Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 16, 2015)

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.


 

krug headshotMARCH 20 – TOREY KRUG

The Boston Bruins fell to the Ottawa Senators 6-4 Thursday night, but it wasn’t the fault of Torey Krug. The Livonia native scored a goal and added an assist for the Bruins, and the two points were crucial plays in evening up the score. With his team trailing 3-2, Krug set up Ryan Spooner for a power-play goal by making everyone think he was going to shoot before sending a pass to the right circle. Then, later in the second period, the Michigan State alum fought through a crowd out front to score a rebound goal to tie the game at 4-4. On the season, Krug now has 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points in 67 games.

Here’s the goal:


MARCH 19 – RYAN KESLERkesler

Livonia native Ryan Kesler potted a huge goal for his Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night in a 3-2 victory over rival Los Angeles Kings. The goal, a game-winner, came just 45 seconds into overtime to give Kesler four points in his last four games and earn him the NHL’s third star of the night. The 30-year-old former first-round pick has been a solid addition to the Ducks’ lineup, taking a load of pressure of No. 1 center and captain Ryan Getzlaf in the process. Kesler has averaged 19:39 of ice time per game this season, while splitting special teams duties on both on the powerplay and penalty kill. In 72 contests this year, the U.S. NTDP and Honeybaked alum has amassed 18 goals and 45 points.

Watch Kesler’s OT winner here:


 

MARCH 18 – NO NOTABLE PERFORMANCES


MARCH 17 – JEREMY SMITH Boston Bruins Headshots

We revisited this past weekend’s action to pull out a noteworthy goaltending performance in the AHL from Dearborn native Jeremy Smith. Smith turned aside 34 of 35 shots and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 4-1 Providence Bruins victory over the Norfolk Admirals Sunday evening. The 26-year-old has split the season with Malcolm Subban, posting a 1.96 goals-against average, .936 save percentage, a 17-8-5 record in 30 contests with a pair of shutouts to boot. The former second-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators is also a Belle Tire, Compuware and Plymouth Whalers alum. In his career, he has yet to see action in an NHL game, but with such steady numbers in Providence this season, he may get his shot sooner than later.


MARCH 16 – MATT HUNWICKMatt Hunwick

Warren native Matt Hunwick easily played the least of any New York Rangers defenseman Sunday, but it’s what he did with his 13:43 that counted. The U.S. NTDP and University of Michigan alum first drew an assist on James Sheppard’s goal late in the opening frame to give the Blueshirts a 1-0 lead on the Florida Panthers. Then, after a scoreless middle frame, the 29-year-old former seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins scored his first of the year 8:37 into the third period, a shot from the point that found its way past Cats netminder Dan Ellis. With Brandon Pirri responding for Florida less than two minutes later, Hunwick’s marker proved to be a huge game-winner.

Watch Hunwick’s goal here:


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