NHL Review February 1, 2022

MARCHMENT, LUNDELL PROPEL PANTHERS TO ANOTHER EIGHT-GOAL SHOWING
Mason Marchment (2-4—6) and Anton Lundell (0-5—5) each produced potent offensive outputs as the Panthers (32-9-5, 69 points) erupted for eight goals and secured 12 wins in a single calendar month for the first time in franchise history. After nine-goal outings on Dec. 30, 2021 and Jan. 15, the 2021-22 campaign also marks the first in which Florida has had three performances with eight or more goals in a single season.

• Marchment, who extended his goal streak to four games (6-6—12), tied a Panthers record for most points in a game first set by Olli Jokinen (2-4—6) on March 17, 2007 and became the NHL’s first player to reach the mark in a single contest this season.
• Lundell (10-22—32 in 42 GP), who moved into a tie with Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras (12-20—32 in 42 GP) for the second-most points among rookies this season, established the franchise rookie record for points in a game.
• Lundell led all rookies with 3-14—17 (15 GP) in January – the most points in a calendar month by a rookie in franchise history, eclipsing the previous best of 15 set by Jesse Belanger (15 in December 1993 & January 1994).

MATTHEWS, MARNER HELP MAPLE LEAFS MOUNT MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK
Auston Matthews (3-1—4) netted his fifth career hat trick to record his 400th NHL point and Mitchell Marner (1-2—3) extended his goal streak to six games (6-6—12) as the Toronto Maple Leafs (28-10-3, 59 points) erased a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win for the second time in as many games (also Jan. 29 at DET).

• Among players to debut with the franchise, Matthews (227-173—400 in 372 GP) required the fewest games to reach the 400-point milestone, besting the previous mark held by Syl Apps (387 GP). Additionally, only four active players reached the benchmark in fewer contests than Matthews: Sidney Crosby (292 GP), Connor McDavid (306 GP), Alex Ovechkin (314 GP) and Evgeni Malkin (329 GP).
• Marner became the second Maple Leafs player with a goal streak of at least six games this season, joining Matthews (7 GP from Nov. 24 – Dec. 7, 2021). The 2021-22 campaign is just the fifth in franchise history to feature two players with tallies in six or more consecutive contests. The others: 1993-94 (Dave Andreychuk & Wendel Clark), 1992-93 (Andreychuk & Nikolai Borschevsky), 1921-22 (Babe Dye & Reg Noble) and 1920-21 (Dye & Noble).

CROSBY, OVECHKIN FACE OFF ON A BUSY TUESDAY
Another instalment of the Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin rivalry drops Tuesday as the pair meet for their 61st all-time head-to-head regular-season meeting when the Capitals (24-12-9, 57 points) visit the Penguins (27-11-7, 61 points) at PPG Paints Arena. Meanwhile, the Avalanche (32-8-3, 67 points) will look to secure the longest win streak in the NHL this season (10-0-0 since Jan. 14) and aim for their 19th straight victory at Ball Arena when they welcome the Coyotes (10- 29-4, 24 points).

• Crosby has accumulated 28-54—82 in 62 career games against the Capitals, the most by any active player versus the franchise. After starting the season late due to injury, Crosby has led his team from last place in the Metropolitan Division on Oct. 30, 2021 – his 2021-22 debut – to third, just three points behind the first-place Hurricanes (31-9-2, 64 points).
• Evgeni Malkin, whose career points against the Capitals are the second most among active players, enters Tuesday with an eight-game point streak (2-7—9), which trails only Minnesota’s Kevin Fiala (11 GP) for the NHL’s longest active run. Should he find the score sheet, this would mark Malkin’s 11th point streak of nine-plus games – among active players, only Crosby (12) and Ovechkin (11) have recorded more.
• Ovechkin owns the most points by any active player against the Penguins franchise with 36-32—68 (67 GP). Should the Capitals captain find the back of the net, he would become the third player this season to reach the 30-goal mark and it would mark the 16th campaign he has done so.

AVALANCHE AIM TO KEEP ROLLING IN FEBRUARY
After landing in the win column in all but one game in January and matching an NHL record for most wins in a single month (15-0-1), the Avalanche (32-8-3, 67 points) aim to extend their win streak to 11 games Tuesday – which would establish the longest run by any team this season and their second longest in franchise history.

• Colorado, which is 18-0-0 at Ball Arena dating to Nov. 11, 2021, will aim to become the fourth team in NHL history to post a home win streak of 19 or more games – take a look behind the numbers of their historic run:

• 84 – Amount of goals Colorado has scored over the course of its home win streak, which trails only Florida (90) for the most home goals of any team since Nov. 11, 2021. They have outscored opponents 84-41 during the streak.
• 13 – Goals Mikko Rantanen has scored on home ice since the start of the streak, tied with Roope Hintz for the most by any player over that span.
• 8 – Multi-point outings for Nazem Kadri and Mikko Rantanen, which leads all Avalanche players since the start of their home winning streak.
• 6 – Number of times a Colorado player has posted four-plus points on home ice since the start of the streak: Mikko Rantanen (2x), Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Samuel Girard. Florida is the only other club to feature six instances of a player recording four or more points at home in that timeframe.
• 4 – Number of times Colorado has scored seven-plus goals in a game over the course of their home win streak – tied with Florida (4) and Minnesota (4) for the most among all teams over that span.
• 4 – Also represents the number of multi-goal comeback wins the Avalanche have secured at Ball Arena dating to Nov. 11, 2021 – which tops all NHL teams over that span.
• 3 – Avalanche players that have made hats rain from the stands with Gabriel Landeskog (Jan. 6), Andre Burakovsky (Dec. 12, 2021) and Mikko Rantanen (Nov. 27, 2021) each recording a hat trick on home ice – the most such instances by any team over that span.

