NHL NEWS DEC 18 – CENTENNIAL CLASSIC OPPONENTS EARN WINS
The Red Wings and Maple Leafs, who will face off outdoors in the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic on Jan. 1 in Toronto, both earned victories on Saturday.
Tomas Tatar scored his first career hat trick to help the Red Wings rally from a pair of multi-goal deficits to snap a four-game slide (0-3-1). Tatar became the second Red Wings player to score three goals on home ice this season (also Mike Green on Oct. 17 vs. OTT). Elias notes that Detroit, who is playing its final season at Joe Louis Arena, last scored multiple hat tricks on home ice in a season in 2007-08, when Henrik Zetterberg had two such performances.
Jake Gardiner scored in overtime to help the Maple Leafs halt a four-game home skid (0-2-2) and extend his point streak to five games (2-3—5). Rookie Mitch Marner (0-2—2) posted his seventh multi-point game of the season to take over the team lead for assists (15) and points (23; tied w/ Auston Matthews). The Maple Leafs’ seven rookies have combined for 39-61—100 through 30 games this season, compared to 46-80–126 for the other 16 players to suit up for the club in 2016-17.
- Antti Niemi made 31 saves and Adam Cracknell scored one of three unanswered goals as the Stars halted the Flyers’ win streak at 10 games. Cracknell has scored two game-winning goals in the past three games after collecting one such marker in his first 162 career outings
- Mike Condon made 29 saves and Derick Brassard scored his first game-winning goal with the Senators to help the club snap a three-game skid (0-2-1)
- Ducks forward Rickard Rakell scored his team-leading 13th and 14th goals of the season to extend his point streak to a career-high five games (4-3—7)
- Victor Hedman (55-199—254) notched an assist to become the all-time leader for points by a Lightning defenseman, surpassing Dan Boyle (66-187—253)
- Devils forward Michael Cammalleri (0-1—1) recorded his 600th career point
- Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa (700) and Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera (600) played in milestone games
- Flyers forward Taylor Leier (11 GP) and Maple Leafs defenseman NikitaZaitsev (30 GP) each scored their first NHL goal.
SATURDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
DALLAS 3, Philadelphia 1
MINNESOTA 4, Arizona 1
TORONTO 2, Pittsburgh 1 (OT)
OTTAWA 3, New Jersey 1
DETROIT 6, Anaheim 4
Montreal 2, WASHINGTON 1
CAROLINA 2, Buffalo 1 (SO)
Chicago 6, ST. LOUIS 4
NY Rangers 2, NASHVILLE 1 (SO)
EDMONTON 3, Tampa Bay 2 (SO)
SUNDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Los Angeles @ Boston, 1 p.m.
Colorado @ Winnipeg, 3 p.m.
Columbus @ Vancouver, 4 p.m.
San Jose @ Chicago, 7 p.m.
Ottawa @ NY Islanders, 7 p.m.
New Jersey @ NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m.