NHL Review January 31, 2022

AVALANCHE, WILD EXTEND TEAM, PLAYER STREAKS SUNDAY
Colorado extended a plethora of streaks, while Minnesota forward Kevin Fiala found the score sheet once again:

• Cale Makar (38-100—138 in 140 GP) recorded the 100th assist of his NHL career as the Avalanche (32-8-3, 67 points) extended their overall and home winning streak to 10 and 18 games, respectively, and reclaimed first place in the NHL standings. Colorado concluded January with a 15-0-1 (31 points) record and became the third team in NHL history with 15 wins in a calendar month, joining Boston in March 2014 (15-1-1, 31 points) and Pittsburgh in March 2013 (15-0-0, 30 points).
• Fiala (0-1—1) extended his career-high point streak to 11 games (8-6—14) as the Wild (27-10-3, 57 points), who claimed third place in the Central Division, improved to 8-0-1 in their last nine contests and kept pace with the Avalanche. Fiala owns the League’s longest active point streak and is one game shy of matching the lengthiest in franchise history, a mark set by Mikael Granlund from Jan. 12–Feb. 4, 2017 (5-12—17 in 12 GP).

METROPOLITAN DIVISION GOALTENDER UPDATES
Updates from Sunday’s slate including notable achievements by goaltenders Igor Shesterkin and Frederik Andersen:

• Shesterkin stopped 40 shots as the Rangers (29-13-4, 62 points) passed the Penguins (27-11-7, 61 points) for second in the Metropolitan Division and remained two points back of the first-place Hurricanes (31-9-2, 64 points). Shesterkin concluded January with a 7-1-0 record in eight appearances (1.86 GAA, .947 SV%, 2 SO) – the only other New York goaltenders who appeared in as many games as Shesterkin and recorded a save percentage of .947 or higher in a single calendar month are Henrik Lundqvist in February 2012 and Gump Worsley in November 1955 (since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked).
• Andersen made 27 saves to improve to 24-6-0 in 30 appearances since joining the Hurricanes (2.02 GAA, .929 SV%, 1 SO). Andersen’s 24 wins are tied for the League lead this season and mark the most by a goaltender through their first 30 appearances with an NHL franchise.

RAYMOND, SEIDER SET TO SQUARE OFF WITH ZEGRAS, DRYSDALE MONDAY
A total of 10 teams take to the ice Monday, including the Ducks and Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in a game which is set to feature the three NHL rookies with the most points this season: Detroit forward Lucas Raymond (11-24—35 in 45 GP), Anaheim forward Trevor Zegras (12-20—32 in 41 GP) and Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider (4-25—29 in 45 GP). Ducks blueliner Jamie Drysdale (3-16—19 in 47 GP) also ranks second in scoring among rookie defensemen with 19 points in 2021-22, while Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic paces rookie netminders with 12 wins this season.

• For the first time in nearly 37 years, an NHL game at this stage of a season (min. 690 GP) is set to feature both the two highest-scoring rookie forwards and the two highest-scoring rookie defensemen. The last such instance came March 31, 1985, when the Penguins hosted the Canadiens at Civic Arena – entering play that day, Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux (40-52—92 in 68 GP) and Warren Young (38-30—68 in 75 GP) led rookie forwards in scoring, while Montreal’s Chris Chelios (8-52—60 in 70 GP) and Tom Kurvers (10-33—43 in 71 GP) ranked first and second place, respectively, in points among rookie defensemen.
• The last game to feature the three rookies with the most points at this stage of a season (regardless of position) was on March 2, 2014, when the Lightning visited the Avalanche at Pepsi Center. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (22-25—47 in 60 GP) paced League rookies with 47 points entering play, while Tampa Bay’s Tyler Johnson (17-20—37 in 60 GP) and Ondrej Palat (14-23—37 in 60 GP) shared second place with 37 apiece.

RED WINGS SEND PICKARD AND WITKOWSKI TO GRIFFINS
The Detroit Red Wings have assigned goaltender Calvin Pickard to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins and reassigned defenseman Luke Witkowski to the Griffins from the team’s taxi squad.

Kadri, Andersen and Gaudreau Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri, Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen and Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 30, 2022.

FIRST STAR – NAZEM KADRI, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Kadri topped the NHL with 3-5—8 and three game-winning goals in four outings to help the Avalanche (32-8-3, 67 points) move into first place in the overall League standings via a perfect week and their 10th straight victory dating to Jan. 14. He scored the decisive goal in a 2-0 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks Jan. 24. Kadri then recorded consecutive three-point performances, collecting three assists (including the primary helper on Cale Makar’s overtime winner) in a 4-3 victory against the Boston Bruins Jan. 26 and 1-2—3 (including the GWG) in a 6-4 triumph over the Blackhawks Jan. 28. He capped the week with his 30th career game-winning goal and fifth of the season in a 4-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres Jan. 30. The 31-year-old London, Ont., native – who is set to make his NHL All-Star Game debut this Saturday in Las Vegas (3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, ABC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) – has skated in 40 total contests in 2021-22, ranking second in the League with a career-high 41 assists and third with 59 points (two shy of his personal best set in 82 games in 2016-17 w/ TOR).

SECOND STAR – FREDERIK ANDERSEN, G, CAROLINA HURRICANES

Andersen went 3-0-0 with a 1.91 goals-against average and .938 save percentage as the Hurricanes (31-9-2, 64 points) moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division via a perfect four-game week. He turned aside 26 shots in a 4-3 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights Jan. 25. Andersen then made 37 saves and denied all three shootout attempts he faced in a 3-2 triumph over the Ottawa Senators Jan. 27. He finished the week with 27 stops in a 2-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks Jan. 30, his sixth straight win dating to Jan. 15. The 32-year-old Herning, Denmark, native – who is scheduled to participate in his second career NHL All-Star Game (also 2020 w/ TOR) – has played in 30 total contests during his first season with Carolina, placing among the League leaders in wins (t-1st; 24), goals-against average (2nd; 2.01) and save percentage (3rd; .929). His 24 victories are the most by any goaltender through their first 30 appearances with an NHL franchise.

THIRD STAR – JOHNNY GAUDREAU, LW, CALGARY FLAMES

Gaudreau registered 2-6—8 in four games, pacing the NHL with six assists and a +8 rating to propel the Flames (21-13-6, 48 points) to a 3-1-0 week and into the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference. Gaudreau compiled seven points over his first two outings, including 1-3—4 (his 11th career four-point performance) in a 7-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues Jan. 24 and three assists in a 6-0 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets Jan. 26. After being held off the scoresheet in a 5-1 loss to the Blues Jan. 27, Gaudreau rebounded with his 10th career overtime goal (all w/ CGY) – the second-most in franchise history – in a 1-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks Jan. 29. The 28-year-old Salem, N.J., native – who will be making his sixth career NHL All-Star Game appearance this weekend – has appeared in 40 total contests this season, sitting among the League leaders in plus/minus (t-3rd; +29), assists (t-7th; 35) and points (8th; 52).

Josi, Kuznetsov Added To 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend Roster
The National Hockey League has announced that Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi and Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov have been added to the roster for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.

Josi, who will be playing in his fourth career All-Star Game, replaces Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon on the Central Division roster. Kuznetsov, set to skate in his second career All-Star Game, replaces New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox on the Metropolitan Division roster.

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski, named to the Central Division All-Star roster Jan. 13, replaces MacKinnon as Central Division captain.

The Golden Knights and city of Las Vegas will host the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, Feb. 4-5. The All-Stars will showcase their talents in the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook on Friday, Feb. 4 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) before facing off in the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 5 (3 p.m. ET, ABC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports).