Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

02/14/2016 at 11:03am EST

STARS EDGE CAPITALS TO RECLAIM TOP SPOT IN CENTRAL, WEST
The Stars scored four second-period goals – including two by Tyler Seguin – and held off the League-leading Capitals en route to their third straight win and sixth victory in their last seven games.

* At 36-15-5 (77 points), the Stars leapfrogged the Blackhawks (36-18-5, 77 points) – who lost in overtime – for the top spot in the Central Division and Western Conference. Dallas holds three games in hand, but Chicago owns the ROW tiebreaker (CHI: 35, DAL: 34). These teams have two matchups remaining in their five-game season series: March 11 at CHI and March 22 at DAL (DAL: 2-1-0, CHI: 1-2-0).

* Seguin registered his League-leading sixth multi-goal game of 2015-16 to reach the 30-goal milestone for the third time in as many campaigns with the Stars (30-32—62). Elias notes that he became the first player in Stars/North Stars history to score 30 or more goals in each of his first three seasons with the team.

* Seguin also recorded his third consecutive multi-point performance (2-4—6), the third such run of his career and second such streak this season (also Oct. 15-20: 4-4—8 in 3 GP). He ranks third in the NHL in goals (30) and fourth in points (62) in 2015-16.

* Jamie Benn added his 29th goal of the season for the Stars, who earned their ninth straight win over the Capitals dating to March 8, 2010 (WSH: 0-8-1).

SHARKS, DUCKS NARROW GAP IN PACIFIC DIVISION RACE
Both the Sharks (29-20-5, 63 points) and Ducks (27-19-8, 62 points) posted wins to inch closer to the idle Kings (33-18-3, 69 points) atop the Pacific Division:

* The Sharks scored twice in both the first and third periods to defeat the Coyotes for the second time in as many meetings this season and improve to 11-2-3 in their last 16 games. Marc-Edouard Vlasic collected one helper to extend his assist/point streak to a career-high seven games (0-7—7). Joe Thornton also registered one assist to extend his point streak to five games (3-4—7); he has posted at least one point in 23 of his past 25 outings (8-24—32).

* Ryan Getzlaf (1-1—2) scored at 2:16 of overtime to lift the Ducks to a 15-4-2 record in their past 21 games, including an 8-1-1 clip in their last 10. Getzlaf notched his eighth career overtime goal (all w/ ANA) to extend his franchise record, two more than bothCorey Perry and Teemu Selanne (6). He also recorded his fourth consecutive multi-point game (2-6—8), the third such run of his career and first such streak since March 4-10, 2013 (3-6—9 in 4 GP).

MARCHAND EXTENDS GOAL STREAK AS BRUINS RISE IN ATLANTIC
Brad Marchand (SHG) scored for the sixth consecutive game (7-2—9) to establish a career high and power the Bruins to their sixth straight road victory as well as a 9-3-1 record in their past 13 contests overall.

* At 30-19-6 (66 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the idle Red Wings (28-18-9, 65 points) and Lightning (30-20-4, 64 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division. They face Detroit at Joe Louis Arena in a Sunday matinee (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, TVAS).

* Marchand has scored in 11 of his last 12 games, totaling 12-2—14 in that span. Elias says that he became the first NHL player to score goals in 11 of 12 games since Ducks forward Teemu Selanne did so Feb. 10 – March 5, 1999 (G in 12 of 13 GP: 14-7—21). The last Bruins player to achieve that feat: Cam Neely from Nov. 11, 1993 – Jan. 2, 1994 (G in 12 of 13 GP: 16-6—22).

* Marchand shares fifth place in the NHL with 27 goals this season (50 GP), one shy of matching his career high established in 2011-12 (76 GP).

* Marchand recorded his 19th career shorthanded goal (and fourth this season), the most such tallies since he entered the NHL in 2009-10.

DEVILS, HURRICANES INCH CLOSER IN WILD CARD CHASE
Both the Devils (28-21-7, 63 points) and Hurricanes (25-21-10, 60 points) earned victories to narrow the gap on the idle Penguins (28-19-7, 63 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Adam Henrique scored at 2:58 of overtime to lift the Devils to their second straight win and a 7-2-2 record in their last 11 games. Although they are tied with the Penguins in terms of points, Pittsburgh has played two fewer games. Henrique registered his second career overtime goal – and first since Nov. 5, 2011 vs. WPG – to establish a career high with his fifth game-winning tally of the season.

* MUST-SEE: Joseph Blandisi scored a between-the-legs goal to give the Devils the lead early in the first period.

* The Hurricanes scored five second-period goals – including two by Victor Rask – to improve to 11-4-3 in their past 18 games at PNC Arena. Carolina posted its first five-goal period since April 6, 2010, when the team scored five times in the middle frame of an 8-5 victory at TBL. Rask (14-19—33 in 54 GP) recorded his first career multi-goal game to equal his point total from his rookie season (11-22—33 in 80 GP).

* ICYMI: The Hurricanes celebrated the 10th anniversary of their 2005-06 Stanley Cup championship during a pregame ceremony.


GOSTISBEHERE SETS NHL, FLYERS RECORDS
Despite suffering the overtime loss, Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere scored the team’s lone goal to extend his point streak to 11 games (3-11—14) and establish a pair of records:

* Gostisbehere set an NHL record for the longest point streak by a rookie defenseman, eclipsing the 10-game run by Barry Beck of the Colorado Rockies in 1977-78 (2x).

* Gostisbehere also set a Flyers record the longest point streak by any rookie, surpassing the 10-game stretch by Mikael Renberg from March 13 – April 2, 1994 (8-8—16).

