NHL Recap – January 5, 2022

MAKAR DAZZLES UNITED CENTER WITH OT WINNER

After the Blackhawks and Avalanche traded leads in regulation on ESPN+ and TVAS, Cale Makar converted a highlight-reel solo effort in overtime to record his 11th game-winning goal since making his regular-season debut in 2019-20 – the most among all defensemen over that span and three more than the next closest (John Carlson: 8).

• Makar’s game winner also marked his 14th goal of 2021-22. Only two defensemen in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) have scored more through their first 25 games of a season: Dave Ellett (15 in 1988-89 w/ WIN) and Bobby Orr (15 in 1974-75 & 1973-74 w/ BOS).

PANTHERS CAP HOMESTAND WITH ANOTHER HIGH-SCORING AFFAIR
Patric Hornqvist (2-0—2), Brandon Montour (0-3—3) and Carter Verhaeghe (0-2—2) all collected multiple points as the Panthers (22-7-4, 48 points) earned their fourth straight win and kept pace with the Lightning (22-8-5, 49 points) atop the NHL standings.

• After a nine-goal outburst on Dec. 30, 2021 against Tampa Bay and a 5-2 win on Jan. 1 versus the Montreal Canadiens, Florida scored 20 goals across a three-game span for the first time in franchise history (excluding shootout-deciding goals).
• Hornqvist’s second tally came in the third frame, the 11th consecutive regulation period the Panthers have scored in. Florida has recorded a longer such stretch four times in franchise history: 15 periods (Oct. 19-29, 2021), 14 periods (March 7-16, 2019), 13 periods (Feb. 15-22, 2020) and 12 periods (March 4-10, 2018).
• Montour’s three-assist outing fell one shy of matching the franchise record for most by a defenseman in a single game behind Bryan McCabe (0-4—4 on Oct. 16, 2010) and Brian Campbell (0-4—4 on Oct. 17, 2011).

TERRY, DRYSDALE SHINE IN DUCKS WIN
Troy Terry scored his first career hat trick to eclipse 20 goals in 2021-22 (21-13—34 in 35 GP) and Jamie Drysdale collected two assists as the Ducks (18-11-7, 43 points) maintained their hold on second place in the Pacific Division. Since 1999-00, only one Ducks player has required fewer games than Terry to reach the 20-goal mark in a season: Corey Perry in 2013-14 (33 GP).

COYOTES SPANISH RADIO BROADCAST A FRANCHISE FIRST
Tuesday’s Jets-Coyotes game was broadcast on radio in Spanish with Luis Hernandez calling the action. It was the first of 13 “Game of the Week” Coyotes home radio broadcasts in Spanish this year – part of an agreement with Univision Arizona (KHOV 105.1 FM). Hernandez, who is also the Spanish voice of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, will not only be calling the games, but he will also be part of the team’s outreach to schools and Hispanic owned businesses focused on exposing Latinos young and old to the sport.

GOALS GALORE
Tuesday saw a trio of teams score six or more goals in their wins, including the NHL-leading Lightning and Red Wings.

• Ondrej Palat (2-1—3) and Brayden Point (1-2—3) led all Tampa Bay skaters in points as the Lightning (22-8-5, 49 points) scored at least seven goals in a game for the third time this season (also 7 at PHI on Dec. 5, 2021 & 7 at DET on Oct. 14, 2021) to leapfrog the idle Rangers (22-8-4, 48 points) for first place in the NHL standings.
• Detroit Red Wings teammates Pius Suter (2-0—2) and Tyler Bertuzzi (2-0—2) scored second-period shorthanded goals 37 seconds apart as Detroit (16-15-3, 35 points) kept pace with Boston (17-10-2, 36 points), which defeated New Jersey on Tuesday and occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

WEDNESDAY FEATURES NATIONAL BROADCAST IN CANADA, UNITED STATES
A two-game slate Wednesday will see Zach Hyman return to Toronto for the first time when the Oilers (18-13-2, 38 points) visit the Toronto Maple Leafs (21-8-2, 44 points) on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, while two of the hottest teams square off on NHL on TNT when the Penguins (18-8-5, 41 points) put their eight-game win streak on the line against the Blues (19-9-5, 43 points), who are coming off a victory at the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic and own a 7-1-2 mark in their last 10 contests overall.

DETROIT REASSIGNS THREE TO TAXI SQUAD
The Detroit Red Wings today reassigned left wing Riley Barber, defenseman Luke Witkowski and goaltender Kaden Fulcher to the team’s taxi squad from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins

NHL Postpones Three Additional Games Due To Canadian Attendance Restrictions
The National Hockey League announced today that, due to current attendance restrictions in certain Canadian cities, three additional games will be rescheduled for dates later in the season when such restrictions may be eased or lifted:

• Saturday, Jan. 15 New Jersey @ Montreal
• Monday, Jan. 17 New Jersey @ Toronto
• Tuesday, Jan. 18 Chicago @ Edmonton