Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

02/09/2015 at 10:39am EST

FORSBERG LIFTS PREDATORS BACK INTO FIRST PLACE
Filip Forsberg scored the tying goal with 4:43 remaining in regulation and then potted the decisive marker in the fourth round of the shootout to power the Predators to their fourth win in their past five contests.

* At 35-12-6 (76 points), the Predators leapfrogged the Ducks (34-13-7, 75 points) – who lost on Sunday – to reclaim first place in the NHL standings. They also widened their lead in the Central Division, moving four points ahead of the Blues (34-15-4, 72 points) – who also lost on Sunday.

* Forsberg posted his 18th tally of the season to tie Alexander Radulov’s franchise record for goals by a rookie (18-19—37 in 2006-07). Forsberg paces all rookies in goals, assists (30) and points (48) this season, including points in five straight outings (1-5—6).

* Forsberg improved to 2-for-6 (33.3%) all-time in shootouts. Both of his goals have been decisive markers, with the other also coming in the fourth round of a 3-2 win vs. FLA (on Nov. 22 at NSH).

* Facing a 2-0 deficit after 40 minutes, Seth Jones sparked the Predators’ comeback with his fifth goal of the season and second via the power play.

* Carter Hutton made 34 saves through overtime and denied two shootout attempts to extend his personal point streak to six contests (4-0-2). He has a 2.23 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in that span.

* The Predators stretched their point streak versus the Panthers to five games dating to March 3, 2012 (4-0-1). They have won nine of their past 12 meetings dating to Oct. 27, 2007 (9-2-1).

FILPPULA, BOYLE POWER LIGHTNING TO TOP OF EAST . . .
Valtteri Filppula registered 1-2—3 and Brian Boyle added 2-0—2 to propel the Lightning past the Ducks and to their 11th victory in their past 12 games at Amalie Arena dating to Dec. 11.

* At 34-16-5 (73 points), the Lightning leapfrogged the idle Red Wings (31-12-9, 71 points) to move back into first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

* The Lightning improved to 22-5-1 this season at Amalie Arena. Their 22 home wins and 45 home points pace the NHL.

* Filppula notched his second three-point game of 2014-15 and first since Oct. 30 vs. PHI (0-3—3).

* Boyle posted his second multi-goal game of the season (also Oct. 28 vs. ARI: 2-0—2), including his third decisive marker. Prior to 2014-15, he had not recorded a multi-goal game since Nov. 9, 2010 (w/ NYR, 2-0—2 vs. WSH).

* Three other Lightning players tallied multiple points: Ryan Callahan (1-1—2), Brett Connolly (0-2—2) and Steven Stamkos (0-2—2).

* Nikita Kucherov found the back of the net for the third straight game (3-1—4), the second time he has achieved that feat in his career (also Jan. 1-5, 2014: 3-0—3 in 3 GP).

* The Lightning have collected at least one point in each of their past eight meetings with the Ducks dating to Jan. 9, 2009 (4-0-4).

. . . PRICE, CANADIENS KEEP PACE WITH SWEEP OF BRUINS
Carey Price made 34 saves, including a desperation paddle stop, to lead the Canadiens to a sweep of their four-game season series with the Bruins.

* The Canadiens swept their season series with the Bruins for the first time since 2007-08, when they went 8-0-0.

* Per Sportsnet, the Canadiens also swept their season series against the Bruins – all with regulation victories­ – for the first time since 1944-45.

* The Canadiens picked up their seventh victory in their past nine outings overall. At 34-15-3 (71 points), they leapfrogged the idle Red Wings (31-12-9, 71 points) to move into second place in the Atlantic Division.

* Price improved to 29-11-2 with a 2.03 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 appearances this season. That includes a 4-0-0 mark with a 1.50 goals-against average, .950 save percentage and one shutout versus the Bruins.

* Price also improved to 21-8-3 with a 2.38 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and one shutout in 33 career regular-season appearances against the Bruins.

* Max Pacioretty posted 1-1—2, including his team-leading 24th goal and sixth decisive marker of the season. He now has 17 game-winning goals over the past two campaigns (125 GP); Pacioretty had seven such goals in his first five NHL seasons (246 GP).

* Dale Weise also registered 1-1—2 to extend his point streak to three contests (3-2—5).

HOSSA HELPS BLACKHAWKS NARROW GAP IN CENTRAL
Knotted at 2-2 after 40 minutes, Marian Hossa scored twice in the third period – including the tiebreaking marker with 8:41 remaining in regulation – to lift the Blackhawks past the Blues.

* At 33-18-2 (68 points), the Blackhawks moved within four points of the Blues (34-15-4, 72 points) for second place in the Central Division. St. Louis owns the ROW tiebreaker (STL: 28, CHI: 27), but Chicago has won two of their three meetings this season.

* Hossa notched his second multi-goal game of the season, both of which have featured the decisive marker (also Dec. 6 at NSH: 2-0—2). He ranks third on the club with 12-24—36 overall.

* Bryan Bickell (1-1—2) and Brandon Saad (0-2—2) also collected multiple points. Marcus Kruger added the other tally.

* Corey Crawford made 25 saves to improve to 21-12-2 with a 2.25 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and one shutout in 35 appearances this season.

* The Blackhawks have earned at least one point in six of their past seven regular-season contests with the Blues dating to Oct. 17, 2013 (4-1-2). The clubs face off two more times in 2014-15: on April 5 at CHI and on April 9 at STL.

