NHL RECAP JANAURY 5, 2025 – FIVE CLUB’S EARN A WIN SUNDAY

ZIBANEJAD, AHO HELP METROPOLITAN CLUBS COLLECT VICTORIES

Mika Zibanejad (0-1—1) and Sebastian Aho (1-2—3) both reached milestone plateaus as the Rangers (18-20-1, 37 points) and Hurricanes (24-14-2, 50 points) both skated to wins Sunday. The duo will go head-to-head against one another at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February when Zibanejad suits up for Sweden and Aho for Finland.

• Zibanejad factored on one of the Rangers’ six goals to notch his 400th career assist and become the 18th Swedish-born player in NHL history to reach the milestone. Only two other active Swedes have hit the mark: Erik Karlsson (652) and Victor Hedman (596), both of whom will be Zibanejad’s teammates at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
• Aho scored the overtime winner to reach the 600th career point milestone and help lead the Hurricanes to their third multi-goal comeback victory of the season. Aho joined Ron Francis and Eric Staal as third player in franchise history to record 600 points and tied Aleksander Barkov as the fourth-fastest Finnish player to reach the plateau (638 GP) behind Jari Kurri (419 GP), Teemu Selanne (455 GP) and Mikko Rantanen (556 GP). Lastly, Aho surpassed Olli Jokinen (13) for the most overtime goals by a Finnish national.

GIBSON COLLECTS 200TH CAREER WIN
John Gibson stopped 36 of 37 shots to help the Ducks earn their first win against the Lightning since Jan. 21, 2022, which snapped a five-game skid. Gibson collected his 200th victory hours after he was named to one of Anaheim’s Quarter-Century Teams with Jean-Sebastien Giguere – the only other goaltender in franchise history to reach the plateau.

CANUCKS, CANADIENS MEET ON PRIME MONDAY NIGHT HOCKEY
The first full week of January opens with a four-game slate, highlighted by the Canucks (18-12-8, 44 points) and Canadiens (18-18-3, 39 points) meeting for the first time this season on Prime Monday Night Hockey and could feature Alex Ovechkin reaching the 20-goal mark on NHL Network.

• Vancouver has earned a point in eight of its past 10 meetings against Montreal (7-2-1), which includes a season sweep in 2023-24 and three straight wins. The Canucks own a longer active winning streak versus just four other opponents (9-0-0 vs. CHI, 8-0-0 vs. ANA, 4-0-0 vs. FLA & 4-0-0 vs. BUF).
• With a win on Prime Monday Night Hockey, the Canadiens (18-18-3, 39 points) can leapfrog the idle Senators (19-17-2, 40 points), Blue Jackets (17-17-6, 40 points) and Penguins (17-17-7, 41 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The last time the Canadiens occupied a playoff spot at this stage of a season (639 GP) or later was 2020-21 when the club made the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in nearly three decades.
• Ovechkin (19-11—30 in 23 GP) looks to move up multiple all-time lists when Washington (26-10-3, 55 points) visits Buffalo (14-21-5, 33 points). The Capitals captain can tie Ron Francis (20) for the second-most 20-goal seasons in NHL history and can pass Brendan Shanahan (19) for sole possession of the second-most consecutive 20-goal campaigns – both lists are topped by Gordie Howe.

WEEK AHEAD FEATURES MORE NATIONAL GAMES

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

Wednesday, Jan 8 – Capitals continue The Gr8 Chase against Canucks

• Alex Ovechkin, who has scored in four of his five games since returning to the lineup Dec. 28, will continue The Gr8 Chase when the Capitals welcome the Canucks for the only time this season in a national broadcast in Canada on Sportsnet. Washington owns a five-game point streak against Vancouver (4-0-1 dating to March 11, 2022) – tied for the club’s second-longest active run versus one opponent (also 10 GP vs. CBJ & 5 GP vs. PHI).

