NHL Recap February 20 2019
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS – Home Team in Caps
- Chicago 5, DETROIT 4 (OT)
- COLORADO 7, Winnipeg 1
- CALGARY 4, NY Islanders 2
- Boston 3, VEGAS 2 (SO)
KANE NETS OT GOAL TO HALT ANOTHER DETROIT MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK
Patrick Kane (2-0—2) scored the overtime goal and extended his road and overall point streaks to 18 and 19 games, respectively, as the Blackhawks fended off a multi-goal, third-period comeback by the Red Wings – their second in three games – to inch closer to a playoff position.
* Alex DeBrincat also scored (his 33rd goal of the season) as Chicago (26-26-9, 61 points) kept pace with Colorado (25-24-11, 61 points), who moved into the final Wild Card spot by virtue of having played one fewer game. The Central Division rivals meet three more times in 2018-19 – Friday at United Center followed by a back-to-back, home-and-home set on March 23-24.
* Kane (16-26—42 in 19 GP) now owns the top two longest point streaks ever by a U.S.-born player, with his current run trailing only his own record of 26 consecutive games with a point set in 2015-16 (16-24—40). His 26-game streak also marks the last time an NHL player (from any country or team) tallied at least one point in more than 19 consecutive team games.
* Kane also has tallied a point in each of Chicago’s past 18 road games dating to Nov. 24, surpassing Joe Thornton (17 GP in 2009-10) for the longest such streak by any active player. Only six players in NHL history have had a longer road point streak: Wayne Gretzky (5), Peter Stastny, Pat LaFontaine, Mario Lemieux, Jean Ratelle and Marcel Dionne. Gretzky tops that list at 29 consecutive road games with at least one point in 1986-87 (24-41—65).
* Kane leads the NHL with 42 points in 2019, only being held off the score sheet once in 20 games since the calendar turned. Since 1995-96, only five players have recorded 42 or more points across any 20-game span within a season: Kane (2018-19), Nikita Kucherov (2018-19), Lemieux (2002-03, 1996-97, 1995-96), Jaromir Jagr (1998-99, 1996-97, 1995-96) and Peter Forsberg (1995-96).
NHL HITS SWEET 16 AS GAUDREAU, MACKINNON REACH 30-GOAL MARK
Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon each scored in victories to bring the number of 30-goal scorers in the NHL this season to 16. The 16 players with at least 30 goals already in 2018-19 (928 GP) represents the highest such total at this stage of a season in 20 years (since 1998-99 when there were 18 players).
* Gaudreau moved within one point of his second straight 80-point season after posting a career high 24-60—84 in 2017-18. Gaudreau is set to become only the second Flames player since 1994-95 to post consecutive 80-point seasons, a feat achieved only by Jarome Iginla (2006-07 to 2008-09) in that span. The Western Conference-leading Flames improved to 37-16-7 (81 points), taking a three-point lead over the idle Sharks (35-17-8, 78 points), as they track toward the fifth 100-point campaign in franchise history (and first since 2005-06).
* The Avalanche (25-24-11, 61 points) moved into a playoff spot for the first time since Feb. 1 as seven different players scored, including goals by MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. Three-point showings from Carl Soderberg (1-2—3) and Tyson Jost (1-2—3) helped Colorado score seven goals in a game for the third time this season.
BRUINS REMAIN PERFECT ON ROAD TRIP, EXTEND POINT AND WIN STREAKS
David Backes scored in the sixth round of the shootout to extend Boston’s win streak to seven games and its point streak to 12 contests dating to Jan. 29 (9-0-3). Perfect in the first four games of their five game road trip, the Bruins will finish their road stretch Saturday in St. Louis against a team that takes an 11-game win streak into Thursday’s action.
* The Bruins (9-0-1) and Blues (10-0-0) are joined by the Lightning (9-0-2) as the only teams without a regulation loss this calendar month.
* This marks Boston’s longest win streak since the team posted 12 consecutive victories from March 2-22, 2014. The Bruins have had six win streaks of 10 games or more in their history, with a 14 game stretch in 1929-30 standing as the franchise record.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
| Washington@ Toronto | 7:00 PM ET |
| Carolina@ Florida | 7:00 PM ET |
| Ottawa@ New Jersey | 7:00 PM ET |
| Minnesota@ NY Rangers | 7:00 PM ET |
| San Jose@ Pittsburgh | 7:00 PM ET |
| Philadelphia@ Montréal | 7:30 PM ET |
| Buffalo@ Tampa Bay | 7:30 PM ET |
| Los Angeles@ Nashville | 8:00 PM ET |
| St. Louis@ Dallas | 8:30 PM ET |
| NY Islanders@ Edmonton | 9:00 PM ET |
| Arizona@ Vancouver | 10:00 PM ET |
PENS, FLYERS PLAY FINAL GAMES BEFORE 2019 COORS LIGHT STADIUM SERIES
The Penguins and Flyers each will skate in one final game before facing off in the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, which will be played outdoors at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday. Pittsburgh welcomes San Jose to PPG Paints Arena while Philadelphia visits Montreal:
* Sidney Crosby (25-48—73 in 57 GP) enters Thursday’s contest on a six-game point streak (2-10—12), the second point streak of as many games this season. Looking ahead to the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, Crosby is three points shy of totaling 100 in his regular-season career against the Flyers (40-57—97 in 65 GP). He would become only the fifth player in NHL history to record 100 points against the Flyers.
* Despite losing to the League-leading Lightning on Tuesday, Philadelphia holds the third-best record in the NHL since Jan. 10 (13-3-1). The Flyers have been led during their run by rookie Carter Hart who posted an eight-game win streak from Jan. 14 – Feb. 9 and is now joined in the Philadelphia crease by veteran netminders Brian Elliott, who returned to the lineup in relief on Tuesday after missing three months due to injury, and his mentor Cam Talbot, whom he called for advice prior to his first NHL start earlier this season.
Flyers’ Hagg Fined for Interference
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Robert Hagg has been fined $3,091.40, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for interference against Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette during NHL Game No. 918 in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. The incident occurred at 0:37 of the third period.
Flyers’ Gudas Suspended Two Games for High-Sticking
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas has been suspended for two games, without pay, for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov during NHL Game No. 918 in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. The incident occurred at 15:52 of the third period. Gudas was assessed a minor penalty for high-sticking.
Gudas is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, will forfeit $81,707.32. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Video gives full explanation of the decision.