NHL Review March 25, 2021
COPP NETS NHL’S FIRST FOUR-GOAL GAME OF 2020-21
Andrew Copp (4-0—4) scored four of Winnipeg’s five goals en route to a 5-1 win as the Jets outscored the Canucks 9-1 in their two-game set. Winnipeg (20-11-2, 42 points) also moved into a tie with idle Toronto (20-10-2, 42 points) and Edmonton (21-13-0, 42 points) for the most standings points in the Scotia North Division.
Copp (10-15—25 in 33 GP), who matched his goal totals from last season (10-16—26 in 63 GP), recorded the League’s first four-goal game of 2020-21 after seven players accomplished the feat in 2019-20. He became the sixth player in Jets/Thrashers history to score at least four goals in a game. A skater has never scored a playoff hat trick for the franchise.
MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO RUN WILD AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER. . .
Ryan Suter (0-2—2) factored on both of Jared Spurgeon’s goals and Cam Talbot made 28 saves to help the Wild extend their franchise-record home win streak to 10 games. Minnesota became the first club to record a double-digit run at home in 2020-21.
Suter (91-509—600 in 1,173 GP) became the ninth U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history to reach the 600-point mark – a list that includes his uncle Gary Suter (203-641—844 in 1,145 GP).
Talbot improved to 6-0-0 at Xcel Energy Center this season and moved within one of matching the longest home win streak of his career, set with Edmonton from March 14 – April 1, 2017 (7 GP). His nine goals against at home in 2020-21 (excluding shootout-deciding goals) are the second fewest in the League among goaltenders to appear in at least five games, trailing only Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin (8 GA in 5 GP).
Meanwhile, the Wild have allowed two or fewer goals in seven of their 10 home games over their current stretch and have surrendered 30 goals against at home this season (excluding shootout-deciding goals) – tied with Tampa Bay and Carolina for the fewest among all teams (min. 12 GP).
PENGUINS IMPROVE TO 13-3-1 ON HOME ICE
Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) factored on two of five Pittsburgh goals as the Penguins (20-11-2, 42 points) improved to 13-3-1 at PPG Paints Arena this season. Their 13 home wins are tied with the Islanders, Golden Knights and Lightning for the most among all teams.
Since Crosby entered the League in 2005-06, Pittsburgh has collected a League-leading 383 wins on home ice (383-170-56).
With five points over his last four contests (2-3—5 in 4 GP), the Penguins captain has 63-115—178 in 146 career regular-season games (1.22 P/GP) – including 52 multi-point games – without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup (since 2006-07).
MARLEAU ECLIPSES LARMER FOR NHL’S FOURTH-LONGEST ‘IRONMAN’ STREAK
Sharks forward Patrick Marleau skated in his 885th consecutive regular-season game dating to April 9, 2009 and passed Steve Larmer (884 GP from Oct. 6, 1982 – April 15, 1993) for sole possession of the fourth-longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history.
GUSTAVSSON EARNS SECOND NHL WIN IN AS MANY STARTS
After trailing 1-0, the Senators rallied with three straight goals and rookie goaltender Filip Gustavsson turned aside 28 shots to earn his second win in his second NHL start as Ottawa improved to 5-2-0 against Calgary this season.
Among goaltenders to debut with Senators, Gustavsson became the fifth to win each of his first two starts with the franchise. The others: Andrew Hammond (Feb. 18, 2015 & Feb. 21, 2015), Mike Brodeur (Dec. 19, 2009 & Jan. 14, 2010), Ray Emery (March 21, 2003 & Dec. 18, 2003) and Jani Hurme (April 9, 2000 & Oct. 17, 2000).
BLUES, WILD FINAL TEAMS TO FACE OFF IN A SEASON SERIES
As part of a busy 11-game slate on Thursday, the Blues – who lead the NHL with 12 road wins in 2020-21 – will visit the Wild at Xcel Energy Center – where Minnesota has won 10 consecutive home games – in the first of eight meetings between the clubs this season. After the puck drops for the opening draw between the two Honda West Division foes, all 31 clubs will have faced every team from their division at least once this season.
STREAKS TO KEEP AN EYE ON ENTERING THURSDAY
A number of notable streaks will be on the line across a busy slate of games on Thursday:
With a victory tonight, the League-leading Lightning (5-0-0 since March 16) would earn their third winning streak of six or more games this season – no other team has more than one such run in 2020-21. The Bruins (3x) and Blues (3x) were the only teams with three winning streaks of six or more games in 2019-20.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has earned a victory in each of his last 12 appearances dating to Feb. 22 (12-0-0, 1.64 GAA, .938 GAA, 3 SO). Only six goaltenders in NHL history have put together a win streak of 13 or more games – most recently Sergei Bobrovsky in 2016-17 (14 GP w/ CBJ – tied for the NHL record).
Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen can extend the League’s longest active goal streak to six games (6-4—10 in 5 GP), which would match his career high set earlier this season (6 GP from Jan 15-26). Only one player in franchise history has recorded multiple goal streaks of six or more games in a single season – Hockey Hall of Famer Michel Goulet did so in consecutive seasons with Quebec in 1984-85 (6 GP; twice) and 1985-86 (6 GP; twice).
Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton (2-12—14 in 12 GP) will look to extend the NHL’s longest active point streak to 13 games and tie Auston Matthews (13 GP from Jan. 24 – Feb. 20) for the longest by any player this season.
Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the Passing of Bob Plager
National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman released the following statement regarding the passing of Bob Plager:
“Few men in the history of our game were more closely connected to a city and a franchise than Bob Plager was to St. Louis and the Blues. In the lineup for the Blues’ inaugural game on Oct. 11, 1967, he assisted on the first goal in franchise history and committed the Blues’ first penalty that night – thus commencing a 54-year association with the organization. Plager played 11 seasons on defense for the Blues – including four alongside brothers Bill and Barclay – appeared in three Stanley Cup Finals in the franchise’s first four seasons and had his number 5 retired in 2017.
“Upon retiring as a player, Plager served the Blues in various capacities for four decades. Respected by fellow players for his toughness, he was beloved by teammates for his welcoming personality and forged a fierce bond with St. Louis fans that would last his entire life. The National Hockey League family mourns the tragic passing of a true St. Louis original and send our condolences to his daughter, Melissa, his son, Bobby, his two grandchildren and his countless fans in St. Louis and throughout hockey.”
Plager was killed Wednesday, March 24, 2021 in a car crash in St. Louis. He was 78.