NHL NEWS MARCH 20, 2023 – BERGERON, DeBRUSK SPARK A SEVEN-GOAL BRUINS BARRAGE

With an assist from Jake DeBrusk (1-3—4), Patrice Bergeron (1-2—3) needed only 15 seconds into the contest to begin Boston’s seven-goal barrage – their fourth outing with seven or more goals in a game this season. The Bruins improved to 53-11-5 (111 points) and now sit 10 wins back of setting the single-season NHL record.

• The Bruins, who also improved to 26-9-4 as the visitors this season and matched a franchise record for road wins (also 26 in 1971-72), have 13 games remaining to surpass the 2018-19 Lightning (62-16-4) and 1995-96 Red Wings (62-13-7) for the NHL record for most wins in a season.
• The 2022-23 campaign is sixth in the past 20 years to feature the Bruins register at least four performances of seven or more goals. The others: 2017-18 (4 GP), 2011-12 (4 GP), 2010-11 (6 GP), 2008-09 (5 GP) and 2002-03 (5 GP).

HAT TRICKS HELP CLUBS SKATE TO VICTORIES IN HIGH-SCORING AFFAIRS

Jack Eichel (3-0—3) and Matt Boldy (3-0—3) netted their second career hat tricks with the Golden Knights (43-21-6, 92 points) and Wild (40-22-8, 88 points), respectively, while Jesper Bratt (3-0—3) recorded his first career three-goal outing for the Devils (45-18-7, 97 points) as a trio of teams in playoff positions benefited from high-scoring performances.

• The trio of three-goal performances Sunday came on the heels of three hat tricks Saturday (Brandon Hagel, Sebastian Aho & Evander Kane) as well as a St. Patrick’s Day hat trick from Owen Tippett. It marks the most such performances (7) through a three-day span since Oct. 21-23, 2010. Of note, there must be one hat trick on each day in question.
• On the same night Alex Pietrangelo (0-4—4) matched the Golden Knights single-game record for assists and points by a defenseman, Eichel joined William Karlsson (Dec. 31, 2017, March 18, 2018 & Feb. 23, 2020) and Jonathan Marchessault (Dec. 3, 2019 & Jan. 19, 2019) as the third player with multiple three-goal performances for Vegas.
• Since the five-game absence of Minnesota’s leading scorer, Kirill Kaprizov, began on March 9, 14 different skaters have risen to occasion and scored a goal for the Wild – tied with the Oilers for the second most and trailing only the Golden Knights (16) for the highest total through that span. In comparison, only eight different Wild players scored during the five games before Kaprizov’s injury.
• Boldy (22-29—51 in 70 GP) opened the game with his 20th goal of the season and concluded the contest with second career hat trick en route to eclipsing the 50-point mark for the first time in his career. He became just the second player in Wild history to score at least 20 goals in a season before age 22, joining Marian Gaborik (30 in 2001-02 & 2002-03).
• Bratt (30-33—63 in 70 GP) reached the 30-goal mark after captain Nico Hischier (30-36—66 in 69 GP) also did so earlier in the contest, joining Jack Hughes (37-44—81 in 66 GP) as the second and third Devils skaters to do so this season. New Jersey captured its 23rd comeback win of 2022-23 – tied with 2017-18 for the most in a single season in franchise history; the most in a single season in NHL history is shared by the Panthers (29 in 2021-22) and Lightning (29 in 2018-19).

MILLER MATCHES NHL RECORD AS RANGERS SCORE SIX FIRST-PERIOD GOALS

Three days after the Panthers erupted for seven goals in their opening period against the Canadiens, K’Andre Miller (2-2—4) factored on four of six first-period goals for the Rangers in the opening 13:36 en route to a franchise first and another high-octane shutout victory at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers have now scored 15 consecutive goals through three games dating to March 16 which also includes a 6-0 victory against the Penguins on Saturday.

