NHL Review March 1, 2022

MAPLE LEAFS KEEP ROLLING ON THE ROAD AND CLIMB ATLANTIC DIVISION
Michael Bunting scored one of three Toronto Maple Leafs goals in the first period to overtake the NHL lead among rookies and helped vault Toronto (35-14-4, 74 points) into a tie with idle Tampa Bay (34-11-6, 74 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division; just one point back of Florida (35-13-3, 75 points).

• The opening frame Monday marked the fourth consecutive period Toronto scored at least three goals after doing so in each period during its high-scoring affair with Detroit on Feb. 26 (10-7 W). With 15 goals over their past two outings, the Maple Leafs matched the franchise mark for most over a span of consecutive games on the road (also 15 from Nov. 7-10, 1979, Oct. 29 – Nov. 2, 1944 & March 17-19, 1938).
• Bunting (19-22—41 in 53 GP) owns a one-goal advantage over Nashville’s Tanner Jeannot (18-14—32 in 53 GP w/ NSH) for the most among rookies in 2021-22, while teammate Auston Matthews (37-31—68 in 50 GP) leads all players this season in goals. Only one season in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) has concluded with the League leaders in overall goals and rookie goals come from the same team: 1992-93 (Teemu Selanne: 76 G w/ WIN).

JACK BESTS QUINN AS DEVILS SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN AGAINST CANUCKS
Skating opposite his brother Quinn, Jack Hughes (1-1—2) scored the first of seven Devils goals and recorded his fourth consecutive multi-point game to improve to 3-0-0 against his sibling through their first three head-to-head meetings.

• Hughes (20 years, 290 days), with points in seven consecutive appearances overall (5-8—13 in 7 GP), became the first player in franchise history to record multiple points in four straight contests at 20 or younger. In fact, only two skaters – regardless of age – have posted a longer run: Scott Gomez (5 GP in 2005-06) and Kirk Muller (5 GP in 1987-88).

DeBRUSK SCORES NATURAL HAT TRICK
Jake DeBrusk (3-1—4) scored his first career hat trick, with two goals coming within the opening 65 seconds of the first and second periods. DeBrusk’s three-goal performance also marked the second natural hat trick by a Bruins player this season, joining Patrice Bergeron (Nov. 4, 2021).

• DeBrusk also became the fourth player in Bruins history to score within the opening 65 seconds in each of the first two frames, joining David Pastrnak (Feb. 21, 2021), Bergeron (Jan. 16, 2016) and Don Marcotte (April 2, 1977).

BLACK HOCKEY HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: NEW JERSEY DEVILS AND LOS ANGELES KINGS
As a part of New Jersey’s and Los Angeles’ Black History Month game, each team wore themed warmup jerseys created in collaboration with defenseman P.K. Subban and Akil Thomas, respectively.

• New Jersey’s crest highlights nine people including Claude Vilgrain, the first Black player for the Devils; Mark Fraser, the first Black player drafted by the Devils; Mike Grier, the first Black Devils coach; Kevin Weekes, the first Black goaltender for New Jersey; and Bryce Salvador, the first Black captain in franchise history.

JOHNSON SET FOR 1,000TH GAME AS AVALANCHE EYE WIN NO. 40
Jack Johnson (72-239—311 in 999 GP) is set to appear in his 1,000th NHL game when the League-leading Avalanche (39-10-4, 82 points) welcome the Islanders (20-21-8, 48 points) to Ball Arena. Johnson, who made his debut on March 29, 2007 as a member of the Kings, will become the 11th active defenseman to reach the milestone.

• Colorado (53 GP), which has overcome a deficit to win each of its previous two contests, sits one victory shy of 40 in 2021-22 and can tie the second-fewest games by a team to reach the benchmark in NHL history. Of the three previous instances that achieved the feat in 54 contests or fewer, one went on to capture the Stanley Cup (DET in 2007-08).

MILESTONE WINS ON THE HORIZON TUESDAY
Steve Yzerman (399) and Pete DeBoer (499) can collect milestone victories Tuesday when the Detroit Red Wings (23-24-6, 52 points) and Golden Knights (29-20-4, 62 points) host the Hurricanes (37-11-4, 78 points) and Sharks (24-23-6, 54 points), respectively.

• DeBoer owns a career record of 499-368-119 in 986 games. Among the NHL’s active head coaches to win at least 500 contests, only three reached the benchmark prior to their 1,000th outing: Bruce Boudreau (837 GP), Todd McLellan (965 GP) and Peter Laviolette (970 GP).
• Yzerman, who owns the most assists in Red Wings history and sits second in goals and points to Gordie Howe, has gone 399-322-81 through his first 802 contests as an NHL general manager. The franchise icon has collected 59 victories with Detroit since taking over the role on April 19, 2019 and recorded 340 with Tampa Bay (May 25, 2010 – Sept. 10, 2018).

