Zayne Parekh recorded three shots and four scoring chances in a team-leading 22:43 of ice time during the Calgary Flames’ 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers.
Through 19 games in the regular season, Parekh has driven a Flames power play converting at a 29.5 percent clip. That marks the fourth-best rate in the National Hockey League, according to reporting by Daily Faceoff.
PAREKH NEARLY WALKED THE RANGERS ENTIRE TEAM… BUT KORPISALO MAKES AN EVEN BETTER SAVE đąâ pic.twitter.com/neSnRNSKyV
The 20-year-old rearguard nearly scored in the first period against New York by skating from the blue line to the goal line. New York goaltender Joonas Korpisalo stopped the dangerous wraparound attempt with a desperate play.
“That was a heck of a play by him,” Korpisalo told reporters after the game. “He got me swimming. It’s just straight desperation. "Dropped my stick to get my leverage, get my blocker there and I got lucky."
#NYR Joonas Korpisalo said he intentionally dropped his stick to make that sprawling save on Zayne Parekh. "That was a heck of a play by him. He got me swimming. It's just straight desperation. Dropped my stick to get my leverage, get my blocker there and I got lucky."
Parekh collected two assists in a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 6, Daily Faceoff reported. He followed that performance by scoring against the Philadelphia Flyers two nights later.
The Flames selected Parekh ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He subsequently led the Saginaw Spirit to a Memorial Cup championship and became the first defenseman in Ontario Hockey League history to score 30 goals in back-to-back seasons.
"We'll get some energy back and have a good road trip." Zayne Parekh discusses the loss to the Rangers and the group looking to regroup for the upcoming road swing. pic.twitter.com/AZzc4L3XAK
“I think he makes a lucky save on it, to be honest,” Parekh said regarding the chance against Korpisalo. “I was laughing at the play too, a little bit. It seemed a bit outrageous … kudos to him.”
Parekh’s role expanded following the news that teammate Kevin Bahl is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Parekh’s average ice time increased from 17:40 prior to Bahl’s injury to 22:14 afterward.
The Flames allowed 2.44 expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 with Parekh on the ice, according to Natural Stat Trick. Yan Kuznetsov is the only Calgary defenseman with a better mark in that category.
Parekh played for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League, where he recorded 107 points in his final junior season and won a Memorial Cup.
The Calgary Flames selected Parekh with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft held at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Parekh scored five goals and 13 points in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship to help Canada win a bronze medal.
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