• Miller became the first defenseman in Rangers history to record four points in a single period and matched the NHL record for most by a blueliner in any period – a feat four others have accomplished in the past 10 years (Mikhail Sergachev: Nov. 13, 2022, Morgan Rielly: Oct. 15, 2019, Brandon Montour: Dec. 12, 2018 & Rostislav Klesla: March 28, 2013).
• New York, which also tied the franchise mark for most goals in an opening frame and did so for the first time since Dec. 15, 1999 (6 in P1 vs. LAK), matched the second-longest run of consecutive goals in Rangers history (also 15 from Jan. 26 – Feb. 2, 1949). The franchise benchmark is a 25-goal stretch from Feb. 3-11, 1973.

KUCHEROV’S THIRD CAREER 100-POINT SEASON

Nikita Kucherov (28-72—100 in 71 GP) found the back of the net just 3:26 into the contest to become the third player to reach the 100-point mark in 2022-23. Kucherov became the sixth active player with at least three 100-point seasons. The others: Connor McDavid (6x), Sidney Crosby (6x), Leon Draisaitl (4x), Alex Ovechkin (4x) and Evgeni Malkin (3x).

REIGNING PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY WINNERS LOOK TO SPRING INTO PLAYOFF SPOT

With the start of Spring, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs exactly four weeks away, Monday’s slate will include the Panthers (35-27-7, 77 points) looking to move into a Wild Card spot, the Flames (31-24-15, 77 points) aiming to move within two points of one in the West and three clubs pursuing the No. 1 seed in their division.

• A doubleheader on TVA Sports opens with the Panthers aiming to move into a playoff spot for the first time since Feb. 22. That was the last of three straight days during which the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners displaced Pittsburgh from the second Wild Card spot. Florida has held a playoff spot for only four days since approximately mid-November (Dec. 3 & Feb. 20-22). Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov needs one point to take sole claim as the highest-scoring player in franchise history.
• While the Panthers and Detroit Red Wings battle in Detroit, another high stakes Eastern Conference matchup will be taking place in Pittsburgh where the Penguins (34-25-10, 78 points) and Senators (33-31-5, 71 points) will clash. Pittsburgh can leapfrog the idle NY Islanders (36-7-8, 80 points) for the first Wild Card spot while Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is one away from his 11th career 30-goal season.

THE WEST IS WIDE OPEN: TOP SEEDS FAR FROM DECIDED

The largest lead held by a division leader in the Western Conference entering Monday is two points, with three teams in action within eyeing the top spot in either the Central or Pacific Division.

• The Avalanche (40-22-6, 86 points) – who trailed the No. 1 seed by as many as 14 points this season – are three points back of first place in the Central Division thanks to an active five-game winning streak and a 20-5-3 run since Jan. 14 – during which they share the NHL lead in points (43; tied with BOS). Nathan MacKinnon ranks second in the NHL in scoring over that span, with his 19-28—47 (28 GP) trailing only the 21-31—52 posted by Connor McDavid (26 GP) since Jan. 14. During that span, MacKinnon has a four-point game, four games with three points, 11 outings with two points, nine one-point showings and only three contests when he has been held off the score sheet.
• While the third-seeded Oilers (39-23-8, 86 points) look to gain ground on a top-two spot in the Pacific Division, McDavid (58-76—134 in 70 GP) will have his eyes set on reaching the 60-goal mark. He can require the fewest games to score 60 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (62 GP w/ PIT).
• The Kings (40-20-10, 90 points) enter Monday on a 10-game home point streak (8-0-2) dating to Feb. 11 and can match the second-longest run in franchise history (11 GP in 2001-02 & 1990-91) when they host the Flames. With a win, Los Angeles would move into a tie in points with Vegas (43-21-6, 92 points) atop the Pacific Division standings.

RED WINGS SIGN DEFENSEMAN ANTTI TUOMISTO TO TWO-YEAR ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT

The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Antti Tuomisto to a two-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season.

