Sergei Ogorodnikov

2006-07 Update: May 1, 2007: Sergei Ogorodnikov scored a goal in 3 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of April. He was scratched for Bridgeport's first 5 games of the month. The Sound Tigers went 2-2-1 in the 5 games without Ogorodnikov and 1-2-0 in the 3 games he played in. Bridgeport went 3-4-1 on the month. Ogorodnikov's goal came in Bridgeport's final game of the regular season, a 5-3 win vs. the Norfolk Admirals on Apr. 15th. It was the first goal of the game and came on the power play.

April 1, 2007: Sergei Ogorodnikov went 5-4-9 in 10 games played with the Pensacola Ice Pilots during the month of March. He went 1-1-2 on the power play. Ogorodnikov scored the game winning goal Mar. 10th in a 5-2 win at the Florida Everblades. He went 0 for 2 in the shootout missing Mar. 17th vs. South Carolina and Mar. 24th vs. Augusta. Ogorodnikov had a 3 game point scoring streak from Feb. 27th to Mar. 4th in which he went 2-2-4. Pensacola posted a record of 2-5-3 in March with Ogorodnikov in the lineup during the month of March and they are 13-25-4 since he joined the team. He was called back up to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Mar. 27th. In his first game back he recorded an assist on the power play in a 7-2 loss at the Hartford Wolf Pack on Mar. 28th. It was his only point in 3 games played with the Sound Tigers to finish March. Between Pensacola & Bridgeport Ogorodnikov had a 3 game point scoring streak from Mar. 24th to 28th in which he went 2-2-4. The Sound Tigers went 0-3-0 with him in the lineup. On the month Bridgeport went 5-8-1.

March 1, 2007: Sergei Ogorodnikov went 2-8-10 in 13 games played with the Pensacola Ice Pilots during the month of February. He was a -12. Ogorodnikov had a 3 game point scoring streak in which he went 1-3-4 from Feb. 3rd to 9th. He assisted on the game winner in a 7-3 win vs. the Gwinnett Gladiators on Feb. 20th. Ogorodnikov was successful on a shootout attempt Feb. 27th, but Pensacola lost the game 5-4 at the Columbia Inferno. He also recorded a goal in regulation against the Inferno. Ogorodnikov had a career high 4 assist game vs. Gwinnett Feb. 20th. He was a -4 at the Florida Everblades Feb. 9th. Pensacola posted a record of 4-8-1 in February and they are 11-20-1 since Ogorodnikov joined the team. The Ice Pilots are 17-36-3 on the season.

February 1, 2007: Sergei Ogorodnikov went 9-7-16 in 13 games played with the Pensacola Ice Pilots during the month of January. He had a 5 game point scoring streak from Dec. 29th to Jan. 4th in which he went 4-2-6. Ogorodnikov had a 4 game goal scoring streak from Dec. 30th to Jan. 4th in which he recorded 4 goals. He had another 4 game point scoring streak from Jan. 13th to Jan. 20th in which he went 2-3-5. He is on a current 3 game point scoring streak from Jan. 26th to 30th in which he has gone 4-2-6. Ogorodnikov recorded 4 goals in two nights between a Jan. 26th 5-4 overtime win at the Columbia Inferno and a Jan. 27th game in Columbia again. He recorded 5 points on the power play in January which included 4 goals. Ogorodnikov recorded the first goal of the game twice: 1/20 in a 5-2 loss vs. the Texas Wildcatters and Jan. 26th at Columbia. He recorded two game-winning goals in January: Jan. 2nd in a win vs. the South Carolina Stingrays in which he was also a +5, and Jan. 27th at Columbia. Ogorodnikov has been playing on a line with Mike Wirll and Travis Lisabeth. Pensacola posted a record of 5-8-0 in January which included 2 overtime wins. They lost 6 games in a row from Jan. 4th to Jan. 15th. Ogorodnikov went 2-4-6 during the losing streak. The team ended the month of January with a 3 game winning streak.

