, and it gave his Flyers a commanding 3-0 lead. He’s not expected to be a scorer, despite recording 79 goals in his four years in East Lansing, yet the Flyers will never say no to Hall finding the back of the net.
Here’s the goal:
More MiHockey articles on Hall:
Red Wings shut out by the Flyers Tuesday night
Photos: Red Wings vs. Flyers
JANUARY 28 – TYLER SEGUIN
The Dallas Stars ended up losing to the Colorado Avalanche last night by a score of 4-3. However, it certainly wasn’t Tyler Seguin’s fault. The former Plymouth Whalers star scored at the start of the second period, and at the end of the second period, both times tying the game for his club. On his first goal of the night, Seguin fired a one-timer past Semyon Varlamov one a rolling-puck feed from Jamie Benn. Then, 17 minutes later, Seguin took a pass at center ice, skated into the Colorado zone along the right-wing boards, and sent a wrist shot past Valamov. They were Seguin’s 22nd and 23rd goals of the season; the former Whaler needs just six more to match his career best of 29, set in 2011-12 with Boston.
Here are the highlights:
JANUARY 27 – ERIC NYSTROM
The rest of the Nashville Predators owe Eric Nystrom an apology. On Friday night, the former National Team Development Program and Michigan Wolverines standout scored four goals – yes, four – for the Predators…in a losing effort. Nystrom scored the game’s first goal in 1:51 into the first period, and then scored the only two goals of the second period. However, his one goal in the third period wasn’t enough for his club, apparently, as Calgary scored three of their own to force overtime and a shootout. Nystrom wasn’t one of the shooters in the decisive series of penalty shots, and his team ended up losing out on a point in the standings. Never the less, it was an incredible performance by Nystrom, who now has 11 goals on the season – five off his career best.
See all four goals right here:
More MiHockey articles on Nystrom:
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 7)
Our list of Michigan names on NHL opening night rosters
Jewish hockey players have a chance to play in Israel
This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.