Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

10/13/2015 at 10:16am EDT

STAMKOS’ 500TH POINT HELPS LIGHTNING SNAP SKID IN BOSTON
Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal to snap a 3-3 tie, record his 500th NHL pointand help the Lightning pick up their first regular-season victory in Boston since March 25, 2010 (0-9-1).

* Stamkos (278-222—500 in 495 GP) became the 55th active player to reach the 500-point milestone. Elias notes, however, that he achieved the milestone in the fifth-fewest games among active players, behind only Sidney Crosby (369 GP), Alex Ovechkin (373 GP), Evgeni Malkin (413 GP) and Jaromir Jagr (419 GP).

* Stamkos also became the third player in Lightning history to record 500 points with the team. The others: Martin St. Louis (365-588—953 in 972 GP) and Vincent Lecavalier(383-491—874 in 1,037 GP).

* Stamkos’ goal – his 95th career via the power play – also stood as his 40th career game-winning tally. Since entering in the League in 2008-09, Stamkos ranks second in the NHL in both goals and power-play goals, behind Ovechkin (313 G, 117 PPG).

* Brian Boyle (2-0—2) notched his sixth career multi-goal game – and first since Feb. 8 vs. ANA (2-0—2) – to help the Lightning overcome an early 2-0 deficit.

TAVARES POWERS ISLANDERS TO FIRST WIN AT BARCLAYS CENTER
John Tavares registered 1-2—3, including what stood as the game-winning goal, to power the Islanders to their first regular-season victory at Barclays Center.

* The Islanders’ first win at Barclays Center (in 2 GP) came exactly 43 years to the day when they won their first game at Nassau Coliseum (also in 2 GP). On Oct. 12, 1972,Germain Gagnon scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:09 remaining in regulation to lift the team to a 3-2 victory over the Kings.

* Tavares posted three or more points in a game for the 33rd time in his career (435 GP) and for the first time since April 7 at PHI (1-2—3). He ranked second in the NHL with 38-48—86 last season (82 GP), setting career highs in goals and points.

* Tavares also picked up his first power-play goal and game-winning goal of the season. He led the Islanders in both categories in 2014-15, establishing a career high with 13 power-play goals and matching a personal best with eight game-winning goals (also 2011-12).

EICHEL, MOULSON LIFT SABRES TO FIRST VICTORY OF 2015-16
Jack Eichel scored the game-winning goal – after stealing the puck and narrowly keeping it in the offensive zone – and Matt Moulson collected 1-2—3 to lead the Sabres to their first victory of the season.

* Via Elias, Eichel (18 years, 349 days) became the first Sabres player to register a game-winning goal before his 19th birthday since Wayne Primeau (18 years, 333 days) on May 3, 1995 vs. NJD.

* Elias adds the Eichel became the eighth NHL player in the past three seasons to notch a game-winning goal before his 19th birthday. The last: Bruins forward David Pastrnak, in consecutive games in January.

* Moulson posted three or more points in a game for the 16th time in his career (477 GP) and for the first time since March 11 at TOR (1-2—3).

* The Sabres went 3-for-7 on the power play, marking the first time they have recorded three power-play goals in one game since Jan. 20, 2013 vs. PHI (3-for-6).

GOALTENDERS GET FIRSTS
Goaltenders Michal Neuvirth (PHI), Chad Johnson (BUF) and Thomas Greiss (NYI) all earned their first wins with their new clubs:

* Neuvirth denied all 31 shots he faced to win his first start with the Flyers and pick up his eighth career shutout – and first since March 11, 2012 vs. TOR (23 SV w/ WSH). Neuvirth, who made 19 saves in relief on Saturday, signed with the Flyers on July 1.

* Johnson, who was acquired at the 2015 NHL Trade Deadline (in exchange for Neuvirth), stopped 22 shots to earn his first victory with the Sabres (3 GP). He also improved to 4-0-0 in four career appearances vs. CBJ (1.72 GAA, .922 SV%).

* Greiss, who signed with the Islanders during the offseason, made 22 saves in his second start with the club. The 29-year-old Fussen, Germany, native improved 37-30-12 in 91 career NHL appearances (2.47 GAA, .913 SV%, 3 SO).

DID YOU KNOW?
Per Elias, Michal Neuvirth became the fifth goaltender in Flyers history to earn a shutout in his first start with the team. The others: Robbie Moore (March 6, 1979 vs. COL), John Vanbiesbrouck (Oct. 9, 1998 at NYR), Jeff Hackett (Oct. 9, 2003 vs. BUF) and Ray Emery (Oct. 2, 2009 at CAR).

