NHL Review March 14, 2022

• The sold-out crowd at the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic was treated with a spirited cross-border showdown that saw the host Sabres defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs for their first-ever outdoor win.
• Cole Sillinger, who is set to celebrate his 19th birthday on May 16, scored the first hat trick of his NHL career as the Blue Jackets defeated the Golden Knights Sunday.
• The Wild retired the No. 9 of former captain Mikko Koivu in a pre-game ceremony at Xcel Energy Center, while Canadiens forward Rem Pitlick joined Koivu’s brother, Saku, on a rare franchise list.
• Continuing a tradition of recent outdoor NHL games, each team arrived in style at the Heritage Classic. The Sabres strutted in sporting Flint Tropics uniforms – inspired by the movie Semi-Pro – while the Maple Leafs recognized Hamilton’s steelmaking roots.

HINOSTROZA MATCHES CAREER HIGH, SABRES LEAVE “THE HAMMER” WITH WIN

Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 26,119 fans at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Vinnie Hinostroza (2-1—3) factored on each of Buffalo’s first three goals to help the club claim its first outdoor win in its third appearance. After being held off the score sheet in his first two outdoor appearances (23:26 TOI, -3), Hinostroza came within one point of equaling the single-game outdoor record.

• The Sabres became the 21st different club to win an outdoor game and claimed consecutive victories against the Maple Leafs for the first time in nearly five years (last time: Feb. 11 and March 25, 2017).
• Hinostroza wasn’t the only Sabres player with multiple goals Sunday as Peyton Krebs became the third rookie to score twice in an NHL outdoor game. Prior to Krebs, the only rookies to score multiple goals outdoors were Auston Matthews and Anthony Mantha during the 2017 Centennial Classic in Toronto.
• More than half (18 of 35; 51%) of all outdoor games have featured a team securing a comeback to win, with Buffalo erasing both a 1-0 and 2-1 deficit.
• The first three goals of the game came during a 2:17 span and included the third-career outdoor goal for Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (2 GP) – his League-leading 45th of the season.

ANDERSON BECOMES OLDEST GOALTENDER TO WIN OUTDOORS

After claiming his 300th NHL win Thursday in Buffalo, 40-year-old Craig Anderson made 34 saves in the Heritage Classic to improve to 3-0-0 in his outdoor NHL career. Anderson followed Martin Brodeur as the second goaltender to play outdoors at age 40 or older – but became the oldest to win – and joined Henrik Lundqvist (4-0-0) as the second netminder to claim at least three outdoor victories.

CHOLACH DROPS CEREMONIAL PUCK AHEAD OF HERITAGE CLASSIC
Ukrainian hockey player and Barrie Colts defenseman Arthur Cholach joined Wayne Gretzky for the ceremonial puck drop before the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic. Nine kids, ages 6 to 18, representing hockey in Hamilton and the surrounding area also took part.

WOMEN ALSO WOW AT TIM HORTONS FIELD

• After superstar pop-punk songstress and TikTok heavy-hitter Willow started the pre-game festivities, GRAMMY and Juno Award-winning artist Alessia Cara took to the stage during the first intermission to bring the sold-out crowd to its feet.
• Members of the Team Canada Women’s Hockey Team, including Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner and Brianne Jenner, were on location at Tim Hortons Field with their gold medals to sign autographs for fans, power Lindsay Ell through the Canadian national anthem and be honored on-field during the second intermission.

FINAL SCORES FROM SUNDAY’S 10-GAME SLATE

SILLINGER SIZZLES FOR COLUMBUS WITH FIRST CAREER NHL HAT TRICK
Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger (18 years, 301 days) scored the first hat trick of his NHL career and became the second-youngest player in franchise history with three goals in a game, behind only Nikita Filatov (18 years, 230 days on Jan. 10, 2009). Sillinger, Filatov and current Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine account for five of the last six instances of an NHL player scoring a hat trick before age 19.

• Sillinger’s father, Mike, had one hat trick over the course of his 17-season NHL career. The elder Sillinger scored three goals for St. Louis in its 4-1 win against San Jose in Game 3 of the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals.

PREDATORS PREVAIL IN PIVOTAL MATCHUP AFTER WILD RETIRE KOIVU’S No. 9
Minnesota retired the No. 9 of former captain Mikko Koivu in a pre-game ceremony ahead of its pivotal contest against Nashville, with Koivu’s family and friends (including his brother, Saku) all in attendance at Xcel Energy Center. Mikko (206-505—711 in 1,035 GP) and Saku (255-577—832 in 1,124 GP), who served as Canadiens captain for 10 seasons, combined for 1,543 career points in the NHL.

