NHL November 18 2019 Recap

CARLSON, HOLTBY CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY FOR THE CAPITALS

John Carlson (0-2—2) assisted on Alex Ovechkin’s 254th regular-season power-play goal and Braden Holtby posted 32 saves as the League-leading Capitals (16-3-4, 36 points) improved to 9-1-1 in the past 11 games.

Carlson (8-26—34) collected his 25th and 26th assists of 2019-20 to become the seventh different defenseman since 1979-80 to require 23 or fewer team games to record his 25th assist of a season.

The only other defenseman to accomplish the feat prior to 1979-80 was Hockey Hall of Fame member Bobby Orr, who did so on five occasions – highlighted by his 1969-70 campaign, in which he registered his 25th assist in just his 16th team game.

Holtby improved to 10-0-1 dating to Oct. 10 (at NSH) to extend his personal point streak to 11 games and became the only Capitals goaltender to post three such streaks during his tenure with the franchise.

The 2015-16 Vezina Trophy winner is the fifth active netminder with three personal point streaks of 11 or more games, joining Marc-Andre Fleury (4x w/ PIT, 1x w/ VGK), Pekka Rinne (4x w/ NSH), Sergei Bobrovsky (4x w/ CBJ) and Tuukka Rask (3x w/ BOS).

Additionally, Holtby (11-1-3) has earned 11 wins through his first 15 decisions for the second time in his career (also 2017-18). Only two other Capitals goaltenders have recorded more than 11 wins through their first 15 decisions: Michal Neuvirth (12-3-0 in 2010-11) and Semyon Varlamov (12-1-2 in 2009-10).

COYOTES CLIMB STANDINGS WITH ANOTHER SHUTOUT

Conor Garland (1-1—2), Christian Dvorak (0-2—2) and Nick Schmaltz (0-2—2) each recorded multi-point outings, while Antti Raanta turned aside all 31 shots he faced as the Coyotes (13-7-2, 28 points) registered their second shutout in as many games.

Arizona, who moved within one point of tying St. Louis (12-4-5, 29 points) and Edmonton (13-6-3, 29 points) for the most among Western Conference clubs, posted consecutive shutouts for the sixth time in franchise history – all of which coming since the club relocated to Arizona.

Garland scored for the third time in four games to boost his season totals to 10-4—14 in 22 GP. The 23-year-old forward is the fourth Coyotes player in the last 10 years to score 10 or more goals through his first 22 team games of a season. The others: Clayton Keller (11 in 2017-18), Shane Doan (11 in 2013-14) and Radim Vrbata (11 in 2011-12).

HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTS CLASS OF 2019

The Hockey Hall of Fame officially inducted Guy Carbonneau, Vaclav Nedomansky, Hayley Wickenheiser and Sergei Zubov in the players category, and Jim Rutherford and Jerry York as builders at the annual induction ceremony in Toronto on Monday. The Hockey Hall of Fame also honored media members Frank Brown and Jim Hughson as part of its class of 2019.

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION – SURGING WESTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS SET PLAY HOST ON TUESDAY
The Blackhawks (9-7-4, 22 points), Stars (11-8-2, 24 points) and Sharks (10-10-1, 21 points) all put their respective win streaks on the line when they host the Hurricanes, Canucks and Oilers, respectively.

Chicago enters Tuesday’s contest with wins in each of its last four games, outscoring opponents 21-10 over that span. Since Nov. 1, the Blackhawks lead the League with 36 goals (including shootout-deciding goals) while also boasting a 6-1-2 record. The Blackhawks are led offensively in that span by Patrick Kane, who enters with a nine-game point streak (8-9—17 in 9 GP) and trails only Leon Draisaitl (4-14—18 in 8 GP) in points since the turn of the calendar month.

The Stars has won five of their last six games home games and three straight games overall as Elias Pettersson (8-17—25) and the Canucks visit American Airlines Center. Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop enters the contest with a 5-1-0 record in his last six decisions, while allowing two or fewer goals in each contest.

San Jose, 6-0-0 in its last six games, puts the League’s longest active win streak on the line when Draisaitl (16-27—43) and Connor McDavid (14-26—40) visit SAP Center. Brent Burns (5-14—19) and Evander Kane (12-6—18) are both within reach of joining teammates Tomas Hertl (10-11—21) and Logan Couture (3-18—21) with at least 20 points. Vancouver and Washington are the only teams with more than two 20-point players this season (both w/ 3).

MAROON RETURNS TO ST. LOUIS FOR FIRST TIME WITH LIGHTNING

Lightning forward Pat Maroon (4-3—7 in 15 GP) returns to St. Louis for the first time since signing as a free agent with Tampa Bay on Aug 24. Maroon (St. Louis, Mo.) played a pivotal role in helping his hometown Blues capture the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, contributing a pair of game-winning goals in the run to the championship including a memorable double-overtime winner in Game 7 of the Second Round to propel the Blues to the Western Conference Final.

McDavid, MacKinnon and Yandle Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 17.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led all skaters with 3-7—10 in three appearances last week for the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers (13-6-3, 29 points). He opened the week with one assist in a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks Nov. 12. McDavid then recorded a career-high six points (3-3—6), including his sixth career hat trick, in a 6-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 14. In doing so, McDavid became the first Oilers skater to record six or more points in a game since Sam Gagner on Feb. 2, 2012 (4-4—8). He closed the week with a three-assist performance in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars Nov. 16. The 22-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native ranks second in the League with 14-26—40 in 22 games, trailing only teammate Leon Draisaitl (16-27—43 in 22 GP), and has been held pointless in just five of 22 appearances this season.

SECOND STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon ranked tied for second in goals last week while leading the Colorado Avalanche (12-6-2, 26 points), who rank second in the Central Division standings, with 4-3—7 in three appearances. He factored on all four Avalanche goals with 2-2—4 in a 4-0 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets Nov. 12 before being held off the scoresheet in a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers Nov. 14. He finished the week with 2-1—3, including the overtime winner, in a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Nov. 16. The 24-year-old Halifax, N.S., native leads all Avalanche skaters and ranks sixth in the League with 13-16—29 in 20 games this season.

THIRD STAR – KEITH YANDLE, D, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Yandle recorded multiple points in each of his three appearances last week to lead all defensemen and rank third in the League with 1-7—8 while helping the Florida Panthers (10-5-5, 25 points) to a pair of wins in three contests. Yandle opened the week with three points (1-2—3) – all in the final frame – to help the Panthers rally from a 4-0 third-period deficit to defeat the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins 5-4 in a shootout on Nov. 12. It marked just the ninth time in NHL history a visiting team rallied from a four-goal third-period deficit to win. He then recorded a pair of assists in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Nov. 14 and three helpers in a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers Nov. 16. The 33-year-old Boston, Mass., native ranks sixth among blueliners with 2-16—18 in 20 games this season and has appeared in 817 consecutive regular-season games – the longest active “ironman” streak and the fifth longest in NHL history.