Despite the heartbreaking final seconds loss to the Florida Panthers, it sure was nice to see Zack Bolduc have a fantastic game. The 21-year-old center is still trying to find his groove in his second season of NHL play, and he showed out against one of the best teams in the league.
With the opening goal of the game and an assist on Oskar Sundqvist's game-tying goal in the second period, he was the only Blues player with a multi-point game. Adding three shots on goal, he was a constant difference maker when he was on the ice.
First goal in 24 games
That's gotta be a good feeling. After going scoreless over the past 24 games, Bolduc finally lit the lamp for his sixth goal of the year. It could not have come at a better time, as the Blues core players of Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, and Pavel Buchnevich were next to non-existent in this one. Their quiet play spoke volumes, as the secondary scoring needed to step up.
With 27 games to go, Bolduc has a chance to become another name on the lengthy list of Blues that scored 10+ goals this season. He needs just four to reach that mark. This is a giant leap forward for the young up-and-comer, and once the other young guns like Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud get called up, this could be the future of the Blues.
Could you imagine the next three seasons with Schenn, Thomas, and Buchnevich all under contract and the prospects coming up? If the Blues come up short this season on a playoff run, it is not the end of the world. They are in great hands for the next couple of years, and the possibilities are endless.
New Milestone
With his sixth goal of the season, Bolduc set a new career-high in goals. He scored five goals in 25 games last season. He has also upgraded his assist account as well, now having 11 this season (he had four last season).
From healthy scratches to first-line minutes, this has been a crazy year for Bolduc. But, he has taken the changes in strides and found success wherever he could. If he can improve with every season, there is no telling how high his ceiling can be. But he is still very early on in his career.
Can Bolduc be an integral part of the Blues future?