Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Previous or current, the Windfall Bruins’ goaltending image has lengthy been fairly safe.
Over the previous three many years, Windfall has been residence to such Bruins prospects as John Grahame, Andrew Raycroft, Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask and Dan Vladar.
Lately Brandon Bussi has change into one of many NHL’s finest early-season tales. Bussi, now with the Carolina Hurricanes, grew to become the quickest to 10 profession wins in NHL historical past. However Bussi spent components of 4 seasons growing with the P-Bruins earlier than ultimately ending up with Carolina this season.
Nonetheless in Windfall is Michael DiPietro, final season’s winner of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award because the AHL’s most excellent goaltender.
And becoming a member of DiPietro this season is Simon Zajicek, the newest promising goaltending addition in Windfall, the place the Bruins are off to a 19-5-1-0 begin.
“I believe the very first thing is that they each are implausible with one another,” head coach Ryan Mougenel stated. “Michael’s completed an actual good job of mentoring.”
The Boston Bruins have lengthy proven a knack for locating and securing neglected expertise. Final season with Czech membership HC Litvinov, Zajicek went 15-13-0 in 29 video games to go together with a 2.12 goals-against common and the league’s prime save proportion at .930.
Boston’s scouting employees – specifically goaltending growth coach Mike Dunham – recognized the 24-year-old Zajicek as a goal to shore up the group’s depth in objective. It stood as a low-risk association for either side – a one-year, entry-level deal.
The Bruins have additionally lengthy had a profitable Czech expertise pipeline throughout all positions, most notably stars David Krejci and David Pastrnak. Signing with Boston allowed Zajicek to make the always-challenging abroad transfer to a set-up that may provide a sturdy basis for the subsequent stage of his profession.
“It was all the time my dream to come back to the U.S.,” Zajicek defined, “I’m glad I’m right here with the Bruins.”
Zajicek’s play has continued to validate what Boston noticed in him, to the factors that Mougenel is already comfy giving both of his goaltenders the online. DiPietro is 10-4-0 with a 1.97 GAA and a .933 save proportion in 15 video games; Zajicek is 9-1-1 together with a 2.02 GAA and a .932 save proportion. And the 2 have hit it off of their first few months working alongside one another.
Final weekend, Zajicek took a Friday evening begin in Hershey and quieted the Bears with 29 saves in a 4-1 win. An evening later, it was DiPietro’s flip at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and he took care of the primary 14 pictures that he confronted within the first interval. However 12:29 into the sport, DiPietro exited with an undisclosed concern. The Bruins turned again to Zajicek, who put forth maybe the perfect effort of his already-excellent season to this point, stopping 34 of 36 pictures in reduction to assist Windfall earn some extent in a 2-1 time beyond regulation loss – regardless of being outshot, 50-25.
DiPietro’s standing stays unclear, and Luke Cavallin has been summoned from ECHL Maine. However there isn’t any doubt that the staff is comfy turning the reins over to Zajicek. This has been a union that works throughout – for the group, for Windfall, and for each goaltenders.
“I’m feeling nice,” Zajicek stated. “We win, and the boys are serving to me a lot.”
Mentioned Mougenel of Windfall’s newest goaltending discover, “He’s been glorious.”
