BLUE JACKETS, WILD RIDE WIN STREAKS INTO NHL HOLIDAY BREAK
Columbus and Minnesota each earned wins to extend the longest active win streaks in the NHL.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves to help the Blue Jackets extend their franchise-record win streak to 12 games, equaling the longest such run in the NHL over the past four seasons. Elias notes that only two clubs have posted longer single-season win streaks since the start of 2005-06: the 2009-10 Capitals (14-0-0) and 2012-13 Penguins (15-0-0).
The first-place Blue Jackets (23-5-4, 50 points) also established a franchise record by extending their point streak to 14 games (13-0-1). Bobrovsky, meanwhile, pushed his personal win and point streaks to 10 and 12 games (11-0-1), respectively, to establish career highs and club records for each.
The Wild scored five times in the second period – including two goals in a span of 18 seconds in the first minute – en route to establishing franchise records for consecutive wins (10) and games with a point (10-0-1).
Charlie Coyle (1-3—4), Jason Zucker (1-2—3) and Mikko Koivu (1-2—3) paced the Wild offense, which scored five goals in one period during a regular-season road game for the first time in franchise history. The only other five-goal periods in club history: May 5, 2003 at VAN (5 in 2nd; playoffs), Oct. 19, 2005 vs. SJS (5 in 3rd) and Feb. 22, 2015 vs. STL (6 in 3rd).
NHL NEWS AND MUSINGS
- Braden Holtby (23 saves) recorded his 26th career shutout and John Carlson scored twice as the Capitals improved to 7-1-2 in their past 10 games
- The Flames scored four unanswered goals – including the tying and winning markers by captain Mark Giordano – to extend their point streak against the Canucks to six games (5-0-1)
- John Tavares was one of five different players with a goal in the Islanders’ victory
- Rookie Kevin Labanc scored twice, including the overtime winner, to help the Sharks (21-12-1, 43 points) move ahead of the Oilers (18-12-6, 42 points) into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division
- Nathan MacKinnon (1-1—2) and Esa Lindell also scored in overtime for the Avalanche and Stars, respectively
- Red Wings goaltender Jared Coreau (31 saves) registered his first NHL win (2 GP)
- Jeff Carter scored both Kings goals – his fourth and fifth tallies in the past three games – to move into a share of second in the NHL with 19 goals this season
- Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr (0-1—1) notched his 1,134th career assist to move within one of tying Paul Coffey (1,135) for fifth place on the NHL’s all-time list
- Connor McDavid (1-1—2) posted his 13th multi-point game of the season to extend his lead in the League scoring race (13-29—42 in 36 GP)
- Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson (0-1—1) recorded his 200th NHL point to extend his career-high point streak to nine games (7-7—14)
- Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin (5-8—13) and Wild forward Eric Staal (5-5—10) extended their point streaks to seven games
- Click here for a recap of Episode 2 in the four-part series chronicling the journeys to the NHL Outdoor Classics
- The postponed game between the Hurricanes and Red Wings has been rescheduled for Monday, March 27, 2017 at PNC Arena (7 p.m. ET)
- Max Domi and AustonMatthews joined a group of youth hockey players on the ice after the Maple Leafs-Coyotes game.
FRIDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NY ISLANDERS 5, Buffalo 1
Minnesota 7, NY RANGERS 4
PITTSBURGH 4, New Jersey 1
WASHINGTON 4, Tampa Bay 0
COLUMBUS 2, Montreal 1
Detroit 4, FLORIDA 3 (SO)
CAROLINA 3, Boston 2 (OT)
Colorado 2, CHICAGO 1 (OT)
DALLAS 3, Los Angeles 2 (OT)
CALGARY 4, Vancouver 1
Toronto 4, ARIZONA 1
SAN JOSE 3, Edmonton 2 (OT)
TUESDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Washington @ NY Islanders, 7 p.m.
Ottawa @ NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
Boston @ Columbus, 7 p.m.
Buffalo @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota @ Nashville, 8 p.m.
Winnipeg @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Calgary @ Colorado, 9 p.m.
Dallas @ Arizona, 9 p.m.
San Jose @ Anaheim, 10 p.m.