NHL NEWS DECEMBER 19, 2022 – RANGERS, HURRICANES EXTEND STREAKS WITH VICTORIES

A number of streaks were extended Sunday as the Rangers (18-10-5, 41 points) moved past the Penguins (18-9-4, 40 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division and the Hurricanes (19-6-6, 44 points) maintained their position.

• The Rangers scored seven goals for the third time this season – tied with the Sabres for the most among all teams – and earned their seventh straight win with the help of three-point performances by Adam Fox (0-3—3) and Artemi Panarin (1-2—3). Fox’s three-assist outing marked his third of the season – the most among all blueliners – as well as the ninth of his career. Only four defensemen in Rangers history have more: Brian Leetch (37), Brad Park (12), Bill Gadsby (12) and James Patrick (10).
• Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 of 30 shots to extend his season-opening road point streak to 10 games (9-0-1) and matched John Ross Roach (10 GP in 1931-32) for the second longest such run by a Rangers goaltender, behind only Dave Kerr (11 GP in 1939-40).
• Jordan Staal scored the game-winning goal while Pyotr Kochetkov made 23 saves to help the Hurricanes extend their point streak to 11 games (9-0-2) – two shy of matching the longest in franchise history – and maintain second place in the Metropolitan Division standings.
• Kochetkov, who has been in net for nine of Carolina’s 11 games during its run, established a franchise record for longest point streak by a rookie goaltender (7-0-2 dating to Nov. 25), surpassing Alex Nedeljkovic (7-0-1 from April 8 – May 3, 2021).

KAPRIZOV’S 200TH POINT PROPELS WILD TO FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN

Kirill Kaprizov (1-2—3) factored on three of Minnesota’s goals to boost his career totals to 93-108—201 (167 GP) and guide the Wild (18-11-2, 38 points) to their fifth straight win as well as their seventh straight home victory. Kaprizov became the first player in Wild history to record his first 200 career points with the franchise in fewer than 200 games, besting the previous mark held by Brian Rolston (239 GP).

• Sunday marked Kaprizov‘s fifth three-point game of the season, all of which have come at Xcel Energy Center. Only three other players have had as many home games with three-plus points in 2022-23: Connor McDavid (6 GP), Mikko Rantanen (5 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (5 GP).
• Mats Zuccarello (1-1—2) combined with Kaprizov on two Wild tallies to register his second double-digit point streak with the franchise (also 10 GP in 2021-22). He became just the third player in Wild history with multiple 10-game point streaks, joining Kevin Fiala (12 GP & 10 GP in 2021-22) and Mikael Granlund (12 GP in 2016-17 & 10 GP in 2018-19).

KARLSSON, MORRISSEY EACH JOIN ELITE LISTS SUNDAY

Erik Karlsson and Josh Morrissey each posted multi-point performances, joining elite lists in the process.

• Karlsson (0-2—2) accomplished a pair of feats Sunday, becoming the first defenseman to reach the 40-point mark in 2022-23 while also surpassing the 700-point milestone in his career. Karlsson, who has 12-29—41 (33 GP), required the third-fewest games to reach 40 points among defensemen over the past 20 years, trailing only John Carlson (29 GP in 2019-20) and Bryan McCabe (32 GP in 2005-06).
• Morrissey (0-2—2) extended his point streak to nine games, establishing a Jets/Thrashers record for longest by a defenseman, while also reaching and eclipsing the 30-assist mark in 2022-23 (5-31—36 in 31 GP). Morrissey, who matched Blake Wheeler (9 GP in 2018-19 & 2017-18) for the longest assist streak in franchise history, required the third-fewest games to reach 30 assists in a season with the Jets/Thrashers behind only Wheeler (26 GP in 2018-19 & 30 GP in 2017-18).

