Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

03/04/2015 at 11:08am EST

PACIFIC CLUBS INCH CLOSER TO CANUCKS IN DIVISION RACE . . .
The Flames, Kings and Sharks all picked up road victories to inch closer to the Canucks – who lost to San Jose – for second place in the Pacific Division:


* The Flyers erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, but Jiri Hudler scored at 1:23 of overtime to power the Flames to their second win in their past three outings. Calgary improved to 5-1-1 in its past seven visits to Philadelphia dating to March 7, 2002.

* Hudler (1-1—2) recorded his second career overtime goal (also Dec. 7, 2013 at EDM). He also reached the 20-goal milestone for the third time and 50-point mark for the fourth time in his career (20-30—50 in 60 GP).

* Sean Monahan notched his team-leading 22nd goal of the season (63 GP), equaling his total from his rookie campaign in 2013-14 (75 GP). Karri Ramo made 35 saves to improve to 6-4-0 on the road this season, where he has a 1.87 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and two shutouts (12 GP).

* Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis both registered 1-2—3 to help the Kings snap a three-game skid and improve to 18-1-7 in their last 26 meetings with the Oilers dating to Nov. 26, 2008, including an 11-0-3 mark at Rexall Place.

* Kopitar posted his fourth three-point game of the season, while Lewis set a career high for points in one contest. Jeff Carter also found the back of the net; he paces the team with 21 goals and 49 points, one point ahead of Kopitar (13-35—48).

* Jonathan Quick made 21 saves to earn his ninth win in his past 11 starts. He also improved to 13-1-5 with a 1.54 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and one shutout in 19 career appearances vs. EDM.

* Matt Nieto (2-1—3) matched career highs for goals and points in one game to help the Sharks string together a pair of wins for the first time since Jan. 21-31 (3-0-0). Nieto has recorded one other multi-goal game (Feb. 3, 2014 vs. PHI: 2-0—2) and one other three-point performance (Oct. 8, 2013 vs. NYR: 1-2—3).

* After dropping their first two meetings of 2014-15, the Sharks evened their season series with the Canucks (SJS: 2-2-0, VAN: 2-2-0). They also picked up their fifth consecutive victory at Rogers Arena dating to March 5, 2013. The clubs play their fifth and final contest of 2014-15 on Saturday at SAP Center.

* Antti Niemi made 26 saves to improve to 8-3-0 in 11 career visits to Rogers Arena (2.17 GAA, .931 SV%, 1 SO). Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton each added two assists.

* ICYMI: Melker Karlsson scored a no-look goal from his stomach.

. . . WILD, STARS ALSO WIN IN QUEST FOR PLAYOFFS
Both the Wild and Stars also won on Tuesday to improve their positioning in the Western Conference Wild Card race:


* The Senators erased a two-goal deficit in the second period, but Charlie Coyle scored the decisive goal in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Wild to their sixth victory in their past seven outings. Coyle registered his second career shootout goal (2-for-5, 40.0%), both of which have been game-winners.

* Matt Dumba (2-0—2) notched his first career multi-goal performance. He has found the back of the net four times in his past seven games, surpassing his total from his first 45 career outings. Via Elias, Dumba is the third rookie defenseman in Wild history to post a multi-goal game, joining Filip Kuba (Jan. 5, 2001 vs. DET: 2-0—2) and Kurtis Foster (Nov. 19, 2005 vs. NSH: 2-0—2).

* Making his franchise-record and career-high 21st consecutive start, Devan Dubnyk recorded 31 saves through overtime – and denied three attempts in the tiebreaker – to improve to 16-3-1 in a Wild uniform (1.65 GAA, .937 SV%, 5 SO). He ranks third in the NHL with a 2.14 goals-against average and fifth with a .926 save percentage this season (40 GP).

* The Wild earned their second all-time home win against the Senators and first since March 16, 2004.

* The Islanders tied the game with 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation, but Cody Eakin scored at 2:18 of overtime to help the Stars snap a six-game skid (0-4-2).

* Eakin (1-1—2) posted his sixth career game-winning goal and first in overtime; he has 3-2—5 in his past three outings.

* Kari Lehtonen made 35 saves, including 17 in the opening period, to halt a three-game personal slide (0-1-2) and earn his 26th win of the season.

* The Stars snapped a three-game losing streak to the Islanders dating to Jan. 6, 2014. They also picked up their first head-to-head win on home ice since Jan. 8, 2010 (0-2-0).

OVECHKIN (AGAIN) POWERS CAPITALS WITH TWO GOALS
After registering 2-1—3 on Sunday vs. TOR, Alex Ovechkin (2-0—2) posted his second consecutive multi-goal game to lead the Capitals to their second straight win.

* At 35-20-10 (80 points), the Capitals moved within one point of the idle Penguins (36-17-9, 81 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division, where the top four clubs are separated by five points:


* Ovechkin scored his League-leading 42nd and 43rd goals of the season. It also was his 12th multi-goal game of 2014-15; no other player has more than seven such performances.

