NHL Review January 25, 2021
PIUS SUTER SCORES FIRST THREE GOALS OF NHL CAREER
Blackhawks forward Pius Suter (3-0—3) became the second player in franchise history – and first in nearly 90 years – to score each of his first three career NHL goals in the same game, joining Bill Kendall (Dec. 17, 1933).
* Playing in his sixth career game, Suter became the 10th player on any team to accomplish the feat over the last 30 years (since 1990-91). Suter also became the second Chicago player to score the first hat trick of his NHL career in his first six games or fewer, following Art Somers (Nov. 21, 1929).
The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-2 in Sunday’s matinee in Chicago.
MORE NHL NEWCOMERS CONTINUE HOT STARTS
The NHL’s top scoring rookies each added to their totals Sunday:
* Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, a fifth-round pick by Minnesota in 2015 (135th overall), notched an assist to become the first rookie in franchise history to average at least a point per game through his first six career outings (1-5—6 in 6 GP).
* Devils defenseman Ty Smith, selected 17th overall by New Jersey in 2018, had his first multi-point game in the NHL to become the sixth blueliner in League history to begin his career with a point streak of at least five games (1-5—6 in 5 GP).
MCDAVID, DRAISAITL LEAD OILERS’ LATE RALLY
Connor McDavid (0-3—3) and Leon Draisaitl (1-1—2) each assisted on Kailer Yamamoto’s tying goal at 16:55 of the third period before teaming up again to clinch the comeback victory with a Draisaitl goal at 19:59 – marking the latest go-ahead goal in regulation in franchise history (regular season or playoffs).
* McDavid had at least three points in a regular-season game for the 56th time since entering the NHL in 2015-16, the most among all players in that span (Patrick Kane ranks second with 44). The Oilers captain shares the NHL lead with 10 points this season (4-6—10 in 7 GP).
* Golden Knights forward William Karlsson (19:17) also scored a go-ahead goal in the final minute of regulation Sunday. Karlsson and Draisaitl’s tallies are the only such goals in 2020-21 (there were 12 overall last season).
PAVELSKI, POWER PLAY PROPEL STARS YET AGAIN
Joe Pavelski (1-2—3) and Roope Hintz (1-2—3) each factored on all three Stars goals – all scored via the power play – as the reigning Western Conference champions swept their season-opening, back-to-back set against the Predators.
* After tallying 2-2—4 in the opener Friday, Pavelski (36 years, 197 days) became the oldest player in NHL history to record three or more points in each of his team’s first two games of a season (besting Rod Gilbert: 35 years, 99 days in 1976-77). He is also the first player in franchise history to record seven points through the team’s first two games of the season.
* Pavelski, who sits one point shy of 800 in his career, has factored on six of the Stars’ eight power-play goals this season (8-for-12; 66.7%). The Stars matched the NHL’s highest total on record (since 1933-34) for power-play goals through two games of a season, equaling the 1995-96 Penguins and 1942-43 Red Wings.
* The Stars also have one shorthanded tally in 2020-21 for a total of nine special-team goals – the second most by one team through two games of a season behind the 1995-96 Penguins (10).
KOPITAR ADDS TO NHL-BEST TOTALS, FLEURY CLIMBS ALL-TIME SHUTOUTS LIST
A pair of Honda West Division veterans led the way Sunday as Kings captain Anze Kopitar (1-2—3) increased his NHL lead in assists (9) and moved into a share of the top spot with 10 points, while Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (16 saves) climbed the NHL’s all-time shutouts list.
* Kopitar, who posted his 61st career three-point game, accounts for each of the last three instances of a Kings player registering at least 10 points within the team’s first six games of a season (also 4-6—10 in both 2009-10 and 2011-12). He is also one of five different Kings players to tally nine or more assists by this stage of a season.
* Fleury recorded his 62nd career shutout to surpass Turk Broda (61) for sole possession of 17th place on the League’s all-time regular-season shutouts list. The only active netminder ahead of Fleury is Henrik Lundqvist, who ranks 16th with 64 career shutouts. Vegas won the last of four straight games against Arizona (VGK: 3-1-0; ARI: 1-3-0), ending the first set of four consecutive regular-season games between two opponents in NHL history.
BUSY WEEK AHEAD INCLUDES TRIO OF HEAVY GAME NIGHTS
While this week opens with a single game on Monday – the first meeting of the season between the Senators and Canucks – the week ahead will feature multiple action-packed days including three with at least 12 games scheduled – highlighted by a trio of Scotia North Division matchups Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. Some highlights include:
* Alex Pietrangelo is set to face his former team for the first time when the Golden Knights host the Blues at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday and Thursday. Pietrangelo skated with St. Louis in each of his first 12 NHL seasons (2008-09–2019-20) and captained the club to its first Stanley Cup in 2019.