MORE WESTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS SPOTLIGHTED

Sunday featured a number of notes from across a five-game slate, including noteworthy performances from Western Conference clubs. Here are some highlights:

• Elias Lindholm (2-1—3) scored twice in the first 35 seconds of the third period to propel the Flames to victory. Lindholm tied Bob Murray (0:35 of P2 on March 27, 1977 w/ CHI) for the eighth-fastest two goals by one player to start a period in NHL history – the last skater to score two faster period-opening tallies was Mike Knuble (0:27 of P1 on Feb. 14, 2003 w/ BOS), who also holds the NHL benchmark.
• Matty Beniers (0-1—1) factored on one of his team’s three goals as the Kraken rallied from two one-goal deficits to earn a win and improve to 17-10-3 (37 points) through 30 games in 2022-23, maintaining third place in the Pacific Division and 13th in the overall NHL standings – a 15-position improvement over last season which saw Seattle post a 10-17-3 (23 points) record through as many contests.
• Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews skated in their 1,000th career game together and became just the third active pair of teammates to reach the milestone, joining Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar (1,028 GP) as well as Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin (1,020 GP).

OVECHKIN EYES GOAL NO. 801 IN MATCHUP WITH RED WINGS

Alex Ovechkin’s chase of Gordie Howe for second on the NHL’s all-time goals list continues Monday when the Capitals (16-13-4, 36 points) host the Red Wings (13-11-6, 32 points) – a franchise Howe scored 786 of his 801 NHL tallies with.

• After surpassing Howe (786 w/ DET) for the most goals with one franchise on Nov. 5, Ovechkin enters his tilt Monday with 23 tallies in 31 career games against the Red Wings (0.74 G/GP). It marks his fourth-highest goals-per-game percentage against a single franchise (min. 15 GP), trailing only the Wild (17 in 19 GP; 0.90 G/GP), Blues (19 in 23 GP; 0.83 G/GP) and Maple Leafs (41 in 55 GP; 0.75 G/GP).
• Ovechkin and the Capitals have six games remaining in 2022, with The Great Eight having collected 46-29—75 in 77 regular-season games this calendar year. With four more goals through that span, Ovechkin will record his eighth calendar year with 50-plus regular-season goals – a feat only Mike Bossy (8x) has accomplished in NHL history.

Ovechkin, Thompson and Zuccarello Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson and Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 18, 2022.

FIRST STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Ovechkin tallied 3-2–5 in three games, highlighted by his historic 800th career goal, as the Capitals (16-13-4, 36 points) earned four of six possible points and climbed within one point of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Ovechkin opened the week by notching a hat trick and an assist in a 7-3 win at Chicago Dec. 13 — regular-season goals 798, 799 and 800 of his storied NHL career. He became just the third player in League history to reach the 800-goal milestone, joining Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801). The Washington captain’s 800th goal also was his 20th of 2022-23, making him the third player in NHL history to record 18 consecutive 20-goal campaigns, following Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19). Ovechkin later recorded an assist in a 2-1 loss to Dallas on Dec. 15 and did not reach the scoresheet in a 5-2 victory over Toronto Dec. 17, the Capitals’ sixth win in their past seven contests. The Great Eight resumes his quest to tie Howe for second place on the all-time goals list tonight vs. the club synonymous with Mr. Hockey’s legendary career, the Detroit Red Wings.

SECOND STAR – TAGE THOMPSON, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Thompson recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in three games, including a pair of game-winning goals that bookended the week, as the Sabres (15-14-2, 32 points) went 3-0-0 and closed the gap on the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference to five points. Thompson recorded multiple points in each game, beginning with 2-1–3 in a 6-0 victory over Los Angeles on Dec. 13. The three-point night raised his season total to 23-21–44 in 29 games; the only players in Sabres history with more points before their 30th game of a campaign were team legends Pat LaFontaine (20-32–52 in 1992-93) and Gilbert Perreault (20-28–48 in 1974-75). Following a two-point effort (1-1–2) in a 4-2 win at Colorado Dec. 15, the Phoenix native enjoyed a successful homecoming to close the week, recording 1-2–3 in a 5-2 win over Arizona Dec. 17. Thompson notched his seventh three-point game this season – the only player with more is Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (nine). Thompson raised his season total to 25-24–49 in 31 games, ranking second League-wide in goals and third in points and shots (tie, 143).

