NHL December 8 2019 Recap

EICHEL EXTENDS POINT STREAK AS SABRES EDGE OILERS IN OT
After the Oilers erased a 2-0 deficit, Jack Eichel (18-24—42 in 31 GP) assisted on Colin Miller’s overtime goal to extend the League’s longest active point streak to 13 contests dating to Nov. 16 (10-13—23).

Eichel is among a group of 10 players on pace to reach the 100-point mark in 2019-20 (48-63—111). It’s a list that includes Rangers forward Artemi Panarin (40-62—102), as well as Panthers duo Aleksander Barkov (28-74—102) and Jonathan Huberdeau (31-71—102) – who all found the score sheet Sunday.

Over half of his points during the 13-game run have either helped the Sabres tie the game or take the lead.

BARKOV, HUBERDEAU NET FRANCHISE FIRST IN PANTHERS WIN
Captain Aleksander Barkov (1-1—2) and Jonathan Huberdeau (0-2—2) were two of five players with multi-point outings as the Panthers (15-9-5, 35 points) earned their third win in four contests. Florida currently sits second in the Atlantic Division, nine points behind Boston (20-4-6, 46 points).

Barkov (10-26—36) and Huberdeau (11-25—36) each eclipsed the 35-point mark while skating in their 29th game of the season. The 2019-20 campaign marks the first in Panthers history that two players each collected 35 points prior to their team’s 30th game of the season.

Pavel Bure (21-14—25 in 26 GP; 1999-00) is the only player in franchise history to record his 35th point in fewer games than Barkov and Huberdeau.

Huberdeau (136-259—395 in 496 GP), with at least one assist in four of his last five games, passed Stephen Weiss (145-249—394 in 654 GP) for second place on the Panthers all-time points list. He now sits 24 points shy of Olli Jokinen (188-231—419 in 567 GP) for the most in franchise history.

RANGERS DEFENSEMEN LEAD CLUB TO WIN IN VEGAS
Jacob Trouba (1-1—2) and Tony DeAngelo (0-1—1) were two of six different Rangers defensemen with at least one point as New York captured its second win in three contests.

Sunday marked the second time this season the Rangers have featured six different blueliners collect at least one point in the same game (also Oct. 3, 2019). Outside of the team’s season-opening contest this year, there has only been only one other instance by the franchise in the last 33 years: Nov. 17, 2007, when Michal Rozsival, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Fedor Tyutin, Paul Mara and Jason Strudwick all found their name on the score sheet.

DeAngelo leads all Rangers blueliners with 7-14—21 this season. They feature a defense core that has combined for 26-60—86 in 29 games, the most among all clubs in 2019-20 – five more than the next closest clubs (TBL and WSH; both w/ 81).

COYOTES POST MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK EN ROUTE TO 40TH POINT

Carl Soderberg (1-1—2) factored on two of three goals in regulation as the Coyotes registered their third multi-goal comeback win of 2019-20 (also: Oct 25 and Oct. 28). Only three teams have recorded more such victories this season: WSH (5), CGY (4) and FLA (4).

Arizona improved to 18-10-4 and recorded its 40th point of 2019-20. Only two seasons in franchise history have featured the club reach the benchmark in fewer games.

SCHEIFELE LEADS JETS, CASHES IN ON 400TH NHL POINT

Mark Scheifele scored twice, including the game winner, to record his 400th career point and lead the Jets to their third straight win at Bell MTS Place. Winnipeg improved to 18-10-2 in 2019-20 – tied for the second-most wins through the first 30 games of a season in franchise history.

Scheifele, selected seventh overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, reached the 400-point mark while skating in his 478th career game (164-236—400 in 478 GP). Only one player to debut with the Jets/Thrashers franchise has required fewer games to reach the milestone: Ilya Kovalchuk (403 GP).

Carlson, Jarry and Eichel Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry and Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 8.

FIRST STAR – JOHN CARLSON, D, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Carlson registered 3-3—6, including two game-winning goals, in three contests to propel the Capitals (22-4-5, 49 points) to a perfect week and into first place in the overall NHL standings. Carlson posted his sixth three-point performance of the season, as well as his third game-winning goal, in a 5-2 triumph over the San Jose Sharks Dec. 3 (1-2—3). He then scored twice, including the decisive goal, in a 3-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 4. Carlson closed the week with one assist in a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 6, helping Washington sweep a three-game road trip through California for the first time in franchise history. The 29-year-old Natick, Mass., native tops NHL defensemen in goals (11), assists (32), points (43) and game-winning goals (4) through 31 outings this season. Only two other blueliners in League history have recorded as many points through their team’s first 31 games of a campaign: Bobby Orr (5x, most recently in 1974-75: 21-37—58 w/ BOS) and Al MacInnis (1990-91: 13-31—44 w/ CGY).

SECOND STAR – TRISTAN JARRY, G, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Jarry stopped all 61 shots he faced across two appearances, compiling a 2-0-0 record and two shutouts to help the Penguins (17-9-4, 38 points) earn three wins and move into the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. Jarry made 28 saves for his third career shutout in a 3-0 triumph over the St. Louis Blues Dec. 4. He then turned aside all 33 shots against in a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes Dec. 6, extending his personal shutout streak to 144:51 (dating to Nov. 29) – the longest by a Pittsburgh goaltender in the regular season since Marc-Andre Fleury’s 165:06 run from Feb. 1-11, 2015. The 24-year-old Surrey, B.C., native has played in 11 total games this season, going 7-4-0 with a 1.82 goals-against average, .943 save percentage and two shutouts.

THIRD STAR – JACK EICHEL, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Eichel topped the NHL with 2-5—7 in four outings to extend his personal point streak to a career-high 13 games (10-13—23) and lift the Sabres (14-11-6, 34 points) into third place in the Atlantic Division. Eichel registered 1-2—3, his seventh three-point effort of the season, in a 7-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils Dec. 2. He then scored once in a 4-3 defeat against the Calgary Flames Dec. 5 and picked up two assists in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 7. Eichel capped the week with an assist on Colin Miller’s overtime winner in a 3-2 triumph against the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 8. The 23-year-old North Chelmsford, Mass., native – who is one of 10 players on pace for 100 points in 2019-20 – ranks seventh in the League with 18-24—42 through 31 contests this season.