NHL Review February 28 2018 – Blues Close to Wildcard

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
MONTREAL 3, NY Islanders 1
Buffalo 2, TAMPA BAY 1 (OT)
ST. LOUIS 2, Detroit 1
COLORADO 5, Calgary 2
NY Rangers 6, VANCOUVER 5 (OT)

BLUES, AVALANCHE MAKE GAINS IN WILD CARD RACE

The Blues (35-26-4, 74 points) and Avalanche (34-24-5, 73 points) secured victories on Wednesday to gain ground in the crowded Western Conference playoff race, where three teams on the outside looking in are within one point of the idle Ducks (31-21-12, 74 points) for the final Wild Card position.

Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo (1-0—1) scored his 19th career game-winning goal while skating in his 600th NHL game to help St. Louis snap a seven-game slide (0-6-1) and move into a tie with the Ducks – in terms of points – for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Carter Hutton made 35 saves to boost his record to 16-7-2 this season and improve his NHL-best goals-against average to 1.99 and save percentage to .935 (min. 22 GP).

Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie each collected 1-1—2 to help the Avalanche rally from a 2-0 deficit to win and move within one point of the Ducks for the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference. MacKinnon collected multiple points for the second time in as many contests to surpass 70 points in a season for the first time in his career (29-42—71 in 55 GP).

MacKinnon became the 11th skater to reach the 70-point mark this season, the most through 981 games of a campaign since 2008-09 (11).

LIGHTNING’S GOURDE NAMED NHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY

Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde, who led all rookies with 5-11—16 in 14 games, has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for February.

Gourde edged New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (2-14—16 in 12 GP), Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (6-5—11 in 12 GP), New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (5-6—11 in 14 GP) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (5‑5—10 in 13 GP) for the honor.

Gourde registered at least one point in 12 of his 14 February appearances, highlighted by a seven-game streak to open the month (Feb. 1-13: 5-5—10). He also led all rookies with three power-play goals, six power-play points (3-3—6) and a +8 rating (tied).

Gourde – who was signed by the Lightning as an undrafted free agent in 2014 – has played in 64 contests this season, ranking among the top five rookies in plus/minus (t-1st; +26), game-winning goals (t-1st; 5), goals (t-2nd; 22), power-play goals (2nd; 7), points (3rd; 49) and assists (t-4th; 27).

The 26-year-old Saint-Narcisse, Que., native joins Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (October), Boeser(November and December) and Barzal (January) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2017-18.

STALL, MALKIN, AND SMITH NAMED NHL THREE STARS FOR FEBRUARY

Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of February.

FIRST STAR – ERIC STAAL, C, MINNESOTA WILD

Staal paced the NHL with 13-8—21 in 13 games to propel the Wild (36-20-7, 79 points) to a 9-2-2 February and into third place in the Central Division. He registered at least one point in 11 of his 13 appearances, including a pair of five-game streaks (Feb. 6-15: 4-2—6, Feb. 19-27: 7-5—12). Staal posted four multi-point performances, highlighted by 3-2—5 Feb. 27 vs. STL – his fifth career five-point effort and 14th career hat trick. He also scored in nine February games, including four straight to end the month (7-4—11), and led the League with five power-play goals. The 33-year-old Thunder Bay, Ont., native shares fourth place in the NHL with 33 goals in 63 outings this season, his highest total since recording an equal number in 2010-11 (81 GP w/ CAR). He also paces the Wild and ranks 16th in the League with 64 points (33-31—64), 31 of which have come in the 2018 calendar year (18-13—31 in 24 GP).

SECOND STAR – EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Malkin placed third in the NHL in both goals (10) and points (21) to power the Penguins (36-24-4, 76 points) to an 8-3-1 February. He collected at least one point in 10 of his 12 contests, highlighted by four three-point efforts: Feb. 2 vs. WSH (2-2—4), Feb. 17 vs. TOR (1-2—3), Feb. 23 at CAR (1-2—3) and Feb. 24 at FLA (2-1—3). Malkin (364-544—908 in 766 GP) also eclipsed the 900-point mark Feb. 17, joining Mario Lemieux(1,723), Sidney Crosby (1,096) and Jaromir Jagr (1,079) as the only players in franchise history to reach the milestone. The 31-year-old Magnitogorsk, Russia, native and two-time Art Ross Trophy winner ranks second in the NHL with 36 goals and 76 points in 60 games this season. That includes a League-best 22 goals and 40 points in 24 outings since the start of 2018.

THIRD STAR – REILLY SMITH, RW, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Smith ranked fourth in the NHL with 8-12—20 in 14 games as the Golden Knights (41-17-5, 87 points) went 8-5-1 in February to maintain first place in the Pacific Division. He picked up at least one point in 12 of his 14 appearances, including a seven-game run Feb. 4-17 (5-7—12). Smith also posted six multi-point outings, highlighted by three-point performances Feb. 17 vs. MTL (2-1—3) and Feb. 23 vs. VAN (0-3—3). The 26-year-old Toronto native already has eclipsed his career high in points, sitting second on the Golden Knights with 21-37—58 in 63 contests this season. His +32 rating ranks second in the entire League, behind only teammate William Karlsson (+37).

VANCOUVER TO HOST 2019 NHL DRAFT
The Vancouver Canucks will host the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena from June 21-22, 2019. The event will help the Canucks launch their 50th NHL season in 2019-20, which will include other special events to commemorate their historic milestone. Click here for more information.

NHL Schedule for Thursday, Mar 1 2018

Matchup	Time
Pittsburgh@ Boston	7:00 PM ET
Carolina@ Philadelphia	7:00 PM ET
New Jersey@ Florida	7:30 PM ET
Tampa Bay@ Dallas	8:30 PM ET
Nashville@ Edmonton	9:00 PM ET
Minnesota@ Arizona	9:00 PM ET
Chicago@ San Jose	10:00 PM ET
Columbus@ Los Angeles	10:30 PM ET