* Elias adds that Gostisbehere became the first defenseman to post an 11-game point streak for any team since Oct. 16 – Nov. 13, 2010, when Nicklas Lidstrom logged an equal run with the Red Wings (2-12—14).

AROUND THE RINKS
* Carter Hutton stopped all 22 shots he faced and Calle Jarnkrok scored twice, including what stood as the winning goal, to help the Predators extend their road point streak to seven games (5-0-2). Hutton earned his fourth career shutout (and second of the season), while Jarnkrok posted his second career multi-goal game (also Nov. 14 vs. WPG: 2-0—2). At 26-21-9 (61 points), the Predators opened a five-point lead over three teams for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Joonas Korpisalo made 33 saves and Boone Jenner scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to their sixth victory in their last eight games (6-1-1). Korpisalo improved to 8-1-2 in his last 11 starts, with a 1.94 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in that span. Jenner added his fourth career multi-goal performance and second of the season (also Oct. 24 at COL: 2-0—2).

* Ondrej Pavelec made 21 saves and turned aside two of three shootout attempts to propel the Jets to a victory in his first appearance since Nov. 21. Blake Wheeler (1-0—1) and Andrew Ladd provided the goals in the tiebreaker to help Winnipeg improve to 6-1-1 in its last eight road games – that matches the team’s win total from its first 20 road contests of the season (6-13-1).

* Mark Arcobello scored twice in 17 seconds – his first goals in a Toronto uniform (14 GP) – to lift the Maple Leafs to their first triumph in Vancouver since Nov. 22, 2003 (0-7-0). Via Elias, Arcobello became the first Maple Leafs player to register two goals in 17 or fewer seconds since Dec. 23, 2006, when Mats Sundin scored twice in 14 seconds vs. WSH.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Canucks captain Henrik Sedin (0-1—1) played in his 1,141st NHL game, all with Vancouver, to surpass Trevor Linden (1,140) as the franchise’s all-time leader in games played.

* Bruins forward Loui Eriksson (GWG) recorded his 200th NHL goal.

* Maple Leafs forward Brendan Leipsic, a third-round selection (89th overall) by the Predators in the 2012 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal while making his League debut in his front of his parents. ICYMI: Former NHL forward Teemu Selanne, a friend of the Leipsic family from his time in Winnipeg, expressed his excitement via Twitter.

* Wild defenseman Mike Reilly, a fourth-round selection (98th overall) by the Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Draft, also notched his first career goal (7 GP).

* Bruins forward Max Talbot (700), Oilers forward Jordan Eberle (400) and Maple Leafs forward Matt Hunwick (400) all played in milestone games.

* Panthers forward John McFarland, a second-round selection (33rd overall) in the 2010 NHL Draft, made his League debut.

* Bruins head coach Claude Julien earned his 500th NHL win (500-306-109).

LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (1-0—1), who paces the NHL with 35 goals this season, scored for the fourth straight game (6-0—6) . . . Senators captain Erik Karlsson (0-1—1), who leads the League with 52 assists this season, has posted 0-11—11 in his past seven games . . . Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov collected two assists, giving him 0-15—15 in his last 10 games . . . Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (2-0—2) recorded his third career multi-goal game and first since April 20, 2013 vs. PHX (2-0—2). He also reached the 10-goal milestone for the first time . . . Senators forward Bobby Ryan (1-0—1) reached the 20-goal milestone for the sixth time in his NHL career . . . Islanders captainJohn Tavares (4-5—9), Stars forward Patrick Eaves (4-4—8) and Islanders forwardKyle Okposo (3-5—8) all extended their point streaks to five games . . . ICYMI: The Wild announced that John Torchetti will serve as their interim head coach following the dismissal of Mike Yeo . . . Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford unveiled a new mask for the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series on Sunday, Feb. 21, at TCF Bank Stadium . . . Former Canucks players Jyrki Lumme, Cliff Ronning, Gino Odjick, Kirk McLean andTrevor Linden dropped the ceremonial opening puck as the team continued its 20th anniversary celebration of Rogers Arena by donning throwback black skate jerseys.


SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Colorado @ Buffalo, 12:30 p.m., ALT, MSG-B, BELL TV
Los Angeles @ New Jersey, 12:30 p.m., SN360, FS-W, MSG+
Boston @ Detroit, 3:30 p.m., NBC, TVAS
St. Louis @ Tampa Bay, 6:00 p.m., FS-MW, SUN
Philadelphia @ NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, SN
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder
NHLN Channel Finder

BRUINS FACE RED WINGS IN NATIONAL MATINEE
Two teams jockeying for positioning in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference playoff races drop the puck when the Bruins (30-19-6, 66 points) visit the Red Wings (28-18-9, 65 points) in a national matinee at Joe Louis Arena (NBC, TVAS). Boston currently has a one-point lead over Detroit for second place in the Atlantic Division, though the Red Wings own the ROW tiebreaker (DET: 27, BOS: 26). This marks the third of four meetings in 2015-16 between these Original Six rivals; Boston has won six straight in the head-to-head series dating to Oct. 15, 2014 (DET: 0-2-4). The Bruins and Red Wings will close their four-game set during the final week of the season, on April 7 at TD Garden.

HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN NEW WESTMINSTER
The Rangers (31-18-6, 68 points) face the Flyers (24-20-10, 58 points) at Madison Square Garden as Rogers Hometown Hockey visits New Westminster, B.C. – the hometown of Senators forward Kyle Turris as well as MLB first baseman and former junior hockey player Justin Morneau. 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 New Westminster.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department

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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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