NHL Review May 7, 2021

MATTHEWS REACHES 40-GOAL MARK AS MAPLE LEAFS PAD LEAD ATOP DIVISION

Auston Matthews (40-24—64 in 49 GP) scored to reach the 40-goal mark and Jack Campbell (19 saves) improved to 16-2-2 through 20 appearances in 2020-21 as the Scotia North Division-leading Maple Leafs (34-13-6, 74 points) extended their point streak to seven games (6-0-1).

Matthews, who holds a nine-goal lead in the 2020-21 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race, extended his goal streak to five contests (6-0—6) and became the third player in franchise history to reach 40 in fewer than 50 games, following Frank Mahovlich (48 GP in 1960-61) and Rick Vaive (49 GP in 1983-84).

Toronto moved eight points ahead of Edmonton (32-18-2, 66 points), which occupies second place in the Scotia North Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs can clinch first place in their division for the second time in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) – the first instance was in 1999-00 when Toronto reached the 100-point mark for the first time and concluded the campaign atop the Northeast Division (45-27-10, 100 points).

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Alex Galchenyuk opened the scoring for the Maple Leafs at 0:15 of the first period. Galchenyuk has points (2-2-4) in four consecutive games. He has recorded nine points (3-6-9) in 11 games on home ice with the Maple Leafs this season. His first period goal is his first career goal against the Canadiens after skating in 418 games for Montreal from 2012-18. At 15 seconds, Galchenyuk’s goal is the Maple Leafs’ fastest to start a game in 2020-21 (Previous: 0:27, Matthews; April 22, 2021 at Winnipeg).
• John Tavares had the secondary assist on Galchenyuk’s first period goal and scored the second Toronto goal of the game at 3:24 of the first period. Tonight’s game is Tavares’ 14th multi-point game of 2020-21. He has registered four points (1-3-4) over his last four games. He has nine points (3-6-9) in nine games against Montreal this season. He is tied for 19th among NHLers in even-strength points (12-24-36).
• Pierre Engvall scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the night at 10:38 of the first period. Engvall has recorded a goal in consecutive appearances for Toronto after scoring on April 29 vs. Vancouver. With his goal against Montreal tonight, he has registered at least one point against every North Division opponent this season. He has scored four of his five goals on home ice.
  Mitch Marner scored the fourth Toronto goal of the game at 17:23 of the first period and later recorded the primary assist on Auston Matthews’ third period goal. Marner has seven points (2-5-7) over his last five games. Tonight’s game is his 18th multi-point performance of the season. Marner has 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 27 games on home ice this season. He has registered 10 points (3-7-10) in nine games against the Canadiens in 2020-21. Marner is tied for fourth among NHLers in goals scored at 5-on-5 (16). He ranks third among NHLers in points (19-47-66).
• Auston Matthews scored the fifth Maple Leafs goal of the night at 15:41 of the third period. Matthews has goals (6) in five consecutive games. He has 36 points (24 goals, 12 assists) in 25 games on home ice this season. He has recorded 13 points (7-6-13) in nine games against the Canadiens in 2020-21. With his third period goal, Matthews has reached the 40-goal mark for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career. Per NHL Stats, the only player in Maple Leafs franchise history to require fewer contests than Matthews (49 GP) to reach the 40-goal mark is Frank Mahovlich (48 GP in 1960-61).
• William Nylander recorded the primary assist on Galchenyuk’s first period goal. Nylander has assists (3) in three consecutive games and points (2-4-6) in six consecutive games. He has 21 points (9-12-21) in 23 games on home ice this season. In seven games against the Canadiens, he has recorded six points (3-3-6). He ranks third among Maple Leafs in primary assists (15).
• Jason Spezza registered the primary assist on Engvall’s second period goal. Spezza has five assists over his last five games played. He has registered five assists in nine games against the Canadiens this season. He has recorded 13 points (5-8-13) in 26 games at Scotiabank Arena. Coming into tonight’s game, Spezza ranked fourth among NHLers in assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 (1.95).
• TJ Brodie had the secondary assist on Engvall’s first period goal. Brodie’s assist is his first against the Canadiens in 2020-21. He has now recorded an assist against every North Division opponent this season. He has seven points (1-6-7) in 27 games on home ice in 2020-21.
• Joe Thornton notched the primary assist on Marner’s first period goal. Thornton has assists (2) in two consecutive games and points (2-5-7) in seven consecutive games. He has recorded four assists in seven games against the Canadiens this season. In 20 games at Scotiabank Arena in 2020-21, he has registered 10 points (3-7-10). 
• Rasmus Sandin collected the secondary assist on Marner’s first period goal. Sandin has a pair of assists over his last four games played. He has recorded three assists in four games on home ice this season. Tonight’s assist is his first career point against the Canadiens in five career games.
• Jake Muzzin had the secondary assist on Matthews’ third period goal. Muzzin has assists (2) in two consecutive games. He has recorded six points (1-5-6) in nine games against the Canadiens this season. Muzzin is tied for 20th among NHL defencemen in even-strength points (2-18-20).
• Jack Campbell stopped 20 shots to earn his 16th win of the season.

