Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of May 13)
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.
MAY 17 – TOREY KRUG
Livonia native Torey Krug has played in three NHL regular-season games over the last two seasons – two in 2011-12, and one this season. In those three contests, he picked up two assists, but no goals. Apparently he was just waiting for a bigger stage to score his first NHL goal. Last night, in his playoff debut for the Bruins, the former Michigan State captain fired a shot from the left face-off circle at the 2:55 mark of the third period that got through a crowd and through New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The goal tied the game for the Bruins, helping them force overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. There, Brad Marchand scored the winner, giving Boston the early lead in the series. Krug, fresh off his first full AHL season, played for16:41, recorded three hits, blocked one shot, and scored a huge power-play goal for his Original Six squad. We can’t wait to see what he will do next.
More MiHockey articles on Krug:
Krug named CCM/AHL Player of the Week
Torey Krug named AHL rookie of the month for February
MSU captain Torey Krug announces deal with Bruins
MAY 16 – LUKE GLENDENING
It wasn’t one for the record books, but it was another solid outing from Luke Glendening. The Grand Rapids native and former University of Michigan star continues to progress with the Griffins, and he’s becoming an integral part of their AHL playoff run. Last night, the former UM captain recorded an assist and a +1 rating against a skilled Marlies squad. Glendening’s two-way game helped the Griffins to a 5-4 win, and a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. After starting the season with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, Glendening just keeps moving up the depth chart. At the rate he’s going, we could be seeing him on the east side of the state, not the west, sometime soon. Glendening now has three goals and four assists, along with a +5 rating, in eight playoff games this spring.
More MiHockey articles on Glendening:
Griffins beat Aeros in first home playoff game since 2009
Billins, Glendening and the rest of the Griffins ready for the Calder Cup Playoffs
Luke Glendening proves high school hockey works
MAY 15 – CHRIS KUNITZ
The Penguins seized an early lead in their second-round series with the Senators, and a lot of it had to do with Chris Kunitz. The former Ferris State star had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh Tuesday night, in the first game of the conference semifinals schedule. With some quick hands, Kunitz was able to dig the puck out of his skates and fire it in for a rebound goal in the second period, increasing his team’s lead to 3-1. It was Kunitz’s third goal of the postseason, and it was a big one for Pittsburgh. The former Bulldog also picked up the primary assist on Evgeni Malkin’s first-period goal – his fourth helper of the 2013 playoffs. If Kunitz keeps rolling, the Penguins will be that much more difficult to stop in the next few months.
More MiHockey articles on Kunitz:
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of May 6)
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 11)
MAY 14 – TYLER SEGUIN
It was an unusually-quiet first-round series for Tyler Seguin, who has emerged as one of the top threats on the Boston Bruins’ line-up over the past few seasons. In fact, the former Plymouth Whalers star hadn’t found the scoresheet in the first six games of the Bruins’ series with the Maple Leafs. Yet when the series was on the line, Seguin found a way to make his presence felt. Six minutes into Game 7’s overtime period, Seguin crashed the Leafs’ crease after Patrice Bergeron’s initial shot was stopped. The chaos he was able to cause with his 6-foot-1, 182-pound frame led to the puck popping back out to Bergeron, who buried his second attempt, clinching a series victory for Boston in the process. For Seguin, it now means a fresh start to the playoffs, after struggling against the team he grew up half an hour away from. It’s not hard to expect more offensive production; after all, Seguin had 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 48 games during the regular season.
More MiHockey articles on Seguin:
NHL ’14 potential cover athletes announced
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 11)
MAY 13 – JUSTIN ABDELKADER
Talk about a triumphant return for No. 8. After missing two games for a questionable suspension, Justin Abdelkader returned for the two biggest games of the season for the Red Wings, and made an impact in both contests. In Friday night’s Game 6 – his first game back in the line-up – Abdelkader ‘scored’ the Detroit’s third goal; his centering attempt hit Daniel Cleary and bounced past Jonas Hiller at the 11:30 mark of the third period. He also led all players in hits, recording six collisions in Game 6, despite just serving a suspension. His play in Game 7 out-shined Game 6, however. With his team shorthanded and fresh off giving up a goal, Abdelkader knocked down the “D-to-D” pass at his own blue line, sending the puck towards center ice. The Muskegon native beat the Ducks in the ensuing footrace, and headed in on a shorthanded breakaway. With a quick move, Abdelkader was able to slide the puck between Hiller’s legs, regaining the lead for the Wings. The former Michigan State Spartan played 19:17 in Game 7, and finished +1, with five hits, one takeaway and one huge goal for Hockeytown.
More MiHockey articles on Abdelkader:
Red Wings beat Ducks in Game 7; Blackhawks up next
Photo gallery: Red Wings beat Ducks to force Game 7
Red Wings fall to Ducks in Game 3 after Abdelkader ejected for questionable hit
To see last week’s Michi-gamer nominations, click here.
This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.
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