Each Monday, the Blackhawks Blog will highlight prospects who stood out for their minor-league, junior, college, or European teams in the previous week’s action. All prospect stats will be updated weekly throughout the 2014-15 season.

(Photo courtesy Whiteshark Photography)



1st Star: G Mac Carruth, Indy Fuel (ECHL)

The Line: 3GP, 3-0-0, 26-save shutout

Carruth backstopped the Fuel to their best week of results in their inaugural season, winning all three of his starts and extending his win streak to five contests dating back to Jan. 16. The 2010 sixth-round pick posted his first shutout of the season with a 26-save effort at Gwinnett last Monday, then allowed just one goal in each of his other appearances, making a combined 74 saves on 76 shots. Carruth improved his record to 6-9-2-2, with a 2.69 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 20 games this season.

(Photo courtesy Rockford IceHogs)

2nd Star: G Michael Leighton, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

The Line: 1-0-0, 23-save shutout

Leighton inched closer to AHL history with his 40th career shutout, a 23-save outing against the Iowa Wild last Thursday. The 33-year-old is one blanking away from tying Gil Mayer for second in the league’s all-time shutout list and sits five behind record-holder Johnny Bower, according to Rockford Media Relations. Leighton has a 11-7-2 record in 24 games this season, ranks fourth in the AHL with a 2.02 GAA and shares third (alongside teammate Scott Darling) with a .931 SV%.

(Photo courtesy AK Bars Kazan)

3rd Star: G Anders Nilsson, AK Bars Kazan

The Line: 1-0-0, 24-save shutout

Nilsson picked up his fourth shutout of the season in his only start of the week, making 24 stops in AK Bars Kazan’s 3-0 win over Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Thursday. The 24-year-old netminders shares fourth in the KHL in shutouts, ranks third with a 1.78 SV% and ranks fourth with a .935 SV%, while posting a 16-7-7 record in 31 appearances this season.

Honorable mentions: LW Fredrik Olofsson, Chicago (USHL); C Tyler Motte, Michigan (BIG10)

Olofsson tallied two goals and an assist in the Steel’s 4-3 win over Dubuque; both of his goals came in the third period as Chicago recovered from a 3-1 deficit to force overtime. The 2014 fourth-round pick now shares first on the team with 17 goals and ranks second with 32 points through 32 games this season.

Motte was part of another big weekend for Michigan, as the Wolverines swept Wisconsin on the road by a combined score of 13-4. The 2013 fourth-round pick collected a helper in each game; he ranks third on the team with 16 assists and shares third with 23 points in 20 games this season.

Around the system: