NHL Review March 2, 2021

STONE POCKETS FIVE PRIMARY ASSISTS AS VEGAS HALTS MINNESOTA’S STREAK

Mark Stone produced five primary assists as the Honda West Division-leading Golden Knights (13-4-1, 27 points) overcame a multi-goal, third-period deficit to earn an 5-4 overtime victory and snap the Wild’s six-game win streak.

Stone became the second player over the last 25 years with five primary assists in a game, following Artemi Panarin on Dec. 8, 2017 (w/ CBJ). Only five different players in NHL history have had a higher single-game total.

MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HONDA WEST DIVISION

The Blues and Sharks also skated to wins on Monday:

St. Louis edged Anaheim, which received a hat trick from 21-year-old Isac Lundestrom, to improve to 7-0-0 in its last seven road games against the Ducks dating to March 12, 2018 (ANA: 0-7-0). Lundestrom (21 years, 115 days) became the second-youngest Anaheim player to score a hat trick, trailing only Sam Steel on March 26, 2019 (21 years, 51 days).

San Jose veteran Patrick Marleau earned the 1,016th win of his NHL career (regular season and playoffs) to pass Mark Messier (1,015) for sole possession of the third-highest combined total in League history. Former teammate Joe Thornton also kept pace with Marleau on Monday.

BATHERSON EXTENDS GOAL STREAK TO MATCH FRANCHISE RECORD

Drake Batherson (2-0—2), 22, scored for a sixth straight game (7-3—10) and matched the Senators’ franchise record for longest goal streak, a feat last achieved by Jason Spezza over 11 years ago.

Over the last 30 years, only six different players age 22 or younger have recorded a goal streak of longer than six games during the regular season – that cohort includes Teemu Selanne with a nine- and eight-game run during his 1992-93 rookie campaign in which he scored 76 goals.

SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION TEAMS EARN SHUTOUT WINS

Vancouver and Toronto each earned shutout wins on Monday:

Thatcher Demko turned aside all 27 shots he faced and became the second Canucks goaltender to blank the Jets/Thrashers franchise, joining Dan Cloutier over 18 years ago on Feb. 25, 2003 (8-0 W). Demko recorded the first regular-season shutout of his NHL career – he had one during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in which he made 48 saves, the most by a rookie goaltender in a postseason shutout (since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked).

Michael Hutchinson made 31 saves on the eve of his 31st birthday as the League-leading Toronto Maple Leafs (17-4-2, 36 points), who blanked the Oilers in their last outing, picked up another shutout win over Edmonton at Rogers Place.

THE NHL AND NHLPA CELEBRATE GENDER EQUALITY MONTH

On the heels of the PWHPA’s history-making Dream Gap Tour stop at Madison Square Garden, the NHL and NHLPA will celebrate Gender Equality Month with a series of original content celebrating the women who make hockey happen every day.

William Douglas featured Kings pro scout Blake Bolden and her most recent venture in his latest The Color of Hockey blog.

STANLEY CUP FINAL FOES SET FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SHOWDOWN

Tuesday’s slate includes the Lightning meeting the Stars for the second time this season, and second time in as many games, after the two teams faced off in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final – with Tampa Bay prevailing in six games backstopped by a Cup-clinching shutout from Andrei Vasilevskiy in Game 6.

On Saturday, Vasilevskiy stopped all 20 shots he faced to help the Lightning become the 12th defending champion to shut out the finalist in their first meeting the following season. No Lightning goaltender has put together a shutout streak of three straight games against the same opponent.

Of the 11 previous defending champions to shut out their finalist opponent in the first meeting the following season, only one went on to shut out that opponent again in the second meeting. Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy and the Avalanche blanked another legendary netminder, Martin Brodeur, and the Devils twice in the season following the 2001 Stanley Cup Final (2-0 W on Nov. 18, 2001 & 2-0 W on March 4, 2002). Roy had also shut out New Jersey twice in the 2001 Final, registering blank sheets in Game 1 and Game 6 of the seven-game set.

Vasilevskiy, who was named the NHL’s ‘First Star’ of the Week alongside frontline healthcare hero Glenda M. Wright on Monday, enters Tuesday with shutouts in each of his last two appearances.

ZACHA LOOKS TO EXTEND CAREER-HIGH POINT STREAK TO 11 GAMES

Pavel Zacha owns a career-high 10-game point streak (4-8—12), the longest active run in the NHL, and can extend it to 11 when the Devils (7-8-2, 16 points) host the Islanders (11-6-4, 26 points) at Prudential Center. New Jersey is 3-0-3 in its last six home games against New York dating to Feb. 24, 2018 (NYI: 3-3-0).

