In Saturday action, Viljami Marjala scored on the power play for his second goal of the year as TPS fell to Karpat 4-2. The loss snaps Turku’s three-game winning streak that coincided with Marjala’s return to the lineup.
Marjala, who scored from his usual spot on the left side of the power play, took a few strides into the circle and released a quick shot on a play that we saw him make several times last season. He added variety to his goal scoring as last season progressed. Continuing to capitalize with the man advantage while building out his even-strength effectiveness will be keys for Marjala this season.
For now, he’s off to an excellent start with six points (2+4) and 18 shots on goal through his first four games.
In the KHL, Prokhor Poltapov went without a point for the fourth straight game in CSKA’s 4-0 loss to Traktor Chelyabinsk.
With CSKA getting hammered in a 7-0 loss to Metallurg on Thursday, head coach Ilya Vorobiev rolled out a different set of lines in this one. Out of the blender came Poltapov with his usual centerman Maxim Sorkin and Ivan Drozdov on the opposite wing as a replacement for KHL co-leading point-getter Vitaly Abramov. It clearly did not work.
CSKA will look to end the trend of being shut out on Tuesday when they host Salavat Ufa.
In the SHL, Willian Von Barnekow earned 11:43 of work in his usual fourth-line role as Malmo lost to Frolunda 2-1.
Linus Sjodin recorded one hit in a season-low 10:04 of action as Rogle was defeated by Lulea 3-1.
NCAA
Jake Richard capped off a successful opening weekend by finishing off a nice feed from Buffalo-area product Joey Muldowney to help Connecticut to a 6-2 win over Colgate. Richard opens his sophomore campaign with goals on back-to-back games – a feat he accomplished just once as a freshman.
Right-handed defenseman Maxim Strbak recorded two assists for the third multiple point game of his NCAA career as No. 4 Michigan State earned the weekend sweep of Lake Superior State with a 5-1 win. Strbak also contributed five shots on goal in the victory, while his defensive partner, Patrick Geary, logged one shot on goal and a tripping minor.
Stiven Sardarian made a quick impression with his new teammates, picking up a heady, one-touch assist just 69 seconds into his Michigan Tech career as the Huskies earned a 4-3 exhibition victory over Northern Michigan.
Sardarian, wearing No. 6 in white, executed the quick passing play to perfection as his new squad got the early lead on the team he originally committed to this past offseason. Sardarian is set up to have a nice season with Tech after spending his first two collegiate seasons at the University of New Hampshire.
Elsewhere in exhibition play, Aaron Huglen scored the first Gopher goal as No. 6 Minnesota dominated No. 16 St. Cloud State 5-1. Huglen served as the Gophers’ top-line centerman between Nashville prospect Matthew Wood, who transferred to Minnesota from UConn, and Brody Lamb (NYR).
Brodie Ziemer made an excellent all-around debut in a Gophers sweater, recording two assists, including a nice cross-ice pass to set up a Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) goal, and making several smart plays in all three zones of the ice.
Ziemer, a freshman, played left wing on a line with Oliver Moore (CHI) and Snuggerud. He looks poised to make a seamless transition to college hockey and quickly become a key all-situations player for head coach Bob Motzko.
Adam Kleber pumped three shots on goal in his collegiate debut as No. 18 Minnesota-Duluth suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to Bemidji State.
Gavin McCarthy began his season on the top defensive pair alongside Cole Hutson (WSH) as No. 3 Boston University got past Holy Cross 5-2. McCarthy finished the night plus-two with two shots on goal.
Matteo Costantini kicked off the year as Western Michigan’s top-line centerman as the Broncos earned a 4-1 exhibition win over the U.S, Under-18 Team.
USHL
Vasily Zelenov scored an empty-goal, the first marker of his USHL career, and notched a pair assists as Green Bay doubled Omaha 4-2.
Zelenov has proven to be a reliable two-way player thus far for the Gamblers, and his work paid off with the first multi-point night of his North American stay. The productive outing elevates Zelenov to a point-per-game pace with six (1+5) in his first half dozen USHL contests.
Defenseman Luke Osburn saw his point shot tipped for a late goal as Youngstown stormed back with three unanswered tallies in the third period to defeat Cedar Rapids 3-2.
Osburn was very active throughout the game and especially in the final frame when he was activating with a sense of urgency and pushing the pace. The assist was his first point of the season.
OHL
Ryerson Leenders allowed four goals on 32 shots as Brantford lost to Windsor 5-1. Leenders, who previously allowed seven goals on 30 shots in his first start of the season back on Sept. 27, moves to 0-2 with a 5.58 GAA and .849 save%.
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