NHL Recap January 1, 2024 – SURGING KRAKEN BLANK GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN WINTER CLASSIC, SET CLUB RECORD

Joey Daccord turned aside all 35 shots he faced and Eeli Tolvanen (1-1—2) tallied two points as the Kraken blanked the reigning Stanley Cup-champion Golden Knights in the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park.

• Seattle became the third franchise in League history with a shutout win in its outdoor game debut, following Anaheim in the 2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium and Calgary in the 2011 Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium. The Kraken were also the second team in NHL history to defeat a reigning champion in an outdoor game, following the Wild against the Blackhawks in the 2016 Stadium Series at TCF Bank Stadium.
• Tolvanen (26-24—50 in 86 GP) scored his 26th goal since making his team debut exactly one year ago. His 26 goals over that span rank third among Seattle players behind Jared McCann (38-32—70 in 85 GP) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (27-31—58 in 85 GP), while Tolvanen’s four game winners are tied for the team lead.
• Daccord improved to 6-0-2 in his last eight appearances dating to Dec. 12 with a 1.35 goals-against average, .956 save percentage and two shutouts. He established a franchise record for longest point streak by a goaltender, eclipsing the previous mark set by Martin Jones from Jan. 1-14, 2023 (7-0-0 in 7 GP).

EVENT HIGHLIGHTED BY PRE-GAME OUTFITS, APPEARANCES BY SEATTLE ICONS
More highlights from the 39th regular-season outdoor game in NHL history and first in “Emerald City”:

• The teams arrived to T-Mobile Park representing their cities in style. Kraken players were led by former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and sported outfits paying homage to the famous Pike Place Fish Market, while Golden Knights players showed up dressed as the legendary Las Vegas performer Elvis Presley.
• Lynch was one of several Seattle sports luminaries on hand for the event. The second intermission featured “A Tribute to Seattle Sports,” with Lynch being honored alongside Lauren Barnes, Jay Buhner, Jamal Crawford, Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Steve Largent, Edgar Martinez, Jack Sikma, Isaiah Thomas, Olivia Van der Jagt, Lenny Wilkens and Dan Wilson.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart played their hit songs “Barracuda” and “Magic Man” at the first intermission, while fellow Seattle native Sir Mix-A-Lot sang “Jump on It” during player introductions. Fourteen-year-old Seattle-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Nikhil Bagga performed the “The Star-Spangled Banner” before puck drop.

TUESDAY HIGHLIGHTED BY ESPN+ DOUBLEHEADER, FLYERS-OILERS ON SPORTSNET ONE

Tuesday’s 13-game slate is highlighted by a doubleheader on ESPN+ and Hulu featuring Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals visiting Sidney Crosby and the Penguins followed by Quinton Byfield and the Kings hosting Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs. The schedule also features Travis Konecny and the Flyers facing Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Sportsnet ONE.

• Ovechkin and Crosby will go head-to-head in the NHL for the 92nd time (regular season & playoffs), with Ovechkin (49-47—96 in 91 GP) owning the advantage in goals through the previous 91 games and Crosby (43-75—118 in 91 GP) holding the edge for assists and points. Washington is 39-42-10 in those contests, while Pittsburgh is 52-35-4.
• Byfield will look to help Los Angeles strengthen its grip on third place in the Pacific Division, while League goals leader Matthews (29-15—44 in 33 GP) can take another crack at reaching 30 on the season. Matthews would be the third different player in franchise history to hit 30 in 34 games or fewer, joining Babe Dye (3x; last: 23 GP 1924-25) and Frank Mahovlich (33 GP in 1960-61).
• Konecny and Philadelphia will hope to halt Edmonton’s five-game winning streak, which includes a 7-2 victory versus Anaheim in its last contest. McDavid had an assist against the Ducks to close out 2023 with 149 points (regular season & playoffs), marking the third straight year where he led the NHL in total points.

BRODIE’S FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTED AHEAD OF ESPN+, HULU BROADCAST

As TJ Brodie and the Maple Leafs get set to take on the Kings on ESPN+ and Hulu, we are highlighting the charity he started with his wife, Amber, called The Lighthouse Foundation. Inspired by a deeply personal connection to cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis, the Brodies raise both funds and awareness for each cause.

Wild’s Hartman Fined for High-Sticking

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been fined $4,427.08, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for high-sticking Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti during NHL Game No. 564 in Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. The incident occurred at 1:51 of the first period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Blackhawks’ Bedard Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for December

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, who led all rookies with 10 assists and 15 points in 15 games (5-10—15), has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for December, 2023.

