NHL OCTOBER 24, 2022 – BLACKHAWKS THIRD STRAIGHT MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN

BLACKHAWKS BEST KRAKEN WITH THIRD STRAIGHT MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN
Trailing 2-0 in the first period, Jujhar Khaira scored shorthanded to begin Chicago’s initial comeback attempt and set the stage for Tyler Johnson’s two tying tallies as well as Jason Dickinson’s winner with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Blackhawks have erased a multi-goal deficit to win three consecutive contests for the first time in franchise history following a pair of victories in similar fashion on Oct. 15 and Oct. 21.

• Chicago became the ninth team in NHL history to post three or more consecutive multi-goal comeback wins, joining Carolina (4 GP from Oct. 24-29, 2005), Detroit (3 GP from Nov. 6-10, 2018), Nashville (3 GP from Feb. 27 – March 2, 2018), Edmonton (3 GP from Dec. 15-19, 2005), Pittsburgh (3 GP from Dec. 4-7, 1996), Buffalo (3 GP from Jan. 26-29, 1993), Hartford (3 GP from March 18-22, 1986) and NY Rangers (3 GP from Jan. 9-14, 1979).
• Additionally, the Blackhawks are the fourth team in NHL history to overcome a multi-goal deficit in each of their first three wins of a season, joining the Blues (3 GP in 2006-07), Red Wings (3 GP in 1990-91) and Islanders (3 GP in 1985-86).
• Khaira, with three career shorthanded goals on his resume, netted Chicago’s fourth of the season, joining Sam Lafferty (2) and Connor Murphy (1). Only two other teams have multiple shorthanded tallies in 2022-23: Edmonton (2) and Colorado (2).

KUBALIK AND NEWCOMERS HELP RED WINGS CONTINUE HOT START TO 2022-23
Dominik Kubalik (1-2—3) posted his third consecutive multi-point outing and Ville Husso turned aside 32 shots as the Red Wings (3-0-2, 8 points) posted a season-opening point streak of at least five games for the fourth time in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68). Detroit is one of just four clubs without a regulation loss alongside Pittsburgh (4-0-1), Dallas (4-0-1) and St. Louis (3-0-0).

• Kubalik, who signed a two-year contract with Detroit this offseason and leads the Red Wings with eight points through their first five games (3-5—8), is no stranger to producing offensively after putting together a 30-goal campaign in his rookie season with the Blackhawks in 2019-20. Since 2012-13, only three players have recorded more points through their first five contests with a club: John Tavares (6-4—10 w/ TOR in 2018-19), Matt Duchene (2-7—9 w/ NSH in 2019-20) and Zach Parise (5-4—9 w/ MIN in 2012-13).
• With David Perron (1-0—1) and Elmer Soderblom (1-0—1) also contributing offensively for Detroit, the club has received 11-14—25 from players in their first season with the Red Wings – the most goals and points among all teams, and three more tallies than the next closest (FLA: 8-9—17).

KNIGHT’S 25TH CAREER WIN FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured notable facts and figures from a five-game Sunday slate, highlighted by Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight recording his 25th career win (38 GP). Only four active goaltenders have reached the mark in fewer appearances than the Darien, Conn., native: Frederik Andersen (33 GP), Jordan Binnington (35 GP), Matt Murray (36 GP) and Anton Khudobin (36 GP).

KESSEL SET TO TIE YANDLE FOR LONGEST “IRONMAN” STREAK IN NHL HISTORY
Golden Knights forward Phil Kessel has not missed an NHL game in nearly 13 years and is expected to skate in his 989th consecutive contest – tying Keith Yandle (989 GP) for the longest “Ironman” streak in League history. Kessel will match the mark against the Maple Leafs – one of his four former teams and a franchise that accounts for the first 446 contests of the streak.

• Monday also presents another opportunity for Kessel (399-558—957 in 1,210 GP) – he sits one tally shy of becoming the 12th U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the 400-goal milestone. To date, Patrick Kane (430 in 1,112 GP), Joe Pavelski (425 in 1,173 GP) and Zach Parise (409 in 1,148) are the only active U.S.-born skaters to achieve the feat.

