Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

10/14/2015 at 10:17am EDT

McDAVID SCORES FIRST GOAL, BUT SPEZZA LIFTS STARS
Oilers forward Connor McDavid, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft,scored his first NHL goal (3 GP) to even the game at 2-2, but Jason Spezza completed his sixth career hat trick with a pair of strikes in the third period to lift Dallas to a 16-3-1 record in its last 20 meetings with Edmonton dating to Jan. 22, 2010 (EDM: 4-14-2).

* At 18 years, 273 days, McDavid became the sixth-youngest player in Oilers history to register his first NHL goal (tied w/ Marc Habscheid). The only Oilers players younger than McDavid at the time of their first NHL goal: Sam Gagner (18 years, 71 days), Martin Gelinas (18 years, 134 days), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18 years, 180 days), Wayne Gretzky (18 years, 261 days) and Mark Messier (18 years, 268 days).

* Other notable players to score their first NHL goal in their third career game: Gretzky (Oct. 14, 1979 vs. VAN) and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (Oct. 8, 2005 vs. BOS).

* Spezza recorded his first hat trick since Oct. 15, 2013 at PHX (w/ OTT). He also notched his 38th career game-winning goal and second in a Stars uniform (also Jan. 31 at WPG).

CANADIENS CONTINUE HOT START, ACHIEVE RARE NHL FEAT
Carey Price made 31 saves and Tomas Fleischmann scored the tiebreaking goal (his first w/ MTL) at 5:20 of the third period to lead the Canadiens to their fourth 4-0-0 start in franchise history.

* The other seasons in which the Canadiens opened with a 4-0-0 record: 1955-56, 1970-71 and 1977-78, all years in which they ultimately won the Stanley Cup.

* Elias says that the Canadiens, who will play their first home game on Thursday vs. NYR, became the third team in NHL history to begin a season with a 4-0-0 record, with all four of those victories coming on the road. The others: the 1965-66 Blackhawks and 2001-02 Islanders.

* Max Pacioretty (2-0—2) notched his second multi-goal performance of the season (also Oct. 7 at TOR: 2-0—2). He has registered at least one point in each of the team’s first four contests (4-2—6).

JONES (AGAIN) POWERS SHARKS WITH FLAWLESS EFFORT
Martin Jones stopped all 31 shots he faced to earn his second consecutive shutout and backstop the Sharks to a 3-0-0 record.

* Jones, who has denied 77 of 78 shots (.987 SV%) in his first three games with the Sharks, has recorded consecutive shutouts for the third time in just 37 career NHL appearances. The other instances: Dec. 7-10, 2013, and Nov. 26 – Dec. 4, 2014 (both w/ LAK).

* Overall, Jones improved to 19-11-2 in 37 career NHL games (1.84 GAA, .929 SV%, 9 SO). Per Elias, he became the fastest goaltender to earn nine career shutouts sinceFrank Brimsek, who achieved that feat in his 28th career appearance with the Bruins in 1938-39.

* The Sharks, who raced to a 3-0-0 start for the fourth consecutive season (a first in NHL history), improved to 19-1-2 in their last 22 meetings with the Capitals dating to Oct. 16, 1999 (WSH: 3-16-3).

OTHER CLUBS ALSO CONTINUE FAST STARTS IN 2015-16
The Red Wings (3-0-0), Predators (3-0-0) and Canucks (3-0-1) also picked up wins to continue their fast starts in 2015-16:

* Henrik Zetterberg registered 1-1—2 (his third consecutive multi-point performance) to power the Red Wings past the Lightning in their first meeting since the opening round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a seven-game victory by Tampa Bay. Zetterberg has 2-5—7 in his first three outings, his best start since 2007-08 when he collected 13-14—27 during a 17-game point streak to open the campaign.

* Roman Josi (2-0—2) matched a career high with two goals, including the decisive tally, and Pekka Rinne made 22 saves to lift the Predators to their third straight win. Rinne, who also picked up an assist on Josi’s winning goal, has stopped 78 of 80 shots (.975 SV%) in leading Nashville to its third 3-0-0 start in franchise history (also 2005-06: 8-0-0 and 2010-11: 3-0-0).

* Ryan Miller denied all 15 shots he faced to earn his 36th career shutout and backstop the Canucks to their second win in as many days. Alexander Edler (1-1—2) and Adam Cracknell (GWG) both scored for the second straight game for the Canucks, who at 3-0-1 are off to their best start since 1999-00 (3-0-1).

ROOKIES PICK UP FIRST GOALS IN WINS
Three rookies – Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG), Colton Parayko (STL) and Connor Brickley(FLA) – recorded their first NHL goals in helping their teams to wins:

* Ehlers, the ninth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, scored the first of four unanswered goals for the Jets, who closed their season-opening road trip with a 3-1-0 record. Bryan Little (2-0—2) added a pair of goals (one via the power play and one shorthanded) and Michael Hutchinson, who ranked second among rookies with 21 wins in 2014-15, made 40 saves.

