NHL NEWS FEBRUARY 28, 2023 – OTTAWA HAS ENTERED THE EASTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD CHAT
Claude Giroux (1-3—4) got his first four-point game in over three years to help the Senators (29-26-4, 62 points) defeat the Red Wings 6-2, (28-23-8, 64 points) and move within five points of the idle Penguins (29-21-9, 67 points), who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa faces Detroit again Tuesday and could move ahead of the Red Wings in the standings.
McDAVID REACHES 50-GOAL MARK IN 61ST GAME, WIDENS LEAD IN “ROCKET” RACE
Connor McDavid (50-65—115 in 61 GP) became the first player to reach the 50-goal mark this season and opened an eight-tally lead in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race on David Pastrnak (42-38—80 in 59 GP), who only had an assist but skated away with a seventh straight victory Monday.
- McDavid became the ninth active player with at least one 50-goal season and required the fewest games to hit the milestone among all current skaters, eclipsing the previous mark set by Auston Matthews in 2021-22 (50-37—87 in 62 GP). McDavid became the first player to reach the 50-goal mark in 61 or fewer games since 1995-96, when three skaters did so.
RANTANEN REACHS 40-GOAL MARK
Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (40-31—71 in 58 GP) became the fastest player in team history to reach the 40-goal mark in a season as Colorado (34-19-5, 73 points) blanked Vegas and leapfrogged idle Minnesota (33-21-6, 72 points) for second place in the Central Division.
EASTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS CONTINUE TIGHTLY-CONTESTED WILD CARD RACE
Tuesday’s 10-game slate features six teams either occupying or within five points of the Eastern Conference’s Wild Card spots in action as the Islanders (31-25-7, 69 points), Penguins (29-21-9, 67 points), Sabres (31-23-4, 66 points), Red Wings (28-23-8, 64 points), Panthers (29-26-6, 64 points) and Senators (29-26-4, 62 points) all take to the ice.
- The clash between Buffalo and Columbus on HULU and ESPN+ marks the Sabres’ final contest before a stretch of seven straight games against opponents currently occupying a playoff spot. Tage Thompson (5-5—10 in 6 GP), who became the third player to reach the 40-goal mark this season and is one point shy of 80 on the campaign, has found the score sheet in each of Buffalo’s last six contests and can establish the longest point streak of his NHL career.
RED WINGS SIGN JAKE WALMAN TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
The Detroit Red Wings today signed defenseman Jake Walman to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.4 million.
Walman, 27, has skated in 40 games with the Red Wings this season, recording 10 points (5-5-10), a plus-17 rating and 29 penalty minutes in 18:55 average time on ice. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman scored his first career overtime goal on Dec. 28 at Pittsburgh and netted three goals in a four-game span from Jan. 7-14. Walman split the 2021-22 campaign between the St. Louis Blues and Red Wings, collecting 10 points (3-7-10) and 10 penalty minutes in 51 contests. He was acquired by Detroit from St. Louis on March 21, 2022 with center Oskar Sundqvist and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for defensemen Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski. Originally selected by St. Louis in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Walman has logged 22 points (9-13-22), a plus-eight rating and 47 penalty minutes in 116 career NHL games since 2019-20. Walman made his Stanley Cup playoff debut with the Blues in Game 4 of the 2021 Western Conference First Round against Colorado, tallying one shot in 15:24 time on ice. The Toronto, Ont., native has also played in 169 American Hockey League games between the Chicago Wolves, Binghamton Devils and San Antonio Rampage, totaling 63 points (17-46-63) and 106 penalty minutes.
FOUR DAYS OF TRADES
Tuesday marked the fourth consecutive day to feature at least one trade, with the Maple Leafs acquiring Sam Lafferty, Jake McCabe as well as conditional fifth-round picks in the 2024 and 2025 NHL Draft from the Blackhawks for Joey Anderson, Pavel Gogolev, a conditional first-round pick in 2025 and a second-round pick in 2026 followed by the Sabres acquiring Riley Stillman from the Canucks for Josh Bloom.
The Toronto Maple Leafs also have acquired defenceman Erik Gustafsson and Boston’s first round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenceman Rasmus Sandin.
Gustafsson, 30, has registered 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists) in 61 games with Washington this season. Over the course of his eight-year NHL career with the Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Montréal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Calgary Flames, the Nynashamn, Sweden native has collected 187 points (39 goals, 148 assists) in 370 regular season games while recorded eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 31 Stanley Cup playoff contests.
He has represented Sweden at the IIHF World Championships on four occasions, capturing a gold medal in 2018.
Gustafsson was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
The Maple Leafs have also acquired a third round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Pierre Engvall.
Engvall posted 83 points (42 goals, 41 assists) in 226 career regular season games with the Maple Leafs while adding four assists in 17 playoff games.
The Maple Leafs continue by acquiring defenceman Luke Schenn from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Schenn, 33, began his career with the Maple Leafs after being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. Following four seasons in Toronto, Schenn suited up with Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Arizona, Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Vancouver. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has recorded 190 points (41 goals, 149 assists) in 918 career regular season games while adding three goals and three assists in 31 playoff games. During his tenure with Tampa Bay, Schenn helped the Lightning capture back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Stars’ Miller Fined for Elbowing
Dallas Stars defenseman Colin Miller has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Aman during NHL Game No. 955 in Dallas on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. The incident occurred at 2:24 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Canucks’ Wolanin Fined for Slashing
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Christian Wolanin has been fined $2,027.03, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for slashing Dallas Stars forward Ty Dellandrea during NHL Game No. 955 in Dallas on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. The incident occurred at 8:19 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Rangers’ Miller Suspended Three Games for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
New York Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller has been suspended for three games, without pay, for unsportsmanlike conduct in an incident involving Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty during NHL Game No. 950 in New York on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The incident occurred at 16:37 of the first period. Miller was assessed a match penalty. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Miller will forfeit $15,000. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.