Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

02/11/2015 at 10:44am EST

NEAL’S HEROICS LIFT PREDATORS PAST LIGHTNING . . .
The Lightning erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, but James Neal scored with 32.4 seconds remaining in overtime to power the Predators to their third consecutive victory and fifth win in their past six starts.


* At 36-12-6 (78 points), the Predators moved three points ahead of the Ducks (34-14-7, 75 points) – who lost on Tuesday – for the top spot in the NHL standings. Nashville also holds one game in hand and owns the ROW tiebreaker (NSH: 31, ANA: 27).


* The Predators improved to 22-3-1 (45 points) at Bridgestone Arena this season, including 11 victories in their past 12 such contests dating to Dec. 16. Their 22 home wins and 45 home points share first in the NHL (w/ TBL).

* Neal recorded his fifth career overtime goal and first in a Predators uniform. He shares first on the club (w/ Filip Forsberg) with 18 overall tallies this season, while his 31 points rank sixth. Neal now has 6-7—13 in 13 career regular-season games versus the Lightning.

* Pekka Rinne made 30 saves, including 12 in the third period and overtime, to pick up his League-leading 31st victory. He also ranks second in the NHL with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Rinne is 12-1-1 in his past 14 appearances dating to Dec. 16.

* Seth Jones found the back of the net to stretch his point streak to a career-high five games (3-2—5). His six goals (in 54 GP) match his total from his rookie season in 2013-14 (77 GP).

* The Predators improved to 6-2 in games decided in overtime this season. Six different players have accounted for their overtime goals, also: Forsberg (Nov. 27 vs. EDM), Mattias Ekholm (Dec. 20 at MIN), Roman Josi (Jan. 3 at LAK), Shea Weber (Jan. 8 vs. DAL) and Craig Smith (Jan. 27 vs. COL).

* The Predators also improved to 24-4-6 in one-goal games this season. Their 24 such victories pace the NHL, while their .706 winning percentage in those contests ranks third.

. . . JASKIN (AGAIN) HELPS BLUES KEEP PACE
Tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes, Dmitrij Jaskin potted the winning goal midway through the second period to help the Blues snap a two-game skid and improve to 8-0-1 in their past nine meetings with the Coyotes dating to March 7, 2013.

* At 35-15-4 (74 points), the Blues remained four points behind the Predators (36-12-6, 78 points) for the top spot in the Central Division and NHL standings.

* The Blues improved to 21-5-2 (44 points) at Scottrade Center this season, including a 9-1-1 mark in their last 11 such games dating to Dec. 29. Their 21 home wins and 44 home points rank third in the NHL, behind only the Predators and Lightning.

* Jaskin also recorded the game-winning goal for the Blues in their last victory, on Feb. 5 at BUF. He has four game-winning markers overall this season, tied for second among rookies behind Islanders forward Anders Lee (5).

* Facing a 1-0 deficit less than five minutes after the opening face-off, Alexander Steen evened the game with his 18th goal of the season. Linemates T.J. Oshie and David Backes provided the assists. The trio has combined for 62 points in the team’s last 17 games after totaling 56 points in the club’s first 37 contests of the season.

* Jake Allen made 25 saves to pick up his fifth consecutive victory. He leads all rookies with 16 wins this season (2.50 GAA, .906 SV%, 3 SO), one ahead of Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson.

* Ken Hitchcock earned his 692nd career victory to tie Dick Irvin for fourth in NHL history.

DESHARNAIS, CANADIENS RALLY FOR OT VICTORY
Trailing 1-0 late in the third period, Tomas Plekanec scored the tying goal with 7:22 remaining in regulation and David Desharnais found the back of the net at 3:27 of overtime to lift the Canadiens to their third consecutive victory.

* At 35-15-3 (73 points), the Canadiens moved within one point of the Lightning (34-16-6, 74 points) – who lost in overtime on Tuesday – for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. Montreal holds three games in hand, but Tampa Bay owns the ROW tiebreaker (TBL: 32, MTL: 30).

* Desharnais registered his third career overtime goal and second of the season (also Oct. 21 vs. DET). He also stretched his point streak to five contests (2-6—8).

