Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

11/21/2014 at 10:38am EST

CLOSE GAMES HIGHLIGHT THURSDAY'S ACTION
Of the 11 games contested Thursday:

* Nine were tied or within one goal entering the third period.

* Eight featured one-goal margins, including two that went past regulation (ANA-VAN and FLA-SJS).

* Five saw the game-winning goal scored in the third period (MIN-PHI, DET-WPG, ARI-DAL, WSH-COL, CHI-CGY), including Jason Zucker’s deciding goal in the final minute of MIN-PHI.

* Three players scored their first NHL goal: Chicago defenseman Adam Clendening (NHL debut), Dallas defenseman JohnKlingberg (6 GP) and Vancouver forward Bo Horvat (7 GP).

* The Eastern Conference went 5-2-0 against the West. In the 123 inter-conference games this season, the West has won 63 times, the East 60.

PACIORETTY CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WITH TWO GOALS IN HABS’ WIN
Max Pacioretty celebrated his 26th birthday with two goals, including the game-winner, in Montreal’s 4-1 win over St. Louis. The Canadiens trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes but scored four unanswered goals over the final two frames to pick up their first win over the Blues in Montreal since Jan. 13, 2004 (0-1-3 since).

* The Canadiens are the first team to reach 15 wins this season (15-5-1). They remain atop the League standings with 31 points.

* Pacioretty has recorded 5-4—9 in his past seven games and leads the club with 10 goals and 18 points. He is on pace to challenge his career high of 39 goals set last season.

* Carey Price stopped 31 shots to improve to 12-4-1 with a 2.49 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and one shutout. He shares the League lead in wins with Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Vancouver's Ryan Miller.

PERRY LIFTS DUCKS TO TOP SPOT IN WEST
Ahead 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Ducks yielded three goals in the second period before MattBeleskey forced overtime and Corey Perry potted the game-deciding goal in the shootout to lift Anaheim to a 4-3 win at Vancouver. The Ducks improved to 12-4-5 (29 points), moving into sole possession of first in the Western Conference and second place in the overall League standings.

* Perry, who also posted an assist in regulation, scored his 26th career shootout goal and 11th game-deciding tally (26-for-72, 36.1%); he leads active Ducks skaters in both categories.

* Jakob Silfverberg clinched the win with his League-leading fourth shootout goal of the season (on six attempts). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Silfverberg’s career conversion rate of 56.3% (9-for-16) is the second-highest among active skaters with a minimum of 15 attempts, behind only Toronto’s Tyler Bozak (57.9%, 11-for-19).

* Ryan Getzlaf (1-1—2) posted his seventh multi-point game of the season and now paces the Ducks with 6-13—19 in 20 GP this season.

* The Ducks have won five straight games in Vancouver and are 8-1-1 in their past 10 meetings overall.

*Ryan Kesler played 19:36 in his first game in Vancouver since being traded to the Ducks in the offseason. Kesler, the 23rd overall selection by the Canucks in the 2003 NHL Draft, tallied 182-211—393 in 655 games over his 10 NHL seasons in Vancouver.

* FUN FACT: Per Elias, Vancouver’s Bo Horvat (19 years, 200 days) became the first teenager to score his first NHL goal with the club since Nov. 29, 2003, when Kesler (19 years, 90 days) potted his first career goal.

ZUCKER’S LAST-MINUTE GOAL EXTENDS WILD WINNING STREAK
Darcy Kuemper stopped 37 shots and Jason Zucker scored the game-winning goal with 45.4 seconds remaining in the third period to lift the Wild past the Flyers for their fourth consecutive win. The Wild registered their first regulation win in Philadelphia since Feb. 10, 2003 and improved to 2-7-1 all-time in road games against the Flyers.

* Zucker is the sixth player to tally a go-ahead goal in the final minute of regulation time this season, all of which have come on the road. The other late winners were scored by Montreal's Tomas Plekanec (19:17, Oct. 8 at TOR), Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf (19:36, Oct. 11 at DET), Colorado's Daniel Briere (19:59, Oct. 13 at BOS), Dallas' Tyler Seguin (19:57, Oct. 16 at PIT) and Columbus' Mark Letestu (19:39, Oct. 23 at SJ).

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Wild scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation in a regular-season game was Dec. 15, 2009. In that game, Marek Zidlicky broke a 1-1 tie at 19:21 of the third period to lift the Wild over the Blue Jackets.

