NHL Recap February 11, 2024 – ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

The Canucks and Blues beat the Capitals and Canadiens, respectively, on Super Bowl Sunday:

• J.T. Miller scored the winner with 4.8 seconds remaining in overtime as Vancouver stunned Washington and opened a three-point lead atop the NHL standings. Miller became the third player in franchise history with a goal in the final five seconds of an overtime period, joining Sami Salo (4:59 on Oct. 20, 2006) and Daniel Sedin (4:55 on Oct. 6, 2007).
• Torey Krug (0-5—5) tallied a career-high five points and Alexey Toropchenko scored a highlight-reel goal just 25 seconds into the first period as St. Louis extended its road winning streak to five games while improving to 7-1-0 in eight contests since Jan. 20. Krug established franchise records for points and assists in a game by a defenseman.

OVECHKIN EXTENDS GOAL STREAK
Sunday notes from the two matinees, include Alex Ovechkin tallying for a fifth straight game to move 59 goals shy of tying Wayne Gretzky atop the NHL’s all-time list.

NHL, DEVILS AND DEVILS YOUTH FOUNDATION LAUNCH GIRLS HOCKEY LEAGUE

As a legacy to the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, the NHL, Devils and Devils Youth Foundation will launch the Jersey Girls Hockey Club, a recreational ice hockey league for girls ages 5 to 12 in New Jersey providing a space for girls to continue playing hockey among their peers.

MONDAY’S FOUR-GAME SLATE

Eight teams are in action Monday including the Flames facing the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and the Golden Knights welcoming the Wild to T-Mobile Arena. Both contests will be available on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

2024 NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION NHL STADIUM SERIES HIGHLIGHTS WEEK AHEAD

The week ahead is highlighted by the Devils hosting the Flyers and the Rangers facing the Islanders during the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. More notes on the 40th and 41st regular-season outdoor games in NHL history as well as other national broadcasts spotlighted this week:

Saturday, Feb. 17: Kings at Bruins (12:30 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+, SN1, TVAS, SNP, SNO, SNE)

• David Pastrnak and the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins host Drew Doughty and the Kings during an ABC Hockey Saturday tripleheader. Pastrnak (33-42—75 in 52 GP) can become the first Boston player to reach the 80-point mark in 55 games or fewer since Adam Oates in 1993-94 (25-55—80 in 54 GP), while Doughty (152-494—646 in 1,144 GP) enters the week tied with former Bruins blueliner Al Iafrate (152-311—463 in 799 GP) on the NHL’s all-time goals list among defensemen.

Saturday, Feb. 17: Oilers at Stars (3 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+, SN)

• Connor McDavid (324-597—921 in 615 GP) can become the fourth-fastest player to reach the 600-assist mark in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky (416 GP), Mario Lemieux (514 GP) and Bobby Orr (608 GP), while Joe Pavelski (468-577—1,045 in 1,302 GP) needs one goal to pass Pat LaFontaine (468-545—1,013 in 865 GP) for sole possession of fifth place on the League’s all-time list among U.S.-born players. That leaderboard is topped by longtime Stars/North Stars forward Mike Modano (561-813—1,374 in 1,499 GP), who is set to have a statue unveiled in his honor outside American Airlines Center on March 16.

Saturday, Feb. 17: Flyers at Devils (8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+, SN1, TVAS-D)

• Sean Couturier and the Flyers face Jack Hughes and the Devils during the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series opener. There will be plenty at stake with crucial standings points on the line during both outdoor games, with Philadelphia entering the week occupying third place in the Metropolitan Division and New Jersey sitting six points back of the “playoff line” in the Eastern Conference.

Saturday, Feb. 17: Jets at Canucks (10 p.m. ET on SN, CBC, CITY)

• Connor Hellebuyck and Thatcher Demko, who were recently part of NHL.com’s projected roster for the United States at the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, could go head-to-head when the Jets and Canucks clash on Hockey Night in Canada. Hellebuyck has a 3-2-0 edge through their five previous matchups with a 1.62 goals-against average, .947 save percentage and one shutout (Demko: 2-3-0 in 5 GP; 2.42 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO).

Sunday, Feb. 18: Rangers at Islanders (3 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS)

• Artemi Panarin and the Rangers take “The Battle of New York” outside and across the Hudson River when they face Mathew Barzal and the Islanders in the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series finale.

Markstrom, Bobrovsky and Suzuki Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 11.

FIRST STAR – JACOB MARKSTROM, G, CALGARY FLAMES

Markstrom guided Calgary to three straight road victories coming out of the All-Star break, going 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .939 save percentage to lift the Flames (25-22-5, 55 points) within three points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He made 21 saves in a 4-1 triumph over the No. 2-ranked Boston Bruins Feb. 6. Markstrom then turned aside 37 shots, capped by 15 in the final frame, in a 5-3 win against the New Jersey Devils Feb. 8. He closed the week with 35 saves, including 16 in the third period, in a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders Feb. 10. The 34-year-old Markstrom, who has won a season-high four consecutive starts dating to Jan. 27 (1.50 GAA, .954 SV%, 1 SO), owns a 17-13-2 record, 2.54 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts through 32 total appearances in 2023-24. That includes a 16-7-1 mark in 24 games since Nov. 7 (2.38 GAA, .921 SV%, 2 SO) following a 1-6-1 start to the season (3.03 GAA, .897 SV%, 0 SO).

SECOND STAR – SERGEI BOBROVSKY, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Bobrovsky – who earlier this month participated in his second career NHL All-Star Game – denied 56 of the 58 shots he faced, compiling a 2-0-0 record, 1.00 goals-against average, .966 save percentage and one shutout to propel the Panthers (33-15-4, 70 points) within three points of first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. He made 21 saves, including 12 in the opening frame, in a 4-2 triumph against the Washington Capitals Feb. 8. The 35-year-old Bobrovsky then earned his 41st career shutout (and third of 2023-24) with 35 stops in a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Feb. 10. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2016-17 and 2012-13) has played in 38 total contests this season (25-10-2, 2.43 GAA, .913 SV%, 3 SO), ranking among the League leaders in wins (3rd), shutouts (t-4th) and goals-against average (6th; minimum: 18 GP).

THIRD STAR – NICK SUZUKI, C, MONTREAL CANADIENS

Suzuki factored on six of Montreal’s nine goals across three games to top the NHL with 4-2—6 as the Canadiens (21-23-8, 50 points) went 1-2-0. He registered 2-1—3, his second three-point performance of the season (also Oct. 26 vs. CBJ: 1-2—3), in a 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals Feb. 6. Suzuki then posted 1-1—2 in a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars Feb. 10 before scoring one of Montreal’s two goals in a 7-2 defeat versus the St. Louis Blues Feb. 11. The 24-year-old Suzuki, another 2024 NHL All-Star (his third straight appearance), paces the Canadiens with 17-31—48 in 52 total games this season.