Boston University’s early surge has a lot to do with one guy standing on his head.
After a frustrating 17-17-2 campaign, the Terriers have opened this season 3-1, and Mikhail Yegorov has been the driving force. Through four games, he owns a 1.00 GAA and a .956 save percentage, and he’s already posted one shutout. He’s also chipped in in a way most goalies never do, picking up an assist on an overtime play and giving him more points than Devils forward prospect Conrad Fondrk.
Fondrk, though, has barely had a chance to build on anything yet. He’s played only two games this season and missed this weekend’s action because of an injury.
The former second-round pick is listed as day to day, and he had been working in the top six before getting hurt. Once he’s back, the points figure to follow.
Yegorov’s numbers have been strong enough to send anyone digging deeper, and there’s plenty to explore on his personal analytics webpage, which breaks down his performance in detail - including his stats by period.
Elsewhere in the pool, Adirondack started its weekend with a 5-2 win. Jeremy Hanzel scored his first goal of the season, with Grant Loven collecting the assist, and Seth Eisele handled the rest by stopping 25 of 27 shots to get the opening-night victory.
Utica, meanwhile, took its first loss of the year, dropping a 4-0 decision to first-place Laval on Saturday. Jakub Malek allowed three goals in the defeat, leaving him at 1-1 with a 2.04 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Going into that game, the Comets were the last unbeaten team in the AHL.
Center Alexander Command is still looking very much like someone who belongs above the U20 level.
Boston College forward Matias Vanhanen picked up the first collegiate goal of his career this weekend and now has three points in three games. Since video of the goal wasn’t available online, there was at least another way to check out his game: his second NCAA assist.
Flint goaltender Trenten Bennett also returned from injury, making 26 saves on 29 shots in an overtime loss.
And in the KHL, Nikita Shcherbakov has added another line to his résumé with national team honors. He has six points in 18 games for Salavat so far this season, and he turns 19 later this week. According to Quant Hockey, the KHL record for points by a 19-year-old defenseman is 15, and Shcherbakov is currently tracking toward 23.
In Other News...
Flames Fans May Need To Rethink Those Devils Trades
Calgarys win over Carolina had a familiar twist for Devils followers, with Yegor Sharangovich providing the game-winning goal and reminding people why his departure from New Jersey still stands out. The Flames have leaned on a cluster of former Devils players, too, and Kevin Bahl and Simon Nemec have settled in as a sturdy defensive pairing that has helped give Calgary some real balance on the back end.
It is the broader trade history that keeps making this feel worth revisiting from a New Jersey perspective. The Flames have been the landing spot for players acquired in deals with the Devils, including Jacob Markstrom and Tyler Toffoli, and the early returns keep looking better than many expected when those moves were made. Sharangovich, meanwhile, has backed up his strong season with more timely production, which only adds to the sense that some of these exchanges may deserve a fresh look. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Suddenly Have A New Path To A Superstar Trade
The Devils spent the offseason reinforcing a roster that already looked like it had a real window, mixing confirmed trades and signings with a few key retainers to keep the core intact. Now a different kind of opportunity has opened up, one that could change the shape of their forward group if they decide to get aggressive.
Dylan Larkin has reportedly widened the list of teams he would consider as a trade destination, and New Jersey is now among them. For a club that has tried to build toward contention without losing its identity, that kind of opening is hard to ignore, even if it only puts the Devils in the conversation for now and leaves the next step very much unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Goalie Plan Leaves One Rostered Option Clearly On The Outside
The Devils are moving forward with a clear crease hierarchy, at least for now, with Sheldon Keefe saying the club is operating with a two-goalie setup centered on Jake Allen and Nico Daws. Rmi Poirier, claimed on waivers, is still on the roster as the extra layer of depth, but his role has been limited to insurance rather than a real chance to grab a net.
For a team that has already settled into this arrangement, any shift would have to go beyond the coaching staff alone, with general manager Sunny Mehta part of the discussion if the Devils decide to revisit the setup. Poirier remains the name on the outside looking in, and until the organization chooses to alter its plan, the path to a start does not appear to be opening anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]