NHL Review Thursday Jan 25 2018

THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Nashville 3, NEW JERSEY 0
Tampa Bay 5, PHILADELPHIA 1
PITTSBURGH 6, Minnesota 3
Carolina 6, MONTREAL 5
Boston 3, OTTAWA 2
Chicago 5, DETROIT 1
Washington 4, FLORIDA 2
ST. LOUIS 3, Colorado 1
Toronto 4, DALLAS 1
EDMONTON 4, Calgary 3 (SO)
Columbus 2, ARIZONA 1
Buffalo 4, VANCOUVER 0
NY Islanders 2, VEGAS 1
ANAHEIM 4, Winnipeg 3 (SO)
NY Rangers 6, SAN JOSE 5

CROSBY EXTENDS STREAK, CLIMBS PENGUINS’ ALL-TIME POINTS LIST

Sidney Crosby collected three helpers to extend his assist/point streak to nine games (3-16—19) and lead the Penguins to their fifth straight win at PPG Paints Arena. Crosby boosted his career totals to 399-683—1,082 (all w/ PIT) and passed Jaromir Jagr for sole possession of second place on the franchise’s all-time points list.

Evgeni Malkin (23-29—52) collected 2-1—3 to eclipse the 50-point mark for the fifth straight season and 10th time in his NHL career (all w/ PIT). Only three players have recorded more 50-point seasons with the Penguins: Mario Lemieux (12), Crosby (12) and Jagr (11).

BRUINS EXTEND POINT STREAK TO 18 GAMES

Jake DeBrusk scored the go-ahead goal with 11:19 remaining in regulation to help the Bruins (29-10-8, 66 points) extend their point streak to 18 games (14-0-4), including five consecutive wins.

The Bruins, who have the fewest regulation losses in the NHL, became the sixth club in the past 20 seasons to register a point streak of at least 18 games, joining the Lightning (14-0-4 in 2003-04; 18 GP), Red Wings (17-0-3 in 2005-06; 20 GP), Sharks (18-0-2 in 2007-08; 20 GP), Blackhawks (21-0-3 in 2012-13; 24 GP) and Blue Jackets (17-0-1 in 2016-17; 18 GP).

This marks the third time in franchise history that the Bruins have recorded one or more points in at least 18 consecutive games – and first instance in almost 50 years.

Tuukka Rask (21 saves) improved to 16-0-2 in his last 18 decisions dating to Nov. 29 (1.65 GAA, .939 SV%, 2 SO). He became the fifth goaltender in franchise history to record at least one point in 18 consecutive decisions.

OVECHKIN REACHES 30-GOAL MARK FOR 13TH STRAIGHT SEASON

Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) scored his League-leading 30th goal of the season and collected the 500th assist of his NHL career to guide the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals (29-15-5, 63 points) to victory. Ovechkin (30-23—53) reached the 30-goal mark for the 13th time in as many NHL seasons.

Ovechkin, who this season has leapfrogged six players to move into 20th place on the NHL’s all-time goals list (588), became just the sixth player in NHL history to record 30 goals in 13 or more consecutive seasons at any point in his career, joining Mike Gartner (15), Jaromir Jagr (15), Wayne Gretzky (13), Phil Esposito (13) and Bobby Hull (13). Gartner, Gretzky and Ovechkin are the only players to achieve the feat in each of their first 13 campaigns.

In fact, Ovechkin became just the 10th player in NHL history to record at least 13 different 30-goal seasons (consecutive or otherwise).

CLUBS STAY HOT ENTERING ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Several clubs continued recent strings of success in their final games before the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.

Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos each collected two assists to help the League-leading-Lightning – hosts of the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend – become the first team to eclipse the 70-point mark this season (34-12-3, 71 points). Kucherov leads the NHL with 27-36—63 in 2017-18 (49 GP), while Stamkos is tied for third with 18-40—58 (49 GP).

Pekka Rinne turned aside all 27 shots he faced to record his fourth shutout of the season (47th career) and backstop the Predators to their eighth consecutive game with at least one point (6-0-2).

Brayden Schenn (GWG) scored for the fourth consecutive game (4-2—6) to power the Blues to a 4-1-0 mark in their last five contests.

Ryan Miller denied all five shootout attempts to backstop the Ducks to a 4-1-0 clip in their last five outings. Miller earned his 59th career shootout win, the most among goaltenders in NHL history.

Connor McDavid (0-1—1) scored the decisive marker in the shootout to lift the Oilers past the Flames and to a 4-1-0 record in their last five games. Calgary, meanwhile, extended its point streak 11 games by virtue of its shootout loss (7-0-4).

Robin Lehner (30 saves) recorded his second straight shutout (also Jan. 23 at EDM) to backstop the Sabresto their third consecutive win. Lehner became the first Sabres goaltender to post consecutive shutouts since Ryan Miller from Feb. 29 – March 1, 2012.

Devils Forward Brian Boyle Added to All-Star Roster

New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle has been added to the roster for the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game in Tampa, the National Hockey League announced today. Boyle replaces injured teammate Taylor Hall on the Metropolitan Division roster.

NHL All-Star Game Sunday, Jan 28, 2018

NHL All-Star Game	Time
Metropolitan@ Atlantic	TBD
Central@ Pacific	TBD