BRUINS’ SWAYMAN NAMED NHL ‘ROOKIE OF THE MONTH’ FOR FEBRUARY

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who went 5-1-1 with a 1.13 goals-against average, .960 save percentage and two shutouts in seven appearances, has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for February, 2022.

Swayman edged Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Michael Bunting (7-7—14 in 12 GP), Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (6‑4—10 in 9 GP), Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (1‑9—10 in 7 GP) and Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (4-5—9 in 10 GP) for the honor.

Swayman stopped 190 of the 198 shots he faced during the month, yielding two or fewer goals in six of his seven starts – highlighted by shutouts Feb. 12 at OTT (30 SV) and Feb. 28 at LAK (34 SV). He also made at least 25 saves five times, including a trio of 30-save performances: Feb. 12 at OTT (30 SV), Feb. 15 at NYR (33 SV) and Feb. 28 at LAK (34 SV).

The 23-year-old Anchorage, Alaska, native – who was selected in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft – has compiled a 13-7-3 record in 24 total games this season, pacing all goaltenders (rookie or veteran) with a 1.95 goals-against average. He also ranks among the top two rookies in save percentage (1st; .929), shutouts (1st; 3) and wins (2nd; 13).

Swayman, who is the first Bruins player to be named “Rookie of the Month” since fellow goaltender Andrew Raycroft in February 2004, joins Red Wings teammates Seider (October) and Lucas Raymond (November), Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (December), and Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (January) as honorees this season.

MARNER, MARKSTROM AND LAINE NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ FOR FEBRUARY

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner, Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom and Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Patrik Laine have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of February, 2022.

FIRST STAR – MITCHELL MARNER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Marner led the NHL in goals (t-9), assists (14) and points (23) across 12 games to help the Maple Leafs (35-14-4, 74 points) go 7-4-1 in February and move into a tie – in terms of points – for second place in the Atlantic Division. Marner found the scoresheet in eight of his 12 appearances, highlighted by seven multi-point performances and four outings with at least three points. That included career highs of four goals and six points Feb. 26 at DET (4-2—6) – the most goals and points in a game by a Toronto player since March 25, 2019 (John Tavares) and April 11, 2006 (Mats Sundin), respectively. Marner recorded two other multi-goal games during the month: Feb. 1 at NJD (2-2—4) and Feb. 7 vs. CAR (2-1—3), with the latter featuring his second career overtime goal (also Feb. 1, 2020 vs. OTT). The 24-year-old Markham, Ont., native – who ranked 72nd in League scoring entering February (12-21—33 in 32 GP) – now sits 14th in the Art Ross Trophy race with 21-35—56 in 44 total contests this season.

SECOND STAR – JACOB MARKSTROM, G, CALGARY FLAMES

Markstrom topped the NHL with eight wins in 10 starts, going 8-1-0 with a 2.04 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout to lift the Flames (31-14-6, 68 points) from fourth to first in the Pacific Division via a 10-1-0 February. Markstrom yielded two or fewer goals in seven of his 10 outings, highlighted by his League-leading eighth shutout of the season Feb. 9 vs. VGK (28 SV) – two shy of the franchise record established by Miikka Kiprusoff in 2005-06 (10). He also made a season-high 46 saves (on 48 shots) Feb. 10 vs. TOR, three off of his personal best achieved Dec. 28, 2019 vs. LAK and Feb. 12, 2020 vs. CHI (both w/ VAN). The 32-year-old Gävle, Sweden, native has compiled a 24-11-5 record through 41 total appearances this season, ranking among the NHL leaders in shutouts (1st; 8), goals-against average (5th; 2.13), save percentage (5th; .925) and wins (8th; 24).

THIRD STAR – PATRIK LAINE, LW, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Laine shared the League lead with nine goals and three game-winning goals in 10 outings (9-6—15) to power the Blue Jackets (27-25-1, 55 points) to a 7-3-0 February. All of Laine’s points came during an eight-game run to open the month, which extended his overall point streak to 11 contests dating to Jan. 27 (13-8—21). Laine’s February performance included three multi-goal games, highlighted by his ninth career hat trick and 23rd career game-winning goal Feb. 17 at CHI (3-0—3). Laine added two other decisive tallies: Feb. 12 at MTL (1-1—2) and Feb. 22 vs. TOR (2-0—2), with the latter serving as his third overtime goal and sixth game-winning goal of the season (t-1st and t-5th in the NHL, respectively). The 23-year-old Tampere, Finland, native has played in 34 of Columbus’ 53 total contests in 2021-22, leading the team with 1.06 points per game while ranking third overall with 19-17—36.