Per The Guardian, the rising egg prices had already hit a mind-boggling 157% inflation by January. However, the worst was yet to come. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that prices hit a 45-year-high in February, with a dozen eggs $5.89 on average. The reason? A blue flu outbreak that the CDC says has affected over 160 million birds across 51 states. Yet amid these, a Utah Hockey Club player has become an example of how certain community members are lending a helping hand.

While things have gotten slightly better since February, the shortages persist, and people are cautious. “The overall risk to the average person remains low… But have an awareness, because that could potentially change,” said Emory University’s Boghuma Titanji. So in a time like this, UHC’s Mikhail Sergachev has become the team’s most trusted egg supplier. Here’s how.

“Mikhail Sergachev has been bringing eggs from his backyard chicken coop to the team,” reported The Salt Lake Tribune’s Belle Fraser. “I just have a lot of eggs. Once we hit like 24 or 30 eggs, I start giving them away to my teammates. Obviously, I feed them well. I take care of them. Now there’s a shortage of eggs so guys appreciate it more,” she quoted the Utah Hockey Club defenseman.

Now that’s what you call a true teammate, on and off the ice. Despite the NHL stars’ helpful acts, some Utah players remain cautious. Sergachev explained that forward Nick Bjugstad straight up asked if his chickens had the flu. The 26-year-old amusing response made it clear as day that he didn’t take it personally. “It’s insane. He disrespected my chickens like that,” said Sergachev.

“I still gave him eggs because he said his wife went to the store and there were no eggs,” the ice hockey player hilariously remarked. Yet it’s hard to blame the Utah Hockey Club forward for being extra careful. It’s as Meghan Davis of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health explained. At this point, most people should be “alert, not alarmed,” about the outbreak. Meanwhile, Mikhail Sergachev is proving to be a vital asset for Utah on the ice as well.

Sergachev’s contribution to Utah Hockey Club’s playoff odds

While bringing eggs for your teammates during their time of need is a good deed, it’s by no means a substitute for your performance on the ice. Well, then it’s good news that the defenseman has helped his team earn some crucial points. While Utah doesn’t have the best odds to qualify for the NHL playoffs, with an almost 28% chance as per Money Puck, they’re not out just yet.

So when the Utah Hockey Club pulled off an insane save against the Anaheim Ducks, it did more than make the highlights. Sergachev stuck out his right skate to make a last-minute save, keeping Utah in the lead. By the end of the match, that one move made all the difference, ensuring a 3-2 victory for Utah and two crucial points.

“Really nice save by him there in the second,” winger Dylan Guenther said about the Russian NHL star. In fact, the 26-year-old was the one who assisted Guenther in the game-winning goal. “It was just good recognition.I feel like we’ve gotten pretty good chemistry as we’ve continued to play together,” added Guenther as he reflected on the goal.

The defenseman has shown up for his team even when things don’t go Utah’s way. Although Utah lost 4-3 to the Maple Leafs in the shootout on March 10, it was Sergachev’s second-period equalizer that kept them it the game. So whether it’s his role on the ice, or off it, Sergachev is always there for his team. Dylan Guenther put it best: “He’s the backbone of our team, and it’s great to have him,”