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Evan Bouchard Edmonton Oilers
Evan Bouchard matched the longest point streak by a defenseman this season and helped Edmonton skate to its seventh straight win.
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Dec

NHL Recap December 10, 2023 – OILERS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO SEVEN GAMES

The Oilers and their players extended streaks aplenty Sunday, with the team pushing the NHL’s longest active win streak to seven games, Evan Bouchard extending the NHL’s longest active point streak (tied) to 11 contests and Connor McDavid stretching his personal point streak to nine games.

  • Edmonton’s current seven-game win streak is the team’s longest since a franchise-record tying nine-game stretch to close out the 2022-23 campaign. When the Oilers’ current run started Nov. 24, they had lost three straight and sat 10 points outside of a playoff spot. Entering play on Monday, Edmonton is three points back of a Wild Card position.
  • McDavid (1-1—2) extended his point streak to nine games (6-17—23 in 9 GP), a stretch that includes seven multi-point outings including three in a row. When he started his point streak Nov. 20, McDavid was tied for 91st in League scoring with 4-9—13 in 14 GP. Entering play on Monday, McDavid ranks eighth in the Art Ross Trophy race.
  • Bouchard’s 11-game point streak (5-11—16 in 11 GP) is tied for the second longest by a defenseman in Oilers history, trailing only Paul Coffey’s 28-game run in 1985-86. It also matched the Vancouver duo of Quinn Hughes (11 GP) and Filip Hronek (11 GP) for the longest by a blueliner in 2023-24.

QUICK DEFEATS FORMER TEAM AS RANGERS CLIMB ATOP EAST STANDINGS
After appearing in 743 regular-season games for Los Angeles, Jonathan Quick stood in the opposing net for the first time in his career as he stopped 25 of 26 shots to hand the Kings their first regulation loss as the visitors this season and snap their season-opening road point streak at 12 games. Quick also helped the Rangers (19-6-1, 39 points) overtake the Bruins (18-5-3, 39 points) for top spot in the Eastern Conference and stay within four points of the Golden Knights (19-5-5, 43 points) for first place in the League standings.

  • Quick extended his point streak to nine games (8-0-1) and became the sixth Rangers goaltender in the past 40 years to post a run of that length, joining Mike Richter (3x; longest: 16 GP in 1996-97), Henrik Lundqvist (9 GP in 2015-16), Cam Talbot (9 GP in 2014-15), Glenn Healy (9 GP in 1995-96) and John Vanbiesbrouck (9 GP in 1991-92).

FIVE MORE THINGS TO KNOW FROM SUNDAY

  • The Jets (16-8-2, 34 points) earned a win after trailing by multiple goals in the third period for the first time this season to claim their fourth consecutive victory. Winnipeg, which became the 12th different team to rally from two down in the third to win this season, moved into first place in the Central Division.
  • Connor Bedard (0-2—2) had a pair of assists to push his season totals to 11-12—23 in 27 games and surpass Patrick Kane (7-15—22 in 20 GP) for the second-most points by a Blackhawks player before turning 19 years of age, trailing only Eddie Olczyk (20-30—50 in 70 GP).
  • Mikael Granlund collected two assists to help the Sharks overcome a multi-goal deficit for the third straight game before eventually falling to the Golden Knights in a shootout. Granlund has amassed 2-9—11 (5 GP) since Dec. 1 to lead all skaters in points over that span.
  • Jonathan Marchessault scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner to help Vegas withstand San Jose’s multi-goal, third-period rally and extend its point streak to eight games (5-0-3 dating to Nov. 27) – the longest active run in the League. The Golden Knights (19-5-5, 43 points) maintained a four-point lead over the Rangers and Bruins atop the NHL’s overall standings.
  • Sam Reinhart (0-4—4) set a career high with his first four-assist outing and tied the second most in a game in franchise history to help the Panthers, who sit second in the Atlantic Division, improve to 17-8-2 (36 points).

Kucherov, Hertl and Reinhart Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl and Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 10, 2023.

FIRST STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov posted 4-3—7, including three game-winning goals, in four contests to propel the Lightning (13-11-5, 31 points) to a 3-1-0 week. He registered 1-1—2, highlighted by the decisive tally, in both a 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars Dec. 4 and a 3-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 6. Kucherov then was held off the scoresheet in a 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators Dec. 7, but rebounded with 2-1—3 – including his sixth career overtime goal – in a 4-3 triumph versus the Seattle Kraken Dec. 9. The 30-year-old Kucherov, who was named the NHL’s “First Star” of November, currently holds a seven-point lead in the Art Ross Trophy race, with 19-28—47 in 28 total appearances this season. He also ranks among the 2023-24 leaders in goals (1st; 19), assists (1st; 28), power-play assists (1st; 15), power-play points (1st; 22), shots on goal (1st; 137), points per game (1st; 1.68), multi-point games (t-1st; 13), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 4) and power-play goals (t-3rd; 7).

