NHL NEWS JANAURY 9, 2023 – PASTRNAK SCORES HAT TRICK FOR NHL-LEADING BRUINS TO ECLIPSE 30-GOAL MARK

David Pastrnak (32-26—58 in 40 GP) opened the scoring to reach the 30-goal mark for the sixth time in his NHL career and added two more tallies to complete the hat trick at Honda Center. Pastrnak scored his 13th regular-season hat trick in the NHL and passed Johnny Bucyk (12) for sole possession of third place on the franchise’s all-time list.

• The League-leading Bruins (32-4-4, 68 points) extended their point streak to 14 games (11-0-3 dating to Dec. 11, 2022) and maintained their 11-point edge on the Maple Leafs (25-9-7, 57 points), who occupy second place in the Atlantic Division standings. Toronto defeated Philadelphia on Sunday, with Auston Matthews (20-27—47 in 41 GP) reaching the 20-goal mark for the seventh time in as many seasons.

U.S.-BORN SKATERS SHINE FOR STARS, JETS ON SUNDAY

Jason Robertson (Arcadia, Calif.) and Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich.) combined for five goals Sunday as the Central Division-leading Stars (24-11-6, 54 points) secured a 5-1 win while the second-place Jets (26-13-1, 53 points) prevailed after surrendering leads of 2-0 and 4-2 to keep pace:

• Robertson recorded the 16th multi-goal game of his NHL career and moved into a tie with Steve Payne for the seventh most by a Stars/North Stars player age 23 or younger. Robertson’s six multi-goal games this season trail only Bo Horvat (9) and Alex Ovechkin (7) for the most in the NHL.
• Connor (20-29—49 in 40 GP) corralled the fourth hat trick of his NHL career to extend his home point streak to a franchise-record 11 games (9-12—21 dating to Dec. 4, 2022) and reach the 20-goal mark for a sixth straight season. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a career-high four assists for Winnipeg, which extended its winning streak to five contests.

REICHEL, TIMMINS TALLIES FIRST CAREER NHL GOAL

Sunday Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel (1-2—3) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins (1-1—2) scored the first goal of their NHL career. Reichel’s milestone tally came against Calgary, the team his uncle Robert played parts of six seasons with from 1990-91 to 1996-97.

MONDAY OPENS WITH DAHLIN ENCORE, CLOSES WITH McDAVID EYING 80 POINTS

A four-game Monday begins with Rasmus Dahlin and the Sabres (20-15-2, 42 points) squaring off with the Flyers (15-18-7, 37 points) at KeyBank Center and is capped by Connor McDavid and the Oilers (21-17-3, 45 points) clashing with the Kings (23-14-6, 52 points) at Crypto.com Arena. Buffalo is four points back of Pittsburgh (20-13-6, 46 points) which occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings, while Edmonton and Los Angeles rank fifth and second place, respectively, in the Pacific Division.

• Dahlin had 2-3—5 on Saturday to match the franchise record for most points in a game by a defenseman and help the Sabres improve to 8-1-0 in their last nine contests. The most points by a Buffalo blueliner over a two-game span is seven, achieved by Phil Housley (1-6—7 from Dec. 22-23, 1989 & 3-4—7 from Nov. 25-27, 1988), Brian Campbell (1-6—7 from Oct. 11-13, 2007) and Jerry Korab (2-5—7 from Feb. 23-25, 1978).
• McDavid (33-43—76 in 41 GP) needs four points to become the fastest NHL player to reach 80 in a season since Penguins teammates Mario Lemieux (31-52—83 in 31 GP) and Jaromir Jagr (34-46—80 in 37 GP) in 1995-96. McDavid has 16-30—46 in 31 career head-to-head games with Kings captain Anze Kopitar including 4-10—14 in seven contests during the 2022 First Round, but has only recorded two four-point outings against the two-time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner (1-3—4 on Oct. 5, 2019 & March 26, 2019).

Pastrnak, Hughes and Dahlin Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 8.

FIRST STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS

Pastrnak topped the NHL in goals (7) and points (8) across four contests (7-1—8) to help the League-leading Bruins (32-4-4, 68 points) post a perfect week and extend their point streak to 14 games dating to Dec. 11 (11-0-3). He was held off the scoresheet in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park – a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins Jan. 2 – but rebounded with three straight multi-goal performances (a first in his NHL career). Pastrnak potted two goals in both a 5-2 win versus the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 5 and a 4-2 triumph (including the game-winning goal) over the San Jose Sharks Jan. 7. He then capped the week with 3-1—4, highlighted by his 13th career hat trick and 30th goal of the season, in a 7-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks Jan. 8. The 26-year-old Pastrnak has appeared in 40 total contests this season, placing among the League leaders in shots on goal (1st; 203), goals (2nd; 32), points (3rd; 58), power-play goals (t-4th; 12), power-play points (t-4th; 24) and plus/minus (t-11th; +20). He is the first Boston player to record 30 goals within his first 40 games of a campaign since current team president Cam Neely in 1993-94 (27 GP).

SECOND STAR – JACK HUGHES, C, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Hughes registered three multi-point efforts in as many appearances, ranking second in the NHL with 5-2—7 overall to propel the Devils (25-12-3, 53 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He collected 1-1—2 in a 5-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings Jan. 4. Hughes then scored twice, his ninth career multi-goal outing, in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues Jan. 5. He finished the week with 2-1—3, including the tying goal midway through the third period, to help New Jersey rally for a 4-3 overtime win against the New York Rangers Jan. 7. The 21-year-old Hughes, who on Thursday was named to the Metropolitan Division roster for the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, has scored in a career-high five straight games dating to Dec. 30 (8‑2—10) and has compiled 19 goals in his past 20 outings dating to Nov. 25 (19-9—28). He also has skated in 40 total contests this season, sitting among the top performers in shots on goal (4th; 184), goals (t-7th; 26) and points (8th; 49).

THIRD STAR – RASMUS DAHLIN, D, BUFFALO SABRES

Dahlin collected 2-4—6 in two games to help the Sabres (20-15-2, 42 points) earn a pair of overtime wins and move within four points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He picked up one assist in a 5-4 victory against the Washington Capitals Jan. 3. Dahlin then registered 2-3—5, including his 200th NHL point, the tying goal with 2:24 remaining in regulation and a helper on the overtime winner, in a 6-5 triumph versus the Minnesota Wild Jan. 7. At 22 years, 269 days, Dahlin – who matched a franchise record for points in a game by a blueliner – became the youngest NHL defenseman with a five-point performance since Dion Phaneuf on Dec. 13, 2007 (22 years, 247 days w/ CGY). The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 NHL Draft has made 36 total appearances this season, ranking among the leading blueliners in goals (2nd; 12), points (3rd; 44) and assists (4th; 32).