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Tristan Jarry Pittsburgh Penguins - In Play! magazine
Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry claimed both a multi-goal comeback win and his first NHL goal as NHL EDGE tracked his empty-net shot moving 55.76 mph, covering 148.7 feet while airborne and reaching as high as 16.4 feet above the ice. Last season, Linus Ullmark scored a “goalie goal” for Boston that clocked in at 53.24 mph, had an airborne distance of 132.9 feet and a max height of 15 feet. File photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
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NHL Recap November 30, 2023 – JARRY CAPS NHL’S NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER WITH FIRST “GOALIE GOAL” OF SEASON

Tristan Jarry became an NHL goal scorer Thursday as he backstopped the Penguins to a multi-goal comeback win and capped off a memorable November for League storylines.

  • Jarry, primed for his goal-scoring success in the NHL after scoring in the American Hockey League with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, became the first netminder to record a “goalie goal” this season and the fourth to do so in the past 10 years, joining Linus Ullmark (Feb. 25, 2023), Pekka Rinne (Jan. 9, 2020) and Mike Smith (Oct. 19, 2013). Jarry’s teammate Alex Nedeljkovic, who dressed for the Penguins on Thursday, recently scored his second goal in the AHL after also recording one with the Charlotte Checkers on March 10, 2018.

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WITH SPECIAL MOMENTS, HAT TRICKS

With Hockey Fights Cancer a season-long initiative for the first time, NHL clubs joined in a League-wide moment before games Thursday including special ceremonies in the rinks hosting their annual awareness night.

  • In Tampa, 10-year-old cancer survivor Mason Fox was joined by his teammates for a ceremonial puck drop. In Arizona, the Coyotes introduced a “ceremonial starting lineup” featuring courageous members of their community who have beaten or are battling cancer. In Detroit, 12-year-old brain tumor survivor Vann Burpee soaked up every moment – and more importantly rang the bell to signify he is in remission – before dropping the puck.
  • In addition to the special moments, another $15,000 was added to the donation pot for the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund of the V Foundation courtesy of official partner AstraZeneca as Toronto’s Mitch Marner, Minnesota’s Connor Dewar and Washington’s Tom Wilson each tallied three times in wins.
  • Marner tallied three times for the second hat trick of his NHL career and then scored in the shootout to help boost Toronto to a 6-1-1 record since Nov. 10 – despite having some mouthguard troubles while sporting a fishbowl visor.
  • Dewar scored the first hat trick of his NHL career as the Wild snapped the Predators’ six-game winning streak in new head coach John Hynes’ return to Bridgestone Arena. Minnesota improved to 2-0-0 since hiring Hynes on Monday.
  • Wilson netted his first NHL hat trick and became the second player in League history with three goals during his 700th career game, following Rangers forward Phil Goyette on Oct. 20, 1968.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS RECLAIM FIRST PLACE IN NHL STANDINGS; BRUINS KEEP PACE
Jack Eichel (1-2—3) earned three points in the 500th game of his NHL career as Vegas (15-5-4, 34 points) vanquished Vancouver to reclaim first place in the League standings, while Jeremy Swayman (26 saves) secured a shutout in his 100th career appearance as Boston (15-4-3, 33 points) blanked San Jose to tie idle New York (16-4-1, 33 points) for the most points in the Eastern Conference.

  • Eichel, who netted the winning goal, boosted his totals to 189-281—470. Only four active U.S.-born players had as many points as the Golden Knights forward through their milestone contest: Auston Matthews (563), Patrick Kane (483), Matthew Tkachuk (479) and Johnny Gaudreau (471).
  • Swayman improved his record to 62-24-9 – a win total that stands as the third most in franchise history through the milestone contest behind Tiny Thompson (71) and Frank Brimsek (67). It’s also tied for the sixth most among all goaltenders since the NHL’s expansion era (1967-68).
  • Did You Know? Friday marks the 99th anniversary of the Bruins’ first NHL game, a 2-1 victory against the Montreal Maroons at Boston Arena on Dec. 1, 1924. The franchise is celebrating its Centennial Year throughout the 2023-24 season and into 2024-25, culminating on the 100th anniversary of the club’s League debut.

HUGHES, BARZAL LEAD METROPOLITAN DIVISION TEAMS TO OVERTIME WINS

  • Devils defenseman Luke Hughes became the first rookie blueliner in franchise history with multiple overtime goals (also April 13) and just the seventh in NHL history, joining Shayne Gostisbehere (4), Moritz Seider (2), Cam Fowler (2), P.K. Subban (2), Jamie McBain (2) and Brent Seabrook (2). Hughes’ brother, Jack, picked up the primary assist on both of his sibling’s extra-time tallies.
  • Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (1-3—4) capped off a four-point performance with the overtime winner after Sebastian Aho tied the game in the final seconds of regulation. Barzal became the first New York player in nearly 30 years with a four-point game including an overtime goal.

NEIGHBOURS’ GOAL WITH DAD ON THE CALL FEATURED IN LIVE UPDATES
Thursday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 14-game slate, including Jake Neighbours (2-0—2) scoring a goal while his father, Ed, was being interviewed on TV to help the Blues beat the Sabres and give general manager Doug Armstrong the 780th win of his NHL career. The game also featured a ceremonial puck drop by former St. Louis forward Pierre Turgeon and head coach Ken Hitchcock, who were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier this month.

SPORTSNET, TVA SPORTS, NHL NETWORK ON AIR TO START DECEMBER

Jack Hughes will look to help New Jersey gain ground in a crowded Metropolitan Division (seed Nos. 2-7 are separated by four points) during a national broadcast involving the Devils and Sharks (SN, TVAS, NHLN). Also Friday, Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo could face his former club as Ottawa heads to Columbus, where Korpisalo played in his first eight seasons and ranks third on the Blue Jackets’ career wins list.

