NHL Review February 8, 2021
LAUGHTON’S HAT TRICK HELPS FLYERS SCORE TOUCHDOWN (PLUS EXTRA POINT)
Scott Laughton accounted for three of Philadelphia’s seven goals on Super Bowl Sunday to record the first hat trick of his NHL career and help the Flyers win 7-4 and improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Laughton scored the third hat trick by a Philadelphia player this season, following Travis Konecny (Jan. 15) and Joel Farabee (Jan. 31) – no other NHL team has more than one in 2020-21.
WASHINGTON TEAMMATES OVECHKIN, CHARA CLIMB ALL-TIME LISTS
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (2-2—4) had a season-high four points, which included scoring his 779th and 780th NHL goals (regular season and playoffs). He surpassed Phil Esposito (778) for sole possession of the sixth-highest combined total in League history.
Ovechkin (711-579—1,290 in 1,160 GP), who moved within 10 regular-season points of 1,300, now has 12-6—18 in 14 career games taking place on Super Bowl Sunday. His 12 goals and 18 points trail only Esposito (16-16—32 in 12 GP) for the highest such totals in League history.
Teammate Zdeno Chara skated the 1,565th regular-season game of his NHL career and moved ahead of Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564) for sole possession of 13th place on the League’s all-time list (and fifth among defensemen).
MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM SUNDAY’S GAMES
Alex DeBrincat capped a second straight two-goal outing with the overtime winner as the Blackhawks improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games on the heels of a 2-4-3 start to the season. DeBrincat scored multiple goals in consecutive games for the second time in his NHL career (also Oct. 11-13, 2018).
Givani Smith (1-1—2) and Troy Stecher (0-2—2) each had two points and Thomas Greiss turned aside 36 of 37 shots as the Red Wings handed the Panthers their first regulation loss of the season. Smith recorded the first multi-point game of his NHL career, while Greiss earned his first win since a shutout in Game 7 of the 2020 Second Round (w/ NYI).
Chandler Stephenson scored twice, including the game-winning goal at 1:38 of the third period, as the Golden Knights improved to 7-1-1 on the season including a 3-0-1 mark in their last four contests. Stephenson recorded the second multi-goal game of his NHL career (also Jan. 31, 2018 w/ WSH).
‘BATTLE OF NEW YORK’ ON NBCSN, SN1 HIGHLIGHTS SIX-GAME SLATE
A dozen teams are in action Monday, including a nationally-televised contest between the Islanders and Rangers in the third of eight ‘Battle of New York’ games slated for the 2020-21 regular season (7 p.m. ET on MSG+, NBCSN, MSG, SNE, SN1). The clubs contested dueling shutouts in their first two meetings (NYI 4, NYR 0 on Jan. 14; NYR 5, NYI 0 on Jan. 16).
Barry Trotz needs one regular-season win for 850 as an NHL head coach, in which he would pass Ken Hitchcock (849) for sole possession of third place on the League’s all-time list. Lou Lamoriello is two regular-season victories shy of 1,300 as an NHL general manager – he would become the third in League history to reach the milestone, joining David Poile (1,420) and longtime Rangers executive Glen Sather (1,319).
McDAVID, DRAISAITL PUT SIMULTANEOUS NINE-GAME POINT STREAKS ON THE LINE
League scoring leaders Connor McDavid (6-15—21 in 9 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (7-11—18 in 9 GP) look to extend their point streaks to double digits when the Oilers visit the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre (7 p.m. ET on RDS, SNW, TSN5). The pair have had simultaneous point streaks of 10-plus games on one prior occasion – in 2016-17, McDavid (7-18—25 in 14 GP) and Draisaitl (5-14—19 in 11 GP) had runs which overlapped for 11 contests.
MARNER, MATTHEWS, MAPLE LEAFS EYE CONTINUED SUCCESS OVER CANUCKS
Mitchell Marner (1-5—6 in 2 GP) and Auston Matthews (4-0—4 in 2 GP), who have combined for 5-5—10 through the first two of Toronto’s three straight games versus Vancouver, look to sustain their success when the clubs go head-to-head once more at Scotiabank Arena (7 p.m. ET on TVAS, SNO, SNP). The Maple Leafs are 9-0-0 in their last nine home games against the Canucks – Toronto can record a double-digit home win streak versus one opponent for the fifth time in franchise history.
Matthews has scored at least one goal in each of his last seven games played (9-1—10) and carries an official six-game goal streak into Monday (7-1—8), tied for the longest of his NHL career (also Oct. 3-13, 2018). Only one active player has scored at least one goal in eight consecutive games played within a regular season: Matthews’ current teammate Jason Spezza with the Senators from Dec. 12, 2009 to Feb. 4, 2010 (9-1—10 in 8 GP).