Bedard edged Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (7-6—13 in 14 GP), Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (5-5—10 in 14 GP), Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (6-3-2, 2.36 GAA, .915 SV%), Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (5-2-1, 2.30 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO) and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (4-2-1, 2.95 GAA, .900 SV%) for the honor.

Bedard, who also shared second place among rookies in goals (5) and topped rookies in power-play assists (5), power-play points (5) and shots on goal (50), factored on 45.5 percent of Chicago’s total goals during the month (15 of 33). Only two players, rookie or veteran, recorded a higher share of their team’s offense in December: Nathan MacKinnon (56.9% w/ COL) and Nikita Kucherov (52.4% w/ TBL).

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft found the scoresheet in 11 of his 15 December appearances, highlighted by four multi-point performances. Those included two goals (capped by his first career overtime winner) Dec. 27 vs. WPG as well as consecutive two-assist outings: Dec. 17 vs. VAN and Dec. 19 vs. COL.

The 18-year-old Bedard, who also was named “Rookie of the Month” in November, paces rookies in goals (15), assists (18) and points (33) through 36 total contests this season. He is the first player to win “Rookie of the Month” honors in consecutive months since St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington in February and March 2019.

MacKinnon, Matthews and Hellebuyck Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for December 2023

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of December 2023.

FIRST STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon paced the NHL with 18 assists and 29 points in 15 games (11-18—29) to propel the Avalanche (23-11-3, 49 points) to an 8-5-2 December. His 29 points set a franchise record for a single calendar month, besting Peter Stastny’s 28 in February 1981 (12-16—28 in 12 GP w/ QUE). MacKinnon, who found the scoresheet in all but one of his appearances (Dec. 29 at STL), also ranked among the December leaders in power-play assists (1st; 9), power-play points (t-1st; 12), goals (t-2nd; 11), shots on goal (6th; 59) and power-play goals (t-7th; 3). He ran his overall point streak to 19 games from Nov. 20 – Dec. 27 (13-23—36), tied for the third-longest in Avalanche/Nordiques history, and also extended his active, season-opening home point streak to 19 contests (15-25—40), a length last surpassed by Wayne Gretzky’s record 40-game home point streak to begin 1988-89 (33-70—103 w/ LAK). MacKinnon produced nine multi-point performances during the month, highlighted by 2-2—4 Dec. 17 vs. SJS and 4‑1—5 Dec. 21 vs. OTT, the first four-goal effort in Avalanche team history and the sixth five-point outing of his career. The 28-year-old MacKinnon, who sat 13th in League scoring through November (8-21—29 in 22 GP), now ranks second overall with 19-39—58 in 37 total contests. He also places among the 2023‑24 leaders in assists (1st; 39), power-play assists (1st; 19), power-play points (t-2nd; 23), shots on goal (3rd; 162) and goals (9th; 19).

SECOND STAR – AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews led the NHL with 15 goals in 12 games (15-6—21), four more than any other player, to guide the Maple Leafs (17-10-7, 41 points) to a 5-4-4 December. Only three players in franchise history have scored as many goals in a single calendar month: Rick Vaive (17 in January 1983, 16 GP), Babe Dye (15 in February 1921, 9 GP) and Frank Mahovlich (15 in December 1960, 13 GP). Matthews hit the back of the net in nine of his 12 December contests, including a run of seven consecutive personal appearances from Dec. 9-23 (12-4—16). That stretch included five multi-goal performances – highlighted by a streak of three straight from Dec. 12-19 (6-3—9) – as well as 2-2—4 Dec. 12 at NYR, his 13th career four-point outing and first of 2023-24. The 26-year-old Matthews, who claimed the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2021-22 and 2020-21, tops the NHL with 29 goals through 33 total games this season (29-15—44). He also sits among the top 10 in power-play goals (t-6th; 8), shots on goal (9th; 143) and points (t-10th; 44).

THIRD STAR – CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, G, WINNIPEG JETS

Hellebuyck went 7-0-2 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in nine starts to lift the Jets (22-9-4, 48 points) to an NHL-best 10-1-2 December. He shared the League lead in wins, while his goals-against average and save percentage placed second only to the Seattle Kraken’s Joey Daccord (1.80 GAA, .939 SV%) among goaltenders with a minimum of five appearances. Hellebuyck, who is one game shy of matching his longest personal point streak (10, achieved 2x), allowed two or fewer goals in all but one his December outings. He made at least 30 saves four times, capped by a month-high 34 stops Dec. 30 vs. MIN. The 30-year-old Hellebuyck, who captured the Vezina Trophy in 2019-20, shares second place in NHL with 17 wins through 26 total appearances this season (17-6-3). He also ranks among the League leaders (minimum: 12 GP) in goals-against average (5th; 2.34) and save percentage (7th; .919).