NHL Review Wednesday January 3 2018

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
DETROIT 2, Ottawa 1 (OT)
Chicago 5, NY RANGERS 2

ATHANASIOU MATCHES NHL RECORD WITH OT GOAL
Andreas Athanasiou scored twice, including six seconds into overtime, to lift the Red Wings (16-16-7, 39 points) to their fourth consecutive home win and third straight victory overall. Athanasiou, who scored his third career overtime goal, matched an NHL record for fastest goal to start a regular-season overtime.

Jimmy Howard, who has started in each of Detroit’s wins during the three-game stretch, has made over 30 saves in each performance (3-0-0, 1.30 GAA, .964 SV%).

GOLDEN KNIGHTS AIM FOR NINTH STRAIGHT VICTORY…
The Western Conference-leading Golden Knights (27-9-2, 56 points) look to extend their winning streak to nine games – which would be the longest such run by any team in the NHL this season – when they visit the Blues (25-15-2, 52 points) at Scottrade Center.

Vegas’ current eight-game winning streak and 13-game point streak (12-0-1) are both the longest such runs in NHL history by a team in its inaugural season. The Golden Knights’ point streak also is the longest in the NHL this season; the Blue Jackets (18 GP: 17-0-1), Capitals (14 GP: 12-0-2) and Ducks (14 GP: 11-0-3) each had point streaks of at least 14 games in 2016-17.

Forward Jonathan Marchessault – who leads the Golden Knights with 15-22—37 in 35 games this season and signed a six-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday – enters the contest on a seven-game point streak (5-6—11).

Oilers’ Maroon Suspended Two Games for Interference
Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon has been suspended for two games, without pay, for interference against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty during NHL Game No. 611 in Edmonton on Tuesday, Jan. 2, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today. The incident occurred at 19:44 of the second period. Maroon was assessed a match penalty for illegal check to the head. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Maroon will forfeit $21,505.38. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Fans Elect Stamkos, Ovechkin, Subban and McDavid as All- Star Division Captains
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos (Atlantic), Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan), Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban(Central) and Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (Pacific) topped their respective divisions in the 2018 NHL All-Star Fan Vote™ to earn the first spots and captaincies in the 2018 Honda NHL® All-Star Game in Tampa on Sunday, Jan. 28.

Rask, Bailey and Kucherov Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for December
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, New York Islanders right wing Josh Bailey and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of December.

FIRST STAR – TUUKKA RASK, G, BOSTON BRUINS

Rask stopped 277 of the 290 shots he faced, going 9-0-1 with a 1.22 goals-against average, .955 save percentage and two shutouts to guide the Bruins (21-10-6, 48 points) to a 10-2-2 December and second place in the Atlantic Division. He yielded two or fewer goals in 10 of his 11 appearances, with the lone exception a 3-2 overtime loss Dec. 16 vs. NYR. Rask opened and closed the month with shutout performances, making 28 saves Dec. 2 at PHI and 25 stops Dec. 30 at OTT. In doing so, he became the second goaltender in Bruins history to earn 40 shutouts, behind Tiny Thompson’s 74. The 30-year-old Savonlinna, Finland, native owns a 13-8-3 record through 25 games this season, ranking fourth in the NHL in goals-against average (2.13) and ninth in save percentage (.923).

SECOND STAR – JOSH BAILEY, RW, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Bailey led the League with 7-15—22 to help the Islanders (20-15-4, 44 points) collect points in seven of their 15 December contests (5-8-2). He registered at least one point in 13 of his 15 appearances, including a career-high 11 straight to close the month (7-12—19). Bailey also recorded seven multi-point performances, highlighted by his first career hat trick Dec. 14 at CBJ. The 28-year-old Bowmanville, Ont., native shares first place in the NHL with 38 assists and ranks second overall with 50 points through 39 outings in 2017-18 (12-38—50). The 10-year veteran already is approaching his career high in points, established in 82 games last season (13-43—56).

THIRD STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov posted an NHL-best 1.54 points per game, totaling 8-12—20 in 13 outings to power the League-leading Lightning (28-8-2, 58 points) to an 11-2-0 month. He found the score sheet in all but one of his 13 December appearances, closing the month on a 10-game run (6-10—16). The 24-year-old Maykop, Russia, native paces the NHL with 25 goals and 56 points in 2017-18, collecting at least one point in 32 of his 38 contests. He reached the 50-point milestone in his 34th outing of the season (Dec. 21 vs. OTT), requiring the second-fewest games in franchise history (behind Vincent Lecavalier: 33 GP in 2007-08).

NHL Schedule for Thursday Jan 4 2018

Matchup	Time
San Jose@ Toronto	7:00 PM ET
NY Islanders@ Philadelphia	7:00 PM ET
Carolina@ Pittsburgh	7:00 PM ET
Tampa Bay@ Montréal	7:30 PM ET
Vegas@ St. Louis	8:00 PM ET
Buffalo@ Minnesota	8:00 PM ET
New Jersey@ Dallas	8:30 PM ET
Columbus@ Colorado	9:00 PM ET
Los Angeles@ Calgary	9:00 PM ET
Anaheim@ Edmonton	9:00 PM ET
Nashville@ Arizona	9:00 PM ET
Florida@ Boston	PPD