NHL Review February 21, 2022

HUBERDEAU PUSHES PANTHERS PAST BLACKHAWKS WITH 70TH POINT

Jonathan Huberdeau (0-2—2) recorded his 70th point of the season as the Panthers (35-10-5, 75 points) moved within one of the NHL-leading Avalanche (36-9-4, 76 points). Florida has recorded its most points through 50 games in a season in franchise history, besting its previous mark of 67 set in 1995-96 (31-14-5) and matched in 2020-21 (31-14-5).

• Huberdeau (17-53—70 in 50 GP) is one of three players with 70 points this season, joining Oilers duo Connor McDavid (26-45—71 in 48 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (35-35—70 in 50 GP). The highest-scoring player in franchise history is on pace to register 115 points in 2021-22 – the first 100-point campaign by a Florida skater. Teammate Aleksander Barkov (35-61—96 in 2018-19) currently holds the franchise record for points in a single season.

HURRICANES, RANGERS EARN WINS IN LOGJAMMED METROPOLITAN DIVISION

The Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (34-11-4, 72 points) ousted the second-place Penguins (31-13-8, 70 points) Sunday, while the third-place Rangers (32-13-5, 69 points) also collected two points to continue their chase for top spot in the division.

• Carolina padded its lead with goals in the opening nine seconds of the second and third periods to open up a two-point cushion on Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes (49 GP) own three games in hand on the Penguins (52 GP) and one on the Rangers (50 GP), with multiple head-to-head meetings remaining against both teams in 2021-22 (3 vs. NYR; 2 vs. PIT).
• Igor Shesterkin (29 saves), with an 11-1-1 record in his past 13 contests, improved to 50-21-6 (79 GP) in his career. New York’s fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft (118th overall), required the fewest games by a Rangers goaltender to reach the 50-win mark (debut or otherwise) and bested Gilles Villemure (85 GP).

LAINE, BLUE JACKETS CONTINUE WILD-CARD PUSH

Fresh off a hat trick in his previous outing, Patrik Laine (0-2—2) propelled the Blue Jackets (25-23-1, 51 points) to their second seven-goal output in as many games. Columbus, with consecutive seven-goal outings for the first time in franchise history, sits within nine points of Boston (28-17-4, 60 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

• Laine extended his point streak to nine games in the process (10-8—18 in 9 GP) and moved into a tie with Calgary’s Elias Lindholm (8-7—15 in 9 GP) for the longest active run in the NHL. Since his streak began on Jan. 27, Laine and the Blue Jackets have gone 7-2-0 – behind only the Flames (9-1-0) and Oilers (8-3-1) for the most wins among all teams over that span.

GOALIES END WINLESS STRETCHES

Sunday’s updates featured Andrew Hammond (30 saves) and J-F Berube (33 saves) who backstoped the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets to victories, respectively, each ending lengthy stretches without wins in the process.

• Hammond, who has spent 11 games with the Iowa Wild in the AHL this season (6-2-3, 2.44 GAA, .908 SV%), earned his first regular-season win in the NHL since April 9, 2016. Of note, he posted a 44-save victory with the Predators during Game 5 of the 2018 First Round.
• Berube, who has appeared with five AHL teams over the past four seasons, made his first start in an NHL game since the 2017-18 season and earned his first victory since April 4, 2018 – a stretch spanning 1,418 days.

BLACK HOCKEY HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: SCARBOROUGH, ONT.

For the last quarter century, players like Anson Carter, Joel Ward, Devante Smith-Pelly and Wayne Simmonds have helped Scarborough, Ont., leave its mark in the NHL and have passed the baton to the next generation which includes the likes of Kings prospect Akil Thomas (No. 51 in 2018 NHL Draft).

LINDHOLM, EKBLAD AND OETTINGER NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm, Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad and Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 20, 2022.

FIRST STAR – ELIAS LINDHOLM, C, CALGARY FLAMES

Lindholm ranked second in the NHL with 4-4—8, collecting goals and multiple points in all three of his appearances to help the Flames (29-13-6, 64 points) move into first place in the Pacific Division via their ninth straight win dating to Jan. 29. He opened the week with consecutive three-point performances, posting 1-2—3 in a 6-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Feb. 15 and 2-1—3 (including the winning goal) in a 6-2 triumph against the Anaheim Ducks Feb. 16. Lindholm added 1-1—2, highlighted by his second straight decisive goal and fifth of the season, in a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken Feb. 19. The 27-year-old Boden, Sweden, native – who has points in each game during Calgary’s current win streak (8-7—15 in 9 GP) – has scored in a career-high seven consecutive contests (8-4—12), one shy of the franchise record shared by Kent Nilsson and Gary Roberts. Lindholm is producing at a point-per-game pace overall in 2021-22, placing third on the Flames with 22-26—48 in 48 games and second in entire the League with a +38 rating – behind only teammate Johnny Gaudreau (+40).

SECOND STAR – AARON EKBLAD, D, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Ekblad registered 1-1—2 in each of his three outings to lead NHL defensemen in goals (3), points (6) and plus/minus (tied; +6), helping the Panthers (35-10-5, 75 points) open a five-point cushion atop the Atlantic Division on the strength of a perfect week. Ekblad (1-1—2) first lifted Florida to a 3-2 comeback win against the Carolina Hurricanes Feb. 16, scoring his seventh career overtime goal (and second of the season) to tie teammate Aleksander Barkov for second place in franchise history. He followed that with 1-1—2 in each of his next two games, a 6-2 triumph over the Minnesota Wild Feb. 18 and a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 20. The 26-year-old Windsor, Ont., native and No. 1 overall pick from the 2014 NHL Draft has skated in 49 total contests this season, ranking fifth among NHL blueliners with a career-high 47 points (13-34—47) while sitting fourth among all skaters (forwards or defensemen) with a +35 rating.

THIRD STAR – JAKE OETTINGER, G, DALLAS STARS

Oettinger stopped 104 of the 107 shots he faced, compiling a 2-1-0 record, 0.98 goals-against average, .972 save percentage and one shutout as the Stars (27-20-2, 56 points) remained within three points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He made a career-high 46 saves in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche Feb. 15. Oettinger then earned his second career shutout – in front of family and friends at United Center – with 34 stops, plus another five in the shootout, in a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 18. He closed the week with 24 saves on 26 shots in a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes Feb. 20. The 23-year-old Lakeville, Minn., native has appeared in 23 total games this season, going 15-6-0 while ranking among the top netminders in goals-against average (8th; 2.34) and save percentage (10th; .921).

FLAMES EYE DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN STREAK MONDAY

The Pacific Division-leading Flames (29-13-6, 64 points) aim to become the third team to post a double-digit win streak this season when they welcome the Jets (22-19-8, 52 points) to Scotiabank Saddledome. Another victory would witness Calgary match the longest in a single season in franchise history.