SECOND STAR – TOMAS HERTL, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Hertl paced the NHL with five goals in three contests (5-1—6) to help the Sharks (8-17-3, 19 points) rally from multi-goal deficits to earn points in all three of their games (2-0-1). He notched his sixth career hat trick as San Jose overcame a three-goal, third-period deficit to win for the third time in franchise history as part of a 5-4 overtime triumph versus the New York Islanders Dec. 5. Hertl then added two more goals, including the tying marker with 1:29 left in the third period, as the Sharks rallied for a 6-5 overtime victory against the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 7 – their second all-time win when trailing by four goals. He closed the week with the primary assist on the tying goal in the final minute of regulation as San Jose overcame a two-goal, third-period deficit for an eventual 5-4 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights Dec. 10. The 30-year-old Hertl has played in 27 total games this season, leading the Sharks in goals (9), assists (t-15) and points (24).

THIRD STAR – SAM REINHART, C, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Reinhart topped the NHL with seven assists and eight points in three outings (1-7—8) to lift the Panthers (17-8-2, 36 points) to a perfect week. He notched 1-2—3 in a 5-4 triumph over the Dallas Stars Dec. 6 before collecting one helper in a 3-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins Dec. 8. Reinhart then recorded his fourth career four-point performance, and first with four assists, in a 5-2 win versus the Columbus Blue Jackets Dec. 10. The 28-year-old Reinhart, who is averaging nearly a point per game since being acquired Florida in July 2021 (81-105—186 in 187 GP), sits fifth in the NHL with 17-20—37 through 27 total appearances this season. He also places among the top 2023-24 performers in multi-point games (t-1st; 13), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 4), plus/minus (3rd; +18), shooting percentage (3rd; 25.8% – minimum: 1 SOG/GP), power-play goals (t-3rd; 7) and goals (t-4th; 17).

SPORTSNET, TVA SPORTS OPEN BUSY WEEK OF NATIONAL BROADCASTS

Monday’s double bill on Sportsnet and TVA Sports will drop the puck on a packed week of action with 27 games slated for national broadcast in Canada and the U.S. Tonight’s set opens with John Tavares (434-564—998 in 1,053 GP) continuing his pursuit of the 1,000-point milestone on the road against his former team, the Islanders, with whom he racked up the first 621 points of his career (SN, TVAS). Monday will close with Nathan MacKinnon (5-12—17 in 11 GP) looking to extend the NHL’s longest active point streak (tied) to 12 games when the Avalanche host the Flames (SN1, SNW, TVAS).

STAR-STUDDED DOUBLEHEADERS ON ESPN, TNT ALSO ON TAP THIS WEEK
The stars will be out in back-to-back doubleheaders this week with ESPN featuring Patrick Kane and the much-anticipated Connor vs. Connor matchup on Tuesday, followed by an NHL on TNT broadcast Wednesday set to include David Pastrnak, Jack Hughes and Nathan MacKinnon.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: Red Wings at Blues (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

Patrick Kane will continue his first road trip of the season, which opens tonight in Dallas, when the Detroit Red Wings visit the Blues on St. Louis’ Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night after the club announced a new collaboration with the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Kane has 69 career points against the Blues (27-42—69 in 72 GP), with the 27 goals his second-highest total versus a single franchise (32 vs. DAL).

The Wings have recalled center Zach Aston-Reese, right wing Jonatan Berggren and center Austin Czarnik from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions. Additionally, the Red Wings placed left wing J.T. Compher on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 5, center Klim Kostin on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 7 and center Dylan Larkin on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 9.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: Blackhawks at Oilers (10 p.m. ET on ESPN, TVAS, SNW)

Connor vs. Connor. This contest is tracking to become the highly-anticipated first meeting between Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard. McDavid, who enters with multiple points in seven of his last nine contests, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are the 10th and 11th fellow No. 1 picks Bedard will face. Bedard leads rookies with 11-12—23 in 27 games – McDavid (10-19—29 in 2015-16) and Nugent Hopkins (12-17—29 in 2011-12) had 29 points through as many games to start their career.

Wednesday, Dec. 13: Bruins at Devils (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, MAX)

A showdown of two dynamic scorers in Boston’s David Pastrnak and New Jersey’s Jack Hughes leads off Wednesday’s TNT doubleheader. Pastrnak (6th; 317) is fast approaching the top five in NHL history for goals among Czechia-born players, with former Devils such as Petr Sykora, Bobby Holik, Patrik Elias and Jaromir Jagr among those ahead of him on the list. Hughes (97 G in 265 GP), meanwhile, sits three tallies shy of the 100-goal benchmark and is tracking towards the second fastest in franchise history to the milestone (behind Wilf Paiement: 228 GP w/ CLR) and fastest for the Devils (since 1982-83; Brian Gionta: 284 GP).

Wednesday, Dec. 13: Sabres at Avalanche (10 p.m. ET on TNT, MAX, SN)
The Avalanche will close out back-to-back games on home ice to begin the week when Tage Thompson and the Sabres visit Ball Arena on Wednesday. Entering play on Monday, MacKinnon is tied for the League lead in production on home ice in 2023-24 with 8-16—24 in 13 GP – he has a point in every game he has contested at Ball Arena this season.

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Guest Writer