NHL Recap – Jan. 2, 2022

KYROU’S FOUR POINTS LIFT BLUES TO WINTER CLASSIC VICTORY
In front of a sellout crowd of 38,619 fans at Target Field braving the coldest outdoor game in NHL history, Jordan Kyrou (2-2—4) set an NHL record for most points in an outdoor game to lift the Blues (19-9-5, 43 points) to a victory in the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic. St. Louis improved to 2-0-0 in outdoor games and moved into first place in the Central Division standings.

• The Blues and Wild combined for six goals in the middle frame, which was just one shy of the most in a period in an NHL outdoor game – Detroit and Toronto scored seven over the final 20 minutes of the 2017 Centennial Classic at BMO Field. St. Louis scored five goals in the second frame, which marked the most by one team in a single period during an NHL outdoor game.
• In addition to a performance from country star Thomas Rhett, the festivities around the ice surface paid tribute to the State of Hockey including a ceremonial puck drop with multiple Minnesota sports legends such as former Twins Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, decor showcasing the outdoors including deer, trees and ice fishing as well as multiple auxiliary rinks showcasing local teams and hockey programs.

ROQUE AMONG PLAYERS NAMED TO U.S. WOMEN’S OLYMPIC TEAM
USA Hockey announced the final roster for its 2022 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team during the second intermission of the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic.

• Among the first-time Olympians named to the team was Abby Roque, who is set to become the first Indigenous player to play for the United States women’s national team in the Olympics. Roque (Sault St. Marie, Mich.) is a member of the Wahnapitae First Nation and was named the 2020 Bob Allen Women’s Hockey Player of the Year, an award presented by USA Hockey annually to the top American-born women’s hockey player.

HURRICANES SCORE SEVEN STRAIGHT IN RARE FOUR-GOAL COMEBACK WIN
Steven Lorentz (2-0—2) and Brady Skjei (2-0—2) accounted for four of the Hurricanes’ seven unanswered markers as Carolina became the first team this season to earn a win after erasing a four-goal deficit. The Hurricanes (23-7-1, 47 points), who leapfrogged the Capitals (20-6-7, 47 points) and Lightning (21-7-5, 47 points) to claim first place in the NHL standings, erased a four-goal deficit to win for just the second time in franchise history – the Hartford Whalers also did so when they defeated the Canadiens by a 6-4 margin on Jan. 19, 1989.

MORE NOTES FROM SATURDAY
Saturday’s updates includes several more notes from the nine-game slate. Some highlights include:

• Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Ilya Mikheyev (2-0—2) and Justin Holl scored 27 seconds apart while Morgan Rielly (0-1—1) was serving a penalty as Toronto matched its franchise record for fastest two shorthanded goals (since 1933-34 when goals by type were officially tracked), a mark set by Borje Salming and Greg Terrion on Nov. 16, 1986.
• Predators forward Tanner Jeannot tallied twice to reach 10 goals on the season (10-10—20 in 33 GP) and move into a tie with Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond (10-18—28 in 32 GP) for the most among NHL rookies.
• Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (30 saves) improved to 7-0-0 in his last seven appearances dating to Dec. 6 (1.40 GAA, .955 SV%, 1 SO) and became the fifth different goaltender in franchise history with a win streak of at least seven games.
• Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson (2-2—4) opened the scoring 12 seconds into the first period and Los Angeles head coach Todd McLellan earned the 500th win of his NHL career.
• Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau (0-3—3) boosted his totals to 1-7—8 over his last two games as Florida improved to 17-3-0 (34 points) at FLA Live Arena this season.

PENGUINS TO PUT WIN STREAK ON THE LINE IN RETURN
The Penguins (17-8-5, 39 points), who are scheduled to contest their first game since Dec. 19, will put the League’s longest active win streak on the line when they host the Sharks (17-14-1, 35 points). Pittsburgh, who has won seven consecutive games dating to Dec. 4, will look to post an eight-game win streak for the first time since 2018-19 (8-0-0 from Dec. 19, 2018 to Jan. 4, 2019).

Ducks’ Zegras Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for December
Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras, who led all rookies with nine assists and 11 points in nine games (2-9—11), has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for December.

