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2023 NHL Global Series Sweden
20
Nov

NHL Recap November 20, 2023 – THAT’S A WRAP: 2023 NHL GLOBAL SERIES

  • Swedish players combined for 5-6—11 across the four games, including an assist by goaltender Anton Forsberg, and at least one goal in each contest. Forsberg became the first Swedish netminder to claim an NHL regular-season victory in the country.
  • Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (33 saves) became the third rookie to win an NHL regular-season game played outside North America, following Jonathan Bernier and Jonas Hiller who did so on consecutive days in September 2007 with the Kings and Ducks, respectively, at O2 Arena in London.
  • Toronto’s Morgan Rielly (1-2—3) equaled the benchmark for points by a defenseman in an NHL regular-season game played outside North America, matching Shayne Gostisbehere who had 1-2—3 with Detroit on Thursday, along with Cale Makar (0-3—3 on Nov. 5, 2022 w/ COL) and Dustin Byfuglien (0-3—3 on Nov. 1, 2018 w/ WPG).
  • Sunday’s contest marked the first NHL regular-season game played outside North America to include goals by three defensemen (from either team), with Rielly joining Minnesota’s Jon Merrill and Jake Middleton in the goal column. The Wild became the second team to have multiple defensemen score in the same contest overseas.
  • Wild forward Marcus Johansson played in his fifth NHL regular-season game outside North America, second most in League history behind J.T. Compher, Erik Johnson and Ryan McDonagh (all w/ 6).
  • More than half of all NHL regular-season games played outside North America have been decided by a one-goal margin or ended in a tie (55%; 23 of 42), including all four in the 2023 NHL Global Series – Sweden presented by Fastenal. The breakdown includes 22 contests where a team won by a one-goal margin along with one tie.
  • Eleven NHL contests played overseas have gone past regulation, including three of four this season.

WILLY WINS IT IN OVERTIME TO CAP OFF STELLAR PERFORMANCE IN SWEDEN

It was a fairytale finish for William Nylander and the Maple Leafs to close out the 2023 NHL Global Series – Sweden presented by Fastenal as the Swedish forward stretched his season-opening point streak to 17 games and netted a highlight-reel overtime winner to cap off the NHL’s four-game set at Avicii Arena in Stockholm.

  • Born in Canada while his father Michael was skating for the Flames, Nylander played junior hockey in Sweden and represents the Tre Kroner on the international stage. Nylander became the first European player to tally an NHL overtime goal in his home country and the second player born outside North America to score one overseas, following Tim Stützle (Germany) with the Senators on Thursday.
  • With an assist in the first period, Nylander matched Connor McDavid (17 GP in 2021-22) for the longest season-opening point streak by an active NHL player and now sits behind only five names on the all-time list. Nylander’s overtime goal gave him five points across two games on the Sweden trip, already placing him among the leaders for career points in NHL regular-season games played outside North America.
  • Dating to last season, Nylander has a point in 19 consecutive regular-season games (14-17—31 since April 11). That is the third-longest stretch of regular-season contests with a point in franchise history behind Mitchell Marner (23 GP in 2022-23) and Babe Dye (20 GP from 1921-22 to 1922-23).
  • Marner (524 GP) recorded his 400th NHL assist with his first of two helpers Sunday to become the fastest player in franchise history to reach the milestone, shattering the previous benchmark of 600 games set by Swedish legend Borje Salming. Among active NHL players, only McDavid (426 GP) and Sidney Crosby (448 GP) hit the mark as fast as Marner.

MORE NOTES FROM AROUND THE RINKS SUNDAY
After an eventful early morning in the NHL, the excitement continued during Sunday night’s four-game slate as the Flyers, Penguins, Blues and Sabres picked up wins:

  • Ryan Poehling (1-2—3) recorded his first three-point outing since his NHL debut more than four years ago to help the Flyers (10-7-1, 21 points) skate to their fifth straight win – the longest active run in the League – and climb to second place in the Metropolitan Division. Poehling, who netted his goal while on the penalty kill, joined Jeff Carter as the only other active player to score a shorthanded tally for both Pennsylvania-based franchises.
  • Alex Nedeljkovic (3 GP), who scored a goal in the AHL on Friday, returned to Pittsburgh’s lineup with a 38-save performance and became the sixth goaltender in franchise history to post his first shutout with the club in three games or fewer. Only three goaltenders in Penguins history have recorded as many saves in their first shutout with the team: Joe Daley (41 on Feb. 19, 1969), Steve Guenette (38 on March 19, 1988) and Ken Wregget (38 on Jan. 27, 1994).
  • Pavel Buchnevich scored one of three Blues goals as St. Louis defeated Anaheim at Honda Center to pick up its sixth win in November – the only team with more this month is Florida (7). Buchnevich now has six goals on the season, tied with Robert Thomas for the team lead.
  • Rasmus Dahlin (1-2—3) factored on all three of his team’s goals and climbed a couple franchise lists Sunday as the Sabres bested the Blackhawks at United Center. Dahlin netted the 50th goal of his career and surpassed John Van Boxmeer (49) for sole possession of sixth place on the Sabres’ all-time list among defensemen – he became the third-fastest blueliner among that cohort to record as many goals with the franchise (373 GP), behind only Phil Housley (148 GP) and Jerry Korab (326 GP).

