NHL March 24 2019 Recap – Trotz Coaches 1,600th Game
Home Team in Caps – WASHINGTON 3, Philadelphia 1
NY ISLANDERS 2, Arizona 0
CAROLINA 2, Montreal 1 (OT)
CHICAGO 2, Colorado 1 (OT)
Columbus 5, VANCOUVER 0
ISLANDERS KEEP PACE IN TROTZ’S 1,600TH GAME
Robin Lehner made 31 saves to record his fifth shutout of the season and help the Islanders (44-25-7, 95 points) keep pace with the Capitals (44-24-8, 96 points) in the Metropolitan Division. Lehner’s five such performances in 2018-19 only trails Jaroslav Halak (six in 2014-15) for the most by a netminder in his first season with the Islanders.
* The Islanders have allowed the fewest goals against in 2018-19 (184 GA)^, after allowing the most in 2017-18 (296 GA)^. Only one instance in NHL history has witnessed a team finish with the most goals allowed one season and the fewest in the campaign to follow: the Ottawa Senators in 1917-18 (114 GA) and 1918-19 (53 GA).
^ includes shootout-deciding goals
* Head coach Barry Trotz (806-593-201) joined Scotty Bowman (1,244-573-324), Joel Quenneville (890-532-214) and Al Arbour (782-577-248) as the fourth head coach in NHL history to coach 1,600 career regular-season games.
CAPITALS CONTINUE SUCCESS AGAINST DIVISIONAL OPPONENTS . . .
Three different players scored as the Capitals (44-24-8, 96 points) swept their season series with the Flyers (36-32-8, 80 points) and maintained their one-point lead over the Islanders (44-35-7, 95 points) for first place in the Metropolitan Division, where three teams are separated by three points.
* The Capitals, who also swept their season series with the Rangers earlier in 2018-19, accomplished the feat against the Flyers for the second time in franchise history (also 4-0-0 in 2006-07). Furthermore, Washington has swept multiple season series against a divisional opponent in a single campaign for the second time in franchise history (6-0-0 vs. ATL and FLA in 2009-10).
* Additionally, they improved to 17-6-2 (36 points) against divisional foes this season, tied with the Islanders (17-8-1, 35 points) for the most such wins among Metropolitan Division clubs. Washington’s points percentage in those contests paces all clubs in the division (0.720).
* The reigning Stanley Cup champions also sit one victory shy of their fifth consecutive campaign with at least 45 wins. Only four teams in NHL history have posted stretches longer than five straight seasons: Montreal (11 from 1971-72 to 1981-82), Detroit (nine from 1999-00 to 2008-09), Pittsburgh (six from 2006-07 to 2011-12) and Edmonton (six from 1981-82 to 1986-87).
18-YEAR-OLD SVECHNIKOV LIFTS HURRICANES IN CRUCIAL CONTEST
Two days prior to his 19th birthday, Andrei Svechnikov (18 years 363 days) scored with 1:45 remaining in overtime to help the Hurricanes (42-26-7, 91 points) collect their fourth win in five contests. Carolina, which occupies the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, gained a crucial point against Montreal, which currently holds the second and final Wild Card position.
* Svechnikov, the second-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, became the 12th different 18-year-old skater to score a regular-season overtime goal – and first to do so in a Hurricanes/Whalers uniform.
35-YEAR-OLD KEITH ALSO DOES SO FOR BLACKHAWKS
After the Blackhawks (33-32-10, 76 points) tied the game in the third period, Duncan Keith (35 years 251 days) netted the game-winning goal 1:23 into overtime to help his club move within five points of the Avalanche (34-29-13, 81 points) – who currently possess the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* Meanwhile, Keith recorded the 48th instance of a defenseman aged 35 or older scoring a regular-season overtime goal. Phil Housley (38 years, 236 days) is the only other Blackhawks blueliner to also accomplish the feat (Oct. 31, 2002 vs. LAK).
BOBROVSKY BACKSTOPS BLUE JACKETS IN B.C.
Four different players scored and Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside all 21 shots he faced to help the Blue Jackets (41-30-4, 86 points) move within two points of the Canadiens (40-28-8, 88 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
* Sunday’s contest marked the second time in as many seasons that Columbus has registered at least five goals in a shutout performance (5-0 W on Oct. 6, 2017 vs. NYI). The club’s largest margin of victory in such an outing is 10, established on Nov. 4, 2016 vs. MTL.
* Bobrovsky recorded his seventh shutout of the season and 31st of his career to match a single-season career high set in 2016-17. Only two goaltenders in Blue Jackets franchise history posted more such outings in a single season: Steve Mason (10 in 2008-09) and Pascal Leclaire (nine in 2007-08).