* Carey Price made 23 saves to reach the 30-win milestone for the third time in his career. His 30 victories rank second in the NHL, while his 2.00 goals-against average and .933 save percentage pace the League.

* Price also picked up his 209th career victory to surpass Bill Durnan (208) and move into sole possession of fourth place in Canadiens history. He now only trails Jacques Plante (314), Patrick Roy (289) and Ken Dryden (258) on the franchise list.

* The Canadiens swept their three-game season series with the Flyers, including a pair of wins in extra time (also Oct. 11 at PHI: 4-3 SO).

BYFUGLIEN ALSO POWERS JETS IN OVERTIME
The Wild scored the tying goal with 9:38 remaining in regulation, but Dustin Byfuglien potted the decisive marker with one minute left in overtime to lead the Jets to their second straight win and fourth consecutive game with at least one point (2-0-2).


* At 28-18-10 (66 points), the Jets moved five points ahead of the idle Canucks (29-20-3, 61 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They also moved within three points of the idle Blackhawks (33-18-3, 69 points) for third place in the Central Division.

* Byfuglien recorded his eighth career overtime goal and seventh with the Jets/Thrashers. Only Ilya Kovalchuk (9) has more such goals in franchise history.

* All of Byfuglien’s overtime goals have been scored since 2009-10. Elias says his eight such markers are tied for first in the NHL in that span, with Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos.

* Byfuglien has 14 overall goals this season, tied for second among defensemen (w/ Trevor Daley) and two behind League-leader Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

* Michael Hutchinson made 29 saves to snap a four-game personal skid (0-3-1) and improve to 15-7-3 overall with a 2.18 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts.

* The Jets have earned points in five of their past seven meetings with the Wild dating to Nov. 23, 2013 (3-2-2).

CIZIKAS GIVES ISLANDERS BREATHING ROOM . . .
Knotted at 2-2 late in the third period, Casey Cizikas scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:37 remaining in regulation to power the Islanders to their third win in their past four starts.

* At 35-18-1 (71 points), the Islanders moved three points ahead of the idle Penguins (30-15-8, 68 points) for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh holds one game in hand, but the clubs are tied in ROW (NYI: 28, PIT: 28).

* The Islanders reached the 35-win mark in their 53rd game of the season for the second time in franchise history (also 1981-82: 35-13-6). Their 71 points at this juncture rank fifth in club history; the 1978-79 squad holds the record with 78 points through 53 contests.

* Cizikas registered his fourth career game-winning goal and second of the season (also Dec. 4 at OTT).

* Colin McDonald, who returned to the lineup on Sunday for the first time since Oct. 21, found the back of the net for the second straight game and earned the primary assist on Cizikas’ tiebreaking marker.

* Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves, including 15 in the third period, to tie Frederik Andersen for third in the NHL with his 29th win of the season (40 GP). His 29 victories also equal a career high established in 2013-14 (52 GP).

* The Islanders extended their home winning streak against the Oilers to eight games dating to Dec. 18, 2001.

. . . ZUCCARELLO, RANGERS KEEP PACE IN METROPOLITAN
The Maple Leafs erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, but Mats Zuccarello (2-0—2) scored the tiebreaking marker with 5:56 remaining in regulation to help the Rangers snap a two-game skid (0-1-1).

* At 31-16-5 (67 points), the Rangers leapfrogged the idle Capitals (28-16-10, 66 points) to move into third place in the Metropolitan Division. They trail the Islanders (35-18-1, 71 points) by four points for the top spot in the division, but hold two games in hand and own the ROW tiebreaker (NYR: 29, NYI: 28).

* Zuccarello registered his seventh career multi-goal game and second of the season (also Dec. 13 at VAN: 2-0—2). He also extended his point streak to six games (3-5—8), matching a career high last achieved March 30 – April 10, 2014 (4-5—9).

* Rick Nash posted three assists, marking the sixth time in his career he has collected at least three helpers in one game and the first time he has done so since Oct. 5, 2009 at VAN (0-3—3 w/ CBJ).