* Patrick Marleau (1,729) will move into a tie with Ron Francis (1,731) for fourth place on the NHL’s all-time regular-season games played list should he appear in both of the Sharks’ head-to-head meetings with the Avalanche, slated for Tuesday and Thursday at Ball Arena.
* Lindy Ruff (1,498 GC) is set to become the seventh head coach in NHL history to reach 1,500 career regular-season games when the Devils host the Flyers on Thursday. Staying with head coaches, Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice (1,606 GC) sits one game back of Al Arbour (1,607 GC) for fourth place in NHL history, meaning Maurice would tie him Tuesday and surpass on Saturday.
Predators Goaltender Connor Ingram on Voluntary Leave
The National Hockey League Players’ Association and the National Hockey League announced that goaltender Connor Ingram of the Nashville Predators will be away from the team while voluntarily taking part in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
Canadiens’ Tyler Toffoli, Frontline Healthcare Hero Virginie Hébert Named NHL ‘First Stars’ of the Week Stars’ Pavelski, Ducks’ Gibson Round Out ‘Three Stars’
Montreal Canadiens center Tyler Toffoli and University of Montreal Health Centre (CHUM) respiratory therapist Virginie Hébert have been named the NHL’s “First Stars” for the week ending Jan. 24.
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.”
Hébert has been a respiratory therapist (RT) since 2017, working to maintain, restore or assist airway function for people who have difficulty breathing. During the pandemic, she has distinguished herself by giving additional trainings to colleagues to share the latest protocols and procedures to follow during this critical period, in order to keep patients and staff safe as well as reduce the risk of virus transmission. For the past 10 months, Hébert and her colleagues have been working selflessly, alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals, to help treat and hopefully save coronavirus patients experiencing respiratory distress. Their duties include tracking patients’ oxygen levels, managing their breathing, assisting with intubations and monitoring patients connected to mechanical ventilators, exposing them to the sickest patients and to dangerous aerosolizing procedures. Hébert’s commitment to her practice as well as to her patients have made her an invaluable frontline healthcare hero within CHUM’s respiratory therapy team.
Rounding out the “Three Stars” of the week are Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski and Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson. More on each NHL player’s performance can be found below:
FIRST STAR – TYLER TOFFOLI, C, MONTREAL CANADIENS
Toffoli led the NHL in goals (5), points (tied; 8) and plus/minus (tied; +6) across four contests to power the Canadiens (4-0-2, 10 points) to a 3-0-1 week, helping Montreal become the second team in League history to record a point in each of its first six games of a season, with each outing taking place on the road. He posted one assist in a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers Jan. 18. Toffoli then found the scoresheet in three straight contests against his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, tallying a hat trick in a 6-5 shootout loss Jan. 20, 2-1—3 in a 7-3 triumph Jan. 21 and one assist in a 5-2 victory Jan. 23. In doing so, Toffoli – who signed with the Canadiens on Oct. 12 – became the first player in League history to score each of his first five goals with a franchise against his previous team. The 28-year-old Scarborough, Ont., native and 2013-14 Stanley Cup winner (w/ LAK) has compiled 150-158—308 in 531 career NHL games with Montreal, Vancouver and the Los Angeles Kings.
SECOND STAR – JOE PAVELSKI, C, DALLAS STARS
Pavelski registered 3-4—7, including a pair of game-winning goals, to guide the Stars (2‑0‑0, 4 points) to victories in each of their first two contests of 2020-21. He matched the franchise record for points in a season opener, posting 2-2—4 in a 7-0 triumph over the Nashville Predators Jan. 22. Pavelski (1-2—3) then factored on all three Dallas goals in a 3-2 win against Nashville Jan. 24. At 36 years, 197 days, the Plover, Wis., native became the oldest player in NHL history to collect three or more points in each of his team’s first two games of a season, besting the mark set by Rod Gilbert (35 years, 99 days) in 1976-77 with the New York Rangers.
THIRD STAR – JOHN GIBSON, G, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Gibson stopped 95 of the 99 shots he faced, going 2-0-1 with a 1.33 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and one shutout to help the Ducks (2-2-2, 6 points) collect points in three of their four outings (2-1-1). He earned his 20th career shutout with 34 saves in a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Wild Jan. 18. Gibson then started each of Anaheim’s two games against the Colorado Avalanche, making 29 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss Jan. 22 and 32 stops in a 3-1 triumph Jan. 24. The 27-year-old Pittsburgh native has appeared in 292 career NHL games, compiling a 141-104-35 record (2.52 GAA, .919 SV%).