NHL NEWS MARCH 1, 2023 – DUELLING FOUR-POINT PERFORMANCES SHINE IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR IN WINNIPEG

Josh Morrissey (2-2—4) helped the Jets (35-24-2, 72 points) produce multiple two-goal leads but Anze Kopitar (4-0—4) netted his second career four-goal game to guide the Kings to their NHL-best fourth multi-goal, third-period comeback win of the season.

• Tuesday marked just the fifth time in franchise history – and first on the road – the Kings have erased multiple deficits of two or more goals to win following Dec. 28, 1993 (vs. VAN), Dec. 21, 1988 (vs. MNS), March 20, 1982 (vs. PIT) and Oct. 27, 1981 (vs. QUE).
• Kopitar (35 years, 188 days), who joined Alex Ovechkin (4x) and Patrice Bergeron (2x) as the third active player with multiple four-goal games (also 4-0—4 on March 22, 2018), matched the franchise record for most in a contest and became the oldest player in franchise history with a four-goal outing ahead of longtime teammate Dustin Brown (4-0—4 on April 5, 2018: 33 years, 152 days).
• Drew Doughty (0-2—2), the captain’s teammate since 2008-09, assisted on Kopitar’s first and third goals of the evening and have now factored on the same goal 284 times – surpassing Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby (282) for the most by an active forward-defenseman duo.
• Morrissey’s performance, which included two goals in a span of 1:43, propelled him to the first 50-assist campaign by a defenseman in Jets/Thrashers history as well as matching the franchise record for points in a game by a blueliner – a feat previously accomplished by Toby Enstrom (2-2—4 on Dec. 20, 2010), Jaroslav Modry (1-3—4 on Dec. 26, 2005) and Dustin Byfuglien (1-3—4 on Nov. 28, 2010 & April 7, 2016).

SENATORS, PANTHERS, PENGUINS EARN CRUCIAL WINS IN EAST’S WILD CARD RACE

The tightly-contested race for the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference took center stage Tuesday as the Senators (30-26-4, 64 points) and Panthers (30-26-6, 66 points) each picked up two points to keep pace with the Penguins (30-21-9, 69 points), who also earned a win:

• Tim Stützle (1-2—3) became the ninth different player in Senators history to score on a penalty shot as Ottawa found the back of the net four times in the first period en route to its second consecutive six-goal game. Stützle netted his team-leading 28th goal of the season (28-35—63 in 56 GP) and 62nd of his career – tying Marian Hossa (62 in 186 GP) for the second most by a Senators player age 21 or younger. Martin Havlat (65 in 212 GP) is the only such skater with more.
• Matthew Tkachuk (0-1—1) factored on the winning goal to help the Panthers snap the Sunshine State-rival Lightning’s franchise-record home point streak at 16 games. Tkachuk boosted his totals with Florida to 28-51—79 in 59 games and sits four points shy of passing Sam Reinhart (33-49—82 in 78 GP) for the most by a player in their first season with the franchise.
• Sidney Crosby tied the game more than halfway through the third period and Jason Zucker scored the go-ahead marker with 1:39 remaining in regulation as Pittsburgh earned its sixth third-period comeback win of the season. The Penguins are no strangers to go-ahead goals in the final two minutes of regulation in Nashville – Patric Hornqvist scored with 1:35 remaining in Game 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final to help Pittsburgh win its second straight championship.

ULLMARK RISES TO THE OCCASION AGAIN FOLLOWING GOALIE GOAL

After sending the hockey world abuzz in his last outing by scoring a goal, Linus Ullmark (54 saves) produced the eighth 50-save performance by a netminder this season while Charlie McAvoy notched his fifth career overtime goal with five seconds remaining in extra time as the Bruins (47-8-5, 99 points) extended the NHL’s longest active win streak to eight games.

• Ullmark made a career-high 54 saves and registered the most on record by a Bruins goaltender (since 1955-56 when shots on goal began being tracked), besting Tim Thomas (51 saves on March 1, 2007). Of note, Boston has featured one instance of a netminder making more saves in the Stanley Cup Playoffs: Tuukka Rask (59 saves in Game 1 of 2013 SCF).
• McAvoy, who tied Ray Bourque (5) for the most overtime winners by a defenseman in Bruins history, scored Boston’s latest such tally (4:55) since the five-minute format was introduced in 2005-06.