January 1, 2007: Sergei Ogorodnikov went scoreless in 5 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of December. He was scratched for 2 games early in December: 12/2 at Lowell and 12/3 at Manchester. After going 5 games without a point, Ogorodnikov was sent to the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL following Bridgeport's Dec. 20th game. Sergei made his debut wearing #14 for Pensacola on December 22, 2006 vs. the Texas Wildcatters. He recorded 2 assists and his first points with the Ice Pilots in a 7-3 loss to Texas on Dec. 23rd. In his third game he switched to #17. Ogorodnikov recorded his first career ECHL goal, on the power play, on December 30, 2006 in a 7-4 loss at the Gwinnett Gladiators. He ended the month of December on a 3 game point scoring streak from Dec. 29th to Dec. 31st going 2-1-3. Pensacola went 2-4-0 with Ogorodnikov in their lineup. They are currently the worst team in the ECHL with a record of 8-20-1-1. The Sound Tigers were 2-3-0 in December in games Ogorodnikov took part in.

December 1, 2006: Sergei Ogorodnikov went 2-2-4 in 10 games played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of November. He scored his first career AHL goal on November 1, 2006 in a 3-1 loss at Norfolk. It was the first goal of the game. Ogorodnikov recorded his first multiple point game on Nov. 10th with 2 assists at Philadelphia. He scored the game winning goal in a 6-3 win vs. Norfolk on Nov. 29th. Both of his goals came against the Norfolk Admirals. After going 2/2 in the shootout in October, Ogorodnikov kept up his mastery going 2/3 in November. Overall on the season he is 4/5. On Nov. 12th he scored the game winning shootout goal in the sixth round as Bridgeport defeated Worcester 5-4. He failed on a shot earlier, in the second round of the shootout. In the AHL, a player is allowed to repeat attempts in the shootout after the first five shooters are complete. He also scored in the shootout on Nov. 15th, but the Sound Tigers went on to lose 3-2 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Ogorodnikov was scratched for 3 games in November: 11/18 at Hershey, 11/25 at Hartford, and 11/26 vs. Albany.

November 1, 2006: Sergei Ogorodnikov was sent down by the Islanders following training camp in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on September 26th. He made his AHL debut with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on October 8, 2006 in a 5-3 win at the Binghamton Senators. Ogorodnikov played in 6 of the Sound Tigers 7 games during the month of October. He has gone scoreless in those six games, is a -4 and has stuggled to adapt thus far to the AHL except for one aspect, the shootout. Ogorodnikov has gone 2 for 2 in the shootout. He scored the only Bridgeport shootout goal in a 2-1 win vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack on October 20th. On October 21st, Ogorodnikov scored the first of three Bridgeport shootout goals in a 3-2 win at Hershey. The Bears did not register a goal in the shootout so Ogorodnikov's was the game winner. He was a healthy scratch on October 27th at Providence.

2006-07 Highlights

AHL
* Named first star with GW SO goal in 5-4 win vs. Worcester Sharks November 12, 2006. Video

ECHL
* Named third star with a goal (GW) & an assist in 7-4 win vs. South Carolina Stingrays January 2, 2007.
* Named first star with 2 goals (GW) in 3-2 win at Columbia Inferno January 27, 2007.
* Named third star with a goal (PP) & an assist in 5-3 loss at Florida Everblades February 9, 2007.
* Named first star with 4 assists in 7-3 win vs. Gwinnett Gladiators February 20, 2007.
* Named third star with 2 assists in 5-4 loss vs. South Carolina Stingrays March 3, 2007.
* Named first star with 2 goals (1 PP) in 5-4 SO loss vs. Augusta Lynx March 24, 2007.

Sergei Ogorodnikov returned to the AHL with an assist in Wednesday's loss at Hartford(7-2, 3/28/07).

The offensively gifted rookie was sent to Pensacola in late December for more ice time.

"I tried to learn defensive-zone coverage, how to play in the D-zone," Ogorodnikov said. "I took more faceoffs. I tried to do all the parts of the game I couldn't do in Bridgeport at the beginning of the season."