Zegras edged Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (4-4—8 in 9 GP), Nashville Predators left wing Tanner Jeannot (3-5—8 in 10 GP), and Detroit Red Wings teammates Lucas Raymond (1-6—7 in 9 GP) and Moritz Seider (1-6—7 in 9 GP) for the honor.

Zegras found the scoresheet in six of his nine December appearances, including a four-game streak to open the month that featured three straight multi-assist performances (Dec. 1-6: 0-7—7) as well as a first-of-its-kind ‘alley-oop’ assist that created a viral moment and prompted reaction across social media (Dec. 7 at BUF).

Zegras, the ninth overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft, became the fourth rookie in the last 25 years to record multiple helpers in three consecutive games, following Mathew Barzal (3 GP in 2017-18 w/ NYI), Artemi Panarin (3 GP in 2015-16 w/ CHI) and Patrick Kane (3 GP in 2007-08 w/ CHI) – all of whom went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy.

The 20-year-old Bedford, N.Y., native – who has played in 30 total contests this season – ranks among the top rookies in shots on goal (1st; 73), points (2nd; 25), power-play goals (t-2nd; 2), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 2), assists (3rd; 17), power-play assists (3rd; 4), power-play points (3rd; 6) and goals (t-4th; 8).

Zegras, who also shares the League lead among all players (rookie or veteran) with three shootout goals in 2021-22 (including one Dec. 9 at CBJ), joins Seider (October) and Raymond (November) as “Rookie of the Month” winners this season.

He is the first Ducks player to be named “Rookie of the Month” since goaltender John Gibson in December 2015 and the first Anaheim skater to receive the honor since right wing Bobby Ryan in January 2009.

Matthews, Pacioretty and Demko Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for December
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of December.

FIRST STAR – AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews found the scoresheet in all seven of his December appearances, sharing the League lead with 10 goals while averaging 2.00 points per game (10-4—14) to guide the Maple Leafs (21-8-2, 44 points) to a 4-2-1 month. He registered five multi-point performances, including a trio of multi-goal outings: Dec. 1 vs. COL (3-0—3; his fourth career hat trick), Dec. 7 vs. CBJ (2-1—3; GWG) and Dec. 14 at EDM (2-0—2). Matthews also placed first in the NHL with four goals and eight points on the power play (4-4—8), raising Toronto’s efficiency on the man-advantage to 29.7 percent for the season – second in the NHL after the Edmonton Oilers (31.2%). The 24-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz., native and reigning Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner has played in 28 total games in 2021-22, ranking among the League leaders in goals (3rd; 20), power-play goals (3rd; 8), shots on goal (3rd; 124), power-play points (4th; 15) and points (13th; 33).

SECOND STAR – MAX PACIORETTY, LW, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Pacioretty topped the NHL with 10-6—16 in 12 contests to lift the Golden Knights (22-12-0, 44 points) into first place in the Pacific Division via a 10-3-0 December. Pacioretty, who also placed among the League leaders in goals (t-1st; 10), game-winning goals (t-1st; 3), shots on goal (2nd; 55), power-play goals (t-2nd; 3) and power-play points (3rd; 7), collected points in nine of his 12 appearances. That included a seven-game goal streak to open the month (Dec. 1-14: 10-4—14), a career high as well as a first in Vegas history. The 33-year-old New Canaan, Conn., native has registered 12-9—21 in 16 total outings this season, ranking second in the NHL in goals per game (0.75) and seventh in points per game (1.31) among skaters with at least five appearances.

THIRD STAR – THATCHER DEMKO, G, VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Demko went 7-1-0 with a 1.72 goals-against average, .946 save percentage and one shutout to help the Canucks (16-15-3, 35 points) post an 8-1-1 December, including a record-tying 7-0-0 start under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. Demko yielded two or fewer goals in six of his eight starts, highlighted by his second career shutout Dec. 6 vs. LAK (31 SV). He also made at least 30 saves five times, including a season-high 40 stops Dec. 4 vs. PIT. The 26-year-old San Diego, Calif., native – who, aided by an active seven-game winning streak (Dec. 6 – Jan. 1), is tied for fifth in the NHL with 15 victories this season – has compiled a 15-11-1 record, 2.55 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and one shutout through 27 total outings in 2021-22.