NHL Review Friday February 2 2018

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

PITTSBURGH 7, Washington 4

Detroit 4, CAROLINA 1

San Jose 3, COLUMBUS 1

MINNESOTA 5, Vegas 2

MRAZEK EXTENDS STREAK, ZETTERBERG CLIMBS RED WINGS ASSISTS LIST

Petr Mrazek made 36 saves to backstop the Red Wings to their third consecutive road win. Mrazek improved to 4-0-1 in his last five decisions dating to Jan. 14 (1.02 GAA, .967 SV%, 2 SO), allowing just six goals in that span.

Henrik Zetterberg collected the 605th assist of his NHL career (all w/ DET) to pass former teammate Pavel Datsyuk for sole possession of fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list.

MALKIN POWERS PITTSBURGH’S SEVEN-GOAL OUTBURST

The Penguins erupted for a season-high seven goals – powered by a four-point performance from Evgeni Malkin (2-2—4) – to sweep their four-game homestand and pick up their seventh consecutive win at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh swept a homestand of at least four games for the seventh time in franchise history and first since Jan. 21 – Feb. 2, 2016 (4-0-0).

Malkin has recorded multiple goals and at least three points in each of his last three games (7-3—10). Malkin leads the League with 14 goals since Jan. 1 (13 GP) and is second in the NHL with 28 overall this season, trailing only Alex Ovechkin – who also found the back of the net twice on Friday.

Malkin posted multiple goals in three consecutive team games for the first time in his NHL career and became the third Penguins player in the past 25 years to do so, joining Jaromir Jagr from Feb. 23-27, 1996 (6-2—8 in 3 GP) and Sidney Crosby from Nov. 28 – Dec. 3, 2009 (7-4—11 in 3 GP).

Crosby, meanwhile, collected two helpers to extend his assist/point streak to 11 games (3-19—22), the longest active runs in the NHL. His point streak trails only David Pastrnak’s 12-game run from Nov. 22 – Dec. 18 (5-9—14) for the longest by a player this season.

Phil Kessel posted 2-1—3 to boost his totals to 23-39—62 this season (53 GP), the second-most points in the NHL behind only Nikita Kucherov (27-37—64 in 51 GP).

WILD MATCH FRANCHISE RECORD FOR LONGEST HOME POINT STREAK

Eric Staal (2-1—3) and Jonas Brodin (0-3—3) each posted three points to help the Wild defeat the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights and extend their point streak at Xcel Energy Center to 10 games (8-0-2). Minnesota equaled its franchise record for longest home point streak, a mark set from Feb. 19 – March 10, 2009 (6-0-4) and matched from Jan. 2 – March 10, 2014 (9-0-1).

Devan Dubnyk (22 saves) improved to 20-10-3 this season (2.63 GAA, .917 SV%, 3 SO) and reached the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive campaign. Dubnyk owns a 10-0-2 mark in his last 12 home decisions dating to Nov. 14 (1.94 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO).

CAPS OSHIE FINED FOR CROSS CHECKING

Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang during NHL Game No. 788 in Pittsburgh on Friday, Feb. 2, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today. The incident occurred at 19:40 of the second period. Oshie was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking. 

SABRES LARSON SUSPENDED FOR TWO GAMES

Buffalo Sabres forward Johan Larsson has been suspended for two games, without pay, for cross-checking Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck during NHL Game No. 777 in Buffalo on Thursday, Feb. 1, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today. The incident occurred at 19:25 of the third period. Larsson was assessed a major and match penalty for cross-checking. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Larsson will forfeit $15,860.22. 

RARE STREAKS ON LINE AS BRUINSMAPLE LEAFS RENEW RIVALRY

Several streaks could be at stake when the Bruins (30-11-8, 68 points) and Maple Leafs (30-18-5, 65 points) – the second and third-place teams in the Atlantic Division – square off at TD Garden.

Boston’s Tuukka Rask (17-0-2 since Nov. 29) could become the 13th different goaltender in NHL history to record at least one point in 20 or more consecutive decisions (two netminders achieved the feat twice).

Toronto’s Justin Holl aims to become the first defenseman in League history to begin his career with a goal in each of his first three NHL games; only 22 forwards have achieved the feat.

The Maple Leafs have outscored opponents 9-0 over their past two games. They have posted three consecutive shutouts only once in franchise history – a five-game run from Nov. 13-22, 1930.

NHL Schedule for Saturday, Feb 3

Matchup

Time

 Anaheim@ Montréal

1:00 PM ET

 Ottawa@ Philadelphia

1:00 PM ET

 Colorado@ Winnipeg

7:00 PM ET

 Toronto@ Boston

7:00 PM ET

 St. Louis@ Buffalo

7:00 PM ET

 Detroit@ Florida

7:00 PM ET

 Pittsburgh@ New Jersey

7:00 PM ET

 Columbus@ NY Islanders

7:00 PM ET

 NY Rangers@ Nashville

8:00 PM ET

 Minnesota@ Dallas

8:00 PM ET

 Tampa Bay@ Vancouver

10:00 PM ET

 Chicago@ Calgary

10:00 PM ET

 Arizona@ Los Angeles

10:30 PM ET

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