Marner (1-2—3 on Feb. 4 & 0-3—3 on Feb. 6) became the first Maple Leafs player to record consecutive three-point games with each contest taking place against the same opponent since 1992-93, when Doug Gilmour did so versus the Minnesota North Stars (0-6—6 on Feb. 13, 1993 & 1-2—3 on Feb. 14, 1993).
Matthews (2 G on Feb. 4 & 2 G on Feb. 6) became the third Toronto player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to record back-to-back two-goal games under that same criteria, following Phil Kessel against the Rangers (2 G on April 8, 2013 & 2 G on April 10, 2013) and Mikhail Grabovski versus the Hurricanes (2 G on Nov. 2, 2008 & 2 G on Nov. 4, 2008).
Bruins’ David Pastrnak, Frontline Healthcare Hero Amy Ginter Named NHL ‘First Stars’ of the Week
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) respiratory therapist Amy Ginter have been named the NHL’s “First Stars” for the week ending Feb. 7.
Throughout the 2020-21 season the NHL is celebrating the remarkable efforts of the off-ice stars who make it possible for us to play our games amid a pandemic by honoring frontline healthcare heroes from the regions represented by the League’s weekly and monthly “Stars.”
Ginter, a Bruins season-ticket holder since 2017, has been a respiratory therapist at Boston’s BIDMC for 13 years. “Respiratory therapy, as an occupation, is not widely known or understood by the general population, but we are a key part of the bedside care team with nurses and doctors,” explains Ginter, who has worked on a COVID-19 crisis assignment during the pandemic. “Our responsibility is the patient’s airway, so we initiate and manage ventilators (life support) as well as other means of ventilatory support.” Coronavirus has presented significant challenges that she never has witnessed before, but Ginter is proud of her profession and feels blessed to be part of such an integral team.
Rounding out the “Three Stars” of the week are Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry. More on each NHL player’s performance can be found below:
FIRST STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS
Pastrnak led the NHL with 5-2—7 in three contests to help the Bruins (8-1-2, 18 points) post a perfect week and tie their franchise record for points through the opening 11 games of a season, also achieved in 2019-20 (8-1-2), 2012-13 (8-1-2), 1976-77 (9-2-0), 1941-42 (9-2-0) and 1929-30 (9-2-0). Down 3-0 midway through the second period, Pastrnak scored twice to spark Boston’s 5-3 comeback victory against the Washington Capitals Feb. 1. He then guided the Bruins to a pair of come-from-behind wins over the Philadelphia Flyers, registering both his ninth career hat trick and four-point performance (3-1—4) in a 4-3 overtime triumph Feb. 3 as well as an assist in a 2-1 victory Feb. 5. The 24-year-old Havirov, Czech Republic, native and reigning Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner (along with Alex Ovechkin) has found the scoresheet in all four of his 2020-21 appearances (5-3—8) after producing career highs in goals (48), assists (47) and points (95) last season (70 GP).
SECOND STAR – PATRICK KANE, RW, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Kane ranked second in the League with 2-5—7 in three outings to guide the Blackhawks (5‑4-4, 14 points) to a 2-0-1 week, lifting them to points in nine of their last 10 contests (5-1-4). He scored once in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Feb. 2. Kane then recorded 1-3—4, including three third-period points, in a 6-4 triumph over the Hurricanes Feb. 4. It marked Kane’s 14th career four-point game (all w/ CHI), sixth in franchise history behind Stan Mikita (39), Denis Savard (33), Bobby Hull (31), Jeremy Roenick (20) and Steve Larmer (15). Kane finished the week with assists on both Blackhawks goals in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars Feb. 7. The 32-year-old Buffalo native – who places sixth in the NHL with 6-11—17 through 13 games this season – sits five goals shy of becoming the ninth U.S.-born player to reach the 400-goal milestone (395-644—1,039 in 986 GP).
THIRD STAR – JEFF PETRY, D, MONTREAL CANADIENS
Petry paced defensemen with 4-2—6 and led all skaters with a +7 rating as the Canadiens (8-2-2, 18 points) won three of their four contests. He accumulated five points during a pair of wins against the Vancouver Canucks, notching 2-1—3 (including his 14th career game-winning goal) in a 6-2 triumph Feb. 1 and 1-1—2 in a 5-3 victory Feb. 2. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators Feb. 4, Petry rebounded with his sixth goal of the campaign – tops among blueliners – in a 2-1 win over Ottawa Feb. 6. The 33-year-old Ann Arbor, Mich., native has played in 12 games this season, ranking second among defensemen with 6-8—14 while sharing first place in the League (w/ teammate Joel Edmundson) with a +14 rating.