Today the USHL announced goaltender Maksim Zhukov has been named USHL Goaltender of the Week.
The Vegas Golden Knights prospect backstopped the Gamblers to back-to-back wins on the weekend over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Dubuque Fighting Saints. Zhukov allowed just one goal in each contest, combining for 43 saves on 45 shots. Zhukov led the Gamblers penalty kill to a perfect eight for eight over the course of the weekend. The Kalingrad, RUS native faced a fellow Golden Knights prospect in Jiri Patera Friday night, in what would become a goaltender battle and 2-1 win for Green Bay. The following night Zhukov stood tall through overtime, helping the Gamblers to another 2-1 victory. Zhukov is in his second USHL season with Green Bay after he was selected in the third round of the USHL Phase II Draft, 40th overall. Zhukov was named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team after leading all rookies with a 2.25 GAA. The Vegas Golden Knights selected Zhukov in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft, making him the first-ever goaltender selected by the NHL expansion team.
