Posted on by Guest Writer
Casey DeSmith - Dallas Stars
Casey DeSmith stopped all shots he faced during his Dallas debut and helped the Stars achieve a rare feat with their second shutout in as many days.
14
Oct

NHL Recap October. 13, 2024 – DeSMITH SHINES IN STARS DEBUT AS DALLAS DEALS OUT SECOND STRAIGHT SHUTOUT

Wyatt Johnston scored his first goal of 2024-25 and extended his season-opening point streak to three games as the Stars skated to a second shutout in as many days but this time thanks to Casey DeSmith (25 saves), who made his team debut. The Stars/North Stars recorded shutouts on consecutive days for the second time in franchise history (also 2 GP from Dec. 15-16, 1967).

  • Dallas became the seventh team in the past 50 years to record a shutout in each of its first two home games of a season. The others: Philadelphia (2015-16), Minnesota (2014-15), St. Louis (2012-13), Columbus (2007-08), Florida (2005-06) and Calgary (2001-02).
  • DeSmith became the fourth goaltender in Stars/North Stars history to record a shutout in his team debut, joining Antti Niemi (Oct. 8 ,2015), Mike Smith (Oct. 21, 2006) and Markus Mattsson (Jan 12, 1983).
  • Johnston became the fifth player age 21 or younger in Stars/North Stars history to have a season-opening point streak of at least three games and the first since Mike Modano (3 GP in 1991-92).

COMEBACK TRENDS CONTINUE IN EARLY PART OF 2024-25

The Jets and Flames both continued the trend of come-from-behind wins with their victories over the Wild and Oilers:

  • After falling 1-0 early in the first period, the Jets rallied back with goals from Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor in overtime to help the Jets improve to 3-0-0 – their longest winning streak to begin a season in franchise history – and earn their sixth straight victory against the Wild. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 of 27 saves as Winnipeg has now held its opponents to one or fewer goals in each of its first three games of 2024-25 – the first time in franchise history the club has started a campaign that way.
  • Justin Kirkland scored his first NHL goal to help the Flames improve to 3-0-0 this season, one shy of their longest winning streak to start a campaign in franchise history. Kirkland, who was coached in junior by his now head coach Ryan Huska and signed with Calgary as a free agent on July 3, was selected 62nd overall in the 2014 NHL Draft, spent eight years playing in the American Hockey League and was skating in just his 11th NHL game Sunday. The last two instances of a player scoring their first NHL goal 10-plus years after being drafted were achieved by goaltenders Tristan Jarry (Nov. 30, 2023) and Linus Ullmark (Feb. 25, 2023).

Penguins pitted against Canadiens in Prime Monday Night Hockey premiere

Today’s six-game slate is highlighted by Sidney Crosby and the Penguins visiting Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens during the premiere of Prime Monday Night Hockey, which will stream all national regular-season Monday night games in English throughout the 2024-25 campaign for Prime Members in Canada.

  • Prime Monday Night Hockey features an all-star cast led by play-by-play announcer John Forslund as well as analysts Thomas Hickey, Shane Hnidy and Jody Shelley. Co-hosts Andi Petrillo and Adnan Virk as well as analyst Blake Bolden anchor the Prime Monday Night sports desk from on-site alongside a mix of local guests throughout the season, while Mark Messier will be a contributor over the course of the campaign both on the desk and with vignettes.
  • Crosby needs one point to become the 10th player in NHL history with 1,600. Crosby has collected 24 of his 1,599 career points at Bell Centre and is set to contest one more game in Montreal on Dec. 12 before returning to the venue with Canada for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
  • Suzuki could join Crosby with Canada at the international event after representing his country in the 2019 World Junior Championship and 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Suzuki also skated with Canada White at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
  • Monday features five other contests including three matinees as Thanksgiving and Columbus Day are observed in Canada and the U.S., respectively. Utah Hockey Club can become the first franchise in League history to earn wins in each of its first four games, while multiple Utah players can extend their season-opening goal streaks.

WEEK AHEAD FEATURES MORE NATIONAL GAMES, NHL COAST TO COAST

Other national broadcasts to look forward to during the week ahead:

Tuesday, Oct. 15 – ESPN doubleheader one week before Frozen Frenzy

  • The final games on ESPN before Frozen Frenzy returns next week feature Jordan Kyrou and the Blues battling Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild followed by Matvei Michkov and the Flyers facing Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 – NHL on TNT two-pack, Kings-Maple Leafs on Sportsnet and TVA Sports

  • An NHL on TNT doubleheader opens with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins hosting Rasmus Dahlin and the Sabres before closing with David Pastrnak and the Bruins visiting Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche. The contests bookend Anze Kopitar and the Kings clashing with Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Thursday, Oct. 17 – NHL Coast to Coast on Prime Video

  • Prime Video’s weekly whip-around studio show for Prime Members in Canada returns during an 11-game slate which is set to feature Will Smith and the Sharks squaring off with Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks, marking the first head-to-head game between the 2023 NHL Draft class members.

