Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 20, 2014)
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.
OCTOBER 24 – JAMES NEAL
Since Justin Abdelkader’s already gotten plenty of pub for his overtime goal for the Wings last night, we took a look around the rest of the NHL to see who should get the Michi-gamer nod for Friday. It wasn’t hard to find someone to recognize. James Neal was all Nashville needed on Thursday night as the former Plymouth Whalers star accounted for all three of his team’s goals in the Predators’ 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Neal’s fifth career hat trick was also a natural hat trick, as he scored three consecutive goals to give the Predators a 3-1 lead after they fell behind 1-0 in the first period. Neal, 27, is in his first year with Nashville after spending the last four seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His three-goal night pushes his season goal total to five through seven games.
Here are the highlights:
OCTOBER 23 – RYAN KESLER
Ryan Kesler potted his third goal of the 2014-15 season to help lead the Anaheim Ducks to their sixth consecutive win as they defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Wednesday night. Kesler was wide open in the high slot during 3-on-2 break and fired a low wrist shot past Michal Neuvirth to give Anaheim a two-goal cushion in the second period. The Livonia native, who the Ducks acquired from the Vancouver Canucks this summer, has been a valuable addition to the reigning Pacific Division champions. In seven games, Kesler has registered three goals and three assists for six points.
Here is the goal:
OCTOBER 22 – TOREY KRUG
Behind a three-point performance from former Michigan State Spartans captain Torey Krug, the Boston Bruins erased a third period deficit to come back and defeat the San Jose Sharks 5-3. Krug gave Boston a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal in the second period. Krug’s snipe past Antti Niemi was his second goal in as many games. He also assisted on Boston’s opening score and the game-tying goal 4:50 into the third period to give the defenseman two assists on the night. Krug, 23, was held scoreless in the Bruins’ first five games, but the Livonia native has turned it around with five points (two goals, three assists) in his last three contests.
See the highlights here:
More on Krug:
Video: Torey Krug talks about returning to East Lansing, Bruins hockey
Torey Krug stars in Warrior shoe commercial
OCTOBER 21 – NO NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
OCTOBER 20 – RYAN MILLER
On Friday night, Ryan Miller continued his impressive start to the 2014-15 season with his new club. The East Lansing native and former Michigan State Spartan turned aside 28 shots to shut out the Edmonton Oilers, leading his Vancouver Canucks to a 2-0 win. Miller, who signed with the Canucks during the 2014 free agency period, is now 3-0-0 on the year as he settles into his new home. He currently holds a 1.95 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. The longtime Sabres netminder will have an easy time making new friends in Vancouver if he keeps stopping the puck.
Here are the highlights:
Michi-gamer features compiled by MiHockey’s Josh Paulisin and Michael Caples. Click here to see last week’s Michi-gamer picks.