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24-year-old Czech Jiri Patera made his NHL debut in the game between the Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues. He made 30 saves with a save percentage of 0.909 and helped his team win the game with a score of 5-3.
The Knights picked him in Round 6 of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Jiri Patera played in five different leagues before making his NHL debut. He started this journey in the 2017-18 season when he played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL. He averaged 56 minutes on the ice and made 936 saves with a save percentage of 0.901, allowing 3.24 goals per game.
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He then moved to the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL and spent two seasons there, making 89 appearances. Averaging 58 minutes per game, he allowed 2.9 goals on average with a save percentage of 0.910.
He also played in the World Junior U-20 Championships for his home country Czech Republic in 2019. He struggled to find enough game time and could only make 86 appearances in five seasons after 2019.
Jiri Patera's 2022-23 season so far
Patera has played 28 games this season, 27 in the AHL and one in the NHL. Averaging 57 minutes on the ice, he has allowed 2.67 goals per game with a save percentage of 0.916. His career stats have improved over the seasons and can help him get more starts at the top level in the future.
What's next for Jiri Patera and the Vegas Golden Knights
Patera will get more starts in the future as the Knights struggle with injuries. Having made considerable progress since last season, Patera can bring his experience into play and deliver for the Knights in the upcoming challenges.
The Vegas Golden Knights are leading the Western Conference Pacific with 88 points. If the Kings don't lose points in the rest of their games, they will end the league stage in the top position. They have played well recently and are on a three-game winning run. The Kings will look to benefit from the momentum in their next game as they play the Philadelphia Flyers on March 14.
