Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Feb. 18)

Welcome to another season of MiHockey’s Michi-gamer, now powered by Bauer Hockey.

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 night, we’ll keep an eye on those players, and every morning, we will pick one Michi-gamer of the night – one Michigan player who stood out above the rest.


FEBRUARY 22 – MAX PACIORETTY

Without Max Pacioretty, the Canadiens wouldn’t have gotten any points out of their game with the Islanders last night. While the Habs lost the home contest in OT, it was Pacioretty that made sure they at least picked up one point in the standings. The former Wolverines star scored twice last night, picking up his third and fourth goals of the season in the 4-3 Montreal loss. The Michigan hockey alum scored in the opening frame with a quick wrister from the slot on the power play, then added another from almost the same spot in the second period.  The Canadiens’ first-round pick from 2007 now has four goals and nine assists on the season, giving him 13 points in as many games.

More MiHockey articles on Pacioretty:

Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Jan. 21)

Michi-gamer: The pride of the Mitten (2011-12 archive)


FEBRUARY 21 – JACK CAMPBELL

The Texas Stars didn’t need five goals last night – they could have made due with just two. Thanks to Port Huron native Jack Campbell, the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars posted a convincing 5-1 win over the Rochester Americans Wednesday night in New York. Campbell, a product of the NTDP in Ann Arbor, stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced last night to record his 11th win of the season. In 24 AHL contests this season, Campbell has recorded a 2.46 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. The former Windsor Spitfires and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds star is still waiting for that first NHL start, but it’s becoming more and more evident that the 21-year-old will be ready when the time comes.

More MiHockey articles on Campbell:

Michi-gamer: The pride of the Mitten (2011-12 archive)

Six Michigan natives make US World Juniors roster


FEBRUARY 20 – TIM KENNEDY

There wasn’t much scoring in the San Jose vs. St. Louis game last night, but Tim Kennedy’s goal sure stood out. The former Michigan State Spartan broke a 1-1 tie at the 13:02 mark of the third period for the Sharks, and it turned out to be the difference in the contest. Kennedy caught up to a puck that bounced off the sideboards, and turned it into a one-timer blast that went through goaltender Jake Allen. It marked Kennedy’s second goal of the season, in just his third NHL game of the year. He’s certainly making an early case that he should stay with the big boys for the rest of the season.

More MiHockey articles on Kennedy:

Plenty of Michigan connections on AHL All-Star rosters

Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Dec. 3)

Zatkoff, Kennedy take home AHL awards


FEBRUARY 19 – AARON PALUSHAJ

The Avalanche and the Predators took part in a high-scoring affair during a Presidents’ Day afternoon match-up yesterday, and it was all jumpstarted by Aaron Palushaj. The Livonia native picked up his second goal of the season – with a little help from Nashville goaltender Chris Mason – just 3:43 into the contest. Palushaj dumped the puck into the Predators’ end, a bounce towards the goal crease fooled Mason, and he ended up kicking the puck into his own net. Palushaj would pick up two assists in the Avalanche’s 6-5 win, however, so either way, the former Wolverines star was going to be getting our Michi-gamer nod. The goal also marked Palushaj’s third of his NHL career, which has spanned 45 games over three seasons. Plus, this was Palushaj’s first career multi-point game – not a bad way for him to celebrate Presidents’ Day.

More MiHockey articles on Palushaj:

Shaved Ice – Feb. 5

Michi-gamer: The Pride of the Mitten (Week of Oct. 29)

 


FEBRUARY 18 – RYAN KESLER

Ryan Kesler has waited a long time to make his season debut, but he finally did it with a bang at home, recording points in each of his first two games over the weekend. The 28-year-old Livonia native registered an assist in Friday night’s 4-3 loss to Dallas. Sunday night, Kesler – a Honeybaked and U.S. NTDP alum – opened the scoring in Vancouver, sneaking down the left side of the St. Louis zone to bury a top shelf one-timer, a power-play marker 4:37 into the game. Despite tying that game late in the third, the Canucks went on to lose in a shootout, 4-3. 

More MiHockey articles on Kesler:

MiHockey’s annual ’50 Most Influential People in Michigan Hockey’

Bauer’s NEXUS line offers new options for players

Happy Father’s Day: Ryan Kesler’s hockey journey, as told by his dad

Michi-gamer: The pride of the Mitten (2011-12 archive)


To see last week’s Michi-gamer nominations, click here.

This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Stefan Kubus, Aarif Mohie El-Deen and Michael Caples.