Talyn Boyko Wins Fourth Straight Start

Talyn Boyko (Kelowna Rockets)

Going to address the elephant known as the 2022 World Under-20 Championships before talking about how the New York Ranger prospects did on Wednesday evening. Karma came back and bit the IIHF and the event organizers in the rear end for hosting the games in the first place.

With the current Covid crisis affecting the hockey world before this tournament even got underway, one has to wonder what they were thinking? Other "world" championships were being canceled (IE the Women's Under-18) so it is fair to question the motives for even starting this tournament in the first place. 

As for possibly restarting this tournament in the summer, first only if any of the other canceled tournaments were also held. Second, if I was an agent there is no way that I would let my client play in any summer version.

Summer is the time to get in the off-season work to get ready for next season. As much of an honor, it is to play for one's country, making an NHL team is a life-long goal and should take priority. The world won't end if there isn't a 2022 World Under-22 champion.

Talyn Boyko made it back-to-back the second star of the game honors as he led his Kelowna Rockets to a 6-2 win over archrivals the Kamloops Blazers. It was Boyko's third straight win over the Blazers and he is 5-0 for the season over them. 

A close game until the third period, Boyko shut the Blazers out until 19:56 of the second period and took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. The third period was all Rockets as they broke the game open with three goals in the period first 9:37 as the team earned its fourth straight win to improve to 15-9-0-3 good for fourth place in the WHL's Western Conference. 

Boyko stopped 35 out of 37 shots as he improved his season totals to 10-10-1-1 with a 3.34 goals against and a 0.908 save percentage. Since joining the Rockets, Boyko is 9-4-0-1 with a 2.77 goals against and a 0.920 save percentage. 

Take away Boyko's numbers with the Tri-City Americans (1-6-1 4.47 GAA and 0.887 Sv%) and Boyko is in the top ten in several WHL goaltending categories. The New York Rangers just might have found the steal of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. 

Catch Boyko's postgame remarks here

Somehow Jayden Grubbe was held off the scoresheet as his Red Deer Rebels held off the Prince Albert Raiders 8-6. 12 Rebels earned one or more points as the Rebels built up a 5-2 lead in the second to earn the win. 

Grubbe was credited with two shots as he went 12-12 on faceoffs. 

Brennan Othmann and his Flint Firebirds made their return from the COVID list but they dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to their archrivals the Saginaw Spirit. Othmann was held scoreless on six shots. 

Now the question is how fast the three North American Rangers prospects be allowed to play for their home teams now that the World Under-20 have been canceled.