NHL NEWS FEBRUARY 23 – CAPITALS DEFEAT FLYERS FOR LEAGUE-LEADING 40TH WIN

NHL NEWS FEBRUARY 23 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (2-0—2), Nicklas Backstrom (1-1—2) and T.J. Oshie (1-1—2) each found the back of the net as the League-leading Capitals became the first team to reach the 40-win mark in 2016-17.

Washington (40-12-7, 87 points), who played their 59th game on Wednesday, reached 40 wins in fewer than 60 games for the third time in franchise history. The other such instances came in 2009-10 (58 GP) and 2015-16 (53 GP), when the Capitals became the fastest team – in terms of games played – in NHL history to reach the 40-win milestone.

Braden Holtby (30-8-5) earned his 30th win of the season and improved to 15-0-2 in his past 17 decisions. Elias notes that Holtby’s current run of consecutive decisions with a point is the third-longest such stretch by a goaltender in Capitals history, behind a 23-decision run by Jose Theodore in 2009-10 (20-0-3) and his own 22-decision stretch 2015-16 (20-0-2).

Holtby now leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.99) and shutouts (7; tied) and ranks second in save percentage (.927) among goaltenders with at least 25 games played, behind Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk (.933).

NHL NEWS AND MUSINGS

  • Capitals forward Justin Williams eclipsed the 400-assist milestone
  • Ducks forward Nicolas Kerdiles, who was born in Lewisville, Texas, skated in his first NHL game
  • Capitals forward Lars Eller skated in his 500th NHL game
  • Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (0-2—2) registered his 400th career point
  • The Vegas Golden Knights announced they will participate in the NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone initiative, while the Canadiens invited 270 children to a skating party as part of the month-long celebration
  • Hockey pioneer Willie O’Ree dropped the ceremonial puck as part of the Ducks’ Hockey Is For Everyone night.

WEDNESDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Edmonton 4, FLORIDA 3
Washington 4, PHILADELPHIA 1
ANAHEIM 5, Boston 3

THURSDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Islanders @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Calgary @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Colorado @ Nashville, 8 p.m.
Arizona @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Boston @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

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