NHL Recap December 17, 2023 – MACKINNON POSTS FOUR-POINT GAME, EXTENDS STREAKS IN AVALANCHE VICTORY

Nathan MacKinnon (2-2—4) recorded a four-point performance and extended his season-opening home point streak to 16 games and his overall point streak to 15 contests – matching his career high (also 15 GP in 2020-21) – as the Avalanche (19-10-2, 40 points) moved into first place in the Central Division standings.

• MacKinnon recorded his 17th career four-point game and surpassed Anton Stastny (16 GP) for the sixth most in Avalanche/Nordiques history, behind only Peter Stastny (52 GP), Joe Sakic (32 GP), Peter Forsberg (25 GP), Michel Goulet (25 GP) and Mikko Rantanen (19 GP). In the process, he also collected his 806th career point and surpassed Milan Hejduk (805) for sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time points list.
• MacKinnon boosted his 2023 totals to 48-76—124 (78 GP) and surpassed Connor McDavid (43-79—122 in 70 GP) for the most points among all players in 2023. Among active skaters, the only others to record as many points in a calendar year are McDavid (157 in 2021 & 143 in 2022), Leon Draisaitl (135 in 2021) and Sidney Crosby (126 in 2010).

THREE OTHER WESTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS ALSO PICK UP WINS
The Avalanche weren’t the only Western Conference club to pick up a win Sunday – the Golden Knights (21-6-5, 47 points), Canucks (21-9-2, 44 points) and Ducks (11-19-0, 22 points) also secured victories:

• Jack Eichel (1-1—2) and Mark Stone (0-3—3) both found the score sheet multiple times as the Golden Knights netted six goals against the Senators to bolster their lead atop the NHL standings. Eichel extended his point streak to 10 games and established a franchise record.
• Brock Boeser scored one of four Canucks tallies to tie Auston Matthews (23) for the League lead in goals as Vancouver earned a win against Chicago. The Canucks extended their point streak to six games dating to Dec. 7 (5-0-1) – the second-longest active run in the League behind the Maple Leafs (6-0-3) and Flyers (6-0-2).
• Pavel Mintyukov (0-2—2) posted a multi-point performance and Adam Henrique scored his first career hat trick as the Ducks defeated the Devils at Prudential Center. Mintyukov boosted his 2023-24 totals to 1-15—16 and became the second Ducks defenseman to record at least that many points through their first 30 career games, joining Cam Fowler (3-14—17 in 2010-11).

ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT
A noteworthy performance on Sunday, included Chicago’s Connor Bedard (0-2—2) who posted his fourth career multi-point outing.

• Bedard boosted his 2023-24 totals to 12-14—26 (30 GP) and tied Dick Irvin (14-12—26) for the fifth-most points by a Blackhawks rookie through 30 games, behind only Denis Savard (12-24—36), Patrick Kane (7-23—30), Artemi Panarin (9-19—28) and George Gee (13-14—27).

MacKinnon, Demko and Dobson Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko and New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 17, 2023.

FIRST STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon, who extended the NHL’s longest active point streak to 15 games dating to Nov. 20 (8-19—27), recorded multiple points in all four of his contests to lead the League with 3-7—10 and help the Avalanche (19-10-2, 40 points) post a 3-1-0 week. He registered 1-1—2, including the winning goal with 4:30 remaining in regulation, as Colorado rallied from a two-goal, third-period deficit for a 6-5 victory over the Calgary Flames Dec. 11. MacKinnon then collected two helpers in each of his next two outings, becoming the fifth player in franchise history to compile 800 points as part of a 5-1 triumph against the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 13 and assisting on both Avalanche goals in a 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Dec. 16. MacKinnon capped the week with 2-2—4, his 17th career four-point performance, to stretch his overall and season-opening home point streak to 15 and 16 games, respectively, as Colorado earned a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Dec. 17. The 28-year-old MacKinnon, who has the most points among all NHL players during the calendar year (48-76—124 in 78 GP), currently ranks second with 14-33—47 through 31 total appearances in 2023-24. He also sits among this season’s leaders in assists (1st; 33), power-play assists (t-2nd; 15), shots on goal (3rd; 137) and power-play points (t-8th; 16).

