NHL NEWS DEC 9 – GIROUX, VORACEK AND FLYERS WIN 7TH STRAIGHT

Claude Giroux (2-1—3) tied the game and Jakub Voracek (1-3—4) assisted on the go-ahead goal with 1:29 remaining in regulation to help Philadelphia secure its seventh consecutive victory, matching their longest win streak since an equal run from Dec. 2 – 15, 2011.

The Flyers tied the game on two separate occasions, overcoming deficits of 2-0 and 5-3. Down 2-0 in the second period, the Flyers scored three times in a span of 72 seconds to take the lead.

Voracek (10-18—28) and Giroux (9-19—28) share the team lead – and fourth in the NHL – with 28 points in 29 games this season.

NHL NEWS AND MUSINGS

  • Chad Johnson made 27 saves and Dougie Hamilton scored in overtime to help the Flames earn their fifth straight win and extend their point streak to six games (5-0-1). Johnson also pushed his personal win streak to five games and moved to 8-1-0 in his past nine contests (1.65 GAA, .948 SV%, 2 SO)
  • The Avalanche used an early 3-0 lead to snap a six-game skid (0-5-1) and improve to 10-0-1 in their past 11 visits to Boston dating to Feb. 2, 1999 (BOS: 0-9-2), including nine straight wins
  • Ryan Miller made 38 saves and both Jayson Megna and Jack Skille scored twice to lead the Canucks to victory
  • Derek Ryan (2-0—2) helped the Hurricanes pick up a point for the third straight game (2-0-1)
  • Kevin Hayes scored the go-ahead goal with 69 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Rangers to victory
  • Connor McDavid (1-1—2) posted his NHL-best 12th multi-point game of the season to increase his totals to 12-26—38 this season, nine points ahead of both Sidney Crosby (18-11—29) and Nikita Kucherov (13-16—29) in the League scoring race
  • Boston’s David Pastrnak scored twice in a span of 30 seconds to move into a share of the League lead with 18 goals
  • Florida’s Jaromir Jagr (755-1,127—1,882) scored to move within five points of tying Mark Messier (694-1,193—1,887) for second place in NHL history
  • Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (28 SV) improved to 9-2-0 in 11 appearances this season
  • Flames forward Sean Monahan (3-5—8) and Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (1-6—7) each extended point streaks to six games
  • Dillon Simpson, son of Hockey Night in Canada’s Craig Simpson, made his NHL debut with the Oilers
  • Wayne Gretzky will make a guest appearance on “The Simpsons” this Sunday.

THURSDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Colorado 4, BOSTON 2
NY ISLANDERS 3, St. Louis 2
PHILADELPHIA 6, Edmonton 5
MONTREAL 5, New Jersey 2
Vancouver 5, TAMPA BAY 1
Pittsburgh 5, FLORIDA 1
NY Rangers 2, WINNIPEG 1
DALLAS 5, Nashville 2
Calgary 2, ARIZONA 1 (OT)
Carolina 3, LOS ANGELES 1

FRIDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Columbus @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
St. Louis @ New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton @ Minnesota, 8 p.m.
NY Rangers @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
San Jose @ Anaheim, 10 p.m.