OVECHKIN CAPS WILD FINISH ON BROADWAY
The Rangers erased a two-goal deficit to take the lead with three consecutive tallies in the third period, but the Capitals tied the game with 5.7 seconds remaining in regulation beforeAlex Ovechkin (2-0—2) went coast-to-coast in overtime to lift Washington to its third straight win.
* At 31-7-3 (65 points), the League-leading Capitals continued their best start to a season – in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 41-year history. They also improved to 19-2-2 in their last 23 games dating to Nov. 21.
* Playing in his 800th career game, Ovechkin registered his 103rd career multi-goal performance (third this season) to move within one of 500 career goals. He also extended his franchise records for game-winning goals (85) and overtime goals (16) – the most in the NHL in both categories since 2005-06 (his first season in the League).
* Per Elias, Ovechkin's total of 499 goals is the fifth-highest by any player through his first 800 NHL games behind Wayne Gretzky (649), Mario Lemieux (649), Mike Bossy (573) — despite having played only 752 games when he retired due to a back injury — andBrett Hull (553).
* Braden Holtby extended his personal point streak to 21 consecutive decisions dating to Nov. 12 (19-0-2). Via Elias, that equals the second-longest such run by any goaltender since 2005-06. The longest point streak in that span also stands as the Capitals’ franchise record:
Kukla's Korner Hockey
NHL Short Notes
Longest Personal Point Streak by a Goaltender, since 2005-06
Jose Theodore (WSH): 20-0-3 from Jan. 13 – April 9, 2010
Braden Holtby (WSH): 19-0-2 from Nov. 12, 2015 – Jan. 9, 2016
Roberto Luongo (VAN): 16-0-5 from Dec. 8, 2010 – Feb. 12, 2011
DID YOU KNOW?
Nicklas Backstrom scored the tying goal with 5.7 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime and extend his point streak to five games (3-3—6). Via Elias, there have been five game-tying goals in the final 10 seconds of regulation this season, including two by Backstrom:
Tying Goal in Final 0:10 of Regulation, 2015-16 Season
19:59 – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) on Nov. 7 vs. TOR (3-2 SO W)
19:58 – Jiri Hudler (CGY) on Dec. 4 vs. BOS (5-4 OT W)
19:56 – Jeff Skinner (CAR) on Nov. 7 vs. OTT (3-2 OT W)
19:54 – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) on Jan. 9 at NYR (4-3 OT W)
19:54 – Corey Perry (ANA) on Nov. 4 vs. FLA (3-2 SO W)
* Overall, there have been 17 game-tying goals in the final minute of regulation this season. The team that tied the game late went on to win 12 of those contests, including all five when the equalizer was scored in the final 10 seconds.
WILD, WILD EAST
The Lightning, Senators, Hurricanes, Penguins and Flyers all earned wins – with TBL, OTT and CAR securing overtime victories – to keep pace in the Eastern Conference standings, where teams Nos. 3-13 are separated by six points. That includes seven teams within three points of a Wild Card spot:
* Nikita Kucherov (1-1—2) scored at 3:50 of overtime to lift the Lightning to a 3-1-0 mark in their last four outings and to their seventh win in their last nine meetings with the Canucks dating to Feb. 9, 2010 (7-1-1; VAN: 2-5-2). Kucherov paces the club with 16-17—33 in 2015-16 (42 GP) and sits two goals behind Steven Stamkos (18) for the team lead.
* Craig Anderson made 33 saves and Mark Stone scored with 37.5 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Senators to their second win in their last three outings on the heels of a three-game losing streak. Anderson improved to 10-4-3 at Canadian Tire Center this season (2.31 GAA, .927 SV%, 2 SO), including wins in eight of his last 10 appearances.
* The Hurricanes saw a three-goal lead erased before JordanStaal (1-1—2) scored at 2:45 of overtime to help the Hurricanes sweep a home-and-home series with the Blue Jackets and improve to 7-0-2 in their last nine head-to-head meetings dating to Jan. 27, 2014 (CBJ: 2-5-2). Staal registered his third straight multi-point game (3-3—6) and his fourth career overtime goal (second this season).
* Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves to help the Penguins improve to 5-2-2 in their last nine games. Fleury (Sorel, Que.) improved to 20-11-3 in 35 career appearances against the Canadiens, including a 9-4-2 mark at Bell Centre (2.68 GAA, .911 SV%, 1 SO). Per Elias, Fleury is just the fourth goaltender to record at least 20 wins against the Canadiens in the NHL's expansion era (1967-68 to date). The others: Martin Brodeur (45), Ryan Miller (27) and Dominik Hasek (24).
* Steve Mason denied all 20 shots he faced and Matt Read (1-2—3) collected three points to lead the Flyers to their third consecutive victory. Mason posted his third shutout of the season – all in his last 10 decisions (6-3-1, 2.17 GAA, .929 SV%, 3 SO).
SHARKS OFFENSE HAS BITE
Martin Jones denied all 28 shots he faced and the Sharks scored a season-high seven goals to improve to 11-1-0 in their last 12 meetings with the Maple Leafs dating to Dec. 3, 2005 (TOR: 1-10-1). Via Elias, it was San Jose's largest margin of victory since Oct. 8, 2013 vs. NYR (9-2 W).