Ice Pilots silence Inferno
Goalie Mole records 45 saves for Pensacola for second consecutive night against Columbia
by John Devlin - Columbia News

For the second night in a row, Pensacola goalie Michael Mole was the best player on the ice at the Carolina Coliseum.

Mole's 45-save effort in Friday's 5-4 Ice Pilots overtime win against the Inferno went unrecognized by the folks who determine the game's three stars. Mole at least rated the second star on Saturday after another spectacular 45-save performance in a 3-2 win against slumping Columbia.

"He was the No. 1 star in both games, in my opinion," said Inferno coach Troy Mann, whose team is winless in four games and dropped to 15-21-3-3 on the season.

"I think we even had more quality scoring chances tonight than we did (on Friday), but it's really frustrating when you're going against a goalie standing on his head like (Mole) did."

Mole faced 97 shots in the two games and left town with two wins and an impressive .938 save percentage.

Sergei Ogorodnikov, a 21-year-old rookie center from Russia, also made a big impression with four goals in the two Ice Pilots wins. The third-round draft pick of the New York Islanders in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft put Pensacola ahead with for good, 2-1, by scoring on a 2-on-1 break late in the first period, then tallied a fluky game winner at 7:07 of the second.

Ogorodnikov fired a shot from the left circle that Inferno goalie Todd Ford blocked with his upper body. The puck, however, sailed high in the air and came down behind the unsuspecting goalie. Luke Fulghum, standing behind Ford in the crease, was in position to make a play before the puck hit the ice, but appeared to hit off his glove and into the net.

"For whatever reason, we haven't had much luck or success against (Pensacola) in our building," said Mann.

Ice Pilots top Inferno 3-2 for second consecutive victory
pensacolanewsjournal.com, Jan. 28, 2007

Goaltender Michael Mole had 47 saves Saturday to lead the Pensacola Ice Pilots to a 3-2 victory against the Columbia Inferno.

Pensacola surrendered the first goal of the game early, but John Hecimovic and Sergei Ogorodnikov scored during the first period to take the lead.

Ogorodnikov added another goal during the second period.

It was the second time this season the Ice Pilots won back-to-back games. That winning streak also was against the Inferno.

New faces David Wrigley, John Hecimovic and Sergei Ogorodnikov have combined for 14 goals and 33 points in 10 games.

Sergei Ogorodnikov scored in the sixth round of the shootout to send the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a thrilling 5-4 sudden-death victory over the Worcester Sharks before 4,683 fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Sunday. The Sound Tigers improved to 6-5-0-2; Worcester, meanwhile, dropped to 7-4-0-2 and had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Ogorodnikov scored his third shootout goal of the year when he beat Worcester goaltender Dimitri Patzold with a backhanded shot after Patzold and Sound Tigers goaltender Wade Dubielewicz stopped every shot in the first five rounds.

SOUND TIGERS EDGED BY STREAKING ADMIRALS
soundtigers.com, Nov. 1, 2006

Bridgeport's Sergei Ogorodnikov went end-to-end to score an unassisted goal, his first American Hockey League tally midway through the first period to break a scoreless tie. Ogorodnikov, an Irkutsk, Russia native, previously had a pair of shootout goals in this, his first campaign in the United States. His goal marked the first time Norfolk had allowed its opponent to score first in a game this season.

Connpost.com 2006-07 Player Capsule

NAME — Sergei Ogorodnikov
NUMBER — 71
POSITION — Center
SHOOTS — Left
VITALS — 6-1, 185
BORN — Jan. 21, 1986, Urkuresk, Russia
LAST SEASON — Ufa-Russia (14: 0-3-3)
RESUME — Skilled forward comes to play in North America for the first time. ... Played two seasons in Russia's top league? for CSKA Moscow and Ufa Salavat Yulayev. ... Drafted 82nd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. ... Played in two World Junior Championships.

2005-06 Update: February 1, 2006: Sergei Ogorodnikov began the 2005-06 season with CSKA Moscow under legendary coach Victor Tikhonov. He wasn't receiving much ice time and left the team to take part in some international tournaments: the ADT Challenge and the 2006 WJC's. When the WJC's ended, Ogorodnikov returned to the Russian Super League, but not with CSKA Moscow. On January 10th he joined Salavat Yulayev Ufa and is now a teammate of Islanders draft pick Igor Volkov. Ogorodnikov was held scoreless in his first 5 games played with Salavat Yulayev.