* Ovechkin also recorded his League-leading 10th game-winning goal of the season (and second in as many games), the fifth time he has reached double digits in that category. Per Elias, his five seasons with at least 10 game-winning goals are the most in the NHL history, besting the previous mark of four shared by Guy Lafleur and Jeremy Roenick.

* Elias also says this marks the seventh time that Ovechkin has scored the winning goal in each of two consecutive team games. He last accomplished that feat Oct. 9-11, 2010 (vs. NJD and OTT).

* Nicklas Backstrom assisted on both of Ovechkin’s goals; he paces the NHL 49 helpers. The duo also share the League lead in points: Ovechkin (43-24—67) and Backstrom (18-49—67).

* Braden Holtby made 27 saves, including a stop against Scott Hartnell on a second-period penalty shot, to earn his 31st victory of the season – tied for fourth in the NHL.

SILFVERBERG, COGLIANO LIFT DUCKS PAST COYOTES . . .
Jakob Silfverberg recorded 1-2—3 and Andrew Cogliano notched 2-0—2 to power the Ducks to their third consecutive victory and sixth win in their past seven contests.

* At 41-17-7 (89 points), the Ducks tied the Predators (41-17-7, 89 points) – in terms of points – for first place in the NHL standings, where the top seven teams are separated by five points:


* Silfverberg posted his first career three-point game. He also collected multiple assists for the second time in his career (also Oct. 13 at BUF: 0-2—2).

* Cogliano registered his eighth career multi-goal game and second of the season (also Feb. 15 vs. WSH: 2-0—2). Elias says three of his eight career multi-goal performances have come against the Coyotes. The others: Jan. 31, 2012 at PHX (3-0—3) and March 2, 2013 at PHX (3-0—3).

* Cogliano also skated in his 277th straight game with the Ducks, establishing a record for the longest consecutive games played streak in franchise history. He has not missed a game since his NHL debut in 2007-08; at 605 consecutive appearances, Cogliano owns the longest active iron man streak in the NHL.

* Playing his first game since Feb. 8, Frederik Andersen made 29 saves to pick up his 30th win of the season.

* The Ducks have earned points in nine consecutive meetings with the Coyotes dating to Oct. 18, 2013 (7-0-2).

. . . AS SCHNEIDER, DEVILS STYMIE PREDATORS
Cory Schneider made 33 saves to backstop the Devils past the Predators and to their sixth win in their last eight contests (6-1-1).

* At 27-27-10 (64 points), the Devils moved within seven points of the idle Bruins (31-22-9, 71 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Boston, however, holds two games in hand and owns the ROW tiebreaker (BOS: 29, NJD: 23).

* The Devils improved to 12-3-4 in their last 19 games at Prudential Center, including an 8-2-1 mark in their past 11 outings.

* Schneider improved to 12-5-2 with a 1.66 goals-against average, .946 save percentage and two shutouts in the calendar year (21 GP).

* Adam Larsson and Eric Gelinas each scored before the four-minute mark to give the Devils a 2-0 lead. Larsson has 1-6—7 in his past seven outings, while Gelinas snapped a 19-game goal drought dating to Dec. 13 at DAL.

* Mike Cammalleri added an empty-net goal to extend his point streak to seven contests (6-3—9).

* Damon Severson logged 16:21 of ice-time in his return to the lineup following a 31-game absence.

VASILEVSKIY EARNS FIRST CAREER SHUTOUT IN LIGHTNING WIN
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 28 shots he faced to record his first career shutout and lead the Lightning to their fourth victory in their past six starts.

* At 39-20-6 (84 points), the Lightning moved within three points of the idle Canadiens (41-17-5, 87 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division. Montreal holds two games in hand, but Tampa Bay owns the ROW tiebreaker (TBL: 37, MTL 35). The clubs meet three more times this season: March 10 at MTL, March 16 at TBL and March 30 at MTL.

* At 20 years, 221 days, Elias says Vasilevskiy became the youngest goaltender in Lightning history to earn a shutout.

* Vasilevskiy picked up his first win since Feb. 5. Overall, he is 5-3-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in 11 career appearances.

* Steven Stamkos scored his 36th goal of the season to move within two of Rick Nash for second place in the NHL. It stood as Stamkos’ fifth game-winning goal, tied for first on the team with Ondrej Palat.

* Ryan Callahan reached the 20-goal milestone for the third time in his career and first time since 2010-11 (23 w/ NYR). The Lightning are 21-2-0 when he finds the back of the net dating to his acquisition at the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline.

* The Lightning improved to 13-2-0 in their past 15 games at Amalie Arena, including consecutive shutouts (Feb. 27 vs. CHI: 4-0 W). At 24-6-1 (49 points), they rank second in the NHL in both home wins and points, behind the Predators (26-5-1, 53 points).