* Dominic Moore (1-1—2), Derick Brassard (0-2—2) and Marc Staal (0-2—2) also notched multiple points for the Rangers, who improved to 7-2-2 in their past 11 visits to Air Canada Centre dating to Feb. 25, 2009.

TUESDAY NOTABLES
Highlights from the rest of Tuesday’s games:

* Kari Lehtonen made 41 saves, including 15 in both the first and second periods, to backstop the Stars to their fourth victory in their past seven outings (4-2-1). At 25-21-8 (58 points), the Stars moved within three points of the idle Canucks (29-20-3, 61 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Jamie Benn (2-0—2) notched his third multi-goal game of the season; he ranks second on the club in goals (18), assists (31) and points (49). Vernon Fiddler and Trevor Daley both scored shorthanded goals, marking the second time this season the Stars have recorded multiple shorthanded tallies (also Jan. 29 at OTT: 2 SHGs). They share the League lead with eight shorthanded goals overall (w/ NYI).

* Six different players found the back of the net to power the Panthers to their third win in their last four starts (3-0-1). At 24-17-11 (59 points), the Panthers moved within four points of the Bruins (28-19-7, 63 points) – who lost on Tuesday – for the final Wild Card berth in the Eastern Conference. Jonathan Huberdeau collected three assists for the second time in his career (also April 27, 2013 at TBL). He also matched a career high for points in one game, last achieved Jan. 8 at VAN (2-1—3). Dave Bolland (1-1—2), Jimmy Hayes (1-1—2), Brian Campbell (0-2—2) and Erik Gudbranson (0-2—2) added multiple points for the Panthers, who improved to 3-1-0 in their past four meetings with the Ducks dating to Nov. 12, 2013.

* Knotted at 1-1 late in the third period, Milan Michalek scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:45 remaining in regulation to help the Senators snap a three-game skid. Michalek registered his 33rd career game-winning goal and first since Feb. 6, 2014, also vs. BUF. Robin Lehner made 35 saves, including 21 in the second period. Per Elias, Lehner is 6-1-0 in the seven games in which he has faced at least 35 shots this season (2.12 GAA, .943 SV%). Erik Karlsson also found the back of the net for the Senators, who improved to 11-1-3 in their past 15 meetings with the Sabres dating to Dec. 13, 2011.

LOOSE PUCKS
Despite suffering the overtime loss, the Wild stretched their point streak to seven games (6-0-1). Devan Dubnyk made 32 saves; he is 8-1-1 in 11 starts since joining Minnesota (1.53 GAA, .941 SV%, 4 SO) . . . The Lightning also fell in overtime, but have earned points in six of their last seven outings (4-1-2) to remain atop the Eastern Conference. Andrei Vasilevskiy posted 26 saves, including a cross-crease toe stop . . . The Flyers stretched their point streak to seven contests (5-0-2). Ray Emery made 39 saves, his most since Jan. 20, 2014 at NYI (40 saves) . . . Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (2-0—2) recorded his first career multi-goal game. Teammate Stephane Robidas also found the back of the net for his first goal in a Toronto uniform . . . Forward Brett Connolly became the 10th member of the Lightning to reach double-digits in goals this season . . . Panthers forward Tomas Fleischmann registered his 300th NHL point . . . Oilers forward Ryan Hamilton scored his first NHL goal (15 GP), while teammate Iiro Pakarinen collected his first NHL assist on the play (9 GP) . . . Bruins forward Gregory Campbell (700), Ducks forward Rene Bourque (600) and Predators defenseman Victor Bartley (100) all played in milestone games . . . ICYMI: Click here for a recap of the second episode of Road to the NHL Stadium Series, which premiered on Tuesday . . . Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi and Kings goaltender Martin Jones unveiled their masks for the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series . . . Stars forward Antoine Roussel will have a hearing on Thursday with the Department of Player Safety for a cross-checking incident against Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid . . . Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo made 31 saves to reach the 20-win milestone for the 11th time in his career, but allowed a goal from the red line due to an unlucky bounce. He later joked about the play on Twitter:


SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit @ Pittsburgh, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, SN1, TVA
Vancouver @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m., SN, CSN-CH
Washington @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department

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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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