Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

03/05/2015 at 10:46am EST

GIBSON HELPS DUCKS RECLAIM FIRST PLACE IN NHL STANDINGS
John Gibson made 37 saves – two shy of his career high set on Sunday at DAL – to lead the Ducks past the Canadiens and to their seventh victory in their past eight contests.

* At 42-17-7 (91 points), the Ducks leapfrogged the idle Predators (41-17-7, 89 points) to reclaim first place in the NHL standings. Anaheim also leads the League with 42 wins; the club set a franchise record with 54 victories (and 116 points) in 2013-14.

* Gibson, who fell 1:41 short of his third career shutout, improved to 6-1-0 in his last seven outings (1.84 GAA, .942 SV%). Overall, he has a 12-5-0 record in 18 career appearances (2.22 GAA, .929 SV%).

* Francois Beauchemin, a third-round pick (75th overall) by the Canadiens in the 1998 NHL Draft, equaled a career high with his eighth goal of the season (48 GP) – a feat also achieved in 2005-06 (61 GP) and 2011-12 (82 GP).

* Facing his former team for the first time since a Feb. 24 trade, Jiri Sekac recorded the primary assist on Rickard Rakell’s game-winning goal. The undrafted rookie has 0-3—3 in five games with the Ducks after posting 7-9—16 in 50 contests with the Canadiens.

* Rakell potted his first career game-winning goal (77 GP). Cam Fowler added his second career shorthanded goal into an empty net.

* The Ducks improved to 7-1-2 in their last 10 meetings with the Canadiens dating to Dec. 10, 2005.

ZIDLICKY POWERS RED WINGS IN TEAM DEBUT
Playing in his first game with the team following a Monday trade, Marek Zidlicky scored at 1:09 of overtime to propel the Red Wings to their third straight victory and a 5-1-1 mark in their past seven outings.

* At 36-15-11 (83 points), the Red Wings moved within one point of the idle Lightning (39-20-6, 84 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division. Detroit holds three games in hand, but Tampa Bay owns the ROW tiebreaker (TBL: 37, DET: 33). The clubs face off two more times this season – March 20 at Amalie Arena and March 28 at Joe Louis Arena.

* Via Elias, Zidlicky became the first player in Red Wings history to record an overtime goal in his club debut. The last player to accomplish that feat for any team was David Tanabe, who did so for the Coyotes on Oct. 10, 2003 vs. STL.

* Elias also says that Zidlicky became the fifth player in Red Wings history to score his first goal with the team in overtime (though no one else has done so in his first game with the club). The others: Duke Keats (1927), Mud Bruneteau (1935), Marian Hossa (2008) and Stephen Weiss (2013).

* Zidlicky snapped a 31-game goal drought dating to Dec. 15 at NYI (w/ NJD). He has 5-19—24 in 64 appearances this season.

* Jimmy Howard made 39 saves – one shy of his season high set on Dec. 29 at BOS – to improve to 4-2-1 in seven career games vs. NYR (1.84 GAA, .951 SV%).

* Henrik Zetterberg collected two assists in his return to the lineup following a four-game absence. He has 15-36—51 in 58 games this season, one point behind Pavel Datsyuk (22-30—52 in 51 GP) for the team lead.

* The Red Wings improved to 8-0-1 in their last nine meetings with the Rangers at Joe Louis Arena dating to March 26, 2000.

HAMMOND (AGAIN) SHINES IN SENATORS WIN
Andrew Hammond made 35 saves, including 12 in the third period, to help the Senators extend their point streak to seven contests (6-0-1) and complete their five-game road trip with a 4-0-1 record.

* At 28-23-11 (67 points), the Senators moved within four points of the idle Bruins (31-22-9, 71 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Boston owns the ROW tiebreaker (BOS: 29, OTT: 25), but Ottawa leads the season series between the teams (OTT: 2-1-0, BOS: 1-0-2). The clubs meet two more times in 2014-15 – on March 10 and 19, both at Canadian Tire Centre.

* Per Elias, the Senators earned at least one point in each game of a road trip of five or more games for the first time since Feb. 11-17, 2009 (also 4-0-1). This is the first time the Senators have achieved that feat with the same goaltender recording each decision.