* Seven different players registered multiple points for the Sharks: Tomas Hertl (2-1—3), Justin Braun (0-3—3), Brent Burns (1-1—2), Joe Pavelski (1-1—2), Joe Thornton (0-2—2), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (0-2—2) and Tommy Wingels (0-2—2).
* Burns, whose goal stood as the eventual game-winner, extended his point streak to six games (5-4—9) and maintained third place in scoring among defensemen (17-20—37 in 39 GP). His 17 goals are tops among blueliners and equal his total from 2014-15 (82 GP).
BRICK WALLS
* Louis Domingue denied all 26 shots he faced to lead the Coyotes to their third straight win and a 7-1-2 record in their last 10 contests. Domingue improved to 6-0-2 in eight starts this season, posting a 1.73 goals-against average, .947 save percentage and two shutouts in those contests. Via Elias, Domingue is the second rookie goaltender in Coyotes/Jets franchise history to record multiple shutouts in a season (Robert Esche: 2 in 2000-01).
* Devan Dubnyk made 34 saves, including 15 in the third period, to guide the Wild to their fifth win in their last nine games (5-2-2). Dubnyk has won 45 of his first 73 appearances with the Wild, including an 18-11-4 mark in 2015-16 (2.29 GAA, .922 SV%, 4 SO).
* Brian Elliott made 26 saves through overtime and denied six of seven attempts in the shootout to help the Blues snap a five-game skid overall (0-2-3). Troy Brouwer scored the game-deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout.
ICYMI: MUST SEE MOMENTS
* Coyotes forward Anthony Duclair used his speed to create space and then pulled off a “Forsberg” for an unbelievable finish.
* Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby and teammate Nate Schmidtcombined for a game-saving stop that led to Ovechkin’s overtime goal.
* Canadiens goaltender Mike Condon stopped Sidney Crosby on the doorstep with adesperation glove save, reminiscent of a similar save he made on Bruins forward Ryan Spooner in the dying moments of the second period at the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby earned his 128th career victory to tie Don Beauprefor second place on the Capitals franchise wins list behind leader Olie Kolzig (301).
* Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson, a fourth-round selection (95th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal (11 GP).
* Penguins forward Tom Kuhnhackl and Wild defenseman Mike Reilly both made their League debut.
* Claude Julien (BOS) served his 900th career game as an NHL head coach.
LOOSE PUCKS
Half of Saturday’s 10 games went past regulation, including four contests decided during three-on-three play. Overall, 96 of the 148 games that have required overtime this season have been decided in the extra period (64.9%)… Sharks goaltender Martin Jonesregistered his 11th career shutout (67 GP) and fourth this season – tied for third in the League behind Corey Crawford (6) and Jake Allen (5)... Stars captain Jamie Benn scored his 25th goal of the season to pull into sole possession of the League lead, one ahead of Tyler Seguin, Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Ovechkin… Patrick Sharp notched the primary assist on Benn’s goal to extend his career-high point streak to 12 games (6-9—15), the second-longest such run this season behind Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (16-24—40 in 26 GP). He is the first Stars player to post a point streak of at least 12 games since Dave Gagner (Nov. 21 – Dec. 19, 1993: 13 GP)… Senators defenseman ErikKarlsson (0-2—
SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Buffalo @ Winnipeg, 3:00 p.m., MSG-B, BELL TV, TSN3
Ottawa @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., TVAS, SN, CSN-DC
Colorado @ Chicago, 7:00 p.m., ALT, WGN
New Jersey @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
Detroit @ Anaheim, 8:00 p.m., FS-D, PRIME, FS-SD
Florida @ Edmonton, 9:30 p.m., SN1, FS-F
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder
HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN SWIFT CURRENT
The Senators (20-16-6, 46 points) visit the League-leading Capitals (31-7-3, 65 points) at Verizon Center as Rogers Hometown Hockey visits Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin looks to become the 43rd player in NHL history to score 500 career goals after netting Nos. 498 and 499 versus the Rangers on Saturday, including the overtime winner. The Senators are coming off an overtime victory of their own, afterMark Stone scored with 37.5 seconds remaining in the extra frame to lead the Senators over the Bruins on Saturday. Throughout 2015-16, Sunday games will be broadcast from a different community rink in various towns across Canada. Included in each telecast will be local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features.
Click here for more details about the festivities in Swift Current.
KANE, BOGOSIAN RETURN TO WINNIPEG AS SABRES
Forward Evander Kane and defenseman Zach Bogosian return to Winnipeg to face their former club for the first since being traded to the Sabres on February 11, 2015. Kane was selected fourth overall by the franchise in the 2009 NHL Draft and registered 109-113—222 in 361 games with the Jets/Thrashers. Bogosian was selected third overall in the 2008 NHL Draft, and registered 40-87—127 in 393 games with the Jets/Thrashers franchise. It will also mark the first time Jets players Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford and Joel Armia – all of whom were originally drafted by the Sabres – will face their former club.
PANTHERS HUNTING FOR 12TH STRAIGHT WIN
The Atlantic Division-leading Panthers (25-12-4, 54 points) look to earn their 12th consecutive victory when they visit the Oilers (17-22-3, 37 points) at Rexall Place. Florida’s current 11-game streak is the longest such run in the NHL since March 2-22, 2014 (BOS: 12-0-0).
Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.
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.
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