GOALTENDING INJURIES HELP MAPLE LEAFS SNAP ROAD SKID
Nazem Kadri and Peter Holland both scored in the third period to help the Maple Leafs overcome a 2-1 deficit and snap their franchise-record, 16-game road losing streak (0-14-2).

* Kadri has 3-9—12 in 12 career games vs. FLA. Holland posted his 10th goal of the season (3 GWG); the Maple Leafs improved to 9-1-0 when he finds the back of the net.

* Tyler Bozak added his 18th goal of the season and 10th via the power play. Only six players in the NHL have recorded more power-play goals this season.

* Jonathan Bernier made 40 saves to earn his third win in his past four starts. Overall, he improved to 19-19-5 in 44 appearances.

* ICYMI: Panthers goaltender Al Montoya replaced starter Roberto Luongo at the beginning of the second period after Luongo left the game due to injury. Montoya then was injured early in the final frame, but remained in the game for more than 10 minutes following a brief delay. Luongo eventually replaced Montoya after putting his gear back on. In the interim, the Panthers received approval to dress goaltending coach Robb Tallas – who appeared in 99 NHL games from 1995-01 – as a possible replacement. Click here for the full details.

* “[Montoya] stuck his neck out there for us,” said Panthers forward Brandon Pirri, who scored his 12th goal of the season. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but you see he was in pain. But he went back in there. He’s a tough guy. You’ve got to give him credit for helping the boys out.”

* “That was definitely a weird game,” added Bernier. “I’ve never been part of a game like that when both goalies get hurt and they had to pick the least hurt, I guess.”

LOOSE PUCKS
The Islanders (41-21-3, 85 points) lost in overtime, but moved one point ahead of the idle Rangers (39-17-6, 84 points) for first place in the Metropolitan Division . . . Canucks captain Henrik Sedin (2-0—2) recorded his third multi-goal game of the season to extend his point streak to eight contests (6-7—13). With his performance, Sedin became the first player in Canucks history to reach the 900-point milestone (208-693—901 in 1,073 GP). He also became the fourth Swedish-born player in NHL history to achieve the feat . . . Blue Jackets forward Scott Hartnell (2-1—3) registered his fourth multi-goal game and second three-point performance of the season (also Oct. 23 at SJS: 0-4—4) . . . Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad scored his 11th goal of the season, surpassing Ed Jovanovski’s franchise record for goals by a rookie blueliner (10 in 1995-96). Ekblad also owns the club mark for assists and points by a rookie defenseman (11-23—34) . . . David Savard became the third defenseman in Blue Jackets history to reach the 10-goal mark in one season. The others: Bryan Berard (12 in 2005-06) and Jamie Heward (11 in 2000-01) . . . Predators forward and new fatherMike Fisher found the back of the net for the third time in his past four games (3-1—4) . . . Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond made 36 saves, but suffered his first career loss (5-0-1 in 8 GP) . . . Flyers captain Claude Giroux collected his 300th NHL assist . . . Oilers defenseman Jordan Oesterle (3 GP) and Flames forward Emile Poirier (4 GP) both recorded their first NHL assist/point . . . Predators forward Matt Cullen played in his 1,200th NHL game, becoming the 104th player in League history to reach the milestone . . . Capitals forward Joel Ward (500), Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland (300), Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson (200), Sabres forward Zac Dalpe (100) and Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde (100) also played in milestone games . . . Kings head coach Darryl Sutter served his 1,102nd game behind the bench, tying Billy Reay for 16th place in NHL history . . . Stars defenseman Patrik Nemeth logged 12:08 of ice-time in his return from a 58-game absence . . . Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves in his first appearance since Jan. 21 . . . ICYMI: Los Angeles Lakers guard and British Columbia native Steve Nash dropped the ceremonial opening puck at the SJS-VAN game.


SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m., SN, TVA
NY Rangers @ Detroit, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, SN1
Pittsburgh @ Colorado, 10:00 p.m., ROOT, ALT
Montreal @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., SN, RDS, FS-W
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

CANADIENS, DUCKS BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE IN NHL
The No. 3 Canadiens (41-17-5, 87 points) visit the No. 2 Ducks (41-17-7, 89 points) at Honda Center in a battle for first place in the NHL standings. Although Anaheim is tied with Nashville (41-17-7, 89 points) in terms of points, the Predators still hold the top spot in the League standings by virtue of the ROW tiebreaker (NSH: 35, ANA: 33). With a win tonight, however, either team could vault into first place. This marks the second and final meeting between these clubs this season; the Ducks earned a 2-1 victory on Dec. 18 at Bell Centre courtesy of a Matt Beleskey goal with 11:27 remaining in regulation. Anaheim also is 6-1-2 in the last nine contests between these clubs dating to Dec. 10, 2005 (MTL: 3-5-1). Overall, the Ducks have won six of their past seven outings, while the Canadiens are 4-1-1 in their last six.

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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