Saturday, Oct. 19 – Four-game Hockey Night in Canada slate

  • Another star-studded Hockey Night in Canada features Matthews and the Maple Leafs continuing their four-game homestand while Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens, Quinn Hughes and the Canucks as well as Jonathan Huberdeau and the Flames contest road games.

FIRST FULL WEEK OF THE 2024-25 SEASON OFFICIALLY WRAPPED

The 2024-25 season has officially completed its first full week and there’s already been plenty of noteworthy storylines:

  • Every team to contest a home opener honored the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, including the Flames who recognized the pair with a moment of applause in an emotional pre-game ceremony Saturday. All players will wear a decal with the numbers 13 and 21 in honor of the Gaudreau brothers throughout the season.
  • Utah Hockey Club commenced their NHL journey undefeated in their first week of action. The League’s newest franchise is 3-0-0, and can make NHL history with a fourth straight victory on Oct. 14.
  • The sports world bared witness to a monumental moment on Oct. 9 when Seattle’s Jessica Campbell made NHL history as the first woman to work a regular-season game as an assistant, associate or head coach.
  • A plethora of players have found their scoring touch to start 2024-25 as there have been 31 multi-goal performances, including three hat tricks registered by Mikko Rantanen (Oct. 9), Anze Kopitar (Oct. 10) and Nikita Kucherov (Oct. 11), with the latter two doing so in natural fashion and achieving a never-before-seen NHL feat.
  • Macklin Celebrini, the first-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, had a debut to remember when he became the sixth-youngest player in NHL history to score in his first career game and the second youngest to tally two points in that same contest.
  • There have been 247 goals scored at the end of the first full week of the season, with Utah and Calgary leading the way with 16. The most scored in a single game was by Vegas, which potted eight against Colorado in the highest-scoring contest so far (8-4 on Oct. 9).
  • Results have been anything but predictable to start the new season. Of the 40 games played, 20 have been won in comeback fashion with seven of those occuring in the third period. Even a two-plus goal lead wasn’t always safe in the final frame – there have been two multi-goal, third-period comeback wins, which includes a three-goal, third-period rally by the Blues on Oct. 10.

Guenther, Hellebuyck and Eichel Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 13.

FIRST STAR – DYLAN GUENTHER, RW, UTAH HOCKEY CLUB

Guenther topped the NHL with five goals in three games (5-0—5) to help Utah Hockey Club (3‑0‑0, 6 points) post a perfect opening week, making them the second franchise in League history to win each of their first three contests (also VGK in 2017-18). Guenther ignited Utah’s inaugural game with a pair of goals – including the first in franchise history 4:56 after the opening face-off – en route to a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 8. He again scored twice, highlighted by his second career overtime goal (also March 22, 2024 vs. SEA), as Utah rallied from three separate deficits for a 5-4 triumph over the New York Islanders Oct. 10. Guenther became the fifth player in NHL history to record multiple goals in each of a franchise’s first two games – and the first to achieve the feat since the League’s inaugural season (1917-18). He added another goal in a 6-5 overtime win against the New York Rangers Oct. 12 as he and teammate Barrett Hayton became the fifth and sixth players in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to score in each of a franchise’s first three contests. The 21-year-old Guenther, who signed an eight-year contract extension with Utah on Sept. 20, has compiled 29-26—55 in 81 career NHL appearances since being selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

SECOND STAR – CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, G, WINNIPEG JETS

Hellebuyck stopped 81 of the 83 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 0.66 goals-against average, .976 save percentage and one shutout to lift the Jets (3-0-0, 6 points) to an unblemished start to the season. The reigning Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy winner began 2024-25 with a 30‑save shutout – the 38th clean sheet of his career – as part of a 6-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Oct. 9. He then yielded one goal in consecutive 2-1 overtime wins, turning aside 25 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 11 and making 26 saves versus the Minnesota Wild Oct. 13. The 31-year-old Hellebuyck, a two-time Vezina Trophy recipient (also 2019-20), ranks second in the NHL with 278 victories in 508 career appearances since making his League debut in 2015-16 (278-173-41, 2.61 GAA, .917 SV%, 38 SO).

THIRD STAR – JACK EICHEL, C, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Eichel led the NHL with six assists and seven points in three games (1-6—7) to power the Golden Knights (3-0-0, 6 points) to their third straight 3-0-0 start to the season (7-0-0 in 2023-24 and 3-0-0 in 2022-23). He opened the campaign with four helpers, his second career four-assist performance (also March 31, 2018 at NSH: 0-5—5), in a 8-4 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche Oct. 9. Eichel then posted 1-1—2 in a 4-3 win versus the St. Louis Blues Oct. 11 before assisting on Tomas Hertl’s tiebreaking goal in the third period of a 3-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks Oct. 13. The 27-year-old Eichel has produced nearly a point per game since being selected with the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, totaling 212-309—521 in 542 career NHL contests.

blank
Guest Writer