NHL Recap December 22 2019
GOLDEN KNIGHTS EDGE SHARKS FOR 10TH ROAD WIN OF 2019-20
Shea Theodore scored the game-winning goal as the Golden Knights (20-13-6, 46 points) collected their 20th win of the season and kept pace with the Coyotes in the Pacific Division. Vegas (39 GP), which became the first team from the Pacific Division to earn 10 home and 10 road wins, has reached the benchmark in fewer contests on one occasion (36 GP in 2017-18).
Theodore has found the score sheet in each of his last five games dating to Dec. 13 (2-6—8). Only one Golden Knights defenseman has posted a longer point streak: Colin Miller (6 GP from Oct. 17-31, 2017).
RANGERS’ YOUTH PROPELS OFFENSE ON KIDS DAY . . .
Twenty-year-old Filip Chytil and 21-year-old Brett Howden scored two of five Rangers goals to lift their club to victory during Kids Day at Madison Square Garden. New York has won each of its last six home games against Anaheim dating to March 22, 2015 (ANA: 0-5-1).
After registering 11-12—23 in 75 contests with the Rangers in 2018-19, Chytil improved his 2019-20 totals to 9-3—12 in 26 games. The 21st overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft ranks third in goals among players 20 or younger this season, behind Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov (15) and Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk (12).
The Rangers have accumulated 25 goals by players aged 21 or younger this season, four more than the next closest clubs (CAR and CBJ both w/ 21).
Artemi Panarin collected an assist on Howden’s game-winning goal to extend his point streak to seven contests – his second of at least that length this season (also 12 GP from Oct. 24 – Nov. 20). He became the fourth Rangers player in the last decade to post multiple point streaks of at least seven games in his first season with the franchise. The others: J.T. Miller (7 GP and 7 GP in 2016-17), Benoit Pouliot (7 GP and 7 GP in 2013-14) and Marian Gaborik (8 GP and 8 GP in 2009-10).
The Rangers’ current home stretch against the Ducks is the club’s longest home win streak against one opponent since their franchise-record 16-game stretch against the Hurricanes was snapped earlier this calendar year (16-0-0 from Jan. 5, 2011 – Jan. 15, 2019).
WHILE 21-YEAR-OLD KELLER LEADS COYOTES IN ROAD WIN
Former Windsor Spitfire Taylor Hall scored his first goal as a member of the Coyotes and Clayton Keller (2-1—3) registered his fourth career performance with at least three points to help Arizona (21-13-4, 46 points) maintain first place in the Pacific Division.
Keller (21 years, 146 days) became the first player in Coyotes team history to collect four games with at least three points prior to his 22nd birthday. Hockey Hall of Fame member Dale Hawerchuk leads all players in franchise history with 46 such outings.
The seventh overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft became the 17th different player 21 or younger to produce a three-point game in 2019-20. Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson and Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine have each recorded a League-best four such outings this season.
Meanwhile in Dallas, Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk (1-2—3) notched his fourth three-point performance of 2019-20 – with his previous three instances coming prior to his 22nd birthday on Dec. 11. His night helped the Flames extend their road point streak to six games dating to Nov. 23 (5-0-1).
Red Wings’ Fabbri Fined for Spearing
Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri has been fined $2,419.35, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for spearing Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexander Kerfoot during NHL Game No. 556 in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. The incident occurred at 9:18 of the second period. Fabbri was assessed a minor penalty for slashing. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION – MARNER, MAPLE LEAFS SET FOR NEXT GENERATION GAME
Mitch Marner, with points in each of his last seven games (4-8—12 in 7 GP), leads the Maple Leafs (19-14-4, 42 points) into their Next Generation Game when the Hurricanes (22-12-2, 46 points) visit Scotiabank Arena. Marner sits tied with New York’s Artemi Panarin for the League’s longest active point streak.