Zacha can become the 15th different player in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history with a point streak of 11 or more contests, a feat last achieved when Taylor Hall had a franchise-record 19-game run from Jan. 30 to March 6, 2018 en route to claiming the Hart Memorial Trophy that season (13-13—26). Two of the 26 goals in which Hall factored on during his point streak also included Zacha (Feb. 6 & Feb. 8).

Zacha was chosen by the Devils with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, the final draft current Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello oversaw during his 28-year tenure as an executive with New Jersey.

PENGUINS HOST FLYERS WITH FANS SET TO RETURN TO PPG PAINTS ARENA

For the first time in 359 days, the Penguins will welcome fans back to PPG Paints Arena in a reduced capacity just in time for the first of three consecutive home games against the rival Flyers. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast nationally in the U.S. on NBCSN and in Canada on Sportsnet.

Another pair of MassMutual East Division teams will welcome fans back to their arena for the first time tonight: Blue Jackets and Devils. Overall, 14 of 31 NHL clubs either have already opened their arena at a reduced capacity or have announced plans to do so this month.

This marks the first meetings between the clubs since the opening two contests of the 2020-21 season – both Flyers wins (6-3 W on Jan. 13 & 5-2 W on Jan. 15). Flyers forward Sean Couturier enters the contest on a career-high (tied) six-game point streak (5-5—10 in 6 GP) and has scored the game winner in each of his last two appearances.

Senators’ Tim Stützle, Frontline Healthcare Hero Michèle Taché Named NHL ‘Rookies of the Month’ for February

Ottawa Senators left wing Tim Stützle and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario child life specialist Michèle Taché have been named the NHL’s “Rookies of the Month” for February.

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.”

Taché recently retired after working as a child life specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) for more than 36 years. Specialists such as Taché help infants, children, youth and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. They provide evidence-based, developmentally and psychologically appropriate interventions, including therapeutic play; preparation for procedures; and education to reduce fear, anxiety and pain. Their role has taken on even more importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which they have continued to work bedside with patients since playroom gatherings currently are not possible.

Taché spent her career helping heal children through the power of play. “I’ve always been a kid at heart and I truly believe it’s because I spent my days at CHEO being inspired by the children and youth there,” Taché said. “Their energy, enthusiasm and resilience; to witness that every day was a privilege. They kept me young.”

Stützle led rookies with seven assists and 10 points in 14 February games (3-7—10) to edge Minnesota Wild teammates Kirill Kaprizov (4-5—9 in 8 GP) and Kaapo Kahkonen (5-1-0, 1.99 GAA, .927 SV%) and Chicago Blackhawks teammates Kevin Lankinen (6-2-1, 2.94 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO) and Pius Suter (3-4—7 in 13 GP) for “Rookie of the Month” honors.

Stützle registered a pair of multi-point performances, factoring on all three Senators goals in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 4 (1-2—3) as well as picking up 1-1—2 in a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Feb. 18. He also scored the decisive shootout goal in a 5-4 comeback victory against the Canadiens Feb. 23.

The 19-year-old Viersen, Germany, native – who in October matched Leon Draisaitl as the highest German-born and trained player selected in the history of the NHL Draft (3rd overall) – has played in 21 total games this season, ranking among the top three rookies in points (2nd; 14), assists (t-2nd; 9), shots on goal (3rd; 50) and goals (t-3rd; 5).

NHL ‘Stars,’ Frontline Heroes for February

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane and registered nurse Qudus Rabiu (Discover NHL Central Division), San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture and medical assistant Martha Godinez (Honda NHL West Division), Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and director of community engagement Cathy Draine (MassMutual NHL East Division), and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and infection prevention and control director Natasha Salt (Scotia NHL North Division) have been named the NHL’s “Stars of the Month” for February.

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 heroes from the regions represented by the League’s weekly and monthly “Stars.”

More on each frontline hero and NHL player can be found below:

DISCOVER NHL CENTRAL DIVISION – QUDUS RABIU AND PATRICK KANE

Rabiu works as a registered nurse at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center, where he has helped convert the orthopedic floor into a COVID-19 response unit. He has been training new nurses throughout the pandemic, providing mentorship and support during an unsettling time that has caused extra stressors due to increased demands on the system. “It has been an honor being on the front lines and caring for others during these trying times,” Rabiu says. “I encourage everyone to continue washing their hands and wearing a facial mask regularly, so we can come back into United Center and cheer our Blackhawks on!”

