This season Bolt Prospects introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their on-ice contributions.
We wanted to highlight prospects throughout the year to help fans get better acquainted with the next round of Lightning stars while recognizing the prospect’s achievement on the ice.
This week’s BP Prospect of the Week award goes to … Jaroslav Janus [6], G, Norfolk Admirals (AHL).
The Norfolk Admirals are in the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in their history, and third-year pro Jaroslav Janus has a lot to do with that.
The Slovakian goaltender stepped into the crease for Dustin Tokarski [7] with the Admirals needing a crucial Game 5 road win to break a 2-2 series tie with the Connecticut Whale. All Janus did was pitch a 22-save shutout as Norfolk won, 4-0. Janus was second star in the game because Alex Picard had two goals for the Admirals for first star honors.
In Game 6, Janus left a rebound in the crease that was banged home by the Whale for a 1-0 early in the game, but was strong in periods two, three, and overtime as the Admirals got a goal from Richard Panik [8] to win the game, 2-1, and series, 4-2. Janus was second star again.
A sixth round pick of the Lightning in 2009, Janus is second in the AHL among goaltenders in playoff goals against average with 1.69. His .937 playoff save percentage is third in the league. He has a 3-1 record in four games, dropping only Game 2 of the opening round series with Manchester when Dustin Tokarski was sick.
This time Janus is in the Norfolk nets because of a coach’s decision, and it doesn’t look like Janus wants to give up that right any time soon.
Previous BP Prospects of the Week:
Danick Gauthier, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) - May 10, 2012 [9]
Alex Killorn [10], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - May 2, 2012 [11]
Riku Helenius [12], JYP (Finland) - April 25, 2012 [13]
Cory Conacher [14], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - April 16, 2012 [15]
Mark Barberio [16], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - April 11, 2012 [17]
Tyler Johnson [18], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - April 4, 2012 [19]
Norfolk Admirals Hockey Club (AHL) - March 27, 2012 [20]
Richard Panik, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - March 21, 2012 [21]
Tyler Johnson, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - March 13, 2012 [22]
Danick Gauthier, Saint John (QMJHL) - March 6, 2012 [23]
Matt Peca, Quinnipiac (NCAA) - February 29, 2012 [24]
Pat Nagle [25], Florida (ECHL) - February 21, 2012 [26]
Alex Hutchings [27], Florida (ECHL) - February 14, 2012 [28]
Alex Killorn, Harvard (NCAA) - February 6, 2012 [29]
Adam Wilcox [30], Tri-City (USHL) and Alex Killorn, Harvard (NCAA) - January 30, 2012 [31]
Nikita Kucherov [32], CSKA Jr. (Russia) - January 24, 2012 [33]
Riku Helenius, JYP (Finland) - January 16, 2012 [34]
Brett Connolly [35], Canada (U20 WJC) - January 10, 2012 [36]
*Due to the Christmas break when few games below the NHL level were played, no POTW award was given.
Mark Barberio, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - December 19, 2011 [37]
Vladislav Namestnikov [38], London Knights (OHL) - December 12, 2011 [39]
Tyler Johnson, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - December 5, 2011 [40]
Alex Killorn, Harvard (NCAA) - November 28, 2011 [41]
Nikita Kucherov, Team Russia/CSKA Jr. (MHL) - November 21, 2011 [42]
Vladislav Namestnikov, London Knights (OHL) - November 14, 2011 [43]
Dustin Tokarski, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - November 6, 2011 [44]
Riku Helenius, JYP (Finland) - October 30, 2011 [45]
Matthew Peca [46], Quinnipiac Bobcats - October 23, 2011 [47]
Radko Gudas [48], Norfolk Admirals - October 16, 2011 [47]
Carter Ashton [49], Norfolk Admirals - October 9, 2011 [50]
Brett Connolly, Tampa Bay Lightning - October 2, 2011 [51]
Mattias Ritola [52], Tampa Bay Lightning - September 25, 2011 [53]