NHL Review Monday February 19 2018

MONDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Minnesota 5, NY ISLANDERS 3
Washington 3, BUFFALO 2
Boston 2, CALGARY 1 (OT)
NASHVILLE 5, Ottawa 2
Los Angeles 3, CHICAGO 1
Anaheim 2, VEGAS 0

CAPITALS RECLAIM DIVISION LEAD, OVECHKIN CHASES 600 GOALS

Three different players scored – including Alex Ovechkin’s 35th goal of the season – to help the Capitals (34-18-7, 75 points) leapfrog the idle Penguins (35-22-4, 74 points) into first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Ovechkin, who collected his 1,100th NHL point on Feb. 15 at MIN, scored for the third time in five contests and sits seven goals shy of becoming the 20th player in NHL history to reach 600 career goals.

Ovechkin, who leads the NHL in goals and the Capitals in points (35-31—66 in 59 GP), is in pursuit of his seventh Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, the most by a single player since its introduction in 1998-99. In fact, among the 11 others to receive the award, no other player has achieved the honor more than twice.

Ovechkin also sits five goals shy of becoming just sixth player in NHL history to record at least nine 40-goal seasons. The others: Wayne Gretzky (12), Mario Lemieux (10), Marcel Dionne (10), Mike Gartner (9) and Mike Bossy (9).

MARCHAND SCORES IN OT, BRUINS INCH CLOSER TO LIGHTNING 

Brad Marchand scored with 1:24 remaining in overtime to lead the Bruins (36-13-8, 80 points) to their seventh win in nine contests and within one point of the idle Lightning (39-17-3, 81 points) for top spot in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference standings. Boston also stretched its lead to three points over the Maple Leafs (36-20-5, 77 points), who rank third in the division. 

The Bruins reached 80 standings points in their 57th game of 2017-18, matching the Golden Knights for fastest – in terms of games played – to reach the 80-point mark this season. The Lightning, the only other team to hit the mark, reached 80 points in their 58th contest.

This marks the fastest – in terms of games played – the Bruins have reached 80 points in a season since 2008-09, when they needed only 51 games (37-8-6, 80 points).

Marchand – who leads the Bruins with 22-33—55 in 44 GP this season – scored his ninth career overtime goal to move within one of the franchise record.

Hischier, Raanta and Scheifele Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

FIRST STAR – NICO HISCHIER, C, NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Hischier scored in all four of his appearances, sharing the League lead with four goals and ranking second overall with 4-3—7 to power the Devils (31-20-8, 70 points) to a perfect week. He posted 1-1—2 in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Feb. 13. Hischier then registered 1-2—3, his third three-point performance of the season, in a 5-2 triumph against the Carolina Hurricanes Feb. 15. He added one goal in each of his next two outings, a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Feb. 17 and a 3-2 overtime victory against the Hurricanes Feb. 18. In doing so, Hischier became the fifth rookie in Devils franchise history to score in four straight team games and the first to do so since 1984-85 (Greg Adams). The 19-year-old Brig, Switzerland, native and No. 1 overall selection from the 2017 NHL Draft has played in all 59 New Jersey contests this season, ranking in the top 10 among rookies in assists (t-4th; 26), shots on goal (t-4th; 134), points (6th; 39) and goals (t-9th; 13).

SECOND STAR – ANTTI RAANTA, G, ARIZONA COYOTES – Raanta stopped 123 of the 126 shots he faced, compiling a 3-0-0 record with a 0.90 goals-against average, .976 save percentage and one shutout in four appearances to lift the Coyotes (17-32-10, 44 points) to their first four-game winning streak since Jan. 4-12, 2016 (also 4-0-0). He made 37 saves in a 6-1 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks Feb. 12, followed by 12 stops in relief in a 2-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks Feb. 13. Raanta then denied 34 shots in a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 15 before capping the week with 40 saves and his ninth career shutout in a 1-0 triumph against he Edmonton Oilers Feb. 17. The 28-year-old Rauma, Finland, native owns a 12-14-6 record with a 2.45 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and one shutout in 35 outings this season.

THIRD STAR – MARK SCHEIFELE, C, WINNIPEG JETS – Scheifele ranked third in the NHL with 3-4—7 in three contests to propel the Jets (35-15-9, 79 points) to a perfect week and the top of the Central Division standings. He collected 2-1—3, including the shorthanded game-tying goal with 14.4 seconds remaining in regulation and the lone assist on the overtime winner, in a 4-3 victory against the Washington Capitals Feb. 13. Scheifele then registered his second straight three-point outing with a trio of assists in a 6-1 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche Feb. 16. He closed the week by scoring the game-winning goal in a 7-2 victory against the Florida Panthers Feb. 18. The 24-year-old Kitchener, Ont., native sits second on the Jets with 18-28—46 this season (43 GP) despite missing 16 games due to injury.

NHL Schedule for Tuesday, Feb 20

Matchup	Time
Florida@ Toronto	7:00 PM ET
Columbus@ New Jersey	7:00 PM ET
Montréal@ Philadelphia	7:00 PM ET
Tampa Bay@ Washington	7:00 PM ET
Nashville@ Detroit	7:30 PM ET
San Jose@ St. Louis	8:00 PM ET
Los Angeles@ Winnipeg	8:00 PM ET
Boston@ Edmonton	9:00 PM ET
Colorado@ Vancouver	10:00 PM ET