Kane led the NHL with 17 assists and 24 points in 13 games (7-17—24) to power the Blackhawks (12-7-4, 28 points) to a 9-3-1 February. Kane, who paced all forwards in average time on ice during the month (22:51), found the scoresheet in 10 of his 13 appearances, including a pair of four-point performances (Feb. 4 vs. CAR: 1-3—4 and Feb. 23 at CBJ: 1-3—4) as well as a trio of three-point outings (Feb. 11 vs. CBJ: 1-2—3, Feb. 19 at CAR: 1-2—3 and Feb. 28 vs. DET: 1-2—3). He capped by the month by scoring his 400th NHL goal Feb. 28 vs. DET, becoming the 100th player in League history – and ninth born in the U.S. – to reach the milestone. The 32-year-old Buffalo, N.Y., native – who sits four appearances shy of the 1,000-game plateau – ranks second in the NHL with 11-23—34 in 23 total contests this season.

HONDA NHL WEST DIVISION – MARTHA GODINEZ AND LOGAN COUTURE

Godinez, a medical assistant at a local San Jose hospital, has been working around the clock to fight the spread of COVID-19 while providing a positive attitude for patients both virtually and in-person. A single mother of two, Godinez put herself through school and now is helping to do the same for her children – all while juggling her professional and personal responsibilities during an unprecedented healthcare crisis. Godinez, who also is a Sharks season-ticket holder, may have had a tough beginning, but has fought against the odds to provide a caring and comfortable environment for both her patients and children.

Couture shared fourth place in the NHL with eight goals – all at even strength (t-1st) – and tied for the division lead with 12 points in 10 appearances (8-4—12) as the Sharks (8-9-2, 18 points) went 4-4-2 in February. He collected points in eight of his 10 outings, including goals in seven of those contests as well as a pair of game-winning tallies: Feb. 15 vs. ANA (1-1—2) and Feb. 20 at STL (2-0—2). Couture added two other multi-point efforts: Feb. 9 at LAK (1-1—2) and Feb. 27 vs. STL (1-1—2). The 31-year-old Guelph, Ont., native – who accounted for 27.6 percent of San Jose’s goals in February (8 of 29) – has posted a team-leading 11-8—19 in 19 games this season. His 11 goals are tied for the most in the Honda NHL West Division, along with Los Angeles’ Dustin Brown (11-6—17 in 20 GP).

MASSMUTUAL NHL EAST DIVISION – CATHY DRAINE AND DAVID PASTRNAK

Draine serves as the director of community engagement for the State Police Association of Massachusetts. A tireless advocate for improving the lives of others, she has spearheaded several projects during the COVID-19 pandemic including “Workout with a Trooper,” a program aimed at helping children stay physically fit while safely sheltering in place, and “Chat with a Trooper,” an initiative that allows senior citizens to engage in friendly conversations with volunteer troopers. Draine also organized “United We Rise,” which saw more than 350 sets of masks, sanitizers and food boxes delivered to families living in affordable housing.

Pastrnak tied for second in the NHL with nine goals and collected a division-leading 17 points in 11 games (9-8—17) to help the Bruins (12-5-2, 26 points) go 7-4-0 in February. He posted six multi-point performances, highlighted by hat tricks Feb. 3 at PHI (3-1—4) and Feb. 21 vs. PHI in the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe (3-0—3). The former served as both Pastrnak’s ninth career hat trick and four-point performance, while the latter marked the second hat trick in outdoor NHL game history (also Tyler Toffoli: 2020 Stadium Series). The 24-year-old Havirov, Czech Republic, native and reigning Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy co-winner – who played in his 400th NHL game on Feb. 25 at NYI – has registered 9-9—18 in 12 appearances this season and 189-208—397 through 402 career NHL contests.

SCOTIA NHL NORTH DIVISION – NATASHA SALT AND AUSTON MATTHEWS

Salt has worked as the infection prevention and control director of Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital for the past five years. She monitors, tracks and reviews all protocols, outbreaks and processes, which means being in all units at all sites despite the increased risk of infection. Her leadership, resilience and calm demeanor have been critical in Sunnybrook’s fight over the past year to keep patients and staff safe. In addition to her role at the hospital, Salt has dedicated herself to a local long-term care facility that had a significant COVID-19 outbreak during the pandemic, and even moved her office to the home to provide extra support.

Matthews led the NHL with 12 goals – three more than the next-closest players – and placed second with 21 points in 11 games (12‑9—21) to propel the Maple Leafs (17-4-2, 36 points) to a 9-2-1 February and the top of the League standings. He found the scoresheet in all but one of his 11 appearances, highlighted by consecutive four-point outings Feb. 18 vs. OTT (2-2—4) and Feb. 20 at MTL (2-2—4). Matthews added three other multi-goal performances, including a three-point effort Feb. 15 vs. OTT (2-1—3), as well as the winning tallies Feb. 6 vs. VAN, Feb. 8 vs. VAN and Feb. 20 at MTL. The 23-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz., native paces the NHL with 18 goals through 20 games this season (18-13—31) and ranks second with 176 career tallies in 302 contests since making his League debut in 2016-17 (176-140—316).