Trades were aplenty three days ahead of the 2022-23 NHL Trade Deadline Presented by OFX (3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 3), highlighted by a blockbuster trade that sent Patrick Kane to his home state of New York after spending more than 16 years in Chicago. The Rangers are receiving one of three players in NHL history to win at least three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, a Hart Memorial Trophy and a Calder Memorial Trophy (also Bryan Trottier & Evgeni Malkin).

All of the deals around the League can be found on NHL.com’s 2022-23 Trade Tracker, but here are some of the other trades that took place Tuesday:

• Mattias Ekholm was traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Nashville Predators for Tyson Barrie.
• Luke Schenn was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Canucks for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
• Jesse Puljujarvi was traded to the Hurricanes by the Oilers for prospect Patrik Puistola.
• Marcus Johansson was traded to the Wild by the Capitals for a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
• Gustav Nyquist was traded to the Wild by the Blue Jackets for a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

RED WINGS SIGN FORWARD ALEXANDRE DOUCET TO THREE-YEAR ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT

The Detroit Red Wings signed right wing Alexandre Doucet to a three-year entry-level contract.

Doucet, 21, has skated in 58 games between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Val d’Or Foreurs and Halifax Mooseheads this season, ranking among the league leaders with 45 goals (1st), 44 assists (T11th), 89 points (4th), 11 power play goals (T6th), eight shorthanded goals (1st) and a 26.9 shooting percentage (1st). The 6-foot, 187-pound forward has recorded 36 points (18-18-36), a plus-21 rating, 12 penalty minutes, four power play goals, one shorthanded goal and a 25.7 shooting percentage in 24 games since being acquired by Halifax from Val d’Or on Dec. 21. He established a career-high 14-game point streak from Dec. 11-Jan. 21, racking up 27 points (10-17-27) in that span. In total, Doucet has accumulated 221 points (95-126-221), a plus-35 rating, 78 penalty minutes and a 20.4 shooting percentage in 228 games with Val D’Or and Halifax since 2018-19. The Sherbrooke, Quebec, native has also registered 11 points (4-7-11), a plus-nine rating and 20 penalty minutes in 19 postseason contests with Val d’Or, helping the club reach the 2021 President Cup Final.

DIVISION LEADERS CLASH IN SECOND GAME OF TNT DOUBLEHEADER

The Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (39-11-8, 86 points) have their sights set on their 40th win of the season when they travel to Vegas to clash with the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights (35-19, 76 points) in the second game of a doubleheader on TNT. The Rangers (34-17-9, 77 points) and Flyers (23-28-10, 56 points) get the action going earlier in the evening.

AVALANCHE LOOK TO CONTINUE CLIMB UP WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

The Avalanche (34-19-5, 73 points) enter their Wednesday contest with wins in each of their past six games, a 15-6-2 record since the beginning of the calendar year and an opportunity to move into first place in the Central Division. Colorado (19-13-3, 41 points) rang in the new year 11 points behind Dallas (23-9-6, 52 points) – also in action tonight – for top spot and now find themselves two points behind the Stars.

• Nathan MacKinnon (22-49— 71 in 47 GP) has been the catalyst of the Avalanche offense as of late, which includes an active eight-game point streak (8-8—16 in 8 GP) and multiple points in six straight games from Feb. 11-24. Additionally, MacKinnon’s 37 points since Jan. 1 (14-23—37 in 23 GP) are the second most among all players through that span and trail only Connor McDavid (18-25—43 in 23 GP).

Senators’ Sogaard Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for February 2023

Ottawa Senators goaltender Mads Sogaard, who went 4-0-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in six appearances (five starts), has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for February, 2023.

Sogaard edged Arizona Coyotes teammates Connor Ingram (2-1-2, 2.41 GAA, .935 SV%, 1 SO) and Matias Maccelli (1-7—8 in 10 GP), Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (3-5—8 in 10 GP), Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (3-4—7 in 11 GP), and Calgary Flames left wing Jakob Pelletier (3-4—7 in 11 GP) for the honor.

Sogaard, who made his season debut (in relief) Feb. 11 and first start of 2022-23 Feb. 13, became the fourth rookie goaltender in Ottawa history to earn points in his first five or more decisions of a campaign, following Ray Emery in 2005-06 (6-0-1), Robin Lehner in 2012-13 (2-0-4) and Jani Hurme in 2000-01 (3-0-2).

