NHL Review December 19, 2021

LARKIN NETS HAT TRICK

The Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (3-1—4) scored his first career hat trick on a five-game Saturday, as he became the third Red Wings player this season to score at least three goals (also Lucas Raymond & Tyler Bertuzzi). Detroit joined Ottawa as the second team to have at least three different players record a hat trick in 2021-22.

RED WINGS ASSIGN DAN RENOUF TO GRIFFINS
Renouf, 27, has split the 2021-22 season between the Red Wings and Griffins, registering seven penalty minutes, three shots on goal, four hits and two blocked shots in 14:00 average time on ice in four games with Detroit. He’s also skated in 13 games with the Griffins this season, notching three assists and 15 penalty minutes. Originally signed by Detroit as an undrafted free agent on March 10, 2016, he rejoined the organization this summer after spending a majority of the 2020-21 season with the Colorado Avalanche, earning his first NHL action since making his debut with the Red Wings during the 2016-17 campaign. In 18 games with the Avalanche, Renouf recorded three points (0-3-3), 16 penalty minutes, 20 hits and 12 shots on goal in 10:10 average time on ice. He also played five games for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, tallying three points (1-2-3) and four penalty minutes. Renouf previously logged 146 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins between 2015-18, helping deliver the franchise’s second Calder Cup championship in 2017.

KOTKANIEMI, FAST SCORE QUICK GOALS AS HURRICANES CLAIM NHL LEAD

The Hurricanes (21-7-1, 43 points) scored five goals – including a tally from both Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1-1—2) and Jesper Fast (1-1—2) in the opening 96 seconds – and overtook the idle Capitals (18-5-7, 43 points) for first place in the NHL standings. With a win in their next contest, Carolina can establish a franchise mark for the most points through its first 30 games of a season.

• Jack Drury (1-0—1) became the fifth player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record a goal in his first two career NHL games, joining Morgan Geekie (2019-20), Warren Foegele (2017-18), Mike Millar (1986-87) and Dave Debol (1979-80). Drury could become the first player in franchise history to score in his first three contests.

PAVELSKI TALLIES FOUR POINTS TO HELP STARS SNAP SKID

Joe Pavelski (2-2—4) tallied two first-period power-play goals and assisted on John Klingberg’s (1-1—2) overtime winner as the Stars (14-12-2, 30 points) fended off a third-period Blackhawks comeback to snap a five-game skid and improve to 9-1-0 in their last 10 contests at American Airlines Center.

• Pavelski, who was selected by the Sharks in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft, recorded his 62nd career multi-goal game and trails only Luc Robitaille (119), Peter Bondra (95) and Theo Fleury (72) for the most such outings among skaters drafted in the seventh round or later.
• The Stars forward also recorded his 16th career four-plus point performance – since his NHL debut in 2006-07, only seven players have more: Sidney Crosby (31), Alex Ovechkin (28), Evgeni Malkin (26), Nicklas Backstrom (23), Connor McDavid (21), Ryan Getzlaf (17) and Steven Stamkos (17).

MAPLE LEAFS SIGN TY VOIT TO ENTRY LEVEL CONTRACT

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Ty Voit to a three-year entry level contract. Voit, 18, has posted 29 points (8G, 21A) in 24 games with the Sarnia Sting (OHL) during the 2021-22 season. The Pittsburgh, PA product currently leads the team in assists (21) and points (29). Voit has recorded 57 points (16G, 41A) through 73 career OHL games. Voit was originally selected by Toronto in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

ON TAP FOR SUNDAY

Alex Ovechkin (22-25—47 in 30 GP) will aim to extend his point streak to eight games (3-7—10) when the Capitals welcome the Kings and the Penguins will look to post a win streak of seven or more games for the first time since 2018-19 (8-0-0) when they visit New Jersey.

SUNDAY MARKS 104TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST NHL GAMES
On Dec. 19, 1917, the NHL opened its inaugural season with a pair of games – the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 7-4 led by a five-goal outing from Joe Malone and the Montreal Wanderers edged out the Toronto Arenas 10-9 thanks in part to five goals from Harry Hyland.