Wednesday, Jan 8 – Colorado, Chicago and Florida, Utah clash on NHL on TNT doubleheader

• An NHL on TNT doubleheader will start with the Blackhawks meeting the Avalanche in what will mark the sixth matchup between Connor Bedard and Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon (5-4—9) holds the edge in points and overall record (3-2-0), while Bedard (0-2—2) is 2-3-0 in those contests. The doubleheader will close with the first-ever meeting between the Panthers and Utah Hockey Club.

Saturday, Jan 11 – Bruins, Panthers meet on ABC and ESPN+

• The Bruins and Panthers will meet for the first time since October during the third ABC game of 2024-25. Boston swept the four-game season series in 2023-24, but Florida has taken the first two meetings in 2024-25.

Saturday, Jan. 11 – Hockey Night in Canada returns

• Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada slate will be highlighted by 4 Nations Face-Off connections, starting with the Canucks visiting the Maple Leafs for their lone visit to Toronto before Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller and Auston Matthews become teammates at the tournament. Matthews and Miller have history as teammates, representing Team USA at the 2016 World Juniors. The slate will close with a Pacific Division showdown between two Sweden 4 Nations Face-Off teammates when Rasmus Andersson and the Flames visit Adrian Kempe and the Kings. Andersson and Kempe have represented their country together many times starting at the Under-16 level and most recently at the 2014 Under-18 World Championship.

Maple Leafs’ Domi Fined for Elbowing

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway during NHL Game No. 635 in Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 5. The incident occurred at 5:08 of the third period. Domi was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Rossi, Terry and Kuemper Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry and Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO for the week ending Jan. 5.

FIRST STAR – MARCO ROSSI, C, MINNESOTA WILD

Rossi led the NHL with 3-5—8 in three games to power the Wild (25-11-4, 54 points) to a perfect week. He recorded 2-1—3, his third career three-point performance (and second of the month, following Dec. 6 at ANA: 2-1—3), in a 5-3 triumph over the Nashville Predators Dec. 31. Rossi then scored the tying goal with 8:41 remaining in regulation in a 4-3 shootout victory against the Washington Capitals Jan. 2. He capped the week by assisting on all four Minnesota goals – and establishing career highs for assists and points in a game – in a 4-0 win versus the Carolina Hurricanes Jan. 4. The 23-year-old Rossi, the ninth overall pick form the 2020 NHL Draft, ranks second on the Wild in goals (15), assists (22) and points (37) through 40 total contests this season after completing 2023-24, his first full NHL campaign, with 21-19—40 (82 GP).

SECOND STAR – TROY TERRY, RW, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Terry registered 4-2—6 in four games to propel the Ducks (17-18-4, 38 points) to a trio of wins. He scored the opening goal in a 3-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils Dec. 31. Terry then posted 2‑1—3, highlighted by his fifth career overtime goal (and 18th career game-winning goal), in a 4-3 triumph versus the Winnipeg Jets Jan. 2. After being held off the score sheet in a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Jan. 3, Terry rebounded with 1-1—2 (including his fourth game-opening goal of 2024-25) in a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 5. The 27-year-old Terry, a fifth-round selection (148th overall) from the 2015 NHL Draft, tops Anaheim in goals (14), assists (19) and points (33) through 39 total appearances this season.

THIRD STAR – DARCY KUEMPER, G, LOS ANGELES KINGS

Kuemper (2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .985 SV%, 1 SO) stopped 66 of the 67 shots he faced to help the Kings (23-10-5, 51 points) extend their winning streak to four games dating to Dec. 28. He made 33 saves for his 33rd career shutout in a 3-0 triumph over the New Jersey Devils Jan. 1. Kuemper then made another 33 saves, denying every shot he saw after allowing a goal 1:09 after the opening face-off, in a 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning Jan. 4. The 34-year-old Kuemper, who has points in nine straight appearances dating to Dec. 7 (7-0-2, 1.76 GAA, .937 SV%, 1 SO), owns an 11-2-5 record through 19 total outings this season. He ranks fourth in the League with a .920 save percentage and fifth with a 2.22 goals-against average (both minimum: 14 GP).