MONDAY’S GAMES
| Florida@ Toronto | 7:00 PM ET |
| Buffalo@ New Jersey | 7:00 PM ET |
| Pittsburgh@ NY Rangers | 7:00 PM ET |
| Boston@ Tampa Bay | 7:30 PM ET |
| Vegas@ St. Louis | 8:00 PM ET |
| Nashville@ Minnesota | 8:00 PM ET |
| Dallas@ Winnipeg | 8:00 PM ET |
| Los Angeles@ Calgary | 9:00 PM ET |
| Detroit@ San Jose | 10:30 PM ET |
STAMKOS LOOKS TO HELP LIGHTNING CONTINUE WINNING WAYS
Steven Stamkos (39-50—89) and the League-leading Lightning (58-14-4, 120 points) continue their journey toward rewriting NHL history when they welcome Brad Marchand (32-60—92) and the Bruins (46-20-9, 101 points) to Amalie Arena Monday.
* With at least five wins in their remaining six games, the Lightning’s 2018-19 season would mark the second time in the last three years that a major North American professional sports team set a single-season wins record in their respective league. The Golden State Warriors went 73-9 in 2015-16 to establish an NBA record for most wins in a season, eclipsing the previous high of 72 set by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 (72-10).
* Stamkos sits one goal shy of joining Brayden Point (40-50—90) as the second Tampa Bay skater to reach the 40-goal mark. Only one campaign has featured two Lightning teammates each reach the benchmark: 2006-07, when Vincent Lecavalier (52-56—108) and Martin St. Louis (43-59—102) each did so.
* Meanwhile, the Lightning captain can join Point and the League’s leading scorer, Nikita Kucherov (37-83—120), among players to accumulate at least 90 points in 2018-19. It would mark the first season in franchise history in which three Lightning teammates have recorded 90 or more points in the same campaign.
* Meanwhile, the trios of Daniel Alfredsson (43-60—103), Dany Heatley (50-53—103) and Jason Spezza (19-71—90) with the Senators and Ilya Kovalchuk (52-46—98), Marc Savard (28-69—97) and Marian Hossa (39-53—92) with the Thrashers were the last to accomplish the feat in 2005-06.
BATTLE FOR HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE IN THE CENTRAL CARRIES ON TO MONDAY
The Predators (42-28-6, 90 points) and Blues (40-27-8, 88 points), who sit second and third in the Central Division respectively, both take to the ice Monday in hopes of securing home-ice advantage in the First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* The Predators travel to Minnesota to face off against the Wild (35-32-9, 79 points), who find themselves two point shy of the Avalanche (34-29-13, 81 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Nashville enters the contests with victories in each of its last four outings against Minnesota (MIN: 0-1-3).
* Meanwhile the Blues host a Golden Knights team (42-27-6, 90 points) that travels to Enterprise Center with a 10-1-1 record since the NHL’s Trade Deadline on Feb. 25. Only Tampa Bay (11-3-0) has recorded more wins in that span.
Connor, Stamkos and Grubauer Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 24, 2019.
FIRST STAR – KYLE CONNOR, LW, WINNIPEG JETS
Connor paced the NHL with 5-3—8 in four games to help the Central Division-leading Jets (45-26-4, 94 points) pick up three wins and clinch their second consecutive playoff berth. Connor registered 1-1—2 in each of his first two outings, a 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings March 18 and a 3-0 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks March 20. After being held off the scoresheet in a 5-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights March 21, Connor (3-1—4) bounced back with his first career hat trick – as well as his third career four-point performance – in a 5-0 win against the Nashville Predators March 23. In doing so, the 22-year-old Shelby Township, Mich., native – who sits third on Winnipeg in scoring – reached the 30-goal milestone for the second straight season and also hit the 60-point mark for the first time in his three NHL campaigns (32‑29—61 in 75 GP).
SECOND STAR – STEVEN STAMKOS, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Stamkos ranked second in the League with 4-4—8 in four contests as the Lightning (58‑14-4, 120 points) also earned three victories to secure their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. Stamkos opened the week by becoming Tampa Bay’s all-time leading goal scorer, potting his 384th career goal in a 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes March 18 to surpass Vincent Lecavalier for the most in team history. Stamkos then recorded 1-2—3 in each of his next two games, a 5-4 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals March 20 and a 6-3 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes March 21. He added one goal in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues March 23. The 29-year-old Markham, Ont., native places sixth in the NHL with 39 goals and 10th with 89 points in 76 total outings this season (39-50—89).
THIRD STAR – PHILIPP GRUBAUER, G, COLORADO AVALANCHE
Grubauer topped the NHL with 149 saves (on 155 SA), compiling a 3-0-1 record, 1.49 goals-against average and .961 save percentage to lift the Avalanche (34-29-13, 81 points) into the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Grubauer yielded one goal in each of his first two starts, making 36 saves in a 3-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild March 19 and 44 stops in a 3-1 triumph over the Dallas Stars March 21. He then split a home-and-home series against the Chicago Blackhawks, turning aside 29 attempts in a 4-2 win March 23 and making 40 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss March 24. The 27-year-old Rosenheim, Germany, native has appeared in 33 total games this season, matching a career high with 15 wins to go along with a 2.71 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and three shutouts.