NHL Review March 21, 2022

GEORGIEV SECURES FRANCHISE FEAT WITH 44-SAVE SHUTOUT
Alexandar Georgiev made 44 saves for his seventh career shutout and his first of the season, while Chris Kreider and Frank Vatrano accounted for the game’s only goals as the Rangers (40-18-5, 85 points) leapfrogged the idle Penguins (38-16-9, 85 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The club is now just three points back from the division-leading Hurricanes (41-15-6, 88 points).

• Georgiev became the fourth different Rangers goaltender to record 40-plus saves in a shutout (since 1955-56 when shots on goal began being tracked) and the first since Henrik Lundqvist on Feb. 14, 2012.
• Vatrano scored his first goal in a Rangers uniform Sunday with his teammate Jacob Trouba (0-1—1) also finding the score sheet. Vatrano and Trouba played together on the U.S. National Team Development Program more than a decade ago (2010-11 & 2011-12) which led to Trouba unearthing pictures from high school via a retweet to welcome the newest Rangers player last Wednesday.

VETERANS HIGHLIGHT SUNDAY
NHL veterans Joe Pavelski (37 years, 252 days) and Alex Ovechkin (36 years, 184 days) each had notable performances Sunday when the pair faced off against one another for the 22nd time in their careers, with Pavelski improving to 15-5-2 in those contests (Ovechkin: 7-10-5).

• Pavelski (0-2—2) improved his season totals to a team-leading 23-39—62 (61 GP) to help the Stars (34-24-3, 71 points) move within one point of the idle Golden Knights (34-26-4, 72 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the tight Western Conference playoff race. Pavelski recorded his 30th career multi-point game since joining Dallas in 2019-20, which trails only Roope Hintz (32 GP) for the most by a Stars player over that span.
• Alex Ovechkin (40-36—76 in 62 GP) scored to secure his 12th career 40-goal season and tied Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history in the process. Ovechkin, who is on pace for 51 goals in 2021-22, became the the fourth player this season to reach the 40-goal mark as he joined Auston Matthews (46), Chris Kreider (41) and Leon Draisaitl (41).

CONNOR TALLIES FOUR POINTS
Sunday saw Winnipeg’s leading scorer Kyle Connor (39-38—77 in 63 GP) record his first four-point game of the season as the Jets (29-24-10, 68 points) moved within four points of the idle Golden Knights (34-26-4, 72 points), who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

MONDAY IS TRADE DEADLINE DAY

• Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell were traded by the Kraken to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a second-round pick in 2022, a second-round pick in 2023 and a third-round pick in 2024.
• Robert Hagg was traded by the Sabres to the Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
• Troy Stecher was traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the Kings in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
• Travis Dermott was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
• Travis Hamonic was traded by the Canucks to the Senators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
• Nick Paul was traded by the Senators to the Lightning in exchange for Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
• Jeremy Lauzon was traded by the Kraken to the Predators in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
• Scott Wedgewood was traded by the Coyotes to the Stars in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
• Mason Appleton was traded by the Kraken to the Jets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

MAPLE LEAFS ACQUIRE GIORDANO AND BLACKWELL IN TRADE WITH SEATTLE

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired defenceman Mark Giordano and forward Colin Blackwell from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft and a third-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. As part of the trade, Seattle will retain 50 percent of Giordano’s contract.

Giordano, 38, has recorded 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in 55 games and ranks second in TOI/GP (21:29) with the Kraken this season while serving as the franchise’s first captain. In 1,004 career regular season games with Seattle and Calgary, the Toronto native has registered 532 points (149 goals, 383 assists) while collecting seven points (one goal, six assists) in 23 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

Over the course of his 14-year NHL career, Giordano has appeared in three NHL All-Star games (2015, 2016, 2020) and was awarded the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman in 2018-19. Giordano has also been honoured with the NHL Foundation Player Award (2015-16) and the NHL’s Mark Messier Leadership Award (2019-20).

Internationally, Giordano has represented Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Championship and the 2007 Spengler Cup.

Blackwell, 28, has registered 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 39 games with the Kraken this season. The Lawrence, MA native has skated in 119 regular season games over four NHL seasons with Seattle, the New York Rangers, and the Nashville Predators, collecting 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists).

On the international stage, Blackwell captured a bronze medal with the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Championships.

Blackwell was originally selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round (194th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

Mark Giordano and Maple Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie skated 580 games together with the Flames from 2010-11 to 2019-20 (561 regular season, 19 playoffs). They both factored on 45 regular-season goals and two playoff tallies in that span.

• Giordano, who won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2018-19, became the fourth defenseman to win the award and later join the Maple Leafs. He follows Brian Leetch (1991-1992 & 1996-97), Pierre Pilote (1962-63, 1963-64 & 1964-65) and Red Kelly (1953-54).
• Giordano is the latest player to join Toronto after playing for a professional team based in Seattle. Another notable player to do so was Pat Quinn, who helped the Seattle Totems win the Lester Patrick Cup as WHL champions in 1966-67 before playing with the Maple Leafs from 1968-69 to 1969-70 – Quinn later served several seasons as Toronto’s head coach (1998-99–2005-06) and general manager (1999-00–2002-03).