* Kuemper won his third straight contest to improve to 9-5-0 with a 2.03 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and three shutouts this season. He made 37 saves, his highest total since Jan. 17 at LA when he stopped a career-high 39 shots.

* Nino Niederreiter (1-1—2) opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the second period; the goal was Minnesota’s first with the man advantage on the road this season (1-for-35).

KANE LEADS BLACKHAWKS FOR SECOND STRAIGHT GAME . . .
The Blackhawks surrendered leads of 2-0 and 3-2 but Patrick Kane’s goal at 9:02 of the third period proved to be the game-winner as Chicago skated to a 4-3 win in Calgary. Kane has scored the game-winning goal in each of the past two contests (also Sunday vs. DAL) and now has three decisive markers this season. He led the Blackhawks and matched a career high with six game-winning goals in 2013-14 (also six in 2009-10).

* Adam Clendening (selected 36th overall in 2011) scored on his first shot in his NHL debut. Clendening is the third current Blackhawk to score his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot, joining Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Toews.

* The Blackhawks' 2011 Draft class (Clendening, Shaw and Brandon Saad) has combined for 77 goals and 170 points in 328 games, each of which is tops among 2011 team Draft classes.

. . . TATAR DOES SAME FOR RED WINGS
Tomas Tatar scored twice, including the game-winning goal with 4:50 left in regulation, as the Red Wings rallied from a 3-2 third-period deficit for a 4-3 win in Winnipeg. Tatar notched his second game-winning goal in as many games (also Tuesday at CBJ) after recording three such tallies through his first 117 career outings.

* Making his season debut, Petr Mrazek stopped 28 of 31 shots for his first NHL win since a 23-save shutout at STL on Apr. 13.

* Detroit improved to 11-5-1 all-time against the Jets/Thrashers but earned its first road win against the franchise since Mar. 20, 2009 in Atlanta.

PANIK STRIKES AGAINST FORMER CLUB AS MAPLE LEAFS TOP LIGHTNING
Richard Panik broke a 1-1 tie in the second period as the Maple Leafs scored three times in the frame en route to a 5-2 win against Tampa Bay. Panik was selected by the Lightning in the 2009 NHL Draft (52nd overall) and played the first 75 games of his career with the club before being claimed on waivers by the Maple Leafs on Oct. 9.

* Cody Franson tallied an assist to stretch his point streak to nine games (2-9—11), the longest by a Maple Leafs defenseman since Bryan McCabe from Nov. 6 to 25, 2006 (nine games, 4-9—13). Franson owns the longest active streak in the NHL.

* Jonathan Bernier stopped 26 of 28 shots for his sixth win of the season. He holds a 3-0-0 record with a 1.67 goals against average and a .952 save percentage in three career games against the Lightning.

* Tyler Bozak (0-2—2) picked up his fifth multi-point game of the season to reach 200 NHL points (78-122—200).

STARS STAGE THIRD-PERIOD RALLY
Down 1-0 entering the third period, the Stars scored twice in the opening minute, including JohnKlingberg’s first NHL goal, en route to a 3-1 win over the Coyotes. Dallas has won each of the past five meetings between the clubs at American Airlines Center dating to March 20, 2012. The win was the Stars’ first on home ice since Oct. 21, snapping a 0-5-2 skid.

* Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves to improve to 11-3-4 with a 2.05 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 19 career games against the Coyotes.

* Klingberg now has 1-3—4 in his NHL career (6 GP), with all four points coming during his current three-game point streak. The Gothenburg, Sweden native received the Stars' player of the game cowboy hat for his efforts.

BJUGSTAD POWERS PANTHERS IN SAN JOSE
Nick Bjugstad scored twice in regulation and netted the game-deciding goal in the shootout to lift the Panthers to a 3-2 win at San Jose. Florida, who earlier this month topped the Sharks 4-1 at BB&T Center, holds a 7-1-0 record in the past eight meetings between the two clubs dating to Oct. 24, 2008.

* Bjugstad has recorded 4-3—7 in his past three games and improved to 3-for-6 in career shootout attempts, including two game-deciding goals.

* Jussi Jokinen converted in the shootout to improve to 34-for-79 (43.0%) in career attempts.