ISLANDERS EDGE SABRES TO RECLAIM FIRST IN METROPOLITAN
Anders Lee and Mikhail Grabovski scored 62 seconds apart in the second period to power the Islanders to their second win in their past three starts.

* At 34-18-1 (69 points), the Islanders leapfrogged the idle Penguins (30-15-8, 68 points) to reclaim first place in the Metropolitan Division.

* The Islanders tied a franchise record with their 34th win in their 53rd game of the season, a mark also achieved in 1978-79 (34-9-10) and 1981-82 (34-13-6). The club did not reach 34 victories until the season finale in 2013-14 (34-37-11).

* The Islanders allowed 10 shots on goal, also tying a franchise record for the fewest shots against in one game. That mark was established on Feb. 16, 2008 vs. ATL (4-1 W).

* Lee recorded his 16th goal of the season, which ranks third among rookies and two behind League leader Filip Forsberg. Grabovski posted his second decisive marker of 2014-15 and first since the season opener (Oct. 10 at CAR).

* The Islanders improved to 17-12-1 as visitors this season. Their 17 road wins and 35 road points are tied for the most in the NHL (w/ CHI).

* The Islanders have picked up points in each of their past seven meetings with the Sabres dating to Feb. 23, 2013 (4-0-3).

AROUND THE RINKS
Highlights from the rest of Sunday’s eight-game slate:

* Dustin Byfuglien and Mathieu Perreault each registered 1-2—3 to help the Jets snap a six-game skid (0-4-2) and improve to 3-0-1 this season against the Avalanche. Byfuglien and Perreault both notched their second three-point games of 2014-15; their only other such performances also came in the same contest, on Jan. 13 vs. FLA (Byfuglien: 2-1—3, Perreault: 4-0—4). Bryan Little added 1-1—2, including his team-leading 21st goal of the season and third decisive marker (also Oct. 26 vs. COL and Dec. 23 at CHI). He has 3-3—6 in his past four outings and ranks second on the club with 21-23—44 overall. At 27-18-10 (64 points), the Jets moved three points ahead of the idle Flames (29-21-3, 61 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Chris Kreider tied the game with 1:20 remaining in regulation, but Ales Hemsky scored his first career overtime goal at 1:02 of the extra period to help the Stars snap a three-game skid (0-2-1). Hemsky added one helper for his fourth multi-point performance of the season and first since Jan. 13 vs. OTT, his former team (1-1—2). Jason Spezza collected 1-2—3, including an assist on Hemsky’s overtime goal, for his second three-point outing of the season (also Oct. 18 vs. PHI: 1-3—4). The Stars improved to 6-3-1 in their past 10 meetings with the Rangers dating to Nov. 25, 2007, including a sweep of their two-game season series. At 24-21-8 (56 points), they also moved within five points of the idle Flames (29-21-3, 61 points) for the final Wild Card berth in the Western Conference.

* Knotted at 1-1 after 40 minutes, Wayne Simmonds scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period to help the Flyers extend their point streak to a season-high six games (5-0-1). Simmonds paces the club with 19 goals in 2014-15, including five decisive markers (a career high). Claude Giroux collected two assists, while linemate Jakub Voracek added an empty-net goal to move back into a tie for first in the NHL (w/ Patrick Kane and Tyler Seguin) with his 59th point of the season. The Flyers improved to 5-1-0 in their past six meetings with the Capitals dating to Dec. 17, 2013. At 23-22-8 (54 points), they also moved within nine points of the Bruins (28-18-7, 63 points) – who lost on Sunday – for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin notched his 33rd goal of the season to move into a tie for first in the NHL (w/ Rick Nash). It was Ovechkin’s 15th marker via the power play, also tied for first in the League (w/ Joe Pavelski) . . . Ovechkin has 17-6—23 in his past 19 outings dating to Dec. 29 . . . Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko scored a highlight-reel goal for his 28th of the season, tied for fourth in the NHL (w/ Pavelski and Steven Stamkos) . . . Aaron Ekblad registered his eighth goal of the season, two shy of the Panthers record for a rookie defenseman established by Ed Jovanovski in 1995-96 (10). Ekblad already owns the franchise mark for points by a rookie rearguard with 8-22—30 . . . Sabres forward Marcus Foligno posted 1-1—2 in his return to the lineup following a 19-game absence . . . Ducks forward Corey Perry (4-3—7), Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello (1-5—6) and Blues forward Paul Stastny (1-4—5) all extended their point streaks to five games . . . Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov also has found the scoresheet in each of his past five personal appearances dating to Jan. 18 (0-6—6) . . . Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf notched his 200th NHL goal . . . Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo recorded his 100th NHL point . . . Avalanche defenseman Jan Hejda (600) and Islanders forward Frans Nielsen (500) both played in milestone games . . . Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla collected two assists to move into sole possession of 46th place on the NHL’s all-time points list (576-626—1,202). He also skated in his 1,364th career game, moving into sole possession of 44th all-time . . . Islanders forward Colin McDonald scored his first goal since March 25, 2014 at CAR, snapping a 12-game drought.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Edmonton @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., SNW, MSG+
Los Angeles @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., SNE, SNO, FS-W, FS-O
Vancouver @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., SNP, FS-N
Arizona @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., NBCSN, CSN-CH
Calgary @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., SNW, CSN-CA

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.

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