• Filip Forsberg (2-1—3) and Roman Josi (2-2—4) had two goals apiece as the Predators (34-21-4, 72 points) matched the point total of the Wild (34-20-4, 72 points), who occupy third place in the Central Division by virtue of holding a game in hand. Nashville and Minnesota are set to meet two more times this season (April 5 & April 24).
• Forsberg (31-23—54 in 46 GP) reached 30 markers in a season for the third time in his NHL career and eclipsed Viktor Arvidsson (2x) for the most 30-goal campaigns in franchise history. Josi (17-49—66 in 57 GP) recorded his fourth four-point game of the season and moved past Colorado’s Cale Makar (21-44—65 in 56 GP) for sole possession of the League scoring lead among defensemen.

GIROUX GETS 900TH POINT, CANADIENS’ COMEBACK
Flyers captain Claude Giroux (291-609—900 in 999 GP) reaching the 900-point milestone before the Montreal Canadiens scored a game-tying shorthanded goal during the final minute of regulation for the second time in franchise history (since 1933-34 when goals by type were officially tracked).

SCHMALTZ WILL LOOK TO RELIVE 7-POINT MAGIC IN REMATCH WITH SENATORS

After netting seven points against the Senators nine days ago, Nick Schmaltz will look for a follow up performance when the Coyotes play the fourth game of a five-game road trip Monday in Ottawa. Schmaltz (2-5—7 in 1 GP) can equal the franchise benchmark for most points against one opponent in a single season when facing the club fewer than three times – Alexei Zhamnov had 2-6—8 for the original Jets in two contests against the Quebec Nordiques in 1993-94.

KANE, MARKSTROM AND LEE NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane, Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom and New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 13, 2022.

FIRST STAR – PATRICK KANE, RW, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Kane paced the NHL with nine assists and 10 points in three contests (1-9—10) to power the Blackhawks (22-30-8, 52 points) to a pair of victories. He established single-game highs with five assists and six points (1-5—6) – the first six-point performance by a Chicago player since Feb. 5, 1995 (Bernie Nicholls: 4-2—6 at VAN) – in an 8-3 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks March 8. Kane then collected one assist in a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins March 10 before finishing the week with three more helpers, his 21st career three-assist outing, in a 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators March 12. The 33-year-old Buffalo, N.Y., native – who has points in six straight games dating to March 3 (3-12—15) – has played in 56 total contests this season, topping the Blackhawks and ranking among the League leaders in assists (t-7th; 49), shots on goal (9th; 209) and points (13th; 68).

SECOND STAR – JACOB MARKSTROM, G, CALGARY FLAMES

Markstrom denied 76 of the 78 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals-against average, .974 save percentage and one shutout to help the Flames (36-16-7, 79 points) pad their lead atop the Pacific Division. He allowed only one goal in each of his first two starts, making 27 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers March 7 and stopping 30 shots in a 4-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning March 10. Markstrom then capped the week by earning his League-leading ninth shutout of the season – one shy of the franchise record set by Miikka Kiprusoff in 2005-06 – with 19 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings March 12. The 32-year-old Gävle, Sweden, native has appeared in 46 total games this season, also placing among the top performers in goals-against average (3rd; 2.07), save percentage (4th; .928) and wins (t-6th; 28).

THIRD STAR – ANDERS LEE, LW, NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Lee scored in all four of his outings to lead the NHL with seven goals (7-1—8) and propel the Islanders (24-24-8, 56 points) to a trio of wins. He opened the week with consecutive three-point performances, registering 2-1—3 in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche March 7 and posting his first career hat trick (in his 568th game) in a 6-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets March 10. Lee then scored once in each of his next two appearances, potting the decisive tally (and reaching the 20-goal milestone for the sixth time) in a 5-2 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets March 11 and adding another goal in a 4-3 win against the Anaheim Ducks March 13. The 31-year-old Edina, Minn., native has skated in 50 total contests this season, ranking second on New York in goals (21) and fifth in points (28).

MAPLE LEAFS’ MATTHEWS SUSPENDED TWO GAMES FOR CROSS-CHECKING

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has been suspended for two games, without pay, for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during NHL Game No. 942 in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, March 13, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 14:55 of the third period. Matthews was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Matthews will forfeit $116,402.50. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Video details a full explanation of the decision.