Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Feb. 9, 2015)

michi-gamer_608_2013

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.


 

FEBRUARY 13 – CARL HAGELIN hagelin headshot

Carl Hagelin’s 12th goal of the season proved to be a big one when it was all over between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche Thursday night. The former University of Michigan captain lit the lamp at 12:02 of the second period, just 1:18 after the Avs tied the game up at three aside, to take back the lead for his Blueshirts. After Rick Nash added his 34th and Ryan McDonagh potted an empty-netter, Hagelin’s marker stood up as the game-winner, his third of the year. That also extended his point streak to three games for Hagelin also had one takeaway, one blocked shot and three shots on goal to go along with a plus-two rating in 15:48 of ice time. In 53 contests this season, the 26-year-old Hagelin has amassed 12 goals and 24 points.


FEBRUARY 12 – BRANDON SAAD

saad

Former Saginaw Spirit standout Brandon Saad notched a pair of points to give his Chicago Blackhawks a chance against the Vancouver Canucks. He first assisted on former Red Wings 40-goal man Marian Hossa’s 15th of the season, a powerplay assist. Then, Saad added his 17th of the season, a powerplay goal this time, at 17:49 of the second period, which pulled the Hawks to within one to make it a 4-3 game. But that wasn’t enough, as the teams traded goals once more to result in a 5-4 final. Saad has amassed 17 goals and 37 points in 55 games this season, but during his time with Saginaw, he racked up 131 points in 103 games.

 


FEBRUARY 11 – ALEX ALEARDIAlex Aleardi

Alex Aleardi nearly delivered a victory himself for the Charlotte Checkers Tuesday night. The Farmington Hills native and Plymouth Whalers product set up former Michigan Wolverines standout Phil Di Giuseppe at 15:46 of the opening period. And just 1:05 into the middle frame, he potted his own goal, which stood up to be the game-winner, as the Checkers trumped the Lake Erie Monster by a 2-1 final. Aleardi recorded seven goals and 16 points in 41 games last season with the Springfield Falcons, his first full AHL season. This season, he has six goals and 13 points in 24 games already, so there’s a good chance he sets career highs this year.

 


FEBRUARY 10 – AUSTIN WATSONwatson

Ann Arbor native Austin Watson came through in the clutch for his Milwaukee Admirals in AHL action Sunday night. The 23-year-old first drew a helper on former Red Wings defenseman Ian White’s power-play goal at 14:02 of the opening period to tie the game at one aside. The Admirals and Rochester Americans went on to score four more goals each where it took overtime to settle things. And lo and behold, with just three seconds remaining in the 4-on-4 overtime frame, it was Watson who put the game away, notching his team-leading 18th of the season. In 47 games this season, Watson has amassed 10 assists to go along with his 18 lamp-lighters for 28 points.

 


williams headshoFEBRUARY 9 – JUSTIN WILLIAMS

Plymouth Whalers alum Justin Williams just keeps on scoring. The 33-year-old forward is closing in on another 20-goal season, after he racked up Nos. 14 and 15 Saturday night in a road contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Williams, who spent two seasons with the Whalers from 1998-2000, scored on a redirect in the first period to give his Los Angeles Kings a early 2-0 lead. Then, in the third period, he delivered the knock-out punch, streaking down the right wing and firing a slap shot past goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, increasing the Kings’ lead to 4-2. That’s the way the game would say, after Williams turned in another clutch performance. The Whalers product now has 224 career NHL goals.

Highlights:


 

Michi-gamer features compiled by MiHockey’s Stefan Kubus and Michael Caples. Click here to see last week’s Michi-gamer picks.