Makar, Nylander and Crosby Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 19, 2023.

FIRST STAR – CALE MAKAR, D, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Makar, who collected multiple points in all three of his appearances, led the NHL with seven assists and eight points (1-7—8) to power the Avalanche (11-5-0, 22 points) to a perfect week. He scored an insurance goal early in the third period and added a helper in a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken Nov. 13. Makar then recorded his 13th career three-assist and 23rd career three-point performance in an 8-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks Nov. 15. He capped the week with three more helpers in a 6-3 triumph versus the Dallas Stars Nov. 18 to become the fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the 200-assist milestone (254 GP). The 25-year-old Makar, who won the Calder Memorial Trophy during his rookie campaign (2019-20) and since has added the James Norris Memorial Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup (2021-22) to his résumé, ranks among the top defensemen in assists (2nd; 20), points (2nd; 24), plus/minus (t-2nd; +13) and goals (t-8th; 4) through 16 total contests this season. He also has compiled 1-12—13 during an active six-game assist/point streak dating to Nov. 7.

SECOND STAR – WILLIAM NYLANDER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Nylander wowed family, friends and fans in Stockholm with 2-3—5 across two games as the Maple Leafs (10-5-2, 22 points) swept their trip across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the 2023 NHL Global Series – Sweden presented by Fastenal. A Swedish national (who was born in Canada while his father was playing in the NHL), Nylander celebrated his first NHL game in his home country with 1-2—3 – including the tying goal midway through the third period and an assist on John Tavares’ winner 1:24 later – as Toronto rallied from an early two-goal deficit for a 3-2 victory against the Detroit Red Wings Nov. 17. Nylander then registered 1-1—2, including his 10th career overtime goal (the second-most in Maple Leafs history), as part of a 4-3 win versus the Minnesota Wild Nov. 19. The 27-year-old Nylander has found the scoresheet in all 17 of his appearances thus far in 2023-24 (12-15—27), matching the eighth-longest season-opening point streak in League history. He also ranks among the top 2023-24 performers in shots on goal (2nd; 77), points (t-4th; 27) and goals (t-6th; 12).

THIRD STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Crosby paced the NHL with five goals and ranked second with both seven points (5-2—7) and a +6 rating as the Penguins (9-8-0, 18 points) split their four contests. He posted 3-1—4, including his 13th career hat trick, 38th career four-point performance and 88th career game-winning goal, in a 5-3 triumph against the Columbus Blue Jackets Nov. 14. Crosby then picked up one assist in a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils Nov. 16 and scored both of Pittsburgh’s goals in a 4-2 defeat versus the Carolina Hurricanes Nov. 18 before being held off scoresheet in a 3-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights Nov. 19. The 36-year-old Crosby, who last week moved into 26th place on the League’s all-time goals list (562), sits among the 2023-24 leaders in goals (t-6th; 12), plus/minus (t-7th; +11) and points (t-13th; 22) through 17 total games this season (12-10—22).

THANKSGIVING SHOWDOWN, HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA HEADLINE 49-GAME WEEK

A 49-game week in the NHL will begin with a seven-game Monday featuring a national showdown between Connor McDavid and the Oilers against former provincial rival Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers. The marquee national games of the week will fall after a holiday in the United States as the annual Thanksgiving Showdown doubleheader takes over the NHL on TNT and Max feeds Friday, followed Saturday by a three-game Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on Sportsnet.

Wednesday, Nov. 22: NHL on TNT Doubleheader (TNT, Max)

  • The first of two doubleheaders for the network this week will include a pair of rematches from the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins will visit the Panthers for their second meeting of the season after Florida rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to stun the Presidents’ Trophy winners in Game 7 of the First Round last spring (7 p.m. ET, also on TVAS). A rematch of the 2023 Western Conference Final will follow as the reigning champion Golden Knights visit American Airlines Center for the first time since securing a spot in the Stanley Cup Final with a 6-0 series-clinching victory against the Stars on May 29.

Friday, Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Showdown – NHL on TNT Doubleheader (TNT, Max)

  • An annual tradition could see two young defensemen climb franchise lists as Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin and Colorado’s Cale Makar are within striking distance of making moves for their respective clubs. Dahlin needs one assist to tie for seventh place on the Sabres’ all-time list among defensemen and two to reach 200 in his career. Meanwhile, Makar needs three goals to tie for second place on the Avalanche/Nordiques all-time list among defensemen, two assists to tie for third place and five points to tie for second place.

Saturday, Nov. 25: Hockey Night in Canada

  • A three-game Hockey Night in Canada broadcast will be highlighted by a Maple Leafs-Penguins showdown (7 p.m. ET on SN, CBC, CITY, TVAS, NHLN) that will likely see Auston Matthews (313-250—563 in 498 GP) skate in his 500th NHL game against two of four active players who had more points than him at the time of the milestone contest; Matthews is likely to trail only Connor McDavid (252-472—724), Sidney Crosby (253-453—706), Alex Ovechkin (309-324—633) and Evgeni Malkin (231-380—611) on that list. However, after scoring his League-leading (tied) 14th goal of the season in Sweden on Sunday, Matthews will have the most goals among active players at the time of their 500th NHL game – and rank at least tied for seventh place all time.
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Guest Writer