Vancouver Canucks Prospects of week 6: DiPietro, Madden and Palmu

Each week I will be featuring the Vancouver Canucks top three prospects of the week. Along with any other notable performances, should there be any that deserve mentioning?

It was a very noteworthy week for Vancouver Canucks prospects with several outstanding performances.

1. Michael DiPietro

The Utica Comets have extended their season-opening win streak to seven games and have Michael DiPietro to thank for it still having life. The Windsor, Ontario native, was sensational between the pipes making 38 saves in a game that the Comets were decisively outplayed. Furthermore, he stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout. The Comets came away with a 2-1 victory, and DiPietro garnered first star honours.

2. Tyler  Madden

After an outstanding freshman season, Tyler Madden has picked up where he left off last year. With the game Friday versus St. Cloud State tied 1-1 near the midway mark of the second period, the Northeastern Huskies forward would strike for a pair of second-period goals.

The Huskies would go on to a 4-1 victory.  In the rematch, on Saturday, he would notch another goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. However, it would be the lone marker the Huskies would manage, and they came up short in a 2-1 decision.

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3. Petrus Palmu

The diminutive Finn has been playing some of his best hockey for JYP in the Finnish Liiga. This past week he was rewarded for his efforts. While trailing 2-1 to Jukurit in their first game of this segment, Palmu would get the equalizer with under five minutes to play, while on the power play.

He would then proceed to get the primary assist on the game-winning goal just over a minute later. JYP would add two empty-net goals, one of which Palmu also earned an assist on for a 5-2 victory.

Two days later, the JYP team was a 4-1 loser to IFK Helsinki. A game in which Palmu did not factor in the scoring. However, he would rebound in the next outing, adding a goal and an assist in a 7-0 triumph over Assat.  Palmu has 11 points in eight games this season and is the points per game leader for his squad.

Honourable Mentions

• Vasili Podkolzin registered a goal and two assists in three games this past week for SKA Neva St. Petersburg in the Russian VHL.
• University of Michigan forward Will Lockwood managed a pair of goals in as many games.
• Jack Malone recorded a goal and two assists in two games. They were the first games of his collegiate career.
• Francis Perron chipped in with three assists this past week for the Comets, while defenceman Olli Juolevi had one assist and numerous solid defensive plays, particularly on the penalty kill in helping the Comets preserve their current streak.
• Goaltender Arturs Silovs backstopped a pair of victories for the Barrie Colts, stopping 69 of 74 shots for a .932 save percentage while earning one first-star selection.
• Finally, Carson Focht had two goals and Jett Woo two assists in a pair of wins for the Calgary Hitmen.

Not only was it an exceptional week for Canucks prospects statistically, but this past week also saw two players return to their respective teams.

Toni Utunen is back in the lineup after recovering from an injury suffered weeks ago in a Champions Hockey League match. Nils Hoglander has finished serving the five-game suspension that he was handed for a vicious elbow and has returned to the lineup for Rogle.