NHL Preview December 14, 2021

RED WINGS SIGN ROBBY FABBRI TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Robby Fabbri to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4 million.

Fabbri, 25, is in his third season with the Red Wings and ranks among team leaders with eight goals (5th), six assists (T10th), 14 points (T7th), three power-play goals (T1st), 66 shots (2nd) and 16:59 average time on ice (4th among forwards). Fabbri joined the Red Wings on Nov. 6, 2019 when he was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Jacob de la Rose. The seventh-year pro has totaled 63 points (32-31-63) and 46 penalty minutes in 110 games for Detroit, ranking third on the team in scoring since he was acquired behind only Dylan Larkin (86 points) and Filip Hronek (64 points), while tying for the team lead with nine power-play goals and racking up a team-best eight game-winning goals.

McDAVID, MATTHEWS TO MEET IN 14TH HEAD-TO-HEAD GAME
Oilers captain Connor McDavid (16-29—45 in 26 GP) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (18-13—31 in 26 GP) are set to meet in their 14th all-time head-to-head game and seventh since the start of the 2020-21 campaign when Canadian-based clubs competed only against domestic opponents as part of the NHL’s Scotia North Division. McDavid manufactured 2-7—9 in the six meetings last season as Edmonton went 3-2-1 (7 points), while Matthews amassed 5-1—6 with Toronto going 3-1-2 (8 points).

• Matthews, who was chosen by the Maple Leafs with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft a year after McDavid went first overall, has 217-165—382 in 360 career games. McDavid managed 167-316—483 through the first 360 games of his NHL career.
• McDavid leads all skaters with 29 assists, one shy from becoming the third player in Oilers history to start his NHL career with Edmonton and reach 30 assists in each of his first seven seasons with the franchise. He would join Jari Kurri (10 from 1980-81 to 1989-90) and Wayne Gretzky (9 from 1979-80 to 1987-88).
• Matthews, meanwhile, is tied for third in the NHL with 18 goals this season and sits two tallies away from becoming the second player in franchise history to start his career with the Maple Leafs and score 20 or more goals in each of his first six seasons with the franchise. The other: Dave Keon (6 from 1960-61 to 1965-66).

CENTRAL DIVISION CLUBS PUT LENGTHY HOME WINNING STREAKS ON THE LINE
Minnesota (19-8-1, 39 points), Colorado (16-7-2, 34 points) and Dallas (13-10-2, 28 points) each look to extend noteworthy home winning streaks Tuesday:

• The Western Conference-leading Wild host the Hurricanes (19-7-1, 39 points) at Xcel Energy Center and can earn wins in seven consecutive home games for the fifth time in franchise history. Kirill Kaprizov has 5-10—15 at Xcel Energy Center through Minnesota’s current home streak, which includes three of his four three-point games on the season. Only one player has recorded more three-point outings at home this season: Leon Draisaitl (5).
• The Avalanche clash with the Rangers (18-6-3, 39 points) at Ball Arena, where the hosts are 7-0-0 since Nov. 11 and have outscored visitors by a 41-17 margin over that span (5.86 GF/GP). Mikko Rantanen leads the Avalanche in scoring over their run, averaging 1.86 points per game (6-7—13 in 7 GP) and has found the score sheet in all but one of those contests.
• The Stars shoulder the longest active home winning streak in the NHL at eight games dating to Nov. 13 and welcome the Blues (15-8-5, 35 points) to American Airlines Center. Roope Hintz (9-3—12 in 8 GP) has scored nine home goals including three game winners during the Stars’ current streak.

CANUCKS LOOK TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED UNDER BOUDREAU
The Canucks will aim for their fifth straight win, all under the helm of newly-named head coach Bruce Boudreau. Should Vancouver conclude Tuesday victorious, it would mark the club’s first five-game win streak in two years, after doing so twice in 2019-20 (7 GP from Dec. 19, 2019 – Jan. 4, 2020 & 5 GP from Jan. 16 – Feb. 1, 2020).

• Thatcher Demko, who was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week Monday, has been in net for each of Vancouver’s four games on their current run and has the most wins by any goaltender dating to the start of their streak on Dec. 6. With a win Tuesday, Demko can establish a career high and can become the first Canucks goaltender since Jacob Markstrom in 2019-20 (6 GP from Dec. 19, 2019 – Jan. 4, 2020) to post a win streak of five or more games.

Hurricanes vs. Wild Game Tonight Postponed
The National Hockey League has announced that, as a result of four additional Carolina Hurricanes Players entering the NHL’s COVID Protocols earlier today, the team’s game tonight against the Minnesota Wild will be postponed. The decision was made following consultation by the NHL’s, NHLPA’s and Club’s medical groups. The League will provide a further update tomorrow.

The Hurricanes organization has followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its Players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state and national agencies.