#Habs Oliver Kapanen out there casually dominating Liiga playoffs at age 20. pic.twitter.com/QbFQNKby3l
– Dan Kramer (@DanKramerHabs) March 24, 2024
Yesterday, I listed all the Montreal Canadiens prospect games to watch for the day, given that the Tricolore wasn’t in action.
In the end, the Rocket’s big win and Jacob Fowler’s domination of Lane Hutson were the most eye-catching.
But there was much more to yesterday’s action, and here’s a roundup of the best performances from the Habs’ top prospects.
Oliver Kapanen – Center – age 20
Here’s a Habs prospect about whom VERY little has been said since his second-round selection (64ᵉ overall) in the 2021 draft.
His performances are very little analyzed, and he is rarely named in conversations surrounding the Montreal Canadiens’ top prospects.
Yet Kapanen is performing very well in Finland’s top league (the Liiga) for a 20-year-old.
However, the reason I’m talking about Kapanen right now is because he’s been on fire in Finland’s current playoffs.
Kapanen is firmly in the driving seat, especially considering he’s scored three winning goals in four games since the start of the playoffs.
Here’s his overtime goal from yesterday morning in a 1-0 win.
How about three game-winning goals in four Liiga playoff games for Oliver Kapanen? KalPa continues its unlikely run, grabbing a 2-0 lead on second-place Ilves in its best-of-seven series. https://t.co/MaoS5gj5hz
– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) March 23, 2024
In the one game where Kapanen didn’t score the winning goal, well, he scored a VERY important one, the tying goal late in the third period in Game 1 of the series against Tampereen.
#Habs Oliver Kapanen with the equaliser!!! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/OFjDfPm3RP
– Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) March 21, 2024
As for his two winning goals in the preliminary round, here’s the one from the second game, which took his team into the main draw.
Now let’s see if the Habs prospect can sign with the Habs after his playoff run and join the Laval Rocket for next season.
This is by no means a certainty, considering that Timra, a team in the SHL (Sweden’s premier league), is trying to reach an agreement with Kapanen for next season.
The team’s general manager is none other than Kapanen’s father, Kimmo Kapanen.
Interesting news from Sweden: Timra in the SHL is looking to reach an agreement with Oliver Kapanen.
In fact, Timra’s general manager is… Oliver’s father, Kimmo Kapanen. #GoHabsGo https://t.co/7q7K8lVqG9
– Podcast La Relève (@PodcastLaReleve) March 18, 2024
His two-way game is impeccable, and that’s what could take him all the way to the NHL.
- Owen Beck extended his streak of games with at least one point to 19 games with two assists yesterday in the Saginaw Spirit’s 8-5 win over the Windsor Spitifires. Beck will try to make it 20 straight games with at least one point this afternoon, when the Spirit take on the Saul Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
- Florian Xhekaj reached the 60-point plateau (in 62 games) yesterday with a goal (his 32ᵉ of the season) in a 4-3 overtime loss by the Brantford Bulldogs to the Kingston Frontenacs.
Florian Xhekaj, so hot right now https://t.co/pwB9Bw4iMD
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 24, 2024
- Adam Engstrom’s team, Rögle BK, are pulling off a huge upset in the SHL playoffs, as they lead 2-0 in their second-round series against regular-season champion Färjestad BK. Rögle won 3-0 yesterday.
In a gust
– Here’s Grant McCagg’s analysis of Kapanen, a prospect he’s always liked.
Prospect of the week: Oliver Kapanen@grantmccagg, @GaumondShayne and @scoutrocco discuss the prospects of the week.
Full pod
Watch: https://t.co/r4vvHLRTq9
Listen: https://t.co/OqjNyqQJ0i#thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/Zh2TDd8iJT– The Sick Podcast – Recrutes Draftcast (@sickpodnhldraft) March 20, 2024
– Not to be missed.
#Stanley25: Part 2 of the episode around suppertime today.
Segment with a former @CanadiensMTL manager.
Don’t miss it.@Jean_JT_Trudel @9millions_ @DLCoulisses pic.twitter.com/tCs2tUvLt7
– Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) March 24, 2024
– Ayoye.
Incredible goalie fight last night in Moose Jaw
Via @theblueliner pic.twitter.com/8vIeRDA0zs– BarDown (@BarDown) March 24, 2024
– A dangerous gesture.
This is concerning. No place for this in the game. https://t.co/IjhWUqNYhp
– John Forslund (@JohnForslund) March 23, 2024
– To be continued.
Kevin Gausman is planning to start the Blue Jays’ spring training finale Monday, a step that should set him up for his first turn in the rotation during the regular season.
: @ShiDavidi https://t.co/PGauMOiGaE
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 24, 2024
– Predictions for the American League’s Western Section.
A two-way battle for the division title. https://t.co/ru47c0Zyl8
– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) March 24, 2024