CROSBY, McDAVID READY FOR 10TH HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETING
Sidney Crosby (3-7—10 in 5 GP) and Connor McDavid (5-5—10 in 5 GP) are two of six players with a double-digit point total thus far in 2022-23 and will square off for their 10th all-time meeting when the Penguins travel to Rogers Place to tangle with the Oilers.

• Crosby, with three outings of three-plus points this season, has helped Pittsburgh score six goals in each of its four wins in 2022-23. The Penguins captain has collected 2-3—5 in his previous nine head-to-head matchups with McDavid, with his team holding a 6-2-1 advantage in those contests.
• Conversely, the Oilers captain is 3-3-3 against Crosby but holds the statistical advantage – producing two points per game (5-13—18 in 9 GP). McDavid, held scoreless for the first time this season in Edmonton’s previous matchup against the Blues on Oct. 22, has notched 36-76—112 in 71 career outings immediately following a contest in which he didn’t find the score sheet.

Dahlin, Tkachuk and Blackwood Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk and New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 23.

FIRST STAR – RASMUS DAHLIN, D, BUFFALO SABRES

Dahlin (3-2–5 in 3 games) topped the scoring list for defensemen last week, highlighted by a record-setting goal streak, as the Sabres improved to 4-1-0 on the season by sweeping a three-game road trip to Western Canada. The 22-year-old also posted a cumulative +5 rating and logged an average of 24:02 in ice time per game. Dahlin kickstarted the road trip by opening the scoring in a 4-2 win at Edmonton Oct. 18, becoming the first defenseman to post a season-opening goal streak of three games since Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman in 2014-15. Two nights later in Calgary, Dahlin made history as the first NHL defenseman to score in each of his first four games of a campaign, notching a goal and an assist in a 6-3 victory over the Flames Oct. 20. He finished the week by extending his NHL record for defensemen to a fifth game (1-1–2) in a 5-1 win at Vancouver Oct. 22, also setting a franchise record for longest goal streak by a defenseman at any point in a campaign and becoming the first Sabres skater with a five-game run since Thomas Vanek over 14 years ago (5 GP from Oct. 10-18, 2008). Skating in his fifth season with the Sabres, the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft leads NHL defensemen in goals (five), points (eight) and plus-minus (tie, +8) this season.

SECOND STAR — BRADY TKACHUK, LW, OTTAWA SENATORS

Tkachuk recorded seven points (three goals, four assists) last week, with multiple points in all three outings, as the Senators won the first three games of a five-game homestand. The Ottawa captain began the week tallying a goal and two assists in the team’s home opener, a 7-5 victory over the Boston Bruins on Oct. 18. Tkachuk’s goal 3:09 into the game came shortly after new teammate Claude Giroux had opened the scoring at 1:04, marking the fastest two goals to start a home opener in Senators history. Tkachuk notched a pair of assists and a game-high eight shots in a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals Oct. 20 and scored a pair of goals in a 6-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes Oct. 22. His first goal proved to be the game winner and his second marked the 200th point of his NHL career (94-106–200 in 282 games). Selected minutes after Dahlin in the 2018 NHL Draft (fourth overall), Tkachuk is skating in his fifth NHL season with the Senators and second as captain.

THIRD STAR – MACKENZIE BLACKWOOD, G, NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Blackwood won three games in as many starts for New Jersey, posting a 1.33 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. He began the week backstopping the Devils to their first win of the 2022-23 regular season, making 18 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Prudential Center on Oct. 18. He then helped the Devils record their first-ever win at UBS Arena on Long Island, stopping 16 shots in a 4-1 victory against the New York Islanders Oct. 20. He posted his third consecutive win by turning aside 21 of 22 shots in a 2-1 home decision over the San Jose Sharks Oct. 22. Blackwood, 25, was a second-round pick, 42nd overall, by the Devils in the 2015 NHL Draft and is playing in his fifth NHL season, He improved his career record to 58-52-16 in 134 appearances with a 2.91 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.