NHL Recap March 3 2019
SUNDAY’S RESULTS – Home Team in Caps
- Washington 3, NY RANGERS 2
- Philadelphia 4, NY ISLANDERS 1
- VEGAS 3, Vancouver 0
- ANAHEIM 2, Colorado 1
- Ottawa 3, FLORIDA 2
- Winnipeg 5, COLUMBUS 2
- Nashville 3, MINNESOTA 2 (SO)
- SAN JOSE 5, Chicago 2
RED WINGS MOURN THE LOSS OF TED LINDSAY
WHEELER’S CAREER NIGHT PROPELS JETS
Blake Wheeler (4-0—4) netted his first career four-goal game to reach the 80-point mark (17-63—80 in 65 GP) and help the Jets (39-22-4, 82 points) maintain a one-point lead over the Predators (38-25-5, 81 points) – who also won Sunday – atop the Central Division.
* Wheeler’s performance marked the seventh hat trick by a Winnipeg skater in 2018-19, which paces all clubs this season. The only player in franchise history with multiple 60-assist seasons – he shared the League lead with 68 helpers in 2017-18 – Wheeler now is the fifth Jets/Thrashers player to score at least four goals in a game.
* The Jets captain became the third NHL player and second Winnipeg skater to score four goals in a game this season. In 2017-18, seven players accomplished the feat: Alex Ovechkin, Patrice Bergeron, Connor McDavid, Evander Kane, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Mark Jankowski. Overall, Wheeler netted the League’s 76th hat trick since opening night – five shy of the end-of-season total from 2017-18 (81).
* Wheeler reached the 80-point mark while skating in his 65th team game. Only one player in Jets/Thrashers franchise history has reached the benchmark in fewer games: Ilya Kovalchuk did so in 2005-06 (61 GP), en route to posting the second-highest single-season point total in club history (52-46—98 in 78 GP).
FLEURY POSTS SECOND SHUTOUT IN AS MANY OUTINGS
Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 saves to post his second consecutive shutout (March 1: 3-0 W at ANA) and backstop the Golden Knights (36-26-5, 77 points) to their fourth straight win. Vegas, which currently sits third in the Pacific Division, has ranked among the top three in its division for more than three-quarters of their time in League – only five clubs have spent more time among the top three in their division since the start of last season.
* Fleury has recorded back-to-back shutouts for the second time this season (also Nov. 23-24) en route to earning his eighth such performance of 2018-19, two shy of his career high (10 w/ PIT in 2014-15). Fleury’s 56 career shutouts place him one shy of the top 20 in NHL history; Roberto Luongo (77) and Henrik Lundqvist (63) are the only active netminders with more.
SHARKS CONTINUE SUCCESS AT SAP CENTER
Four different players scored as the Sharks (39-19-8, 86 points) improved to 21-5-5 at SAP Center this season and moved within three points of the idle Flames (41-17-7, 89 points) for top spot in the Western Conference. The club’s 21 home victories is tied for fourth in the League, behind Tampa Bay (27), Boston (24) and Winnipeg (22).
* Only two seasons in franchise history have featured the club finish a campaign with five or fewer home regulation losses: 2012-13 (17-2-5)^ and 2008-09 (32-5-4).
^ 48-game schedule
* Martin Jones (28 saves) improved 31-13-5 and trails only Marc-Andre Fleury (32-19-5) in wins this season. There have only been two campaigns in franchise history in which a Sharks goaltender has at least shared the League lead in wins: Antti Niemi (tied w/ 24 in 2012-13) and Evgeni Nabokov (46 in 2007-08).
METROPOLITAN DIVISION CLUBS SKATE TO VICTORIES SUNDAY
The Capitals (38-21-7, 83 points) overtook the division lead for the first time since Jan. 14, while Flyers (32-26-8, 72 points) moved within five points of the last Wild Card position.
* The Capitals improved to 9-0-1 in their last 10 contests against the Rangers, including six consecutive victories – the longest regular-season win streak Washington has ever had against New York. This marks the first time the Capitals have swept a season series against the Rangers.
