Gajan, James remain in the storylines of the game for a reason
By Anthony Pellegrino @Pellegrinoap50 IceInsider.com Predators All Access Reporter
UMass Lowell--The UMass Lowell Riverhawks welcomed in Minnesota Duluth for night one of a two-game contest on Friday. Blackhawks prospects Adama Gajan and Dominic James appeared in the lineup, marking Gajan's first start, and James' first goal due to injuries since the 2022-2023 season.
The biggest standouts on the ice throughout the night happened to both be Blackhawks prospects, and draft picks.
If it wasn't for Gajan who stopped all but two on 38 shots, Minnesota Duluth could've found themselves on the losing end of the game. He was stellar, from puck drop.
The sixth man:
Gajan, 20, was forced as a scratch last weekend due to playing a handful of by-terms, pro hockey matchups in the Slovak 2 league, from 2020-2022. However, it seemed as if the term midseason form and Adam Gajan went hand in hand together throughout the night.
Early on, it was UMass Lowell pushing pressure on the Bulldogs, and it was Gajan who saw and stopped a breakaway in which he considered playing, yet ultimately stayed in his crease, shutting down his contest.
He was strong through 20 when he needed to be, stopping 10 of 11 heading into the 2nd frame. He soaked up early rebounds along with shutting down a breakaway which for a brief moment, he debated playing out to his defenseman.
Zone entry struggles continued almost through the whole period for the Riverhawks in the second until Gajan flashed the leather on defenseman Ben Meehan, which would be one of seven glove stops he made during the night. Following the play, he was tested with four consecutive shots, which were all turned aside.
It took four consecutive shots at Gajans's glove for Lowell to shoot blocker side, which caught Duluth netminder Gajan off guard, putting the Riverhawks down just two with under half the period left to play.
Even after, Gajan seemed unfazed by the goal leaving right where he left off, saving four high-danger chances in just over two minutes. As the time ticked down for UMass Lowell to climb back into the game, a two-on-one came Gajan's way which he stunned the crowd, robbing Ben Meehan point blank.
After watching 60 minutes of Gajan's play, Blackhawks fans should anticipate him to be in net, on a regular basis, with Chicago if his development continues down this path. What stood out:
Gajan's glove hand was incredible, stopping everything that came it's way, totaling 7 glove saves on the night. Some through traffic, some point blank, his hand-eye to his glove side along with his reflexes make it look easy. A notable glove save, when UML attacked looking for a late goal, players took Gajan off his feet yet still, he gloved the shot with no rebound.
Playing the puck seemed to be Gajan's niche. Throughout the night, whether it was behind the net, on the power play, or even on semi-breakaways which he played, it's rare to see a goaltender at the NCAA level so routine in every puck-playing situation as Gajan was. He was the factor to plenty of breakouts, power play entries, and more.
"Dominant" Dominic James:
He's aware of what's ahead. Any 6th-round NHL draft pick knows the uphill journey to climb. Especially, when you miss almost the entirety of your junior season due to an injury, like Blackhawks 2022 6th round draft pick Dominic James.
Named captain of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, it became evident as the night went on why he has the "C". Every occasion that the Bulldogs found the back of the net, if he was on the ice or on the bench, James celebrated as if he scored a game seven Stanley Cup Finals goal. There we're a plethora of instances on the power play that without James' hustle, pucks are out of the zone. A battle mindset, with the ability to not only score but facilitate plays.
Joe Molenaar capitalized shorthanded James found himself on a breakaway, almost putting the puck through Lowell goaltender Beni Halasz, and Molenaar sealed the goal. James hustled past nine on the ice, to lead himself alone with Halasz.
Later in the game, just 35 seconds into the final frame, captain Dominic James fired a puck right past the blocker of Halasz for his first goal since the 2022-2023 season due to injuries that held him out all but two games last season.
A no-quit player, hustling for every point, hit, and possession, he's a player Blackhawks fans should keep tabs on.
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