* Hammond, who made his first NHL start on Feb. 18 vs. MTL, has been in net for each game during the team’s point streak. Elias says he is the first goaltender to earn a point in each of his first seven career decisions – in consecutive team games – since Jim Carey did so with the Capitals from March 2-13, 1995 (also 6-0-1).

* Overall, Hammond has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his nine career appearances (including two relief efforts before his first career start). Over the last 75 years, Elias says only two other goaltenders have yielded two or fewer goals in each of their first seven (or more) career starts, and both such instances occurred last season: Martin Jones did so with the Kings (first eight starts) and Cam Talbot did so with the Rangers (first seven games).

* Kyle Turris posted 1-1—2; he has 7-8—15 in his past 13 outings. Erik Condra and Bobby Ryan supplied the other goals.

* Mika Zibanejad collected one assist to extend his point streak to a career-high five games (2-3—5).

* The Senators improved to 4-0-1 in their last five meetings with the Jets dating to March 17, 2013.

LANDESKOG LIFTS AVALANCHE OVER PENGUINS
Gabriel Landeskog posted 1-2—3 to match a career high for points in one game and lead the Avalanche to their fourth victory in their past six starts.

* At 28-25-11 (67 points), the Avalanche moved with eight points of the idle Wild (34-22-7, 75 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota, however, holds one game in hand and owns the ROW tiebreaker (MIN: 31, COL: 20).

* Landeskog recorded his sixth career three-point game and first since March 25, 2014 at NSH (2-1—3). He shares the team lead with 17-26—43 this season, including 7-5—12 in his past 10 appearances.

* Jarome Iginla scored 13 seconds into the second period to reach the 20-goal milestone for the 16th time in his career. Elias says that Jaromir Jagr (18) is the only active player to achieve the feat more times.

* Iginla (580-630—1,210) now has 1,210 career points, tied with Bobby Clarke (358-852—1,210) for 43rd place in NHL history. Larry Murphy (287-929—1,216) and Jeremy Roenick (513-703—1,216) share 41st all-time with 1,216 points apiece.

* Nathan MacKinnon notched his seventh career game-winning goal and second of the season (also Jan. 6 at CHI).

* Making his career-high 20th consecutive start, Semyon Varlamov recorded 28 saves to reach the 20-win mark for the second straight season and third time in his career.

DID YOU KNOW?
Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle and Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay both played in their 1,000th NHL game on Wednesday.

* Per Elias, the last time two players suited up for their 1,000th NHL game on the same day was on Jan. 17, 2011, when Devils forward Jamie Langenbrunner and Sharks forward Patrick Marleau each hit the milestone.

* Boyle became the 298th player in NHL history to appear in 1,000 games. The undrafted defenseman began his career in 1998-99 and has compiled 152-424—576 with the Panthers, Lightning, Sharks and Rangers. He also won the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2003-04.

* Tanguay, the 12th overall pick by the Avalanche in the 1998 NHL Draft, became the 299th player to reach the milestone. He has recorded 269-544—813 with Colorado, Calgary, Montreal and Tampa Bay. Tanguay also won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2000-01.

* Tanguay became the second Avalanche player to skate in his 1,000th NHL game against the Penguins this season; defenseman Brad Stuart also reached the feat on Dec. 18 at CONSOL Energy Center.

* ICYMI: The Avalanche honored Tanguay during a pregame ceremony that included his son, Samuel, who suited up in a full uniform.


