Pleshkov was playing for SKA Neva of the VHL, a 2nd tier pro team in Russia. While the league primarily serves as a developmental league for the KHL, their playoffs have proven to be just as entertaining this year. SKA Neva was facing elimination today when Pleshkov decided to put the team on his back, stopping 124 shots in the game.
Unfortunately for the goalie, he can't do everything as the netminder at the other end of the ice equally refused to let one in. SKA Neva would lose the game in the fifth overtime period as the 125th shot on goal finally got past Pleshkov.
My guy, Artemi Pleshkov, continues to roll in the KHL. He's small but somebody should probably draft him. According to one prospect model, Pleshkov has developed around as well as some of the best Russian goalies in the world including Andre Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin. However, unlike those goalies, he is just 5'10", making his path to the NHL unlikely at best.
Pleshkov has a .943 save percentage in 23 VHL games this year and a .926 save percentage in 10 KHL games. If those numbers along with today's performance aren't enough to earn a draft pick, he likely will never play in the NHL unless a team signs him as a free agent.