In last year’s rendition of the event, 22-year-old Marner scored seven seconds into the contest to match the Maple Leafs franchise record for fastest goal from the start of a game. Charlie Conacher scored seven seconds into a 6-0 victory vs. Boston on Feb. 6, 1932.
Marner’s former teammate Jake Gardiner is set to return to Toronto for the first time since signing with Carolina as a free agent on September 6. Gardiner collected 45-200—245 in 551 regular-season contests with the Maple Leafs over the span of eight seasons.
DEFENDING CHAMPS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON ANOTHER TWO POINTS
The Western Conference-leading Blues (23-8-6, 52 points) and the NHL’s longest active win streak travel to STAPLES Center to face off against the Kings (15-19-4, 34 points).
St. Louis has overcome a deficit in four contests during its five-game run, including Saturday against San Jose. The Blues pace all clubs with 14 comeback wins this season – two more than the next closest teams (CGY and WSH, both w/ 12).
With at least one point Monday, the Blues can become the sixth reigning Stanley Cup champion to collect at least 53 standings points through their final game before Christmas, joining the Blackhawks (26-7-6, 58 points in 2013-14), Canadiens (26-5-4, 56 points in 1976-77), Penguins (26-11-1, 53 points in 2009-10 and 25-9-3, 53 points in 1992-93) and Islanders (23-7-7, 53 points in 1980-81).
Acciari, Josi and Korpisalo Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Florida Panthers center Noel Acciari, Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi and Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec 22, 2019.
FIRST STAR – NOEL ACCIARI, C, FLORIDA PANTHERS: Acciari led all skaters with seven goals last week, including hat tricks in consecutive games, and ranked second in points with 7-1—8 in three contests to help the Panthers (18-12-5, 41 points) to a perfect 3-0-0 week. Acciari opened the week by recording his first career hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 16 and followed it up with another three-goal performance (3-1—4; 1 GWG) in a 7-4 victory over the Dallas Stars Dec. 20. In doing so, he became the second player in Panthers history to score a hat trick in consecutive games (also Pavel Bure from Feb. 10-14, 2001) and just the eighth player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to score each of his first two career hat tricks in consecutive contests. He capped the week by scoring one goal in a 4-2 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 21. A 28-year-old native of Johnston, R.I., Acciari has recorded 12-3—15 in 32 appearances this season to double his goal total from 2018-19 (6-8—14 in 72 GP w/ BOS).
SECOND STAR – ROMAN JOSI, D, NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Josi scored in each of the four games he appeared in last week, ranking second among all skaters in goals and tied for third in points with 6-1—7 in four contests to help the Predators (17-12-6, 40 points) pick up seven of eight possible standings points. Josi opened the week with 2-1—3 in a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers Dec. 16 and then scored one goal in both an 8-3 victory over the New York Islanders Dec. 17 and a 5-4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators Dec. 19. He finished the week with another two-goal performance in a 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins Dec. 21 to extend his goal streak to four games. It marked Josi’s fourth multi-goal outing this season to lead all blueliners. The 29-year-old native of Bern, Switzerland, is in his ninth NHL season (all w/ NSH) and ranks among the top three in goals (t-1st; 13) and points (3rd; 33) by a defenseman this season.
THIRD STAR – JOONAS KORPISALO, G, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Korpisalo started all four games for the Blue Jackets (16-14-6, 38 points) while recording a perfect 4-0-0 record with a 1.50 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and one shutout. He opened the week by stopping all 30 shots he faced to blank the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals 3-0 on Dec. 16 and then started again the very next night making 18 saves in a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 17. Korpisalo finished the week by making 23 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 19 and turning aside 21 of 22 shots in a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils Dec. 21 to become the only goaltender this season to record four wins in a single week (Mon-Sun). His former teammate, Sergei Bobrovsky, was the only goaltender to post a four-win week last season (Dec. 17-23, 2018 and March 26-31, 2019). A 25-year-old native of Pori, Finland, Korpisalo ranks tied for fourth with 16 wins in 2019-20 to match his career high set in 2015-16.