Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 31, 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.
APRIL 2 – RYAN MILLER
Ryan Miller had a perfect night, and the St. Louis Blues needed it for 60-plus. The East Lansing native stopped all 31 shots he faced through regulation and overtime, then stopped both the shooters he faced in the shootout, as he patiently waited for his teammates to score at the other end of the ice. Shootout goals from T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk finally busted the tie, giving Miller another win for his new team. The former Michigan State Spartan now holds a 10-3-1 with the Blues, with a .920 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average. Yet even more important for his club would be the fact that they are still the top team in the Western Conference. Watch out for Miller and the Blues in the playoffs.
Video highlights:
More MiHockey articles on Miller:
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 24, 2014)
Sochi Watch: How Michigan’s players fared at the Winter Games
Ryan Miller’s Team USA mask revealed
Ryan Miller talks about Sochi, playing against little brother Drew and the Wings
APRIL 1 – JACOB TROUBA
Jacob Trouba is continuing to thrive in his freshman season with the Winnipeg Jets. The Rochester native scored his ninth goal of the year last night, and it was a highlight-reel one to boot. The University of Michigan alum grabbed the puck at the right face-off dot, deked through the Anaheim Ducks’ defense, and roofed the puck past Frederik Andersen to give his Jets the early lead. It was a goal that looked like it came from a forward, not a bruising 6-foot-2 defenseman. Trouba, a product of Compuware and the NTDP, now has 27 points in 59 games as a recently turned 20-year-old NHL rookie. Not bad.
Here’s the goal:
More MiHockey articles on Trouba:
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of Jan. 13, 2014)
U.S. Olympic camp: Players, management talk about hockey in Michigan
Winnipeg Jets officially announce the signing of Jacob Trouba
Jacob Trouba talks about his World Juniors experience
MARCH 31 – MAX PACIORETTY
Max Pacioretty continues to fill up the scoresheets for the Montreal Canadiens. The Unviersity of Michigan alum had two more goals on Saturday night, helping his Original Six club pick up a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers (he also added an assist on the empty-netter at the end). Both goals were Pacioretty being in the right place at the right time, burying the puck from just outside the crease, for the Canadiens’ second and third tallies of the night as they built up a dominating 3-0 lead. For Pacioretty, they were the two goals necessary for him to pass his career-high mark of 33, set in 2011-12. With six games left, we wonder where he will end up at when the final buzzer sounds on the regular season. The two goals also meant big points in the standings for the Canadiens, who are two points ahead of the Lightning for the second spot in the Atlantic.
See the goals:
More MiHockey articles on Pacioretty:
Michi-gamer: Pride of the Mitten (Week of March 3, 2014)
Sochi Watch: How Michigan’s players fared at the Winter Games
This week’s Michi-gamer list assembled by MiHockey’s Michael Caples.