AROUND THE RINKS
* Ryan Miller made 28 saves through overtime – and then denied two attempts in the shootout – and Alexandre Burrows scored the decisive goal to lift the Canucks over the Ducks in Anaheim’s home opener. Miller picked up his 53rd career shootout victory (53-30) – the most all-time, three ahead of Henrik Lundqvist (50-36). Radim Vrbata also scored in the shootout; his 39 career shootout goals (39-for-90) are tied for second in NHL history, one behind Jonathan Toews (40-for-80). The Canucks improved to 3-1-2 in their past six meetings with the Ducks dating to Nov. 9, 2014 (ANA: 3-1-2).

* Michal Neuvirth stopped all 31 shots he faced and Brayden Schenn scored the lone goal at 5:57 of the first period to lead the Flyers to a split of their home-and-home series with the Panthers. Schenn recorded his 16th career game-winning goal; he equaled a career high and shared the team lead with six such tallies last season. The Flyers won their home opener for the first time since 2011-12 (5-4 W vs. VAN) and earned a shutout in their home opener for the first time since 2003-04 (2-0 W vs. BUF; Jeff Hackett: 17 SV).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Goaltender Ben Bishop (27 SV) picked up his 83rd win with the Lightning, tying Nikolai Khabibulin for the most in franchise history. Bishop (137 GP), however, reached the record in 55 fewer games than Khabibulin (192 GP).

* Canucks forward Adam Cracknell and Sabres forward Ryan O’Reilly both scored their first goals with their new teams.

* Lightning forward Alex Killorn (0-1—1) recorded his 100th NHL point.

* Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (1-0—1) played in his 600th NHL game.

* Head coaches Dan Bylsma (BUF) and Dave Hakstol (PHI) both earned their first wins with their new clubs. Hakstol also picked up his first victory in the NHL.

LOOSE PUCKS
Jets forward Mark Scheifele scored for the third consecutive game (3-0—3), the longest such streak of his career . . . Bruins teammates David Krejci (1-2—3) and Torey Krug(0-3—3) both matched career highs for points in one game. Krug also established a personal best for assists in one contest . . . Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg converted on his first shootout attempt of the season. His 62.5% career success rate (15-for-24) is tops all-time among players with at least 20 attempts . . . Bruins forward Loui Eriksson(2-0—2) recorded his 23rd career multi-goal game and first since Dec. 23, 2014 vs. NSH (2-0—2) . . . Ducks defenseman Kevin Bieksa, who played his first 10 seasons with the Canucks, logged one hit, three blocked shots and 24:25 of time on ice in his first game against his former club . . . Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec (40 SV) stopped Islanders captain John Tavares on a third-period penalty shot . . . ICYMI: Red Wings forwardJustin Abdelkader, Rangers forward Oscar Lindberg and Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Oct. 11 . . . The Bruins signed former college hockey player Travis Roy, the founder of the Travis Roy Foundation, to a one-day contract and asked him to drop the ceremonial opening puckprior to their game against the Lightning . . . With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Ducks surprised Kai Quinonez – a 13-year-old boy who is suffering from aplastic anemia – by inviting him to skate out during their team introduction ceremony.

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Nashville @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., FS-TN, MSG+
Winnipeg @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., TSN3, MSG
Montreal @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., CITYM, RDS, ROOT
San Jose @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., CSN-CA, CSN-DC
Florida @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., FS-F, FS-CR
Tampa Bay @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TVAS
Edmonton @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., SNOL, FS-SW
St. Louis @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., FS-MW, SNF
Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNV, FS-W
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

RED WINGS FACE LIGHTNING IN PLAYOFF REMATCH
The Red Wings welcome the Lightning to Joe Louis Arena for their first meeting since the opening round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a seven-game victory by Tampa Bay in which the club overcame a 3-2 series deficit (including a Game 6 win at DET). The Lightning are 7-2-0 in their last nine regular-season meetings with the Red Wings dating to the start of 2013-14 (DET: 2-4-3). That includes three victories at Joe Louis Arena (3-2-0); prior to this stretch, Tampa Bay had just one win in its first 15 visits to Detroit (1-13-1). Overall, both the Red Wings (2-0-0) and Lightning (3-0-0) are undefeated this season. Detroit is looking for its first 3-0-0 start since 2011-12 (5-0-0), while Tampa Bay is seeking its first 4-0-0 start since 2003-04 (6-0-0).

WARD RETURNS TO D.C. AS SHARKS TAKE ON CAPITALS
Sharks forward Joel Ward faces his old club for the first time when San Jose visits Washington at Verizon Center. Ward – who signed with the Sharks as a free agent – spent the past four seasons with the Capitals, compiling 57-64—121 in 276 appearances. That included career highs of 24 goals, 25 assists and 49 points during the 2013-14 campaign (82 GP). He also scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 7 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to lead the No. 7 Capitals to an upset victory over the No. 2 Bruins. Overall, San Jose owns an 18-1-2 record in its past 21 meetings with Washington dating to Oct. 16, 1999 (WSH: 3-15-3).

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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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