Posted on by Guest Writer
blank
After trailing 2-0 through 40 minutes of play, Josh Morrissey (L) and Mark Scheifele (R) each scored twice to help the Jets stage their first multi-goal, third-period comeback win of 2022-23.
31
Jan
Home » Hockey » NHL » NHL NEWS JANUARY 31, 2023

NHL NEWS JANUARY 31, 2023 – MORRISSEY, SCHEIFELE SPARK JETS’ THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK

Winnipeg (32-19-1, 65 points) moved within one point of idle Dallas (28-13-10, 66 points) for top spot in the Central Division – neither team will play again until after the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.

  • Morrissey, who is set to make his first NHL All-Star appearance, boosted his 2022-23 totals to 10-43—53 (52 GP) and matched Dustin Byfuglien (53 in 2015-16, 2011-12 & 2010-11) for the second-most points by a Jets/Thrashers defenseman in a season. Morrissey is now just three points shy of equaling the franchise record – a mark also held by Byfuglien (20-36—56 in 2013-14).
  • Scheifele (31-16—47 in 52 GP) hit the 30-goal mark for the third time in his career and became the fourth skater in Jets/Thrashers history to post as many 30-goal seasons, joining Ilya Kovalchuk (7x), Kyle Connor (4x) and Patrik Laine (3x).

LOOKING AHEAD TO ALL-STAR: ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVIEW

The Atlantic Division will enter 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend with the hopes of winning the 3-on-3 tournament final for the first time. They have previously appeared in three such finals (2016, 2018 & 2020).

  • The host Panthers will have two representatives – captain Aleksander Barkov, making his second career NHL All-Star Game appearance, and Matthew Tkachuk, who will be joined by brother and Senators forward Brady Tkachuk. They are set to become the 11th set of brothers to play on the same All-Star team and first since Daniel and Henrik Sedin skated with Team Alfredsson in 2012.
  • The Bruins, who became the fastest club in NHL history to reach 80 standings points in a single season, will be represented by David Pastrnak and Linus Ullmark as well as their head coach Jim Montgomery, who will be at the helm of the Atlantic Division bench. Pastrnak (38 in 50 GP), who sits second in the League’s Maurice “Rocket “Richard Trophy race, has collected the most goals by a Bruins player before the All-Star/Olympic break since Phil Esposito in 1974-75 (43 in 45 GP).
  • Tage Thompson, who holds the most goals by a Sabres player prior to the All-Star/Olympic Break since Alexander Mogilny (50 in 1992-93), is one of three Arizona-born skaters set to appear in South Florida (also Matthew & Brady Tkachuk) – the most among all 11 states represented at this season’s event.
  • Andrei Vasilevskiy returns to backstop the Atlantic Division once again. The 2023 NHL All-Star Game will be the two-time Stanley Cup champion’s fifth year at the event, tying Braden Holtby (5 GP w/ MET) for the most among all goaltenders under the 3-on-3 format. Vasilevskiy also looks to become the fifth goaltender with multiple wins in that scenario.

AHO, HURRICANES AIM TO EXTEND STREAKS AGAINST KINGS

A three-game Tuesday will open with Sebastian Aho and the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (32-9-8, 72 points) hosting Kevin Fiala and the Kings (28-18-6, 62 points), who are two points back of first place in the Pacific Division. Carolina will look to extend the NHL’s longest active point streak to nine games (7-0-1 dating to Jan. 12).

  • Aho has scored in each of Carolina’s past four games (7-0—7). Should he find the back of the net against the Kings, Aho would become the third player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record at least three five-game goal streaks with the club (6 GP in 2019-20 & 5 GP in 2017-18) – he would join Kevin Dineen (4x) and Blaine Stoughton (4x).
  • Fiala, who is set to make his first NHL All-Star appearance, has 15 multi-point contests in 2022-23 including five since Jan. 1. The last player to record more multi-point outings in their first season with the Kings was Anze Kopitar (16 GP) in 2006-07.
blank
Guest Writer