The Vancouver Canucks’ prospect pipeline has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting lately, and Sunday night gave the organization another reason to pay attention.
In Peterborough’s matchup with Niagara, Adam Novotný delivered yet again in overtime, while newly acquired goaltender Aleksei Medvedev made a winning first start for the Petes. It was a strong night for both Canucks prospects, especially with Vancouver having dropped 15 of its last 16 games.
The setup was fresh for Medvedev, who arrived in Peterborough on Friday after the Petes landed him from the London Knights for a 2028 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2030 fifth-round pick. By Sunday, he was already in the crease for his new club.
Peterborough gave him a comfortable start. The Petes controlled the opening period and outshot Niagara 18-7, with Medvedev making key saves when needed. Braydon McCallum also scored, and Peterborough carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Niagara answered in the second. Medvedev handled the first seven shots he faced in the period and stayed composed for the first 14 minutes, but after a turnover behind the net and a scramble in front, Christian Colosimo found space in the high slot and scored his first of the season to tie it.
The third period belonged more to Peterborough. Novotný nearly broke it open early, ringing one off the iron, then added another shot eight minutes in as the Petes kept pressing. Their patience finally paid off on their 10th shot of the period, but the game still wasn’t done.
With under three minutes left, Peterborough took a boarding penalty and Niagara went to work with a 6-on-4 advantage. The IceDogs loaded the crease with three big bodies and pushed hard for the equalizer.
Then, with under two minutes left, the Petes took another penalty and Medvedev was forced to stand tall again. He did, making two saves before regulation expired.
That only set the stage for Novotný, who has made a habit of ending games in style. Once the puck got to him in overtime, he took it from the far-right boards, skated to the top of the zone, then cut all the way to the left-side circle and fired with room to spare. He buried it, just as Canucks fans have come to expect when he gets that kind of look.
The goal stretched Novotný’s scoring streak to three games and sealed Medvedev’s first victory in three weeks, as well as his first in a Petes uniform.
Medvedev finished as the game’s first star after stopping 25 of 27 shots for a .926 save percentage. Novotný earned the third star for the overtime winner.
The two prospects are back in action Thursday, November 12, when Peterborough hosts the Kingston Frontenacs. Puck drop is set for 5:05 PM PCT.
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