* Claude Giroux (0-2—2) reached the 70-point mark on the season for the sixth time in his career. Only four players in franchise history have recorded more seasons with at least 70 points: Bobby Clarke (9), Brian Propp (8), Bill Barber (7) and Eric Lindros (7). The Flyers are one of three teams within nine points of a playoff position (also Columbus and Buffalo).
BARKOV INCHES CLOSER TO 30 GOALS
Aleksander Barkov netted his 28th goal of the season to match his career high set in 2015-16 (28-31—59 in 66 GP) and move within two markers of joining teammate Mike Hoffman (30-27—57 in 65 GP) as the second Panthers player to score 30 goals in 2018-19. Only one campaign in Panthers franchise history has featured multiple 30-goal scorers, when Olli Jokinen (39) and Nathan Horton (31) both reached the feat in 2006-07.
MONDAY’S GAMES
| Edmonton@ Buffalo | 7:00 PM ET |
| Toronto@ Calgary | 9:00 PM ET |
FLAMES AIM FOR 90TH POINT AGAINST MARNER AND MAPLE LEAFS
The Pacific Division-leading Flames (41-17-7, 89 points) host the Maple Leafs (40-21-4, 84 points) Monday in search of their 90th point. Calgary and Toronto, who rank second and fifth overall in 2018-19, respectively, sit among the top five in the League standings at the same time at this stage of a season for the first time ever.
* The Flames sit one point shy of becoming the first Western Conference club to reach the 90-point mark this season. Only one campaign in franchise history has seen the club reach the benchmark in fewer contests: 1988-89 (60 GP), en route to capturing their only Stanley Cup.
* Mitch Marner (23-55—78 in 65 GP) leads the Maple Leafs in scoring this season and eyes his first career 80-point performance. The 21-year-old can become the first Maple Leafs player to reach the mark in a campaign since Phil Kessel accomplished the feat in 2013-14 (37-43—80 in 82 GP).
Fleury, Wheeler and Crosby Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 3.
FIRST STAR – MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, G, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Fleury went 3-0-0 with a 0.33 goals-against average, .987 save percentage and two shutouts as the Golden Knights (36-26-5, 77 points) improved their overall winning streak to four contests to sit third in the Pacific Division. Fleury began the week by making 23 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars Feb. 26. He then posted back-to-back shutouts stopping 34 shots in a 3-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on March 1 and making 19 saves in a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks March 3. The 34-year-old native of Sorel, Que., leads all NHL goaltenders in wins (32) and shutouts (8) this season. He became the fifth goaltender in NHL history to record nine or more campaigns with at least 30 wins and his eight shutouts are two shy of his career high of 10 set in 2014-15.
SECOND STAR – BLAKE WHEELER, RW, WINNIPEG JETS
Wheeler finished the week tied for first among scorers with 5-3—8 in three games as the Central Division-leading Jets (39-22-4, 82 points) won two of three contests. Wheeler opened the week by notching one assist in a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild Feb. 26. On March 1 he recorded one goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Wheeler closed out the week with a four-goal effort in a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 3, the second four-goal game by a player last week (also Arizona’s Brad Richardson on Feb. 28). The 32-year-old native of Plymouth, Minn., leads all Jets skaters with 17-63—80 in 65 games this season. Only Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (75) has recorded more assists in 2018-19.
THIRD STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Crosby tied for the League lead in scoring last week with eight points (3-5—8 in 3 GP) as the Penguins (34-22-9, 77 points) gained five of a possible six points to hold the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. Crosby opened the week by notching one goal and one assist in a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 26. On March 1, he recorded one goal and one assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Crosby finished the week with one goal and three assists in a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on March 2. In doing so, Crosby passed Alex Ovechkin to move into 48th on the NHL’s all-time points list. The 31-year-old native of Cole Harbour, N.S., ranks tied for fourth in the NHL with 29-54—83 in 62 games this season.