NHL Review March 1 2020
OVECHKIN MOVES WITHIN SIX OF PASSING GARTNER ON ALL-TIME GOALS LIST
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (703-571—1,274 in 1,148 GP) tallied twice in the first period to move within six regular-season goals of passing longtime Washington forward Mike Gartner (708) for sole possession of seventh place on the NHL’s all-time list. Gartner is the next Hall of Famer for Ovechkin to pass; he has already leapfrogged five this season (Luc Robitaille, Teemu Selanne, Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Mark Messier), including four from Jan. 13-31.
Ovechkin has now scored 356 career regular-season goals on the road (356-261—617 in 573 GP) and moved ahead of Jaromir Jagr (355) for sole possession of the third-most in League history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (402) and Yzerman (362).
Ovechkin has scored 50.6% of his career regular-season goals on the road (356 of 703). That’s the highest such percentage among the NHL’s eight members of the 700-goal club, three percentage points more than the next-closest player.
Road goals wasn’t the only all-time list Ovechkin climbed on Sunday. He also recorded his 144th career multi-goal game in the regular season to pass Phil Esposito (143) for sole possession of fifth place in NHL history.
Ovechkin boosted his 2019-20 goal total to 45 (45-18—63 in 64 GP) and matched Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (45-32—77 in 66 GP) for second place in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race, which is led by Bruins forward David Pastrnak (47-44—91 in 66 GP).
The Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals improved to 40-19-6 (86 points) this season and maintained a three-point edge over the second-place Flyers (38-20-7, 83 points), who also secured a win Sunday (as outlined below).
OTHER METROPOLITAN DIVISION CLUBS PURSUING PLAYOFF BERTHS PICK UP WINS
The Flyers (38-20-7, 83 points) and Blue Jackets (32-21-14, 78 points) also picked up wins as they both pursue a berth in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Travis Konecny (1-1—2), Derek Grant (1-1—2), Jakub Voracek (0-2—2) and Travis Sanheim (0-2—2) posted two points apiece to help Philadelphia extend its win streak to a season-high six games. The Flyers held the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings on the morning of Feb. 18 when their win streak began (32-20-7, 71 points) and have leapfrogged three Metropolitan Division teams since then (Columbus, NY Islanders and Pittsburgh).
Konecny, who turns 23 on March 11, boosted his career-high point total to 60 (23-37—60 in 62 GP) – tops among Flyers players in 2019-20. He became the third Philadelphia player over the last 21 years (since 1998-99) to reach the 60-point mark in a season at age 22 or younger, joining Simon Gagne in 2001-02 (33-33—66 in 79 GP) and Mike Richards in 2007-08 (22-39—61 in 55 GP).
Another catalyst for Flyers’ surge up the standings has been Carter Hart (23 saves), who improved to 7-1-0 in eight appearances since returning to the lineup on Feb. 10 (2.14 GAA, .923 SV%) – accounting for five of Philadelphia’s six straight wins.
Columbus, meanwhile, scored four unanswered goals to overcome a 3-1 third-period deficit and strengthen their grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Like the Flyers, four Blue Jackets skaters collected multiple points: Zach Werenski (1-1—2), Kevin Stenlund (1-1—2), Riley Nash (1-1—2) and Ryan Murray (0-2—2).
Werenski, the franchise’s all-time leader in goals by a defenseman (58-110—168 in 297 GP), tallied the tying marker to become the first blueliner in Blue Jackets history to score 20 in a season (20-20—40 in 60 GP). He also became the first defenseman on any team to reach the 20-goal mark in 60 games or fewer since San Jose’s Brent Burns in 2016-17 (20-30—50 in 48 GP).
Columbus recorded the 42nd instance in 2019-20 of a team overcoming a multi-goal third-period deficit to win a game. That’s just seven shy of the most through an entire regular season in League history – with 256 games still remaining in 2019-20.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM MARCH 1
Cam Talbot turned aside all 38 shots he faced and Mark Giordano (0-3—3) produced a season-high three points as the Flames (34-26-7, 75 points) blanked the Panthers to leapfrog the Canucks (34-25-6, 74 points) for third place in the Pacific Division standings. Talbot became the third goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout versus Florida, joining Rick Tabaracci on Jan. 6, 1996 (2-0 W) and Jonas Hiller on Jan. 13, 2016 (6-0 W).
Cory Schneider made 34 saves – including 29 across the final two periods – to help the Devils blank the Ducks and extend their point streak to six games (4-0-2). Schneider improved to 2-0-1 in his last three appearances (1.33 GAA, .957 SV%, 1 SO) after going 0-6-1 through his first nine outings in 2019-20 (4.65 GAA, .852 SV%).
Anze Kopitar tallied twice to reach the 20-goal mark for the 11th time in his NHL career (20-39—59 in 66 GP) and help the Kings snap the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights’ win streak at eight games. Kopitar became the fourth player in franchise history to record a least 11 seasons with 20-plus goals, joining fellow Los Angeles icons Marcel Dionne, Luc Robitaille and Dave Taylor (all w/ 12).
Draisaitl, Zibanejad and Pastrnak Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for February
Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad and Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of February.