GENDER EQUALITY MONTH: AVALANCHE SUPPORT OF GIRLS HOCKEY
Over the last five years, the Avalanche have placed an increased focus on providing access and driving awareness for the girls’ game. While the Avalanche supports the growth of girls’ hockey year-round with programs such as girls only ‘Learn to Play’ sessions, girls only ‘Try Hockey for Free’ sessions, and more, a platform that takes place every fall has become a pillar of the Avalanche brand: Girls Hockey Night. The goal of this platform is to proudly show support of girls’ hockey, provide visibility to the girls that play and are fans of the game, and lower barriers to entry for young women interested in joining the hockey community.

NHL ENTERS FINAL 40 DAYS OF 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON
The NHL enters its final 40 days of the regular season with eight teams in action Monday, including three currently occupying a Wild Card spot in the League standings.

• The Bruins (38-19-5, 81 points) visit the Canadiens (17-36-9, 43 points) at Centre Bell in the 930th all-time meeting between the franchises (753 regular season, 177 playoffs). Boston occupies the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference and sits two points back of Toronto (39-18-5, 83 points), which holds the third seed in the Atlantic Division.
• The Predators (36-22-4, 76 points), who play the Ducks (27-26-11, 65 points) at Honda Center, occupy the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Nashville has the same amount of standings points as Minnesota (36-20-4, 76 points), which sits third in the Central Division by virtue of holding two games in hand.
• The Golden Knights (34-26-4, 72 points) go head-to-head with the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in the third and final game of their season series (VGK: 2-0-0; MIN: 0-2-0). Vegas, which occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, faces Winnipeg (29-24-10, 68 points) Tuesday and Nashville Thursday.
• The Oilers (35-23-4, 74 points) will look to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games when they take on the League-leading Avalanche (44-13-5, 93 points) at Ball Arena. Edmonton has jumped from ninth place in the Western Conference to third in the Pacific Division since its run began on March 9.

JOSI, CONNOR AND CROUSE NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor and Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 20, 2022.

FIRST STAR – ROMAN JOSI, D, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Josi collected three helpers in each of three of his appearances to top the NHL in assists (9), points (9) and plus/minus (tied; +6) as the Predators (36-22-4, 76 points) earned a pair of victories to maintain the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference. Tied 1-1 late in the second period, he assisted on three unanswered Nashville goals in a 4-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins March 15. Facing a 3-1 deficit in the middle frame, Josi again assisted on three straight Predators goals as the team ultimately fell, 5-4, to the Philadelphia Flyers March 17. He then closed the week with three more helpers in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs March 19, Josi’s fourth consecutive outing with at least three points – a feat achieved by only one other defenseman in NHL history (Bobby Orr: 6 GP in 1970-71). The 31-year-old Bern, Switzerland, native and 11-year NHL veteran has played in 60 total games this season, leading all blueliners with 17-58—75 while already establishing career highs in goals, assists and points. He is on pace to become the sixth different defenseman in League history to record a 100-point season and first since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 (22-80—102 in 80 GP w/ NYR).

SECOND STAR – KYLE CONNOR, LW, WINNIPEG JETS

Connor ranked second in the NHL with 2-6—8 in three contests as the Jets (29-24-10, 68 points) picked up a pair of wins to remain within four points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He recorded his second straight three-point performance with 1-2—3 in a 7-3 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights March 15. Connor then posted one assist in a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins March 18. He capped the week with 1-3—4, his fifth career four-point effort and first since Feb. 8, 2020 (1-3—4 vs. OTT), in a 6-4 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks March 20. The 25-year-old Shelby Township, Mich., native – who has collected points in seven consecutive outings dating to March 8 (6-9—15) en route to setting career highs in goals (39), assists (38) and points (77) – has appeared in 63 total games this season, placing among the League leaders in shots on goal (3rd; 272), goals (5th) and points (6th).

THIRD STAR – LAWSON CROUSE, LW, ARIZONA COYOTES

Crouse led the NHL with five goals and ranked third with seven points (5-2—7) to help the Coyotes (20-38-4, 44 points) split their four outings. He opened the week by scoring his first career hat trick in a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators March 14. Crouse then registered 1-1—2, including his 10th career game-winning goal and fourth of the season, in a 6-3 victory against the Montreal Canadiens March 15. After being held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 defeat versus the Pittsburgh Penguins March 19, Crouse rebounded with 1-1—2 in a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks March 20. The 24-year-old Mt. Brydges, Ont., native has established career highs in goals (20), assists (tied; 14) and points (34) through 61 total appearances this season, ranking second on Arizona in goals and fifth in points.