January 1, 2006 Update: Sergei Ogorodnikov played in all 6 games for Russia at the 2006 World Junior Championships and in a limited role recorded one assist. The assist came in a 5-1 win over Sweden on December 26, 2005, the first day of the tournament. He was a +2 and had 4 shots on goal. The Russians lost the Gold Medal game to Canada for the second straight year, thus taking home the Silver. His most memorable moment of the tournament may have been when he was the recipient of a bone crushing hit by Canada's Luc Bourdon in the Gold Medal Game.

- Sergei Ogorodnikov captained the Russian Squad in junior hockey's recent ADT Canada-Russia Challenge which lasted from November 21, 2005 to December 1, 2005. The 6 game Tournament featured a Russian select team facing off twice against a group of all-stars from each Canadian junior league. Even though the Russian Select's were swept, Ogorodnikov led the team in scoring recording 3 goals and 6 points in 6 games played.

Highlights: In Game 4, the second game against Team OHL, Ogorodnikov scored the Russian's only goal in a 5-1 loss. He tied the game 1-1 midway through the second period, but Team OHL went on to score the next four to win. 

* In Game 5 against the WHL Team, Ogorodnikov was named the first star of the game despite his team losing 9-2. Sergei tallied both of Russia's goals.

"Russian captain Sergey Ogorodnikov opened the scoring midway through the first period before Devon Setoguchi tied the game a little more than two minutes later. Ogorodnikov counted again later in the period to give the Russians another brief lead. Ryan Russell scored his first of two goals with 20 seconds left to go in the first period."

- Ogorodnikov was eligible to play in the 2006 Under 20 Four Nations Tournament for Russia but the management of his Super League Team, CSKA Moscow, requested that he remain with the team.

Central Scouting Bureau: Sergei Ogorodnikov

An excellent, mobile skater with speed, balance and acceleration....soft hands....very good with the puck....high overall skill level....strong and effective in one-on-one situations....a smart player with a very good understanding of the game....slick moves, creates scoring chances....has a good selection of shots....good, strong competitor who does not shy away from physical style of play....likes to go straight for the net....belongs to Dynamo organization but spent the 2003-04 season with Tver in the minors....gained a lot of experience playing with senior team....can score important goals.

Isles Scouts: "He's a talented center that has excellent vision," said Islanders European scout Ryan Jankowski. "He has great patience with the puck and the ability to find the open man when he's being hounded. I'm really happy for the staff that a player of this caliber fell to us in the third round."

"He's the son of a Russian hockey coach, which probably gives him those intangibles – such as his patience with the puck – that we liked," said Jankowski. "He's got a lot of upside and has shown plenty of determination with his game."

May 24, 2004

Sergei Ogorodnikov was traded by Dynamo Moscow to CSKA Moscow in exchange for Dmitri Shitikov. Ogorodnikov was loaned by Dynamo in 2003-04 to the Upper League's THK Tver. He should move up to the Super League in 2004-05.

Redline Report: Mar. 19, 2004
Rising

Sergei Ogrodnikov/Tver: He's been so tough to see he hasn't even been on our list before now, but once you see the skill level he's impossible to ignore. Not real big, but dynamic.

from Forecaster.ca:

Scouting Report: Scored three goals in six games for Russia at the 2004 World under-18 tournament in Minsk, following a solid season toiling with THK Tver in Division 1. Is expected to play regularly with Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Super League in 2004-05. Has excellent size and skill for the pivot position, and can also line up on the wing. Needs to start showing more consistency on a game-to-game basis. Must prove capable of producing against tougher competition in order to climb the ladder to the pro ranks. Was rated 11th among International skaters--and eighth among forwards--in Central Scouting's final rankings.