Tuomisto, 22, spent the entire 2022-23 season with TPS in Finland’s SM-Liiga, recording 20 points (5-15-20) and 20 penalty minutes in 60 regular-season games. His 20 points were the most of any defenseman 23 years of age or younger in Finland’s top professional league. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound blueliner also picked up two assists and six penalty minutes in three postseason contests. Additionally, Tuomisto logged one assist and two penalty minutes in five Champions Hockey League games with TPS this season. Originally selected by the Red Wings in the second round (35th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Tuomisto played two seasons at the University of Denver from 2020-22, collecting 20 points (3-17-20), a plus-18 rating and 44 penalty minutes in 59 games. He helped the Pioneers win the 2022 NCAA Division I championship as a sophomore along with Detroit prospects Shai Buium (36th overall/2021) and Carter Mazur (70th overall/2021).

Zibanejad, Makar and Swayman Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 19, 2023.

FIRST STAR – MIKA ZIBANEJAD, C, NEW YORK RANGERS

Zibanejad registered multiple points in all four of his outings to lead the NHL with 5-4—9 and propel the Rangers (41-19-10, 92 points) to a perfect week as they extended their point streak to seven contests dating to March 9 (6-0-1). He scored twice, his team-leading ninth multi-goal performance of the season, in a 5-3 victory against the Washington Capitals March 14. Zibanejad then compiled 2-3—5 in consecutive wins versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, posting 1-1—2 in a 4-2 triumph March 16 and 1-2—3 (including his third straight game-opening goal as well as his team-best fifth game-winning goal of 2022‑23) in a 6-0 victory March 18. He finished the week 1-1—2 for his fourth consecutive multi-point effort, a first in his career (755 GP), in a 7-0 triumph against the Nashville Predators March 19. The 29-year-old Zibanejad has played in 70 total contests this season (37-40—77), ranking among the League leaders in power-play goals (3rd; 19), power-play points (t-9th; 31), goals (t-11th; 37) and points (20th; 77). The 12-season NHL veteran also now has 62-65—127 in 83 career appearances during the month of March, an average of 1.53 points per game.

SECOND STAR – CALE MAKAR, D, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Makar topped defensemen and placed third in the entire NHL with 1-8—9 across four games as the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche (40-22-6, 86 points) pushed their winning streak to five contests dating to March 11 to move into third place in the Central Division. He collected three assists in an 8-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens March 13. Makar then assisted on Colorado’s lone goal in regulation in a 2-1 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs March 15 before adding 1-1—2 in a 5-4 triumph versus the Ottawa Senators March 16. He capped the week with another three-assist outing, his third of the month (also March 7 vs. SJS: 1-3—4) and 11th of his career, in a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings March 18. Makar, who at age 24 already owns a Calder Memorial Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy, sits second among defensemen with 1.11 points per game and seventh with 16-45—61 through 55 total appearances this season. Those totals have been aided by an active eight-game point streak dating to March 5, during which he has compiled 3-13—16.

THIRD STAR – JEREMY SWAYMAN, G, BOSTON BRUINS

Swayman stopped all 62 shots he faced in two starts, going 2-0-0 with two shutouts to help the League-leading Bruins (53-11-5, 111 points) win three of their four contests. Swayman first made 36 saves for his eighth career shutout and third of the season in a 3-0 victory against the Winnipeg Jets March 16. He then turned aside 26 shots in a 7-0 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres March 19. In doing so, Swayman became the first Boston goaltender with consecutive shutouts since Tuukka Rask (Dec. 13-23, 2011) and Tim Thomas (Nov. 19-21, 2011) both accomplished the feat in 2011-12. The 24-year-old Swayman owns an 18-6-4 record in 30 total games this season, placing among the League leaders in goals-against average (3rd; 2.20), shutouts (t-3rd; 4) and save percentage (4th; .920).