NHL NEWS MARCH 21, 2023 – PANTHERS GRAB PLAYOFF SPOT AS BARKOV BECOMES FRANCHISE’S POINTS LEADER

Aleksander Barkov (238-376—614 in 652 GP) assisted on the game-winning goal in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings to pass former teammate Jonathan Huberdeau (198-415—613 in 671 GP) for sole possession of the most points in franchise history and help the Panthers (36-27-7, 79 points) leapfrog the Penguins (34-26-10, 78 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Florida, which extended its point streak to seven contests (6-0-1), occupies a playoff spot for the first time since entering play on Feb. 23.

• Pittsburgh fell to Ottawa, which received a 48-save effort from Dylan Ferguson in the first start of his NHL career. He became the fourth NHL goaltender with 48 in his first career win (since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked), joining Andrei Trefilov (52 on Jan. 5, 1994), Bob Janecyk (48 on Feb. 29, 1984) and Ken Wregget (48 on Dec. 8, 1983).

TRIO OF WESTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS PICK UP WINS MONDAY

A trio of teams looking to secure their playoff spot in the tight Western Conference standings each picked up crucial wins Monday.

• Adrian Kempe (2-1—3) and Carl Grundstrom (2-0—2) both found the back of the net twice as Los Angeles erupted for eight goals for the second time this season (8 on Nov. 29 vs. SEA), extending its overall point streak to 10 games (8-0-2) and its home point streak to 11 outings (9-0-2). The Kings (41-20-10, 92 points) moved into a tie in standing points with the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights (43-21-6, 92 points) – Vegas, which is in action Tuesday, holds a game in hand.
• The Oilers found themselves down 4-3 heading into the third period, but Leon Draisaitl (0-2—2) factored on the tying goal for his 200th career multi-point game before Darnell Nurse (1-0—1) completed the comeback with his fourth career overtime tally – the most by a defenseman in franchise history – to help Edmonton (40-23-8, 88 points) keep pace with Los Angeles for second in the Pacific Division standings.
• Mikko Rantanen (1-1—2) factored on two of his team’s five goals and Alexandar Georgiev turned aside all 27 shots he faced as the Avalanche (41-22-6, 88 points) blanked the Blackhawks to extend their win streak to six games and move ahead of the idle Wild (40-22-88, 88 points) for second place in the Central Division, with a game in hand. Rantanen’s goal marked his 47th of the season, the most by an Avalanche player since Milan Hejduk had 50 in 2002-03.

NIETO’S CHARITY WORK ON WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

On World Down Syndrome Day, we take a look at Avalanche forward Matt Nieto, whose sister Erin has Down syndrome and autism. The pair have a special relationship, with Erin being his biggest fan. Despite being Non-Verbal, Erin can say about 20 words including Matt’s number, 83 – one of the reasons it’s important for him to be able to keep his number regardless of the team he is playing on. The foundation of Matt’s passion to give back is his commitment to diversity, inclusion and support of persons with disabilities.

13-GAME TUESDAY HEADLINED BY HURRICANES-RANGERS ON BROADWAY

Tuesday’s 13-game slate is highlighted by the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (45-15-8, 98 points) visiting the third-place Rangers (41-19-10, 92 points) at Madison Square Garden as well as the Islanders (36-27-8, 80 points) hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs (42-18-9, 93 points) at UBS Arena on Hulu, ESPN+ and TVA Sports.

• Carolina can reach the 100-point mark for a second straight season and third time in franchise history. The Hurricanes, who will play their 69th game of the season Tuesday, would require their fewest contests to hit the milestone – they needed 71 to reach a triple-digit point total in both 2021-22 (46-17-8, 100 points) and 2005-06 (47-18-6, 100 points).
• New York enters play with two straight shutout wins and 15 unanswered goals dating to its 3-2 tally versus Pittsburgh on March 16. The Rangers can become the first team to score 16 or more unanswered goals since the Penguins potted 18 in a row across four games from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, 2014.

DUNN, HEISKANEN SET TO PUT POINT STREAKS ON THE LINE IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND GAME

Seattle’s Vince Dunn (4-13—17 in 12 GP) and Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen (3-14—17 in 10 GP) will go head-to-head during the first game in NHL history to feature multiple defensemen with a double-digit point streak (as opponents or teammates).

• Dunn can move within one game of matching the longest point streak by a blueliner this season, set by San Jose’s Erik Karlsson from Dec. 3, 2022 to Jan. 6, 2023 (2-20—22 in 14 GP). Heiskanen can equal the Stars/North Stars franchise record for lengthiest by a defenseman, a mark held by Craig Hartsburg from Nov. 22 to Dec. 15, 1986 (4-14—18 in 11 GP).

RED WINGS RECALL MATT LUFF FROM GRAND RAPIDS UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled right wing Matt Luff from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.

Luff, 25, has appeared in seven games with the Red Wings this season, recording his first goal and point on Nov. 6 against the New York Rangers. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound forward has also notched 25 points (8-17-25) and six penalty minutes in 28 games with the Griffins. Luff was signed as a free agent by the Red Wings on July 13, 2022 after splitting the 2021-22 campaign between the Nashville Predators and AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, logging six points (3-3-6) and four penalty minutes in 23 games with the Predators while totaling 31 points (14-17-31) and 16 penalty minutes in 30 appearances for the Admirals. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Kings on Sept. 22, 2016, Luff has registered 24 points (14-10-24) and 20 penalty minutes in 94 games with the Kings, Predators and Red Wings since 2018-19. He has also compiled 145 points (57-88-145), a plus-10 rating and 116 penalty minutes in 197 AHL games with the Ontario Reign, Admirals and Griffins since making his professional debut in 2016-17.