Panthers’ Lundell Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for January
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell, who topped all rookies with 14 assists and 17 points in 15 games (3-14—17), has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for January.

Lundell edged Minnesota Wild teammates Kaapo Kahkonen (6-0-1, 2.33 GAA, .934 SV%) and Matt Boldy (4‑5—9 in 9 GP), Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Michael Bunting (5-3—8 in 11 GP), Nashville Predators left wing Tanner Jeannot (5-3—8 in 13 GP), and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (1-7—8 in 14 GP) for the honor.

Lundell, who also led all players (rookie or veteran) with a +20 rating in January, collected points in 10 of his 15 appearances during the month. That included four multi-point performances, capped by five assists Jan. 31 at CBJ – a franchise rookie record for assists/points in a game as well as the 11th five-assist outing by any rookie in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68).

Lundell, the 12th overall selection from the 2020 NHL Draft, bested Jesse Belanger (2-13—15 in 12 GP in December 1993 and 7-8—15 in 12 GP in January 1994) for the most points in a calendar month by any Florida rookie. His 17 points also were the most in a calendar month for a rookie on any team since April 2021 (Jason Robertson: 8-10—18 in 17 GP w/ DAL).

The 20-year-old Espoo, Finland, native – who had 7-8—15 in 27 appearances entering January – has played in 42 total contests this season, ranking among the rookie leaders in plus/minus (1st; +26), assists (3rd; 22), points (3rd; 32), shooting percentage (6th; 13.5%), goals (t-6th; 10) and shots on goal (9th; 74).

Lundell, who is the first Panthers player to be named “Rookie of the Month” since February 2013 (Jonathan Huberdeau), joins Red Wings teammates Seider (October) and Lucas Raymond (November) as well as Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (December) as honorees in 2021-22.

Huberdeau, Saros and Rust Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for January
Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros and Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of January, 2022.

FIRST STAR – JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Huberdeau led the NHL with 19 assists and 25 points in 15 games (6-19—25) to lift the Panthers (32-9-5, 69 points) into first place in the overall League standings via a 12-2-1 January – their most wins in a calendar month in franchise history. Huberdeau found the scoresheet in 13 of his 15 appearances, including a seven-game run to open the month (Jan. 1-15: 4-11—15). He also recorded seven multi-point performances, highlighted by four points Jan. 14 vs. DAL (1-3—4) as well as a trio of three-point outings (Jan. 1 vs. MTL: 0-3—3, Jan. 23 at SEA: 1-2—3 and Jan. 29 vs. SJS: 1-2—3). Huberdeau – who was 14 points behind Connor McDavid in the Art Ross Trophy race entering January – currently tops the NHL with 17-46—63 through 46 total appearances this season. The 28-year-old Saint-Jerome, Que., native is scheduled to participate in his second career NHL All-Star Game this Saturday in Las Vegas (3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT, ABC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports).

SECOND STAR – JUUSE SAROS, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Saros started 12 of Nashville’s 13 January games, going 8-2-2 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .934 save percentage to propel the Predators (27-14-4, 58 points) into second place in the Central Division. He yielded two or fewer goals in eight of his 12 appearances, bookended by four-game runs to open (Jan. 1-8: 4-0-0) and close (Jan. 20-27: 3-0-1) the month. Saros also made 35 or more saves in eight of his 12 outings, highlighted by a season-high 46 stops Jan. 6 at LAK (4-2 W). The 26-year-old Forssa, Finland, native – who is set to make his NHL All-Star Game debut this weekend – has compiled a 23-11-3 record, 2.36 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and two shutouts through 37 total appearances in 2021-22, placing among the goaltending leaders in games played (1st), wins (t-3rd) and save percentage (5th).

THIRD STAR – BRYAN RUST, RW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Rust paced the NHL with 1.91 points per game, collecting 10-11—21 in 11 outings to guide the Penguins (27-11-7, 61 points) into third place in the Metropolitan Division via a 10-3-2 January. Rust began 2022 in historic fashion, registering 7-4—11 through his first three contests to become the seventh different player in NHL history with 11 or more points in his first three appearances of a calendar year. Overall, Rust picked up multiple points in seven of his 11 January outings, highlighted by his fifth career hat trick and first career five-point performance Jan. 2 vs. SJS (3-2—5). The 29-year-old Pontiac, Mich., native has skated in 23 total contests this season, ranking ninth in the League with 1.30 points per game (12-18—30).

NHL and NHLPA Celebrate Black History Month

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) have announced plans to celebrate the contributions and stories of Black trailblazers in hockey with 28 days of storytelling across their social and digital platforms. The daily stories will highlight numerous men and women and their career milestones, achievements, awards and accolades, as well as hockey organizations committed to making the game a more diverse and inclusive space.

NHL, NHLPA Issue Updates to COVID-19 Protocol
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League have announced updates to their COVID 19 Protocol.

The revised protocol combines the changes that have been made since the start of the season, and incorporates new changes to the most recently issued “enhanced measures” and testing requirements, including (without limitation) the following:

• Recommendation to receive booster vaccine(s) as they become available.
• Removal of “enhanced measures” and reverting instead to the start-of-season Protocol, except where otherwise specified.
• Updated recommendations for type of masks and steps to reduce community exposure.
• Removal of the requirement to test daily (i.e., “for-cause” testing only) for Fully Vaccinated individuals.
• Removal of the requirement to test close contacts.
• Updated requirements for in-arena family spaces, game presentation and on-ice ceremonies.

This revised Protocol will come into effect for each Club immediately following that Club’s last game before the All-Star break. As expressly noted in the revised Protocol, compliance with all applicable regulations imposed by local, state/provincial and federal health authorities still is required, including, specifically, if they are more stringent than imposed by the revised Protocol.