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Erik Karlsson San Jose Sharks Photo Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
Erik Karlsson (32 years, 314 days) became the fourth-oldest player in NHL history at the time of his first career 100-point season. File photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
11
Apr

NHL NEWS APRIL 11, 2023 – KARLSSON CONTINUES RENAISSANCE SEASON WITH 100TH POINT

After failing to reach the 50-point mark in each of his past four seasons, Erik Karlsson (2-0—2) netted his 30th multi-point game of 2022-23 en route to joining elite company among defensemen in NHL history to collect 100 points in a single campaign.

  • Karlsson became the 10th player to reach the 100-point mark in 2022-23, the most in one season since 1995-96 (12). Three other players are within four points of the benchmark entering the final four days of the season; 2022-23 can become the sixth campaign in NHL history with more than a dozen 100-point players (21 in 1992-93; 16 in 1984-85; 13 in 1989-90; 13 in 1985-86; & 13 in 1981-82).
  • Karlsson (32 years, 314 days) became the fourth-oldest player in NHL history at the time of his first career 100-point season behind Gordie Howe (40 years, 364 days in 1968-69), Johnny Bucyk (35 years, 327 days in 1970-71) and Daniel Alfredsson (33 years, 128 days in 2005-06).
  • Karlsson became the first European-born defensemen in League history to reach a triple-digit point total in a single campaign and the oldest defenseman in NHL history at the time of his 100th point, ahead of Paul Coffey (28 years, 297 days in 1989-90).

MATTHEWS, ROBERTSON CLIMB NHL, FRANCHISE LISTS IN WINS

California-born players Auston Matthews (1-0—1) and Jason Robertson (1-2—3) both found the score sheet Monday, with the former recording his fifth career 40-goal season to claim multiple Maple Leafs records and the latter adding to his season totals to climb a Stars/North Stars franchise list.

  • Matthews (40-45—85 in 73 GP) became the fourth U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the 40-goal mark in five or more campaigns, following Pat LaFontaine (7x; last: 1995-96), Joe Mullen (7x; last: 1991-92) and John LeClair (5x; last: 1999-00). Matthews became the sixth American-born skater with 40 goals in four consecutive seasons, joining LaFontaine (6 from 1987-88–1992-93), Mullen (6 from 1983-84–1988-89), LeClair (5 from 1995-96–1999-00), Jeremy Roenick (4 from 1990-91–1993-94) and Kevin Stevens (4 from 1990-91–1993-94).
  • Robertson boosted his 2022-23 totals to 46-60—106 (80 GP) and tied Dino Ciccarelli (55-51—106 in 1981-82) for the second highest single-season point total in Stars/North Stars history behind only Bobby Smith (43-71—114 in 1981-82). Robertson’s 60 assists in 2022-23 are now the second most by a Stars player since the club relocated to Dallas in 1993-94, behind only Brad Richards (67 in 2009-10). The Stars (45-21-14, 104 points) occupy second place in the Central Division and maintained their two-point edge on the third-ranked Wild (46-24-10, 102 points), who defeated the Blackhawks on Monday.

JETS, PREDATORS, SABRES SECURE WINS IN RACE FOR WILD CARD SPOTS

The Jets (45-32-3, 93 points) and Predators (41-31-8, 90 points) kept pace with one another in the race for the Western Conference’s final Wild Card spot, while the Sabres (40-32-7, 87 points) moved within four points of the Islanders (41-31-9, 91 points) who occupy the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card position and fell to the Capitals. The three remaining berths in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be clinched over the final 30 games and four days of the season.

  • Josh Morrissey (1-2—3) factored on three of six Winnipeg goals as the Jets benefited their playoff chances by capturing their fourth win in five contests – a stretch that comes on the heels of a 3-5-0 run from March 14-28. Morrissey (16-59—75 in 77 GP), who moved within one helper of becoming the third player in franchise history with a 60-assist campaign, recorded his 20th multi-point game of 2022-23 and surpassed Dustin Byfuglien (19 in 2011-12) for the most in a season by a Jets/Thrashers defenseman.
  • Tommy Novak scored the shootout winner in the fourth round as the Predators prevailed in a win-or-go-home situation Monday to keep their season alive. Juuse Saros (42 saves) secured his 15th career 40-save win – already five more than the next-closest goaltender in franchise history (Pekka Rinne: 10).
  • Casey Mittelstadt pulled the Sabres even at 8:13 of the third period and scored the shootout winner while rookies JJ Peterka and Devon Levi had a goal and 26 saves, respectively, as Buffalo rallied to keep its playoff hopes alive. Mittelstadt (3-9—12 in 8 GP) has found the score sheet in seven of the Sabres’ last eight games dating to March 25, with Buffalo going 6-1-1 over that span including three straight wins.

PAVELSKI, GIROUX ACHIEVING NHL-FIRST

Monday, the Kraken (46-26-8, 100 points) recorded their first 100-point season in franchise history as well as Stars forward Joe Pavelski (448-552—1,000 in 1,248 GP) and Senators forward Claude Giroux (328-673—1,001 in 1,099 GP) reached the 1,000-point milestone (marking the first day in League history where multiple players hit 1,000 career points).

  • Pavelski (Plover, Wis.) became the 10th U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point milestone and just the second active skater among that group, joining Patrick Kane (451-786—1,237 in 1,179 GP).

ESPN TWO-PACK HAS FIRST ROUND PREVIEW, FIVE 100-POINT SCORERS IN ONE GAME

Tuesday’s 10-game slate is highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs (48-21-11, 107 points) and Lightning (45-29-6, 96 points) concluding their season series before squaring off in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs as well as the Oilers (48-23-9, 105 points) and Avalanche (49-24-6, 104 points) clashing in a rare contest that could feature five 100-point players (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins & Mikko Rantanen).

  • Toronto-Tampa Bay is the only confirmed 2023 First Round matchup, meaning the final 30 games and four days of the season will solidify the other seven.
  • Edmonton-Colorado would mark the first game in over 37 years to feature five 100-point scorers and just the fifth such contest in NHL history. Each of the previous four took place across four seasons from 1982-83 to 1985-86 and involved the Oilers.

BRUINS CAN SET NEW SINGLE-SEASON NHL RECORD FOR POINTS TUESDAY

Boston (63-12-5, 131 points), which already owns sole possession of the most wins in a campaign in League history, can establish a new single-season NHL record for standings points when it hosts Washington (35-36-9, 79 points) at TD Garden. The Bruins would surpass the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens (60-8-12, 132 points) and 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (62-13-7, 131 points) with a victory Tuesday.

RED WINGS RECALL DANNY O’REGAN FROM GRIFFINS UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled center Danny O’Regan from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. Additionally, the Red Wings assigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson to the Griffins.

O’Regan, 29, has spent the 2022-23 season with the Griffins and San Diego Gulls, recording 48 points (17-31-48) and 16 penalty minutes in 64 AHL games. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound center was acquired by Detroit from the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 19, 2022 as part of a three-team deal that sent right wing Givani Smith to the Florida Panthers.

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Guest Writer