NHL Review – March 7, 2022

TAMPA BAY TALLIES THREE QUICK GOALS EN ROUTE TO FRANCHISE RECORD
After their club overcame two one-goal deficits, Victor Hedman (2-0—2), Corey Perry (1-0—1) and Mikhail Sergachev (1-2—3) each scored in a span of 32 seconds to help the Lightning (37-12-6, 80 points) reclaim the top spot in the Atlantic Division with a victory in Chicago. Tampa Bay’s trio of tallies in a span of 32 seconds marked the fastest three goals in franchise history, eclipsing its previous best set on March 11, 2008 (0:42).

ROBERTSON HITS 100-POINT MILESTONE WITH ANOTHER HAT TRICK
Jason Robertson (3-0—3) scored a hat trick for the second time in as many games and reached the 100-point milestone as the Stars (32-20-3, 67 points) defeated the Wild (32-19-3, 67 points) in a crucial matchup for third place in the Central Division standings. Robertson became the second player in Stars/North Stars history to net a hat trick in consecutive games, joining Bill Goldsworthy (2 GP from March 16-21, 1971 w/ MNS).

• Robertson also became the fourth active player to record a hat trick in two straight games, joining Alex Ovechkin (3x; 2 GP from Jan. 16-18, 2020, Dec. 11-14, 2018 & Oct. 5-7, 2017), Noel Acciari (2 GP from Dec. 16-20, 2019) and Filip Forsberg (2 GP from Feb. 21-23, 2017).
• Robertson (46-54—100 in 101 GP) also finds himself in good company en route to 100 career points. He is one of eight active players to reach the mark in 101 contests or fewer, joining Alex Ovechkin (77 GP), Sidney Crosby (80 GP), Evgeni Malkin (89 GP), Kirill Kaprizov (92 GP), Connor McDavid (92 GP), Paul Stastny (99 GP) and Mathew Barzal (101 GP).
• Riley Tufte (Coon Rapids, Min.) scored his first NHL goal while skating in his first game in his hometown. He was named “Mr. Hockey” for the state of Minnesota in 2015-16, awarded to the best high school player, and won back-to-back NCAA championships with the University of Minnesota-Duluth (2017-18 & 2018-19). The Wild acted as a light of inspiration for Tufte, who remembers missing a hockey tournament after being diagnosed with diabetes at age 11 and sitting in a hospital bed dreaming about playing in the NHL – a dream that was further fueled two days later when he was given tickets to a Wild game.

SHESTERKIN CONTINUES TO SHINE IN 40-SAVE OUTINGS
Chris Kreider (38-15—53 in 56 GP) scored twice to move within one of Auston Matthews (39 in 52 GP) in the 2021-22 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race and Igor Shesterkin (45 saves) improved to 10-0-0 when making 40-plus saves in a game as the Rangers (36-15-5, 77 points) reclaimed second place in the Metropolitan Division from the idle Penguins (34-14-9, 77 points).

• Shesterkin (28-6-3, 1.93 GAA, .942 SV%, 3 SO), who has allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his past 10 appearances, paces all goaltenders in both goals-against average and save percentage in 2021-22 (min. 25 GP).
• Additionally, only one goaltender since 1955-56 (since shots on goal began being tracked) has finished a season with a higher save percentage than Shesterkin currently holds (min. 25 GP): six-time Stanley Cup champion, seven-time Vezina Trophy winner and Hockey Hall of Fame member Jacques Plante (.944 in 1970-71 w/ TOR).

EICHEL’S LATE GO-AHEAD GOAL

With the game poised to go to overtime, Jack Eichel scored a go-ahead goal with 5.9 seconds left in regulation to help Vegas escape with a victory. Eichel’s game-winning tally (59:54) marked the second-latest go-ahead goal in Golden Knights history behind Shea Theodore (59:57 on Dec. 19, 2017). Only one player scored a later go-ahead goal in the NHL this season: Ryan Lindgren (59:59 on Nov. 21, 2021).

DETROIT RECALLS VELENO FROM GRAND RAPIDS
The Detroit Red Wings today recalled center Joe Veleno from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins and placed center Carter Rowney on injured reserve.

ROBERTSON, SCHMALTZ AND SHESTERKIN NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, Arizona Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz and New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 6, 2022.