Impact: Down the road, Third-round selection Ogorodnikov may out-shine Islanders first-round pick Petteri Nokelainen. The skilled Russian pivot has more upside than his Finnish counterpart, though he lacks Nokelainen's work ethic and two-way capability. As a result, the Islanders view Ogorodnikov as a long-term solution at center.

From RussianProspects.com: Recap of WU18 Tournament
Author: Evgeny Belashchenko
June 5, 2004

Sergei Ogorodnikov C (Grade: B-)
Sergei Ogorodnikov centered Russia’s fourth line, skating between Salnikov and Kulemin. Despite a very limited role, the young center showcased his ability to the scouts present at the tournament. He is a very capable puck handler, not hesitating to carry the puck up the ice from the defensive zone. On the downside, Ogorodnikov is not strongly built and struggled in the games against more physical opponents. He has a good shot, but it was his drive to the net and ability to be at the right place at the right time that earned him his goals at the tournament, as they mostly came off rebounds from the shots of his linemates. The talented forward was first in line for a promotion if one of the squad’s top forwards was knocked out of the game for any reason. In the semifinal game against Canada, he replaced Malkin on the top line when Russia’s best player was eliminated from the game with a 20 minute match penalty. While obviously not as capable as Malkin, Ogorodnikov did not create problems on the top line and seemed to pick up his game when given the additional ice time. Ogorodnikov’s performance at the U18 WJC did not boost his stock to the level promoted by some scouting services, but it did solidify him as a solid prospect and a likely third or fourth round pick. (One of Ogorodnikov's 3 goals in the tournament came in a 1-1 tie with the Czech Republic)

From Hockey's Future: Q&A with Sergei Ogorodnikov
author: Grigory Orekhovsky

Sergei Ogorodnikov is the 12th ranked 2004 eligible European skater by Central Scouting in their mid-term rankings. The 6’2” 185-pound forward is playing for THK TVER of the Russian 2 League this season. He played on the winning Russian team in the recent U-18 tournament in Minsk.

Hockey’s Future spoke with him briefly after the final game of the tournament.

HF: How would you describe how you played at the U-18 World Championship?
SO: In the beginning of the tournament I played very well and then the other part played better. I’m very happy that we won this World Championship. I think that we all deserved this result the way we were playing.

HF: Do you have any expectations for yourself in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft?
SO: I want to be in the first two rounds in the NHL Entry Draft.

HF: How would you describe yourself as a player?
SO: I’m a forward who knows how to score goals.

HF: What are your biggest strengths?
SO: I play intellectual hockey and have good hockey sense. I have good hands and I can beat a goalie one-on-one.

HF: Do you have a favorite player?
SO: Yes. I like Sergei Fedorov and Peter Forsberg.

HF: Have you heard people making comparisons of you and current NHL players?
SO: Some people told me that I remind them of Peter Forsberg.

HF: What aspect of your game do you feel you need to work most on?
SO: Right now nothing because it’s the end of the season. But I need to improve my physical game because I need to be stronger and add some muscle. On my team we don’t work on it enough.

HF: What do you do in your spare time?
SO: Right now I want to be with my girlfriend. I miss her a lot.

From HockeyJournal.com

Scouting report: The slick, elusive Russian pivot is adept at both scoring goals and setting up the play. Flashed an impressive skill set on the international stage against his peers, but had typical transition issues playing against men in the Russian upper league. Not very physical and needs to bulk up.

Projection: Time will tell on this project pick who will require time to develop before he is ready to vie for time in the NHL. Depending on who you talk to, Ogorodnikov could end up being one of the better Euros to come out of the ’04 class.

Scout’s-eye view: “Given his talent and hockey sense, the young forward has been highly touted by some scouting agencies, however, his soft style of play and relatively small size are both areas of concern. In addition, his inability to earn a spot on Russia’s U-18 squad until the U-18 WJC has really hurt his exposure to the scouts. Still, Ogorodnikov has received a lot of positive press in the scouting community. It has boosted his exposure and, accordingly, his stock. The young center will likely be a selection on the first day of the NHL Entry Draft.” — Evgenii Belashchenko, RussianProspects.com