* Parayko, a third-round pick (86th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft and native of St. Albert, Alta., notched his first and second goals (including the GWG) to help the Blues overcome a 2-1 deficit and pick up their fifth consecutive victory over the Flames dating to Jan. 9, 2014 (CGY: 0-5-0). Via Elias, Parayko became the first Blues defenseman to register his first NHL two goals in the same game since Peter Smrek on Feb. 15, 2001 (also vs. CGY).

* Brickley, a second-round selection (50th overall) in 2010 NHL Draft, scored the first of three unanswered third-period goals to lead the Panthers to their fourth consecutive victory over the Hurricanes dating to Nov. 26, 2014 (CAR: 0-4-0). Brickley ranked second on the San Antonio Rampage (AHL), Florida’s AHL affiliate, with 22-25—47 last season (73 GP).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne played in his 384th NHL game (all w/ NSH) to surpass Tomas Vokoun for the most games played by a goaltender in franchise history.

* Sharks defenseman Paul Martin (700) and Capitals defenseman John Carlson (400) both played in milestone games.

* Canucks forward Jake Virtanen, the sixth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, made his League debut (9:18 TOI).

* Devils forward Kyle Palmieri (3 GP) and Blues forward Scottie Upshall (1 GP) both scored their first goals with their new clubs.

* Oilers goaltender Anders Nilsson made a career-high 48 saves in his team debut.

PHASE 3 OF NHL.COM/STATS REDESIGN
In conjunction with the start of the 2015-16 season, the NHL has unveiled Phase 3 of itsNHL.com/Stats redesign, which includes additional stats, advanced filters and a new Team Power Index:

Additional Stats
To ensure that NHL.com/Stats provides users with the most comprehensive experience, the NHL enlisted expertise within the hockey community (media, bloggers, statisticians, etc.) to provide additional feedback. From this, 15 enhanced stats were identified as critical metrics that will help to identify new and interesting trends throughout the season, including: Face-Off Statistics by Zone and Game Situation; Shooting and Scoring Statistics by Shot Type; New Player Biography Attributes; Goaltender Statistics by Days Rest; and more.

Advanced Filters
With the addition of new stats, new filters have been set up to help fans quickly and efficiently navigate the site. These robust new tools will help fans dive deeper than ever before into team and player stats.

Team Power Index
SAP data scientists developed a statistical model that takes into account individual team winning percentage and strength of schedule to objectively rank all 30 teams throughout the season (on a weekly basis).

LOOSE PUCKS
Sharks forward Joel Ward, who spent the past four seasons with the Capitals (57-64—121 in 276 GP), posted two shots on goal and logged 16:38 of time on ice in his first game against his former club . . . Hurricanes goaltender Eddie Lack made 26 saves in his team debut . . . Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen (26 SV) picked up a win in his season debut . . . Sharks forward Mike Brown snapped a 49-game drought with his first goal since Dec. 3, 2013 at TOR . . . The Islanders signed forward Eric Boulton to a one-year contract . . . ICYMI: Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (25 SV) made a desperation arm save to preserve a 1-1 tie in the first period . . . The Flames and Blues honored referee Brad Meier, who officiated his 1,000th NHL game on April 9 (ARI at VAN).

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Ottawa @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., SN1, TVAS, FS-O
Chicago @ Philadelphia, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
Boston @ Colorado, 10:00 p.m., NESN, ALT
Arizona @ Anaheim, 10:30 p.m., FS-A, PRIME, FS-SD
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

FLYERS FACE BLACKHAWKS, HONOR TIMONEN ON RIVALRY NIGHT
The Flyers welcome the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks to Wells Fargo Center as part of NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry. Philadelphia has won four of the six head-to-head games between these clubs (PHI: 4-2-0, CHI: 2-3-1) since their meeting in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, a six-game victory by Chicago that ended its 49-year championship drought. Overall, the Flyers are 1-1-1 this season following a 1-0 victory in their home opener on Monday against the Panthers. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are 2-1-0 after sweeping a weekend home-and-home series with the Islanders.

Prior to the game, the Flyers will host a retirement ceremony for former defensemanKimmo Timonen, who spent seven seasons with the club (38-232—270 in 519 GP) before winning the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in June.

BLUE JACKETS SEARCH FOR FIRST WIN AGAINST SENATORS
The Blue Jackets look for their first win of the season when they face off against the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre as part of Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey. This marks the first of three meetings between these teams this season; Ottawa has won five of their past seven matchups dating to Oct. 22, 2011 (CBJ: 2-5-0), but Columbus picked up a 4-1 victory in their most recent head-to-head game on Feb. 7.

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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.

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.

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