NHL Review December 15, 2021

ROOKIES RAYMOND, SEIDER JOIN ELITE RED WINGS LIST
Lucas Raymond (0-1—1) and Moritz Seider (0-1—1) – who rank first and third in rookie scoring in 2021-22 – each factored on one of Detroit’s two goals as the Red Wings (14-12-3, 31 points) leapfrogged the Bruins (14- 9-2, 30 points) for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

• Raymond (10-15—25 in 29 GP) became the second teenager in Detroit Red Wings history to reach 25 career points in 29 or fewer games, joining franchise legend Steve Yzerman (23 GP). Meanwhile, Seider (3-17—20 in 29 GP) required the third-fewest outings by a rookie defenseman to reach the 20-point mark with the franchise, trailing only Nicklas Lidstrom (22 GP) and Jeff Sharples (26 GP).

CROSBY COLLECTS 400TH MULTI-POINT GAME AS PENGUINS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT
Sidney Crosby (0-2—2) recorded his 400th career multi-point outing while Kris Letang (0-1—1) tallied his 600th point to lead the Penguins (15-8-5, 35 points) to their fifth straight victory, matching the club’s season high (5-0-0 from Nov. 18-26).

• Crosby, who has registered at least one point in six straight contests against the Montreal Canadiens (3-11—14 in 6 GP), boosted his totals against Montreal to 21-37—58 in 43 GP (1.35 PPG) – the sixth-highest point-per-game rate versus the club among all skaters in NHL history (minimum 10 GP).
• Letang (135-465—600 in 887 GP) became the seventh active defenseman to reach the 600-point mark, joining Brent Burns (739), Zdeno Chara (668), Erik Karlsson (643), Duncan Keith (630), Ryan Suter (621) and Keith Yandle (610), with only Karlsson (730 GP) achieving the milestone in fewer games.

MATTHEWS EXTENDS POINT STREAK, REACHES 20 GOALS
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (2-0—2) extended his point streak to 10 games (13-5—18), which marks the second double-digit run of his NHL career (also 16-8—24 in 13 GP from Jan. 24–Feb. 20). He became the second different player in franchise history with multiple point streaks of 10-plus games in one calendar year, joining Darryl Sittler (1974 & 1976).

• Matthews (20-13—33 in 27 GP) reached the 20-goal mark for the sixth time in as many NHL seasons. He became the ninth player to score 20 goals in six or more consecutive campaigns with the franchise and just the second skater among that group to do so from the start of his NHL career, joining Dave Keon.

VEGAS’ PACIORETTY, STONE ALSO EXTEND LENGTHY STREAKS
Golden Knights forwards Max Pacioretty (2-0—2) and Mark Stone (0-2—2) both stretched their point streaks to nine games while also extending lengthy goal and assist streaks, respectively.

• Pacioretty pushed his goal streak to a career-high seven games, the longest by any player in Golden Knights franchise history, and tied Auston Matthews (7 GP from Nov. 24 – Dec. 7) for the longest by any player this season. Pacioretty, who has scored 12 goals in just 11 games this season, also became the third Vegas player to record multiple points in four consecutive contests, joining Stone (5 GP in 2020-21 & 4 GP in 2019-10) and William Karlsson (5 GP in 2017-18).
• Stone extended his assist streak to nine games, the longest ever recorded by a Golden Knights skater, and tied Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (9 GP from Oct. 16 – Nov. 5) for the longest by any skater this season.

CANUCKS RALLY FROM THREE-GOAL DEFICIT TO WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT
After trailing 3-0 through 20 minutes, the Canucks rallied with four consecutive goals in regulation to earn their fifth straight victory and remain perfect under new head coach Bruce Boudreau.

• The Canucks erased a three-goal deficit to earn a win for the first time since Oct. 16, 2016 (4-3 OT W vs. CAR). The last time Vancouver accomplished the feat in regulation was against Colorado on March 9, 2010 (6-4 W).
• Vancouver became the fifth different team to trail by three goals and earn a comeback win this season, joining Florida (2x: Dec. 2 vs. BUF & Nov. 30 vs. WSH), St. Louis (Nov. 30 vs. TBL), Edmonton (Nov. 5 vs. NYR) and Tampa Bay (Oct. 14 vs. DET).
• Quinn Hughes (0-3—3) factored on three of four goals to register his ninth career game with three or more assists, tied with Dennis Kearns for the most by a defenseman in Canucks history.

HIGH-SCORING SENATORS, AVALANCHE STREAK
The Tuesday featured a high-scoring victory by the Senators (9-16-1, 19 points) and the Avalanche (17-7-2, 36 points) extending their home win streak.

• After Brady Tkachuk (3-0—3) and Drake Batherson (0-3—3) each had three-point performances on Dec. 11, Batherson (1-3—4), Josh Norris (2-1—3) and Connor Brown (0-3—3) helped the Senators defeat the Panthers – one of three teams in the Atlantic Division with at least 40 points. Ottawa became the fourth team to score eight goals in a game this season and the first on the road.
• Cale Makar (1-0—1) scored his 13th goal of the season to establish a career high and Nazem Kadri (0-3—3) recorded his sixth three-point outing of the season (trailing only Leon Draisaitl: 9) to extend Colorado’s home point and win streaks to 10 (9-0-1) and eight games, respectively. The Avalanche became the fourth team to win at least eight games in a row at home in 2021-22 (FLA: 11 GP, NYR: 8 GP & DAL: 8 GP) while only the Panthers have had a longer point streak on home ice (11-0-0 from Oct. 14 – Nov. 24).

KRAKEN, DUCKS HEADLINE NHL ON TNT
The Kraken (10-15-3, 23 points), who earned their 10th win of the season Tuesday in San Jose, will make their first visit to Anaheim to take on the Pacific Division-leading Ducks (16-9-5, 37 points) in NHL on TNT’s Wednesday night matchup. After a five-game road trip, the Ducks return to Honda Center where Trevor Zegras has multiple points in each of his last two outings at home (0-5—5 in 2 GP). Paul Kariya (4 GP in 1994-95) and Ryan Getzlaf (3 GP in 2005-06) are the only Anaheim rookies to record multiple points in three or more consecutive home games.

NHL Delays Flames’ Return to Play; Saturday’s Game vs. Blue Jackets Postponed
The National Hockey League announced today that, as a result of seven additional Calgary Flames Players and 10 additional staff members entering the NHL’s COVID Protocol, the team’s return to game play is being delayed at least through Saturday, Dec. 18. The decision was made following consultation by the NHL’s, the NHLPA’s and the Club’s medical groups.

As an appropriate precaution, the team’s training facilities will remain closed for Players until further notice. The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the Flames’ regular season schedule, and will provide a further update next week.

The Flames organization has followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its Players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, provincial and federal agencies.

DETROIT RECALLS FORWARDS CRISCUOLO AND HIROSE
The Detroit Red Wings today recalled center Kyle Criscuolo and left wing Taro Hirose from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.