NHL Review – January 10, 2022

KYROU HELPS BLUES MOUNT FINAL-MINUTE COMEBACK TO EXTEND HOME POINT STREAK

Jordan Kyrou (1-1—2) factored on both goals as the Blues (21-10-5, 47 points) scored twice in the final 47 seconds of regulation to extend their home point streak to 12 games (11-0-1) while becoming the 11th team in NHL history to win in regulation after trailing in the final minute of the third period.

• Kyrou leads the Blues with 14-22—36 in 2021-22 (32 GP), equaling a career high for goals in one campaign and establishing new personal benchmarks for assists and points (he had 14-21—35 last season; 55 GP). Kyrou’s totals include 5-6—11 during an active five-game point streak dating to Dec. 29, trailing only Jonathan Huberdeau (3-10—13 in 6 GP) and Jack Hughes (4-8—12 in 6 GP) for the most points over that span.

ROOKIES RISE TO THE OCCASION IN DUCKS, RED WINGS SHOWDOWN
Each of the three-highest scoring rookies this season found the score sheet in Anaheim as Trevor Zegras (9-18—27 in 32 GP) notched 1-1—2 for the Ducks to outperform the Detroit Red Wings tandem of Lucas Raymond (10-20—30 in 36 GP) and Moritz Seider (3-20—23 in 36 GP) who had one assist apiece. A rookie goaltender also made his mark Sunday as 21-year-old Lukas Dostal made 33 saves to win his NHL debut.

• Dostal’s 33 saves were the most ever by a Ducks goaltender in his NHL debut, besting the previous mark of 24 achieved by Kevin Boyle (Feb. 9, 2019), Frederik Andersen (Oct. 20, 2013) and Mikhail Shtalenkov (Nov. 14, 1993).
• Zegras opened the scoring by becoming the first Ducks rookie since 2010-11 to notch three power-play goals in a season, added an assist for his 40th NHL point (56 GP) and capped the night by notching the game-deciding goal in the shootout. The only Ducks rookie to require fewer games than Zegras to reach 40 NHL points was Bobby Ryan (54 GP from 2007-08 to 2008-09).
• Raymond and Seider each collected their 20th NHL assist, tied for the most among rookies in 2021-22. At age 19, Raymond (36 GP) required the fewest games among teenagers to reach 20 career assists with the Red Wings, eclipsing franchise icon Steve Yzerman (39 GP). Seider (36 GP), meanwhile, required the third-fewest outings among Detroit defensemen to reach 20 NHL assists, behind Nicklas Lidstrom (26 GP) and Jeff Sharples (32 GP).

NEW YORK SETS SIGHTS ON FIRST PLACE IN NHL STANDINGS

The Rangers (23-9-4, 50 points) can move into first place in the NHL standings when they continue a five-game road trip in Los Angeles. The last time New York held the No. 1 seed in the League standings beyond its 35th game was in 2014-15 when they finished as the top team in the Metropolitan Division.

AVALANCHE OF STREAKS ON THE LINE IN DENVER

The Avalanche (21-8-2, 44 points), who own the fourth-highest points percentage in the NHL (.710), will look to extend their franchise-record home winning streak to 12 games, which would be the longest by any team since the Bruins in 2018-19 (12 GP). Colorado (12-0-1 in 13 GP) also will vie for a 14-game home point streak, a feat they have achieved four times in franchise history – most recently last season when they matched a club record at 17 games (16-0-1).

• Mikko Rantanen owns an active nine-game home point streak (7-14—21), one shy of equaling four players for the longest in the NHL this season. Rantanen leads the League with 35 points overall since Nov. 11, when Colorado began its home winning streak.
• Nazem Kadri (1.89), Nathan MacKinnon (1.85) and Rantanen (1.67) own the top-three highest overall points-per-game rates in the NHL since Nov. 11. Kadri paces that list thanks in part to an active run of 11 consecutive games played with a point dating to Nov. 27 (5-14—19), trailing only Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel (17 GP) and teammates Gabriel Landeskog (14 GP) and MacKinnon (13 GP) for the longest active such stretch in the NHL.
• Kadri (5-18—23 in 11 home GP) and Landeskog (8-3—21 in 11 home GP) also each own an active stretch of 11 consecutive home games played with a point dating to Oct. 30, the longest such stretches in the NHL this season. Both players missed two home games during that span.

Landeskog, Saros and Hertl Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros and San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 9, 2022.

FIRST STAR – GABRIEL LANDESKOG, LW, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Landeskog led the NHL with 4-3—7 in three games to propel the Avalanche (21-8-2, 44 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Central Division. He assisted on Cale Makar’s overtime goal to help Colorado overcome a third-period deficit for a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 4. Landeskog then posted 3-1—4, including his fourth career hat trick, sixth career four-point performance and 40th career game-winning goal, in a 7-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Jan. 6. He capped the week with 1-1—2 as the Avalanche rallied from a three-goal deficit for a 5-4 overtime triumph against the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 8, extending their home winning streak to a franchise-record 11 games. The 29-year-old Stockholm, Sweden, native has played in 26 total contests this season, ranking seventh in the League with 1.35 points per game (14-21—35).

SECOND STAR – JUUSE SAROS, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Saros stopped 125 of the 131 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .954 save percentage to help the Predators (23-11-2, 48 points) move into first place in the Central Division. He opened the week with consecutive 40-save outings (the 16th and 17th such performances of his career), making 41 stops in a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights Jan. 4 and 46 saves in a 4-2 triumph against the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 6. Saros then turned aside 38 shots, including all 27 against during the opening two periods, in a 4-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes Jan. 8. The 26-year-old Forssa, Finland, native shares the League lead with 19 wins in 29 total appearances this season (19-9-1), also placing among the top netminders in goals-against average (8th; 2.21) and save percentage (9th; .929).

THIRD STAR – TOMAS HERTL, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS

Hertl registered 4-2—6, including a League-best two game-winning goals, in three contests to power the Sharks (19-16-1, 39 points) to a pair of victories. He collected one assist in a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings Jan. 4. Hertl then notched his 30th and 31st career game-winning goals, recording 1‑1—2 in a 3-2 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres Jan. 6 and his fifth career hat trick (as well as his fifth career overtime goal) in a 3-2 comeback victory against the Philadelphia Flyers Jan. 8. The 28-year-old Prague, Czech Republic, native sits seventh in the NHL with 20 goals and tied for sixth in the League with four game-winning goals through 36 total outings this season (20-11—31).