NHL Review – February 20, 2022

LINDHOLM, FLAMES EXTEND STREAKS IN GIORDANO’S RETURN TO CALGARY
Elias Lindholm (1-1—2) extended his career-high goal streak to seven games (8-4—12) as the Pacific Division-leading Flames (29-13-6, 64 points) defeated the Kraken to improve to 9-0-0 in their last nine contests. Calgary’s run marks the lengthiest active winning streak in the NHL as well as the third longest in franchise history behind 10-game stretches from Oct. 14–Nov. 3, 1978 and Feb. 21–March 13, 2017.

• Lindholm wasn’t the only Flames player to extend a lengthy streak Saturday. Jacob Markstrom made 22 saves, including a highlight-reel two-pad stack on Jordan Eberle in the second period, to push his official winning streak to six games and improve to 8-0-0 in his last eight home appearances dating to Jan. 18.
• Mark Giordano returned to Calgary for the first time since he was claimed by the Kraken from the Flames in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. Giordano skated each of his first 15 NHL seasons with Calgary from 2005-06 to 2020-21, which included serving as team captain in his last eight – he ranks among the top three on the franchise’s all-time lists for goals (143; 2nd), assists (366; 3rd) and points (509; 3rd) among defensemen.

KINGS MOUNT MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN IN CONSECUTIVE DAYS

The trio of Drew Doughty (2-1—3), Adrian Kempe (2-1—3) and Anze Kopitar (0-3—3) all notched three points to help the Kings rally from a multi-goal deficit to win for the second consecutive night, after also doing so in a 4-3 OTW at VGK on Friday. It marked the first time the franchise has rallied from a multi-goal deficit to win on consecutive days.

• Kempe, who also notched a pair of goals in the come-from-behind victory against Vegas a night earlier, became the first Kings player to record two or more goals on consecutive days since John Tonelli from Jan. 5-6, 1989.
• Doughty, who notched his second career multi-goal game (also Feb. 2, 2011 at EDM), recorded the 13th three-point game of his career. The only Kings defensemen with more are Steve Duchesne (19) and Rob Blake (17).

McDAVID, MAKAR REACH SEASON BENCHMARKS IN WINS
Oilers captain Connor McDavid (1-2—3) and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (0-1—1) each reached season benchmarks, with the former reclaiming the outright NHL lead with his 70th point of 2021-22 and the latter hitting the 50-point mark.

• McDavid became the first player to record 70 points in 2021-22 (26-45—71 in 48 GP) – the fourth campaign in which he was the first to reach the mark in a season (2016-17, 2019-20, 2020-21 & 2021-22) – as the Oilers earned their fifth consecutive win. Only six other players in NHL history have been the first to 70 points in a season four or more times, last achieved by Jaromir Jagr (1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00 & 2005-06).
• Makar (18-32—50 in 45 GP) matched his single-season career high for points set in 2019-20 (12-38—50 in 57 GP) as the NHL-leading Avalanche (36-9-4, 76 points) earned a comeback win against the Sabres. Colorado extended its road win streak to seven contests, tied for the second longest in franchise history (also 7 GP in 1998-99) behind a nine-game stretch in 2019-20.

ANAHEIM AMASS SEVEN GOALS
Saturday’s update features more notes from the seven-game slate, including Ducks rookie Trevor Zegras assisting on three of Anaheim’s seven goals at Rogers Arena.

BLACK HOCKEY HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: JASON PAYNE
Jason Payne, a member of the NHLCA BIPOC Coaches Program since day 1, is currently the Head Coach of the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones and the first Black Head Coach in American professional hockey. He is also the owner of the Precision Skating School in Toronto where his program focuses on the key dynamics of skating, puck handling techniques, defensive tactics, and other game related skills. Payne has worked with players of all levels from minor hockey to professional.

STARS’ BENN FINED FOR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct during NHL Game No. 516 in Chicago on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. The incident occurred at 3:21 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

OILERS’ NIEMELAINEN FINED FOR CROSS-CHECKING

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Markus Niemelainen has been fined $2,043.75, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Winnipeg Jets forward Kristian Vesalainen during NHL Game No. 681 in Winnipeg on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. The incident occurred at 14:10 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

MAPLE LEAFS ACQUIRE DZINGEL AND LYUBUSHKIN FROM ARIZONA

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that the hockey club has acquired forward Ryan Dzingel and defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin in exchange for forward Nick Ritchie and Arizona’s choice of Toronto’s third round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft or Toronto’s second round selection in 2025 NHL Draft.

Dzingel, 29, has skated in 26 games for Arizona this season, registering four goals and three assists. In 398 NHL games between Ottawa, Columbus, Carolina and Arizona, the Wheaton, IL native has recorded 187 points (86 goals, 101 assists). Dzingel was originally selected by Ottawa in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Lyubushkin, 27, has appeared in 46 games for Arizona this season, recording nine assists. The Moscow, Russia native has skated in 180 games, all for Arizona, registering 19 points (one goal, 18 assists). Lyubushkin joined the Coyotes as a free agent in May of 2018.

THREE OF EASTERN CONFERENCE’S TOP FOUR TEAMS IN ACTION SUNDAY
The Panthers (34-10-5, 73 points), Hurricanes (33-11-4, 70 points) and Penguins (31-12-8, 70 points), who rank among the top four in the Eastern Conference standings, will look to gain ground on the League-leading Avalanche (36-9-4, 76 points) during an eight-game slate Sunday.