Flyers’ Konecny Fined for Cross-Checking

Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith during NHL Game No. 344 in Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. The incident occurred at 17:07 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Devils’ Smith Suspended Two Games for Slashing

New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith has been suspended for two games, without pay, for slashing Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny during NHL Game No. 344 in Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. The incident occurred at 17:07 of the third period. Smith was assessed a minor penalty for slashing. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Smith will forfeit $11,458.34. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

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

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, who led all rookies with six goals and 12 points in 12 games (6-6—12), has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for November 2023.

Bedard edged Calgary Flames center Connor Zary (3-7—10 in 13 GP), Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Dmitri Voronkov (3-6—9 in 15 GP), Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (3-5—8 in 12 GP) and Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (4-2-0, 1.70 GAA, .926 SV%, 1 SO) for the honor.

The 18-year-old Bedard, who also placed among the leading November rookies in shots on goal (2nd; 37), assists (t-2nd; 6) and average time on ice (4th; 19:03), found the scoresheet in eight of his 12 appearances. That included all five of his contests as a visitor, extending his road point streak to seven games dating to Oct. 27 (7-4—11) – a run surpassed by only one other 18-year-old in League history.

Bedard also recorded his first career multi-goal/point performance (as well as his first career game-winning goal) with 2-2—4 on Nov. 9 at TBL. At 18 years, 115 days, he became the third-youngest player in NHL history to produce a four-point game, behind only Ted Kennedy (18 years, 27 days; 1-3—4 on Jan. 8, 1944 w/ TOR) and Bep Guidolin (18 years, 58 days; 1-3—4 on Feb. 5, 1944 w/ BOS).

Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft, paces rookies in goals (10), points (18) and shots on goal (65) through 21 total contests this season (10-8—18). He is the first Blackhawks player to earn “Rookie of the Month” honors since Dominik Kubalik in January 2020 and joins Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (October) as a recipient in 2023-24.

Kucherov, Makar and Hughes Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for November

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of November 2023.

FIRST STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov produced 2.00 points per game, leading the NHL with 9-19—28 in 14 contests (as well as 3-10—13 on the power play and 73 shots on goal) to guide the Lightning (10-9-5, 25 points) to a 6-7-2 November. He found the scoresheet in 12 of his 14 appearances, including assists/points in each of his last eight outings to close the month (4-12—16). Kucherov produced six multi-point efforts, highlighted by 1-4—5 (Nov. 4 at OTT) and 2-2—4 (Nov. 6 at TOR) in consecutive games. He then matched a franchise record with 2-4—6 (Nov. 24 at CAR), marking the first six-point performance by any NHL player since Dec. 7, 2022 (Tage Thompson: 5-1—6 w/ BUF). Kucherov’s 28 points were the fourth-most in a calendar month in Tampa Bay history, a number he has surpassed two times: in April 2022 (14-17—31 in 16 GP) and December 2018 (9-21—30 in 14 GP). The 30-year-old Kucherov, who won the Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Art Ross Trophy in 2018-19, currently tops the NHL with 15-24—39 overall and 6-13—19 on the power play through 23 total contests this season. He also ranks among the 2023-24 leaders in shots on goal (1st; 111), power-play assists (2nd; 13), goals (t-2nd; 15), assists (3rd; 24) and power-play goals (t-5th; 6).

SECOND STAR – CALE MAKAR, D, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Makar paced the NHL with 21 assists and ranked second with both 25 points and a +13 rating across 14 games (4-21—25) to power the Avalanche (15-6-1, 31 points) to a 9-4-1 November. Only four defensemen in League history have collected more helpers in a single calendar month, a list topped by Roman Josi (24 in March 2022 w/ NSH). Makar’s 25 points also set a franchise record for a blueliner in any calendar month, surpassing the previous high of 21 shared by him (March 2023: 4-17—21 in 13 GP) and Steve Duchesne (November 1992: 4-17—21 in 15 GP). Makar notched points in 12 of his 14 November outings, highlighted by five consecutive multi-point performances (Nov. 13-22: 2-11—13) – a run that included three straight three-assist games (Nov. 15-20: 0-9—9). He also became the fastest defenseman in NHL history to accumulate 200 career helpers, doing so in his 254th game (Nov. 18 at DAL). The 25-year-old Makar, who won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2019-20 and added both the James Norris Memorial Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021-22, leads defensemen and sits third in the entire League with 7-27—34 through 22 total contests this season. He also tops the NHL in assists (27) and shares the League lead in plus/minus (+18).

THIRD STAR – QUINN HUGHES, D, VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Hughes, whose younger brother Jack was named “First Star” of October, ranked fourth in the NHL in both assists (17) and overall scoring (5-17—22) in 15 November games to propel the Canucks (15-8-1, 31 points) to a 9-6-0 month. He set a franchise record for points in a calendar month by a defenseman, eclipsing the previous high of 21 established by Dennis Kearns in March 1977 (1-20—21 in 14 GP). Hughes – who also led the League with 11 power-play assists in November – did so by finding the scoresheet in 12 of his 15 contests, highlighted by a career-best 11-game point streak from Nov. 6-25 (4-13—17) – tied for the longest by a blueliner in Vancouver history. He matched another team record for a defenseman with 1-4—5 on Nov. 2 at SJS, one of four multi-point performances he produced throughout the month. The 24-year-old Hughes places second among blueliners and fifth in the entire League with 8-25—33 through 24 total outings this season. He also sits among the 2023-24 leaders in power-play assists (1st; 14), plus/minus (t-1st; +18), assists (2nd; 25) and power-play points (t-4th; 15).

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Guest Writer