NHL Review December 6, 2021

WHEELER CELEBRATES 1,000TH GAME WITH TWO ASSISTS IN WIN

Jets captain Blake Wheeler notched two assists while skating in his 1,000th regular-season game as Winnipeg improved to 9-3-1 on home ice this season and handed the Toronto Maple Leafs consecutive losses for the first time since October.

• Wheeler has recorded multiple assists in 101 of his 1,000 career regular-season games, with 95 of those coming since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011-12.
• After posting an 8-4 victory Friday, Winnipeg has scored at least six goals in consecutive games for the sixth time in franchise history and third since becoming the Jets (also 2 GP from Feb. 16-18, 2018 and 2 GP from Dec. 9-11, 2018).
• Wheeler, who was drafted by the Coyotes and played for the Bruins and Thrashers before becoming captain of the Jets, was presented with a silver stick and congratulatory messages from current and former teammates before the game.
• Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds has been fined $2,250, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Winnipeg Jets forward Jansen Harkins during NHL Game No. 380 in Winnipeg on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. The incident occurred at 7:25 of the third period. Simmonds was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

HEDMAN, DOUGHTY TALLY THREE POINTS APIECE FOR WINS ON THE ROAD

Victor Hedman (0-3—3) and Drew Doughty (1-2—3) each added three points to help their respective teams win on the road. The Lightning collected their 1,000th regular-season victory while the Kings extended their road point streak to five games (4-0-1). Doughty notched his second three-plus point outing of the season, second to only Hedman (3) for the most among defensemen in 2021-22.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS REMAIN PERFECT AT HOME AGAINST FLAMES

Max Pacioretty (4-3—7) and Mark Stone (1-5—6) each extended their point streaks to five games as the Golden Knights remained perfect in seven all-time home meetings against the Flames.

PLENTY OF U.S. REPRESENTATION AMONG NHL’S TOP GOAL SCORERS

Half of the top eight goal-scorers in the NHL this season are U.S.-born after Kyle Connor (Shelby Township, Mich.) and Auston Matthews (San Ramon, Calif.) each scored for the 15th time Sunday. The other U.S.-born players in that group are Chris Kreider (16 goals; Boxford, Mass.) and Troy Terry (15 goals; Denver, Colo.).

• Matthews extended his goal streak to six games, the longest in the League in 2021-22 and the third time he has had a run of at least that length in his career (also 6 GP in 2018-19 and 7 GP in 2020-21).

DAN RENOUF REJOINS RED WINGS

The Detroit Red Wings recalled defenseman Dan Renouf from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Renouf, 27, has skated in 13 games with the Griffins this season, notching three assists and 15 penalty minutes, and made his Red Wings season debut on Nov. 24 vs. St. Louis, posting a plus-two rating. 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 appeared in five games for the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles, tallying three points (1-2-3) and four penalty minutes. Renouf previously played 146 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins between 2015-18, helping deliver the franchise’s second Calder Cup championship in 2017.

Huberdeau, Hedman and Guentzel Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 5, 2021.

FIRST STAR – JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Huberdeau led the NHL with eight assists and nine points in three contests (1-8—9) to propel the Panthers (17-4-3, 37 points) to a trio of comeback wins en route to moving into first place in the overall League standings. He collected three helpers, including assists on the tying and winning goals, as Florida erased a three-goal, third-period deficit for a 5-4 triumph over the Washington Capitals Nov. 30. Huberdeau then matched career highs with four assists and five points (1-4—5) as the Panthers again rallied from a three-goal deficit, this time for a 7-4 victory against the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 2. In doing so, Florida recorded the ninth instance in NHL history of a team posting consecutive three-goal comeback wins – and the fifth such instance with each victory coming in regulation. Huberdeau closed the week with another helper as the Panthers overcame a trio of one-goal deficits for a 4-3 shootout win against the St. Louis Blues Dec. 4. The 28-year-old Saint-Jerome, Que., native has played in 24 total games this season, sharing third place in the League in assists (21) and ranking sixth in points (29).

SECOND STAR – VICTOR HEDMAN, D, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Hedman placed second in the NHL with 2-6—8, highlighted by a pair of three-point outings, in four games to power the Lightning (15-5-4, 34 points) to a 3-0-1 week. He compiled 2-2—4 in a home-and-home set with the St. Louis Blues, registering one assist in a 4-3 shootout loss Nov. 30 and 2-1—3 – including his 20th career game-winning goal – in a 4-2 victory Dec. 2. Hedman added another helper in a 3-2 overtime win against the Boston Bruins Dec. 4 before capping the week with three assists, his 21st career such performance, in a 7-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers Dec. 5. The 30-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native – who has been a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy for five consecutive campaigns, including a win in 2017-18 – tops NHL defensemen with 5-21—26 through 24 total appearances this season.

THIRD STAR – JAKE GUENTZEL, LW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Guentzel shared the League lead with five goals in three contests (5-1—6) to extend his point streak to a career-high 12 games (10-6—16) and help the Penguins (11-8-5, 27 points) complete a 1-1-1 week. Guentzel scored Pittsburgh’s lone goal in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames Nov. 29 and one of the Penguins’ two tallies in a 5-2 defeat against the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 1. He got Pittsburgh back in the win column with 3-1—4 – featuring his fourth career hat trick, third career four-point performance and 18th career game-winning goal – in a 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 4. The 27-year-old Omaha, Neb., native tops the Penguins and is tied for 10th in the NHL with 13 goals in 23 total games this season (13-11—24).

Jets’ Pionk Suspended Two Games for Kneeing
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk has been suspended for two games, without pay, for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin during NHL Game No. 380 in Winnipeg on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. The incident occurred at 5:44 of the third period. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Pionk will forfeit $58,750.00. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Video details a full explanation of the decision.

AVALANCHE TO VISIT FLYERS ON ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY

Rogers Hometown Hockey makes a stop in Pembroke, Ont., with Sportsnet set to broadcast the first meeting between the Avalanche (12-7-2, 26 points) and Flyers (8-10-4, 20 points) since Feb. 1, 2020.

STREAKING STARS LOOK TO JUMP BACK INTO PLAYOFF PICTURE

After six straight wins overall and seven consecutive victories on home ice, the Stars (12-7-2, 26 points) are within striking distance of jumping back into a playoff position when they host the Coyotes (5-17-2, 12 points). Dallas is part of a five-team group separated by two points in the Central Division standings.

• A victory Monday would allow Dallas to match a franchise record for the longest winning streak within a regular season. The franchise has had a home winning streak of eight or more games on three separate occasions and only once since relocating to Dallas in 1993-94.