FIRST STAR – JASON ROBERTSON, LW, DALLAS STARS

Robertson topped the NHL with seven goals in three contests (7-0—7), highlighted by consecutive hat tricks and game-winning goals, to lift the Stars (32-20-3, 67 points) to a perfect week and into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Down 3-1 midway through the second period, he scored the first of three unanswered Dallas goals en route to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings March 2. Robertson then recorded his first career hat trick – capped by his third career overtime goal – while playing in his 100th NHL game, a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets March 4. He closed the week by posting his second straight hat trick (including the decisive goal) and reaching the 100-point milestone (46-54—100 in 101 GP) in a 6-3 triumph over the Minnesota Wild March 6. In doing so, Robertson joined Bill Goldsworthy (March 16-21, 1971 w/ MNS) as the second player in Stars/North Stars history to register a hat trick in consecutive games and became the first player on any NHL team to accomplish the feat since Jan. 16-18, 2020 (Alex Ovechkin w/ WSH). The 22-year-old Arcadia, Calif., native and runner-up for the 2020-21 Calder Memorial Trophy has compiled 29-25—54 in 47 total appearances this season, placing among the League leaders in game-winning goals (2nd; 9), goals (t-9th; 29) and shooting percentage (13th; 20.4%).

SECOND STAR – NICK SCHMALTZ, C, ARIZONA COYOTES

Buoyed by the NHL’s first seven-point performance in more than a decade, Schmaltz paced the League with 3-5—8 in two outings to help the Coyotes (16-35-4, 36 points) pick up a pair of victories and improve to 4-2-0 in their last six starts dating to Feb. 20. Schmaltz first scored the game-winning goal against the No. 1 overall team in the NHL standings, the Colorado Avalanche, in a 2-1 triumph March 3. He then set a franchise record and became the first NHL player to collect seven points in a game since Feb. 2, 2012 (Sam Gagner: 4-4—8 w/ EDM) with 2-5—7 in an 8-5 win against the Ottawa Senators March 5. The 26-year-old Madison, Wis., native – who also matched a Coyotes/Jets record for assists in a game – has played in 36 total contests this season, ranking fourth on Arizona with 14-19—33 and eighth in the entire NHL with a 21.2 shooting percentage.

THIRD STAR – IGOR SHESTERKIN, G, NEW YORK RANGERS

Shesterkin stopped 106 of the 111 shots he faced, going 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .955 save percentage to propel the Rangers (36-15-5, 77 points) to a perfect week and into second place in the Metropolitan Division. He made 29 saves, including 13 in the third period, in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues March 2. Shesterkin then yielded only one goal in each of his next two starts, turning aside 32 shots in a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils March 4 and denying 45 attempts (his 10th career 40-save performance) in a 4-1 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets March 6. The 26-year-old Moscow, Russia, native has appeared in 37 total games this season, leading the NHL in goals-against average (1.93) and save percentage (.942) while also ranking among the top performers in wins (t-3rd; 28) and shutouts (t-6th; 3).

BATTLE OF ALBERTA TAKES CENTER STAGE MONDAY

A five-game Monday will conclude with the Oilers (30-22-4, 64 points) visiting the Pacific Division-leading Flames (33-14-7, 73 points) for the third of four Battle of Alberta instalments set for this season, with Edmonton earning wins in each of the first two contests (CGY: 0-2-0).

• Connor McDavid (29-50—79 in 55 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (38-41—79 in 56 GP), who sit tied for the NHL lead in points, enter Monday one shy of the 80-point mark. The Oilers captain has recorded 26-19—45 in 32 contests against the Flames franchise – his highest goal total versus any team. His 1.41 points per game versus Calgary is tied for the seventh-highest by any player versus the Flames (min. 10 GP) and is tied with Sidney Crosby for tops among active players.
• Calgary currently holds the League’s longest active home point streak (11-0-1) – only two teams have posted a longer such run this season: Colorado (22 GP; 20-0-2) and St. Louis (13 GP; 12-0-1). Matthew Tkachuk (27-37—64 in 54 GP) has led the Flames through their run at Scotiabank Saddledome with 7-15—22 (12 GP), which also stands as the most among all players at home dating to Jan. 18, and is on pace for a career-high 97-point season.

NHL UNVEILS NEW STANLEY CUP BRAND IDENTITY AND LOGO

The National Hockey League today unveiled the new brand identity and logo for the Stanley Cup® Playoffs and Stanley Cup® Final. The new creative will be featured prominently throughout the postseason, including in-arena, on-ice, in game broadcasts, on a variety of official NHL merchandise, at retail, and in digital and social media content. In addition, NHL partners will feature the new marks in activations.

Following an extensive re-design process spearheaded by NHL Creative Services, in collaboration with Fanbrandz Design, the new brand identity and logo system features a detailed illustration of the Stanley Cup and its engravings, all anchored in the shape of a championship rafter banner.

“This reimagining of the Stanley Cup brand is a culmination of several years of creative work intended to celebrate our symbol of hockey excellence,” said NHL Chief Brand Officer and Senior Executive Vice President Brian Jennings. “This modern brand identity and logo system is being introduced at this exciting time in the NHL’s history where new and historic teams led by a generational group of superstar players compete for the Stanley Cup, the hardest trophy to win in all of sports. All players dream of having their name engraved in immortality and it is every NHL team’s mission to raise a championship banner, and we wanted to visually capture and evoke the majesty of Lord Stanley in a manner that both respects the history and represents of the future of this great game.”