NHL Review February 17, 2022
SCHEIFELE SCORES NATURAL HAT TRICK IN JETS’ WIN AGAINST WILD
Mark Scheifele (3-1—4) scored three consecutive goals to record his second hat trick of the season (also Dec. 3, 2021) and first natural hat trick of his NHL career. Blake Wheeler (0-4—4), who was the last Winnipeg player with a natural hat trick, assisted on all three of Scheifele’s goals Wednesday.
- Two players scored a natural hat trick with the original Winnipeg Jets: Dave Christian against the Hartford Whalers on March 26, 1980 and Stu Barnes versus the Kings on Nov. 11, 1991.
SEVERAL PLAYER, TEAM STREAKS EXTENDED IN CALGARY, VEGAS
- Elias Lindholm (2-1—3) extended his career-high goal streak to six games (7-3—10) as the Pacific Division-leading Flames (28-13-6, 62 points) defeated the Ducks at Scotiabank Saddledome to improve to 8-0-0 in their last eight contests. Calgary has outscored opponents by a 37-13 margin over its winning streak, with Jacob Markstrom (26 saves) appearing in seven of the eight games (1.65 GAA, .942 SV%, 2 SO).
- Darcy Kuemper corralled a 29-save shutout as League-leading Colorado (35-9-4, 74 points) extended its road point streak to eight games (7-0-1), including six straight wins. Kuemper (15-0-2) became the first goaltender in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history with points in 17 consecutive decisions, surpassing streaks of 16 by Semyon Varlamov (11-0-5 in 2013-14) and Peter Budaj (13-0-3 in 2006-07).
EKBLAD EARNING ANOTHER FAST OVERTIME GOAL
Wednesday’s notes from the four games, including Sam Reinhart recording a tying goal at 19:11 of the third period and Aaron Ekblad (1-1—2) scoring the winner 16 seconds into overtime as Florida (33-10-5, 71 points) stunned Carolina to reclaim first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. Ekblad earned the seventh overtime goal of his NHL career – four have been scored in the opening minute of the period (also 0:22 on Nov. 21, 2019, 0:26 on Feb. 25, 2019 & 0:40 on Jan. 19, 2018).
PREDATORS’ HYNES FINED $25,000
Nashville Predators head coach John Hynes has been fined $25,000 for inappropriate conduct at the conclusion of NHL Game No. 1095 in Nashville on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.
FLAMES’ RUZICKA FINED FOR ELBOWING
Calgary Flames forward Adam Ruzicka has been fined $2,004.17, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for elbowing Anaheim Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk during NHL Game No. 500 in Calgary on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. The incident occurred at 5:57 of the first period. Ruzicka was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
BLACK HOCKEY HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: MLSE HOCKEY COACH EDUCATION PROGRAM
MLSE Foundation and Scotiabank are launching the Hockey Coach Education Program to provide equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous and other racialized youth across Ontario to obtain hockey coaching certifications and connect them to coaching positions in their community.
FITZHUGH, BROWN READY FOR SPECIAL BROADCAST IN WINNIPEG
When the Kraken (16-29-4, 36 points) travel to Canada Life Centre to take on the Jets (21-18-8, 50 points), Everett Fitzhugh and JT Brown will team up to provide play-by-play and analysis for ROOT SPORTS Northwest in what is believed to be the first all-Black broadcasting booth in NHL history.
- Fitzhugh and Brown were guests on The Chirp with Daren Millard where they talked about the upcoming broadcast and all things Kraken.
TIGHT PACIFIC DIVISION RACE PART OF BUSY THURSDAY
Third place in the Pacific Division will be up for grabs when the Oilers (26-18-3, 55 points) host the Ducks (23-18-9, 55 points) at Rogers Place. Edmonton and Anaheim rank third and fifth in the Pacific Division, respectively, where the top five teams are all within seven points of first-place Calgary (28-13-6, 62 points).
- Ryan Getzlaf (18-38—56 in 53 GP) has netted 18 goals in 53 career games against the Oilers, behind only the Coyotes (19 in 82 GP) and Kings (19 in 82 GP) for his highest total versus one franchise. Among active players to appear in at least 30 contests against the Oilers, only one has produced a higher points per game average than the Ducks captain (1.06 P/GP) – Patrick Kane (18-39—57 in 45 GP; 1.27 P/GP).
- Connor McDavid, meanwhile, has collected 2-3—5 in three contests since Jay Woodcroft took over as Edmonton’s head coach on Feb. 11 (EDM: 3-0-0).
DUELING STREAKS HIGHLIGHT SHOWDOWN IN TORONTO
The Toronto Maple Leafs (31-12-3, 65 points) bring a six-game win streak at Scotiabank Arena to the table when the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins (31-11-8, 70 points) come to town with a six-game win streak on the road.
- Auston Matthews has found the score sheet in each of his past eight games dating to Jan. 26 (7-9—16 in 8 GP) – a stretch that includes multiple goals in each of his previous two games at Scotiabank Arena. With another multi-goal outing, Matthews can match the longest home streak with two or more goals in franchise history; Rick Vaive last did so in 1986-87 (3 GP from Feb. 28–March 5, 1987).
- Fresh off Pittsburgh’s second multi-goal, third-period comeback win of the season Tuesday, Sidney Crosby (3-9—12 in 7 GP) and Jake Guentzel (4-7—11 in 7 GP) put their seven-game point streaks on the line and look to help the Penguins win at least seven consecutive road games for the fourth time in franchise history.