THIRD STAR – MATS ZUCCARELLO, RW, MINNESOTA WILD

Zuccarello (5-3–8) recorded a point in each of his four games, matching a career high by extending his point streak to 10 games. His performance helped the Wild (18-11-2, 38 points) sweep a four-game homestand, extend their overall winning streak to five games and rise to third place in the Central Division standings. Zuccarello tallied an assist in a 2-1 win vs. Edmonton on Dec. 12 and a goal in a 4-2 win vs. Detroit on Dec. 14 before notching four points (3-1–4), his second career hat trick, in a 4-1 win vs. Chicago on Dec. 16. Zuccarello (Oslo, Norway), whose first three-goal performance was more than seven years ago (Oct. 30, 2015 w/ NYR), became the first Norwegian-born player in NHL history with multiple hat tricks. Oslo native Espen Knutsen is the only other Norwegian-born skater with one (Jan. 24, 2002 w/ CBJ). Zuccarello finished with week with 1-1–2 in a 4-2 win vs. Ottawa on Dec 18. Zuccarello has recorded 16 points (7-9–16) during his 10-game point streak and ranks second on the Wild with 36 points (14-22–36) in 31 games this season.

National Hockey League Unveils Rendering for 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic Outdoor Game in Boston

The National Hockey League (NHL) today unveiled a preview of the planned transformation of Fenway Park in Boston for the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic® outdoor game between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, Jan. 2. The game, which will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. ET on TNT, Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports, will pay homage to the oldest major league baseball stadium and honor former and current Bruins and Boston Red Sox legends.

To commemorate the NHL’s return to Fenway Park for the first time since the 2010 NHL Winter Classic, the Bruins and Penguins will face off on an NHL-regulation size rink constructed to sit parallel to the iconic Green Monster. In a first for an NHL game at a baseball venue, the traditional first-to-third base rink orientation shifts to one parallel to the fabled Green Monster, the left field wall that ranks among the most recognizable landmarks in sports.

In another nod to the historic venue and the sport that calls Fenway home, an auxiliary rink built behind the NHL rink will become the “Ice Diamond,” complete with Penguins and Bruins dugouts and a faceoff circle in place of the pitcher’s mound. The 84’ x 84’ sheet of ice will host local youth hockey teams, special baseball activities throughout the game, and appearances by Boston sports stars, past and present.

Two entertainment stages erected in the outfield will host musical performances throughout the game. The entertainment lineup for the NHL Winter Classic will be announced in the coming days.

Before the Bruins and Penguins face off at Fenway Park, the NHL will host NHL Winter Classic Plaza™, a free two-day, non-ticketed fan festival open to the public at Boston City Hall Plaza on December 30 and December 31.

The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic® continues the tradition the League established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year, with the 2023 edition marking the 15-year anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic® in Buffalo. The game will be the 14th NHL Winter Classic®, the 36th NHL regular-season outdoor game, and the first of two NHL regular-season outdoor games scheduled for the 2022-23 season.

MAPLE LEAFS ACQUIRE DRYDEN HUNT IN TRADE WITH COLORADO

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forward Dryden Hunt from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Denis Malgin.

Hunt, 27, has registered 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 193 career regular season games over the course of his six-year NHL career with the Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. In 28 games between the Avalanche and Rangers this season, the Cranbrook, British Columbia native has collected two goals and 15 penalty minutes. He has skated in five career NHL playoff games.

Hunt was originally signed by the Florida Panthers in 2016 as an undrafted free agent.

Sharks’ Hertl Suspended Two Games for High-Sticking

San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl has been suspended for two games, without pay, for high-sticking Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm during NHL Game No. 501 in San Jose on Sunday, Dec. 18, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 0:02 of the third period. Hertl was assessed a minor penalty for high-sticking.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Hertl will forfeit $87,972.98. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Video details full explanation of the decision.