After being a healthy scratch on Monday and Wednesday and 7 of the first 8 games on the season, Lokomotiv of the KHL loaned Roman Bychkov to Molot Perm of the VHL – Russia’s equivalent to the AHL.
On Wednesday, the USHL regular season got under way for Sioux Falls Stampede teammates Beckett Hendrickson and Chris Pelosi. As expected, the two 2023 draft picks were paired together on the top line and less than two minutes into the second period, Pelosi set up Hendrickson to put the Stampede up 2-0 and they never looked back defeating Cedar Rapids Rough Riders 5-2.
One thing that really stood out was Pelosi’s work ethic and SOB attitude. Mid-way through the third when his teammate took an unnecessary slashing call, Drew Stewart took exception to it and it was Pelosi who was there. And a moment you just had to laugh at: With the score 4-2, Cedar Rapids pulled their goaltender. Hendrickson went in on a 2-on-o with the net empty and completely whiffed on the shot and falling and sliding into the end boards. Luckily for the Stampede, his teammate was there to deposit it into the empty cage. Apparently, Hendrickson touched the puck and an assist was added for him the next day.
On Thursday, Sioux Falls lost a heartbreaker in overtime 2-1 to Tri-City Storm. Late in the second period and on the powerplay, a trio of Stampede, including Pelosi played a large triangle perfectly until the puck ended up on Pelosi’s stick in the right faceoff circle where he wristed it far side and over the blocker of the goaltender for a 1-0 lead. The Storm would tie it late in the third and win it midway through overtime. He finished with 4 shots on goal. Hendrickson did not register a point and had two shots on goal.
Also on Thursday, Linkoping HC dropped a 7-4 decision to Modo to drop to 1-1-1-0 on the season. Jonathan Myrenberg did not figure in the scoring in 14:31 TOI. For the first time in 11 preseason and regular season games he was on the ice for a 5v5 goal against, yet he still finished with a plus-1 in this game. You know I’m a fan, but I think even I underestimated his ability to defend and transition the other way, especially under pressure. His older brother Jesper started in goal for Linkoping.
On Friday, Frolunda HC began a 3-games-in-3-days weekend and got back on track after losing two in a row with a 3-1 win over last place Vasteras IK to move back into top spot in the J20 Nationell Sodra Division standings. Both Casper Nassen and Kristian Kostadinski were kept off the scoreboard. Keeping pucks out of their net is not an issue as the have the best GAA out of 11 teams. But scoring? Only 4 teams have fewer goals per game. That doesn’t bode well for Nassen as I had him penned here to finish top ten in league scoring and he currently sits 36th. But the season is still young!
On Saturday, Leksand defeated Linkoping 3-0. Former Bruins prospect Peter Cehlarik provided the damage with a goal and an assist. For Myrenberg, it was his biggest game to date with 20:05 TOI, almost 6 minutes more than average. He remains pointless through four games, but as I have stressed, it is not about the points for him this season but about gaining the pro experience before coming to North America. The question I have with Myrenberg as I do with all European defenceman: As great as he has been in puck retrieval and transitioning on the larger ice, will that translate to North America or will opposition forwards be able to close in quicker?
In J20 Nationell action, Frolunda defeated Vasteras 4-3 to remain in top spot in the Sodra division with a 7-2-0 record. Nassen ended a 3-game pointless streak with an assist. With the exception of one game, the right shot winger has played entirely on the right wing. I think he was getting more offensive opportunities a season ago when playing his off wing. No offence from Kostadinski in this one but the blueliner was again a mean S.O.B. to play against. And he stayed out of the penalty box in this one.
Finally on Sunday, Frolunda completed their three-in-three weekend with a 5-1 loss to Sodertalje SK. Although both teams finished with 34 shots each, it wasn’t really that close. A lot of Frolunda’s opportunities came from distance. Through 10 games, this was the worst performance on the season for both Nassen and Kostadinski.
So, Sunday was the first opportunity you had to watch Brandon Bussi play? Impressive, wasn’t he? If you get the impression the Bruins goaltending situation is set for the long term, you wouldn’t be mistaken. Bussi stopped all 29 shots he faced to win his first preseason start 3-0 over the New York Rangers. And some of those saves were of the spectacular fashion. The technique, agility, calmness and mobility were near perfection. If there was a negative to be found at all it was a mental lapse a couple of times when he went into the reverse VH, he left too much room upstairs. Obviously, the Rangers didn’t capitalize on them and it’s not an issue of concern. Mike Dunham will continue to wok with Bussi down in Providence.
Coming up this week:
| PLAYER | M – 25 | T – 26 | W – 27 | T – 28 | F – 29 | S – 30 | S – 1 |
| NASSEN/KOSTADINSKI | Vs IKO | ||||||
| MYRENBERG | At FRO | At FAR | At LUL | ||||
| BYCHKOV | Vs ALM | ||||||
| JELLVIK/GASSEAU | |||||||
| LOCMELIS | |||||||
| WALSH | |||||||
| LANGENBRUNNER | |||||||
| SPICER/OLSON | |||||||
| SCHMALTZ | |||||||
| DURAN/SVEDEBACK | |||||||
| GALLAGHER | |||||||
| POITRAS | Vs O S | At WSR | |||||
| EDWARD | Vs NIA | At NIA | |||||
| HENDRICKSON/PELOSI | At D M | ||||||
| DYCK | Vs CGY | At BDN |
Dom - Hockey 