• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
It was a sweet Valentine's Day for Russian and Czech draft prospects at the Five Nations Tournament in Plymouth, Mich., on Wednesday. Russia blanked a very good Finnish team in the opening game, and the Czechs rolled to a stunning rout of Team USA just one day after losing to the Finns. Players from both teams can be found below in the top-performances list.
The tournament continues on Thursday with a showdown between the Russians and Czechs and Russians. Based on the games so far, Russia looks like the dominant team, but the Czechs play with a lot of heart. In any case, here's a look back at Wednesday's top performances:
YAROSLAV ALEXEYEV -- Alexeyev, a 5-foot-9 right wing, who went undrafted last season, had the best night of his QMJHL career to date. The Russian import notched his first major-junior hat trick along with an assist in Sherbrooke's 6-1 win over Saint John on Wednesday. The game's No. 1 star began his scoring binge with a power-play assist on the game's first goal at 1:57 of the second period. The hat trick kicked off with the eventual game-winner at 16:05 of the second to make it 2-1. In the third period, he scored at 4:37 to make it 5-1 and again on a power-play at 9:46. Alexeyev is a longshot to be drafted in June because he does not have NHL size, but he has 18 goal and 50 points in 56 games this season.
MATEJ BLUMEL -- Few draft prospects have done more in one game this season than what Blumel achieved in the Czechs' 6-2 Five Nations upset of Team USA. The left wing, who plays for Waterloo of the USHL, scored four goals in four different ways on Wednesday, dominating the game and leaving the Americans helpless. Blume's first goal came on a power play at 7:50 of the opening period for a 2-1 lead. His second goal, shorthanded at 13:02 of the second period, made it 4-2. He completed his second-period hat trick by scoring even-strength at 18:45 to make it 5-2, and closed out the game with an empty-netter at 16:01 of the third. Blumel's huge night was a complete surprise, since he has gone 12 straight USHL game without a goal.
MICHAEL FARREN -- Farren was the hero of Saskatoon's 3-2 win at Kootenay on Wednesday with a goal and an assist for No. 3 star honors. After getting the lone assist on the game's first goal -- scored on a power-play at 9:25 of the first period -- Blumel fired home a dramatic game-winner to snap a 2-2 tie at 16:12 of the third. He only has eight goals and 14 points in 49 games this season, but Farren is heating up with goals in three of his last five games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
AMIR MIFTAKHOV -- Any NHL team looking for a good European goaltender had better not wait too long to select him. Miftakhov has been brilliant in Russia's MHL junior league this season, and he made a big statement at the Five Nations event on Wednesday -- stopping 28 shots in a 4-0 shutout of Finland. Miftakhov made nine saves in the first period, 11 in the second, and eight in the third. He came into the tournament on a three-game MHL winning streak, and this really is his time to shine in front of NHL scouts. (Note: Ninth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
DAVID TENDECK -- Look back at all the preseason draft rankings for goaltenders. Where is David Tendeck? Talk about an oversight. On Wednesday, the Vancouver Giants No. 1 goalie continued his romp through the WHL as the No. 1 star of his team's 4-2 win at Portland. Tendeck stopped 47 of 49 shots -- all 10 in the first, 19 of 21 in the second, and all 18 in the third. In his last two victories alone, Tended has stopped 96 shots and been the No. 1 star of each game. His .915 save percentage ranks second in the WHL behind phenom Carter Hart, and his 2.91 goals-against average is third in the league. He has a bright future between the pipes in the NHL. (Note: 10th appearance on this list in 2017-18)