CARTER SCORES FOUR GOALS TO RECORD FIRST HAT TRICK WITH PENGUINS

Jeff Carter scored a career-high four goals as Pittsburgh (36-16-3, 75 points) tallied eight times on the heels of a 7-3 win Tuesday and reclaimed first place in the MassMutual East Division.

Carter scored the ninth hat trick of his NHL career (7 regular season, 2 playoffs) – he also has four with Los Angeles as well as two with both Philadelphia and Columbus. He became the third active NHL player with at least one hat trick for four different franchises (also Phil Kessel & James Neal).

MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THURSDAY

Connor McDavid (31-65—96 in 52 GP) collected three assists to record his ninth multi-point game since April 17 (10 GP) and move within four points of his fourth career season with a triple-digit total. McDavid, who is averaging 1.85 points per game in 2020-21, reached the 100-point mark in 82 games in 2016-17, 77 in 2017-18 and 66 in 2018-19.

Alex DeBrincat scored at 2:02 of extra time as the Blackhawks defeated the League-leading Hurricanes (36-10-8, 80 points), who fell to 9-0-4 in their last 13 games and reached 80 points on the season by virtue of the overtime loss. Carolina matched its fewest games to reach the 80-point mark in a season (54 GP), a mark set in 2005-06 en route to winning its first and only Stanley Cup (38-12-4, 80 points).

Jeremy Swayman made 15 saves to record the second shutout of his NHL career (9 GP) and help the Bruins (32-14-7, 71 points), who rank third in the MassMutual East Division, move three points ahead of the fourth-place Islanders (31-17-6, 68 points). Swayman became the third Bruins rookie in the League’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to record a shutout against the Rangers, following Andre Gill (Dec. 23, 1967) and Tuukka Rask (Jan. 31, 2009).

Jack Rathbone scored the first goal of his NHL career as the Canucks tallied four times on their first four shots en route to a victory in the first half of a two-game set against the Oilers. Vancouver became the first team to score four goals on its first four shots against one goaltender since Pittsburgh did so versus Washington’s Don Beaupre on Nov. 24, 1989.

Joe Thornton (0-1—1) extended his point streak to seven games (2-5—7), the longest active run in the NHL. Thornton, who was signed by Toronto on Oct. 16, 2020, has 31-102—133 in the postseason (179 GP) – the most-recent player to suit up in a playoff game for the Maple Leafs with as many postseason points was Ron Francis in 2004, which marked the last year in which the franchise won a playoff series.

FOURTEEN TEAMS IN ACTION AHEAD OF 14-GAME SATURDAY

Six sets of teams are set to open the first half of back-to-back sets on Friday before concluding them during Saturday’s 14-game slate.

NHLSTATS TO WATCH FOR DURING FRIDAY’S SEVEN GAMES

Rookie scoring leader Kirill Kaprizov (26-21—47), who has appeared in all 52 games contested by the Wild, enters Friday four goals shy of 30 on the season. He has averaged a goal per game since April 17 (10-2—12 in 10 GP).

The Lightning and Stars, who met in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, conclude their eight-game season series tonight at AMALIE Arena. Tampa Bay (36-14-3, 75 points), which occupies second place in the Discover Central Division, is 6-1-0 against Dallas in 2020-21 (DAL: 1-5-1).

The Honda West Division-leading Golden Knights (37-13-2, 76 points) and fourth-place Blues (24-19-8, 56 points), who reached the Final in 2018 and 2019, respectively, contest the first half of their back-to-back set at T-Mobile Arena. St. Louis is still looking to lock up a berth in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Vegas is closing in on clinching first place in its division for the third time in four seasons.

Avalanche’s Rantanen Fined for Diving/Embellishment

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen has been fined $2,000 as supplementary discipline under NHL Rule 64 (Diving/Embellishment), the National Hockey League announced today.

NHL Rule 64 is designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties. Fines are assessed to players and head coaches on a graduated scale outlined below:

For head coaches, each FINE issued to a player on his club counts toward his total. Four FINES issued to one player or a club collectively results in the head coach receiving his first fine.

Citations are issued by the National Hockey League Hockey Operations Department, which tracks all games, logs all penalties for diving or embellishment, and flags all plays not called on the ice that in its opinion were deserving of such a penalty. A Citation is issued once Hockey Operations, through its internal deliberations, is convinced that a player warrants sanction.

Rantanen was issued a Warning following an incident flagged by NHL Hockey Operations during NHL Game No. 508 against the Arizona Coyotes on March 23. His second Citation, which triggered the $2,000 fine, was issued for an incident at 7:21 of the second period during NHL Game No. 793 against the San Jose Sharks on April 30. Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro received a minor penalty for tripping on the play.

The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Rangers’ Buchnevich Suspended One Game for High-Sticking

New York Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich has been suspended for one game, without pay, for high-sticking Washington Capitals forward Anthony Mantha during NHL Game No. 830 in New York on Wednesday, May 5, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 4:39 of the second period. Buchnevich was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Buchnevich will forfeit $28,017.24. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Check out video for full explanation.