Around The AHL: Daniil Tarasov takes his turn in Cleveland

The Cleveland Monsters always figure into the Columbus Blue Jackets’ rich goaltending pipeline, and they have their newest name to showcase.

Daniil Tarasov made his North American debut this past weekend with Cleveland, and he made it a good one. The Blue Jackets’ 2017 third-round pick frustrated the visiting Grand Rapids with 27 saves in a 4-2 victory.

Tarasov arrived in Cleveland after the completion of his KHL season, quarantined, and was inserted into the Cleveland net. This season the 22-year-old Russian starred with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, going 11-3-2 in 16 games and pairing that mark with a 2.07 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. The campaign, his first extended stay in the KHL, came after he spent 2019-20 with Liiga side Ässät Pori (11-17-9 in 41 games with a 2.72 GAA and .899 save percentage).