By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
THE REGULARS:
Portland Winterhawks' forward Ty Rattie continues to lead the Western Hockey league in scoring with a 42-44-86 scoring line in 48 games. His 42 goals are second in the league behind the 44 in 44 games scored by 2011 Anaheim first-rounder Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers, and his 44 assists place him 11th in the 'Dub in that category. His two-way play is worrisome, however, as he is a minus-7 in his last five games, and a minus-6 for the month of January.
Vladimir Tarasenko's first goal with SKA St. Petersburg was just a small part of the story for the Blues' 2010 first-round selection. Tarasenko struck for a hat trick in SKA's 8-3 win over Torpedo Nizhniy Novogord on Thursday, giving him four points in two games for the week and moving him back to the brink of that point-per-game standard with 43 points (21 G, 22 A) in 44 games.
The Blues' other 2010 first-round pick, Colorado College sophomore Jaden Schwartz, enjoyed a mid-season weekend off along with his team, as the Tigers were not scheduled to play this week.
AFTER THE JUMP:
After the jump, your weekly look at the players in the Blues' organization who are "Trending Up." Defense is in the spotlight this week, as three of this week's Fab Five are blueliners, and one is a goaltender. Stay tuned...
Ty RATTIE | Jaden SCHWARTZ | Vladimir TARASENKO |
Portland (WHL) | Colorado College (WCHA) | SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) |
** 4 games played this week | ** 0 games played this week | ** 2 games played this week |
** 0 G, 5 A, minus-4 | ** 0 G, 0 A | ** 3 G, 1 A, plus-4 |
** 4 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW | ** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW | ** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW |
THIS WEEK'S STANDOUTS:
Joel EDMUNDSON | Teemu ERONEN | Cade FAIRCHILD | Niklas LUNDSTRÖM | Yannick VEILLEUX |
Moose Jaw (WHL) | Jokerit Helsinki (SML) | Peoria (AHL) | AIK Solna (J20 SEL) | Shawinigan (QMJHL) |
** 3 games played this week | ** 2 games played this week | ** 3 games played this week | ** 2 game played this week | ** 2 games played this week |
** 0 G, 3 A, plus-3 | ** 2 G, 2 A, even | ** 1 G, 3 A, plus-3 | ** 61 mins, 1 GA, 1-0-0 | ** 1 G, 1 A, plus-3 |
** 4 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW | ** 0 PM, 1 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW | ** 2 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW | ** 0.98 GAA, 96.3% sv pct | ** 2 PM, 1 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW |
HONORABLE MENTION:
BEN BISHOP, G, Peoria (AHL): 1 GP, 60 mins, 2 GA, 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, 94.1% sv pct.
EVGENY GRACHEV, LW, Peoria (AHL): 3 GP, 1 G, 2 A, minus-1, 0 PM, 1-0-0.