Prospects report: Lundkvist scores, Andersson 2 assists, Kravtsov out

New York Rangers prospects were in action with two games in the KHL and a full schedule in the SHL

There was some news about New York Rangers prospects, but not the kind of news fans want to hear.  Stud forward prospect Vitali Kravtsov did not play in Traktor’s 4-2 win over Dynamo Moscow with a lower body injury.  He apparently sustained the injury on Tuesday in their game against Sochi.

There was no further word on the nature of the industry as KHL teams are as circumspect about injuries as their NHL counterparts.   He’ll have plenty of time to get healthy as Traktor doesn’t play again until next Wednesday.

Defense prospect Yegor Rykov was in action for CSKA Moscow in their 5-4 win over Spartak. Rykov didn’t get on the scoreboard, but he did play 21 shifts for 13:26 minutes of ice time.  He was on ice for two CSKA goals and one for Spartak, giving him a plus/minus for the game of +1.   He had one blocked shot on the stat line.

CSKA next plays on Sunday against Avangard Omsk.

Lundkvist & Andersson stay hot

It was Ranger prospect against Ranger prospect when Luleå won on the road against HV71.  Luleå held on for a 5-4 win, almost blowing a 5-2 lead.   Top defense prospect Nils Lundkvist had given them the three goal cushion with an even strength goal 13 minutes into the third period.

HV71 scored two goals in the third period to make it a close game. Lias Anderssson added two assists, on the second and third HV71 goals.

Lundkvist played 17:04 minutes and scored the one goal on three shots. He finished the game with an even plus/minus for the game.  It was his first goal in three games this season and he now has two points in the three games.  He has a team leading 13 shots on goal and is playing 18:32 minutes per game, second most among defensmen.

Luleå is tied for first place with Örebro , undefeated on the season.

Andersson played 16:29 and finished with a +2 plus/minus.  He took two shots, with one on goal and added one hit.  He had another good game on faceoffs, winning 61% of his draws.   Adnersson is tied for the team lead in scoring with four points in four games (one goal and three assists).  He is averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per game and is third on the team with 11 shots on goal.

While Andersson is off to a good start, HV71 is not.  They are yet to win a game and are in last place in the SHL.

Karl Henriksson and Frölunda too on Skellefteå and lost 3-1 at home.  Henriksson played left wing and had 13:02 minutes of ice time.  He had one shot on goal.  Henriksson has one assist in Frölunda’s first three games.  This is his first full season in the SHL.

This was Frölunda’s first loss of the season and they sit in third place in the SHL.

Defenseman Calle Själin played for Leksand in their 5-3 loss to Örebro.  He had 13:49 minutes of ice time and had three shots on goal.  He finished minus one on the day.   He has one assist in three games and no defenseman on Leksand has more.

Leksand is in eighth place with a 1-1-1 record as this was their first regulation loss of the young season, to one of the best teams in the league.

Rögle vs Växjö.   Adam Edström didn’t play in Rögle’s 2-1 loss to Växjö, sitting out the second game of his five game suspension. He was disciplined after the season opener against Linköping  following a big hit against Jarno Kärki.  The Swedish Hockey League Disciplinary Committee suspended him for what they felt was an illegal hit.    He doesn’t play again until Rögle’s game against Brynäs on October 15.

After a day off, all Ranger prospects (except Edström) will be back on the ice on Saturday.

It’s encouraging to see the excellent starts for Kravtov, Lundkvist and Andersson and to see Rekov playing regularly for a top KHL team.   Hopefully the Kravtsov injury is minor and he will be back next week.