FIRST STAR – LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS
Draisaitl led the League lead in scoring for February with 23 points (10-13—23) in 14 games as the Oilers posted a 7-5-2 record to maintain second place in the Pacific Division (34-23-8, 76 points). Draisaitl had at least one point in 10 of 14 games, including seven multi-point efforts highlighted by four-point outings Feb. 1 (0-4—4 at CGY) and Feb. 11 (1-3—4 vs. CHI). He notched goals in eight games – including two game-winners – and concluded the month with 2-1—3 on Feb. 29 against the Winnipeg Jets to reach the 100-point mark for the second time in his career (also 2018-19). One of seven players to post multiple 100-point campaigns for the Oilers, Draisaitl (65 GP) became the fastest player to reach the mark for Edmonton since 1989-90 when Mark Messier notched his 100th point in his 62nd game. The 24-year-old native of Cologne, Germany is in his sixth season all with the Oilers after being the third overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft. He leads the League in scoring with 102 points (39-63—102) in 65 games played.
SECOND STAR – MIKA ZIBANEJAD, C, NEW YORK RANGERS
Zibanejad tied for first in goals (11) and ranked second in points for the month (11-9—20) as the Rangers shared the League lead with 11 wins in February (11-4-0) to move from nine points outside a playoff position to within two points of a Wild Card spot (35-25-4, 74 points). Zibanejad recorded a point in 12 of 15 games, scoring a goal in 11 contests – including an overtime winner Feb. 25 (at NYI) that gave the Rangers a new franchise record for longest road win streak. He had a career-high nine-game point streak (Feb. 11-27: 8-7—15) and hit the 30-goal mark Feb. 27 in Montreal, becoming the first Rangers player with consecutive 30-goal campaigns since Jaromir Jagr (2005-06—2006-07) and extending his career-best goal streak to six games in the process – the longest by a Rangers player in 14 years (Jagr in 2005-06) and tied for the longest in the NHL this season. Zibanejad, 27, a native of Huddinge, Sweden, is in his ninth NHL season, fourth with the Rangers. He has 30-32—62 in 51 games this season, one goal and 13 assists/points from setting career highs in each category.
THIRD STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS
Pastrnak finished February with 19 points (10-9—19) in 14 games, including an NHL-best four game-winning goals (tied) as the Bruins shared the League lead with 11 wins (11-3-0) to move into first place in the overall standings (41-13-12, 94 points). Pastrnak had a point in 10 contests, including seven multi-point efforts highlighted by three goals Feb. 12 versus the Montreal Canadiens. It was the ninth hat trick of his career (including playoffs) and fourth of the 2019-20 season, tied for the most by a player in one campaign since 2010-11. He scored the winning goal in each of Boston’s last two games (Feb. 27 vs. DAL & Feb. 29 at NYI) to finish with four game-winning goals in February; only five players in franchise history have had more such goals in any calendar month. The 23-year-old native of Havirov, Czech Republic is in his sixth season with the Bruins after being chosen 25th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He paces all players with 47 goals and ranks second in the League with 91 points (47-44—91 in 66 GP). Aiming to become the first Boston player to top the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito (1974-75), Pastrnak already has the most goals by a Bruins player in 26 years (Cam Neely: 50 in 1993-94).
Canucks’ Hughes Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for February
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, who led all rookies for the month with 15 points (2-13—15 in 13 GP) and shared the overall NHL lead with 13 assists, has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for February.
Hughes edged New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (6-0-1, 1.27 GAA, .967 SV%, 2 SO), New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (6-0-0, 2.03 GAA, .948 SV%), Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik (8-4—12 in 14 GP), Dallas Stars right wing Denis Gurianov (7-3—10 in 15 GP), Montreal Canadiens center Ryan Suzuki (4-6—10 in 15 GP) and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (1-9—10 in 15 GP) for the award.
Hughes scored each of his two goals in February in a 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders Feb. 1, capping his first career multi-goal game with the overtime tally. He became the sixth different rookie defenseman in franchise history to record a multi-goal game.
Hughes posted three assists in a 6-2 victory Feb. 10 against the Nashville Predators to become the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to record four three-assist games in a season, joining Ray Bourque who also had four in 1979-80.
Hughes notched his 50th point of the season Feb. 25 in Montreal, joining Nicklas Lidstrom (1991-92) as the only defensemen in NHL history to be the first rookie to reach the 50-point mark in a season. On Feb. 27 in Ottawa, Hughes posted his 43rd assist of the season to pass Dale Tallon (42 in 1970-71) for the most in a single campaign by any Canucks rookie.
Hughes’ 13 assists in February were the second-most in a calendar month by a Canucks rookie (regardless of position) behind Tallon (15 in March 1971). It was the highest assist total in any calendar month by a Vancouver defenseman in 25 years (Jeff Brown 13 in February 1995).
Hughes, 20, a native of Orlando, Fla., was selected seventh overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. In 2018-19, he had 5-28—33 in 31 games with the University of Michigan prior to joining the Canucks for five contests (0-3—3). He joins Victor Olofsson (October, December), Makar (November) and Kubalik (January) as 2019-20 winners of the “Rookie of the Month” award.