NHL NEWS DEC 12 – OTHER METROPOLITAN CLUBS KEEP PACE IN CROWDED STANDINGS
The Rangers (20-9-1, 41 points) and Capitals (17-7-3, 37 points) each earned wins to keep pace with the streaking Flyers (18-10-3, 39 points) in the Metropolitan Division, which features five of the top seven teams in the entire NHL (also the Penguins: 18-7-3, 39 points; and Blue Jackets: 17-5-4, 38 points).
Antti Raanta turned aside all 19 shots he faced and five different skaters scored as the Rangers became the first team to reach 20 wins this season and moved back into a tie with the idle Canadiens (19-6-3, 41 points) for the most points in the NHL. Raanta has recorded consecutive shutouts for the first time in his NHL career (also Dec. 9 at CHI) and has allowed no more than two goals in 10 of his 11 appearances this season, posting an 8-1-0 mark (1.65 GAA, .943 SV%, 2 SO).
Braden Holtby denied all 20 shots he faced and Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) scored the first of three unanswered goals as the Capitals picked up their fourth straight win. Elias notes that Ovechkin recorded his 93rd career game-winning goal (fifth this season) to pass Mike Modano, Mark Messier and Jeremy Roenick (92) and tie Johnny Bucyk, Sergei Fedorov and Joe Nieuwendyk for 13th place in NHL history. The goal also stood as the 200th power-play marker of his NHL career, tying Mark Recchi for 18th on the all-time list.
- Goaltender Semyon Varlamov made 51 saves to help the Avalanche rebound from a 10-1 defeat in their last outing with a 3-1 win
- Five different skaters found the back of the net to help the Ducks register their third consecutive victory. Forwards Corey Perry(2-5—7) and Ryan Kesler (4-3—7) each extended their point streak to five games
- Oilers forward Mark Letestu scored twice in the third period to help Edmonton snap a four-game slide (0-1-3)
- Connor McDavid collected an assist and leads the NHL with 12-27—39 this season (31 GP), while Vladimir Tarasenko scored to move into a tie for second place (14-18—32, 29 GP)
- Wild forward Eric Staal collected an assist to become the first player from the 2003 NHL Draft class to reach the 800-point milestone (331-469—800)
- Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei scored the first goal of his NHL career (37 GP)
- Maple Leafs goaltender Antoine Bibeau (26 saves) made his NHL debut
- The Coyotes claimed forward Josh Jooris off waivers
- Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki was suspended for two games for boarding Kings forward Tyler Toffoli
- Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde.
- Seven-year-old celebrates in the middle of an interview on live TV after Wild forward Nino Niederreiter scores the eventual game-winning goal.
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
ANAHEIM 5, Ottawa 1
Philadelphia 1, DETROIT 0 (OT)
WASHINGTON 3, Vancouver 0
MINNESOTA 3, St. Louis 1
CHICAGO 3, Dallas 1
Colorado 3, TORONTO 1
NY RANGERS 5, New Jersey 0
EDMONTON 3, Winnipeg 2
SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Arizona @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Boston @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m.