OTHER THURSDAY NOTABLES
* Alex Ovechkin broke a 2-2 tie with a highlight-reel goal at 14:04 of the third period to lift the Capitals in Colorado. Ovechkin is tied for second in the League with three game-winning goals; he scored 10 such goals in 2013-14 to finish second in the League behind Max Pacioretty (11). Braden Holtby stopped 27 shots to improve to 4-1-0 with a 1.60 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in his past five outings.

* TannerPearson restored the Kings’ one-goal lead just 38 seconds after the Hurricanes had tied the game in the middle frame, as Los Angeles skated to a 3-2 win to improve to 10-2-1 at STAPLES Center this season. Pearson, who scored for the first time in 12 games, notched his second game-winner of the season (also Oct. 19 vs. MIN). Jonathan Quick stopped 25 shots to improve to 10-3-4 this season, including a 5-0-2 mark in his past seven games. Quick leads all goaltenders with a .938 save percentage (min. 7 GP).

* The Senators scored three goals in the second period to erase a 1-0 deficit en route to a 3-2 win over the Predators. Jared Cowan scored the game-winner for his first goal since Mar. 30 vs. CGY. Robin Lehner stopped 33 shots – including 15 in the third period – to improve to 4-2-1 this season with a 2.82 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

SENATORS MAKE INSPIRATIONAL ADDITION TO SCOUTING STAFF
Senators general manager Bryan Murray, along with assistant GMs Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee, signed 14-year-old Jonathan Pitre to the team’s pro scouting staff at a pre-game news conference Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre. The 14-year-old Pitre, who signed a one-day ceremonial contract, drew the Senators' attention in a recent piece in the Ottawa Citizen that showcased his desire to be a scout, his courage and infectious personality.

NHL ALL-STAR FAN VOTE IS ON
The 2015 NHL All-Star Fan Vote™ presented by SiriusXM opened worldwide Thursday. Fans around the world are able to vote via interactive online ballots at NHL.com/vote in English, French, German, Czech, Finnish, Russian, Slovak and Swedish and via select languages in the official NHL app for mobile phones. Voting concludes Thursday, Jan. 1, with the top six vote-getters by position – three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender – set to take part in the 2015 Honda NHL® All-Star Game on Sunday, Jan. 25 in Columbus (5 p.m., ET, NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

LOOSE PUCKS
Eric Staal scored for the second straight game to reach 700 career NHL points . . . Chicago’s Brad Richards (600) and Arizona’s Sam Gagner (200) notched milestone assists . . . Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (700), Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec (700), Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf (700), Senators forwards Clarke MacArthur (500) and Zack Smith (300) played in milestone games . . . Steven Stamkos scored his 13th goal of the season to move within one of Tyler Seguin for the League lead. He now has 14-13—27 in 22 career games against Toronto . . . Jakub Voracek notched an assist to regain the League scoring lead (7-20—27). He has a point in 16 of the Flyers’ 18 games this season . . . Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie scored his second goal of the season to stretch his point streak to three games (1-3—14); he leads the club in assists (12) and points (14) . . . Joe Thornton stretched his point streak to eight games (4-5—9) . . .Vladimir Tarasenko potted the Blues’ lone goal with assists to Jori Lehtera and Jaden Schwartz. One of the three members of the “STL Line” has scored 11 of the club’s 15 goals on the road this season . . . The Ducks acquired forward Rene Bourque from the Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Bryan Allen . . .The Canucks acquired forward Will Acton from the Oilers in exchange for Kellan Lain . . . The Hurricanes claimed C Andrej Nestasil on waivers from the Red Wings . . . Eric Lindros and John Leclair were inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame during a pre-game ceremony.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY'S ACTION
Due to the continuing weather-related difficulties in the Greater Buffalo area and out of respect for the fans of the Sabres, tonight's game between the Rangers and Sabres at First Niagara Center has been postponed. A makeup date will be announced as soon as it can be confirmed.

All Times Eastern
NY Rangers @ Buffalo - POSTPONED
NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., TVA, SN1, MSG+, ROOT
Boston @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., NESN, FS-O
New Jersey @ Edmonton, 9:30 p.m., MSG+, MSG+2, SNW

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TOP TEAMS IN METROPOLITAN MEET IN PITTSBURGH
The top-ranked teams in the Metropolitan Division clash in Pittsburgh Friday night when the Penguins (13-3-1, 27 pts.) host the Islanders (12-6-0, 24 pts.) in the first of a home-and-home series. The clubs play again at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby has recorded 85 points (25 goals, 60 assists) in 46 career regular-season games against the Islanders.

thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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