Sogaard, who previously made two NHL appearances in 2021-22 (1-1-0, 3.07 GAA, .889 SV%), recorded at least 30 saves in three of his five February starts and also yielded two or fewer goals three times, capped by a run of three straight wins to close the month (Feb. 19-28: 1.67 GAA, .938 SV%).

The 22-year-old Sogaard, a second-round pick (37th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, joins Senators teammate Shane Pinto (October) as a “Rookie of the Month” winner in 2022-23. Ottawa is the second team in as many years to have multiple recipients of the award in the same season, following the Detroit Red Wings’ duo of Moritz Seider (October) and Lucas Raymond (November) in 2021-22.

McDavid, MacKinnon and Ullmark Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for February 2023

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for February, 2023.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid, who began February by participating in his sixth NHL All-Star Game, led the League in assists (14), points (23), shots on goal (63), power-play assists (7), power-play points (t-8), shorthanded goals (t-2) and shorthanded points (t-3) across 11 contests to guide the Oilers (32-21-8, 72 points) to a 4‑3-4 month. McDavid, who also shared second place in goals (9) and topped NHL forwards in average time on ice (23:41), found the scoresheet in 10 of his 11 appearances, headlined by seven multi-point performances and a streak of four straight multi-goal games to close the month (Feb. 21-27: 8-5—13) – the longest by any player since Patrick Marleau more than 10 years ago (Jan. 20-26, 2013: 8-3—11 in 4 GP w/ SJS). Among his February achievements, McDavid reached the 100-point milestone for the sixth time (Feb. 17 vs. NYR), became the fifth-fastest and fifth-youngest player in League history to accumulate 800 career points (Feb. 21 vs. PHI), and capped the month by becoming the first NHL player since 1995-96 to hit the 50-goal milestone in 61 or fewer games (Feb. 27 vs. BOS). The 26-year-old McDavid, who is looking to add his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy to his collection of two straight and four career Art Ross Trophies, paces the NHL in goals (50), assists (65), points (115), power-play assists (37) and power-play points (54) through 61 total outings this season.

SECOND STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon, who played in his fourth NHL All-Star Game, tied for second in the League in points per game (1.70) and placed third overall with 9-8—17 in 10 contests to propel the Avalanche (34-19-5, 73 points) into third place in the Central Division on the strength of a 7-1-2 February. MacKinnon – who led the NHL in even-strength points (8-7—15), finished second in shots on goal (56) and shared second place in goals (9) – ranked among the top forwards in average time on ice (2nd; 23:08) and plus/minus (t-4th; +8). He collected points in nine of his 10 outings during the month, including each of his last eight to close February (8-8—16). That stretch featured a run of six consecutive multi-point performances (Feb. 11-24: 6-8—14), matching a career high also achieved Nov. 18-28, 2018 (6-9—15), as well as a pair of game-winning goals (Feb. 11 at FLA and Feb. 15 at MIN). The 27-year-old MacKinnon, who has missed 11 of Colorado’s 58 total contests this season (47 GP), sits second in the NHL – behind only McDavid (1.89) – with 1.51 points per game in 2022-23 (22-49—71), the highest average of his 10-year career. He also ranks among this season’s top performers in shots on goal (6th; 248), assists (9th; 49) and points (17th; 71).

THIRD STAR – LINUS ULLMARK, G, BOSTON BRUINS

Ullmark, who helped the Atlantic Division capture a championship in his NHL All-Star Game debut, posted a flawless month, going 6-0-0 with a 1.79 goals-against average and .947 save percentage as the League-leading Bruins (47-8-5, 99 points) recorded an NHL-best 9-1-0 February. Ullmark allowed two or fewer goals in each of his first five starts, then capped the month with a career-high and franchise-record 54 saves Feb. 28 at CGY. He became the second-fastest goaltender in League history to reach the 30-win milestone, doing so in his 37th game Feb. 25 at VAN. Ullmark achieved another notable feat in that contest, becoming the 13th different netminder in NHL history – and first since Jan. 9, 2020 – to score a regular-season goal. The 29-year-old Ullmark, who has made 38 total appearances in 2022-23, paces the League in wins (31), goals-against average (1.88) and save percentage (.938) this season. He is seeking to become the sixth different goaltender in NHL history to finish a season atop all three categories (minimum: 40 GP) and the first since Carey Price in 2014-15 (w/ MTL).