LOOSE PUCKS
Despite suffering the overtime loss, the Rangers (39-17-7, 85 points) leapfrogged the idle Islanders (41-21-3, 85 points) to reclaim first place in the Metropolitan Division – though the teams are tied in points, the Rangers hold two games in hand and own the ROW tiebreaker (NYR: 36, NYI: 34). The clubs face off for a fifth and final time this season on Tuesday at Nassau Coliseum . . . The Rangers have earned points in 12 of their past 13 contests dating to Feb. 8 (9-1-3) . . . Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin scored the team’s lone goal to stretch his point streak to six contests (6-6—12). He shares third in the NHL this season with 27-38—65, two points shy of League leaders Alex Ovechkin (43-24—67) and Nicklas Backstrom (18-49—67) . . . Jets forward Michael Frolik found the back of the net to extend his point streak to five games (3-2—5), matching a career high set Oct. 30 – Nov. 10, 2010 (4-4—8 w/ FLA) . . . Rangers forward Rick Nash posted one assist to reach the 60-point milestone for the fifth time in his career and first time since 2010-11 (w/ CBJ) . . . Canadiens forward Devante Smith-Pelly logged 12:56 of ice-time, four shots on goal and three hits in his return to Anaheim . . . The Department of Player Safety suspended Islanders forward Matt Martin for one game for kneeing Stars defenseman Trevor Daley . . . ICYMI: Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will be a guest on today’s episode of LIVE with Kelly and Michael . . . Former Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson will receive the Key to the City of Ottawa today at City Hall . . . Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban showed off his skills using a GoPro . . . The Jets wore special camouflage jerseys during warm-ups and Canadian Armed Forces personnel dropped the ceremonial opening puck as part of Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night at the OTT-WPG game.


SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Calgary @ Boston, 7:00 p.m., SNW, NESN
St. Louis @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN360, FS-MW, CSN-PH
Minnesota @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., FS-N, FS-WI, CSN-DC
Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SNO, TVA, SUN
Dallas @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., FS-SW, FS-F
NY Islanders @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., MSG+, FS-TN
Vancouver @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., SNP, FS-A
Montreal @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNE, RDS, FS-W
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

FLAMES CONTINUE ROAD TRIP AGAINST BRUINS . . .
The Flames continue their seven-game road trip when they visit the Bruins at TD Garden. Both clubs sit on the playoff bubble in their respective conferences. Calgary (34-25-4, 72 points) currently ranks third in the Pacific Division, but division rivals Los Angeles (30-21-12, 72 points) and San Jose (32-25-8, 72 points) – the first two clubs on the outside of the playoff picture – are tied with the Flames in terms of points. Boston (31-22-9, 71 points), meanwhile, holds the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of Florida (28-23-13, 69 points) and four points clear of Ottawa (28-23-11, 67 points). This marks the second and final meeting between these teams this season; the Flames earned a 4-3 victory on Feb. 16 on the strength of a TJ Brodie goal in the final seconds of overtime. Overall, Calgary is 2-2-0 on its seven-game road trip, while Boston has won three of its past four outings.

. . . FLYERS TRY TO CLIMB STANDINGS WITH BLUES IN TOWN
The Flyers also will try to improve their playoff positioning when they welcome the Blues to Wells Fargo Center. At 27-25-12 (66 points), Philadelphia trails Boston (31-22-9, 71 points) by five points for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. St. Louis (40-18-5, 85 points), meanwhile, sits four points back of Nashville (41-17-7, 89 points) for first place in the Central Division. This marks the first of two meetings between these clubs over the next week; they also will face off on March 12 at Scottrade Center. Historically, the Blues have earned points in six of their past seven matchups dating to Feb. 10, 2007 (4-1-2). Overall, Philadelphia is 3-2-2 in its last seven contests, while St. Louis is 3-2-1 in its past six.

COYOTES TO DON THROWBACK JERSEYS
The Coyotes will wear the black Kachina jerseys that the team used from 1996-03 when they face off against the Canucks at Gila River Arena. This marks the first time that the Coyotes will wear a throwback jersey. As part of the night, goaltender Mike Smith designed a special mask to celebrate the team’s original uniforms. Click here for a closer look.

thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information

Create an Account

In order to leave a comment, please create an account.

About Kukla's Korner Hockey

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.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

Most Recent Posts

Most Recent Comments

Comment by bigfrog in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry Nashville's Top Line - 2 hours ago
Comment by exor54 in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Time To Talk On A Day Off - 4 hours ago
Comment by RWHockey13 in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Time To Talk On A Day Off - 5 hours ago
Comment by damndogrevenge in Abel to Yzerman from the entry Time To Talk On A Day Off - 5 hours ago
Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry NHL GMs Agree To Keep Regular Season OT Format - 5 hours ago