SECOND STAR – THATCHER DEMKO, G, VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Demko turned aside 89 of the 93 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average, .957 save percentage and one shutout as the Canucks (21-9-2, 44 points) extended their point streak to six games dating to Dec. 7 (5-0-1) via a 3-0-1 week. He stopped 28 of 29 shots, including all 18 over the final two periods, during a 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning Dec. 12. Demko then earned his sixth career shutout (and third of 2023-24) with 36 saves in a 4-0 victory over the Florida Panthers Dec. 14. He finished the week with 25 stops in a 4-3 triumph versus the Chicago Blackhawks Dec. 17 to boost his League-leading win total to 16 – one ahead of Colorado’s Alexandar Georgiev and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (both w/ 15). The 28-year-old Demko has played in 23 total contests this season, compiling a 16-7-0 record to go along with three shutouts (t-1st in the NHL), a 2.34 goals-against average (5th in the NHL) and a .921 save percentage (7th in the NHL).

THIRD STAR – NOAH DOBSON, D, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Dobson paced the NHL with eight assists (0-8—8) and a +7 rating (tied) in four games to guide the Islanders (14-8-8, 36 points) to points in three of their four contests (2-1-1). He recorded three helpers, including a secondary assist on Bo Horvat’s overtime winner, in a 4-3 triumph against the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 11. Dobson then picked up a pair of assists in a 4-3 comeback victory over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 13 before being held without a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins Dec. 15. He closed the week with helpers on all three New York goals, his third career three-assist performance (also Nov. 30 at CAR), in a 5-3 defeat versus the Montreal Canadiens Dec. 16. The 23-year-old Dobson has played in 30 total contests this season, ranking fourth among defensemen with 5-27—32 and in the top 10 among all skaters in average time on ice (3rd; 25:33), plus/minus (t-5th; +17) and assists (t-7th; 27).

FIVE-GAME SLATE SET FOR MONDAY

Ten teams are in action Monday, including the Jets (18-9-2, 38 points) who will look to reclaim first in the Central Division standings when they face off against the Canadiens (13-13-4, 30 points) at Canada Life Centre on Sportsnet.

MCDAVID SET FOR TOUR OF NEW YORK AREA ON ESPN+, HULU

The final week of action before the League’s holiday break will see 21 national telecasts, including three ESPN+ and Hulu exclusives in the U.S. that feature Connor McDavid and the Oilers on a road swing in the Eastern time zone.

Tuesday, Dec. 19: Oilers at Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Hulu, SNW)

The Oilers will begin a six-game road trip with three contests in the New York area and continue the trek after the holiday break with a swing through California, with McDavid having a shot at matching a long-standing franchise record along the way. McDavid will put his active 11-game assist streak on the line Tuesday at UBS Arena, where he can join Wayne Gretzky (5x), Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri as the fourth Oilers player to notch an assist in at least a dozen consecutive contests. If McDavid has a helper in every outing during the trip, he will tie the franchise record of 17 games, set by Gretzky in 1983-84 and matched by Coffey in 1985-86.

Thursday, Dec. 21: Oilers at Devils (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Hulu, SNW)

Three of the top eight highest-scoring players since the start of last season are expected to share the ice Thursday in Newark when McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Jack Hughes face off. McDavid (6-7—13) and Draisaitl (5-3—8) have both outscored Hughes (2-3—5) in their seven meetings to date, earning a 4-2-1 advantage for the Oilers (NJD: 3-3-1). The Oilers and Devils (both w/ 8) are tied for the second-most wins since U.S. Thanksgiving as they seek to gain ground in the playoff race following appearances in the 2023 Second Round.

Friday, Dec. 22: Oilers at Rangers (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Hulu, SN)

While McDavid will have a chance to enter the contest with assist and point streaks of 13 and 14 games, respectively, one of his opponents will be guaranteed to start the contest on a lengthy run. New York forward Artemi Panarin owns an active 13-game home point streak, which is the longest by a Rangers player (at any point) since Mark Messier in 1996-97 (14 GP) and two shy of the franchise record for longest home point streak from the start of a season (Mike Rogers: 15 GP in 1983-84).

Saturday, Dec. 23: Hockey Night in Canada (Sportsnet)

The final day of play before the holiday break will include 14 games, including four as part of Hockey Night in Canada: Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets (after Toronto nearly staged a five-goal comeback victory in their last meeting); Penguins at Senators (Erik Karlsson’s first visit in a Penguins jersey); Sharks at Canucks (Brock Boeser will seek to continue an eight-game home point streak); and Flames at Kings (with Calgary owning an active five-game home point streak against Los Angeles; 3-0-2 since 2019-20).

RED WINGS ASSIGN AUSTIN CZARNIK TO GRAND RAPIDS

The Detroit Red Wings have assigned center Austin Czarnik to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, the Red Wings have activated center Dylan Larkin from injured reserve.