Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

01/29/2014 at 11:28am EST

HALAK, BLUES TAKE OVER TOP SPOT IN CENTRAL DIVISION
Jaroslav Halak (23 saves) recorded his fourth shutout of the season and the 29th of his NHL career to lead the Blues to their third consecutive victory. With the win, St. Louis (36-11-5, 77 points) leapfrogged Chicago (32-10-13, 77 points) for first place in the Central Division.

* The Blues’ 36 victories are their most ever through the first 52 games of a season.

* Halak and Brian Elliott (3) have combined for seven shutouts, the most by any team this season.

* Halak also improved to 7-1-1 in his last nine starts dating to Dec. 19, including a 1.77 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and two shutouts.

* Alexander Steen scored his 27th goal of the season, tied for fourth in the NHL with Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel. He has 3-4—7 during a five-game point streak.

* Steen’s goal also stood up as the game-winner. He has seven such goals this season, tied for second in the League with Ryan Getzlaf.

* The Blues improved to 17-3-1 in inter-conference play this season, including a 9-0-0 record at Scottrade Center.

OVECHKIN SPARKS CAPITALS
Alex Ovechkin (2-2—4) recorded his second four-point game of the season, including the primary assist on Mike Green’s overtime winner, to power the Capitals to their second consecutive victory.

* Ovechkin scored his League-leading 37th and 38th goals of the season. He also paces the NHL with seven multi-goal performances and has 4-3—7 over his past three games.

* Ovechkin has 409-381—790 in 650 career games, all with the Capitals. He now ranks second on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, moving one point ahead of Mike Gartner (397-392—789 in 758 GP). Peter Bondra (472-353—825 in 961 GP) is the club’s all-time leader.

* Green (2-1—3) reached the 100-goal mark in his 483rd career game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the second-quickest active defenseman to record 100 goals, behind only Sergei Gonchar (461 GP). The only other active blueliner to do so in fewer than 500 games is Shea Weber (495 GP).

* Green now has eight overtime goals in his career, which ranks second in NHL history among defensemen. Only Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer (13) has more such goals.

BRUINS SPOIL THOMAS’ RETURN
The Bruins scored six goals for the third consecutive game to spoil Tim Thomas’ return to Boston, where he played the first 378 regular-season games of his NHL career and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy in helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2010-11.

* The Bruins improved to 5-0-1 in their last six games, including four straight wins. They also improved to 17-2-2 in their past 21 contests at TD Garden.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Bruins last scored six or more goals in three consecutive games Nov. 5-12, 2011 (four straight games).

* Zdeno Chara recorded his fourth goal in his past three games. He now has 13 goals this season, tied for first among NHL defensemen with Shea Weber.

* Reilly Smith scored his fifth power-play goal of the season to extend his career-long point streak to seven games (3-5—8).

WILD HAND DUCKS RARE HOME LOSS
Zach Parise posted 1-2—3, including the game-winning goal, to lead the Wild to their fourth victory in their past six games (4-1-1), in the process handing the Ducks their second regulation home loss of the season (21-2-2).

* The Wild improved to 9-3-1 in 2014. At 29-20-6 (64 points), they moved into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Parise recorded his seventh multi-point game of the season and second with three points. He ranks fourth on the team with 16-14—30 despite missing 15 games due to injury.

* Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves to improve to 6-3-1 with a 2.26 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and one shutout in 11 appearances this season.

BRICK WALLS
Three other goaltenders recorded shutouts Tuesday:

* Steve Mason (33 saves) picked up his second shutout of the season and the 21st of his career to help the Flyers snap a four-game losing streak. Philadelphia extended its regular-season home winning streak over Detroit to eight games, with its last such loss coming Jan. 25, 1997.

* Carey Price (36 saves) earned his third shutout of the season and the 22nd of his career to help the Canadiens snap a four-game skid. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Price is the first Canadiens goaltender to post three or more shutouts in each of four consecutive seasons since Ken Dryden did so in five straight from 1974-75 through 1978-79.

* Thomas Greiss (30 saves) recorded his second shutout of the season and the third of his career to lead the Coyotes to their second victory in their past three games (2-0-1). He improved to 7-3-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 13 appearances this season.

LOOSE PUCKS
T.J. Brodie scored at 2:26 of overtime to power the Flames to their first three-game winning streak of the season . . . Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier (40 saves) improved to 7-1-2 when facing 40 or more shots this season. His seven such victories lead the NHL . . . Jason Spezza scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:58 remaining in regulation to move the Senators within one point of a Wild Card spot . . . Flames captain Mark Giordano stretched his point streak to seven games (3-4—7), a career long . . . Coyotes forwards Antoine Vermette (6-2—8) and Lauri Korpikoski (0-6—6) both extended their point streaks to five games . . . Predators forward Colton Sissons made his League debut . . . Sabres forward Philip Varone scored his first NHL goal (4 GP) . . . Coyotes captain Shane Doan collected his 500th career assist . . . Panthers defenseman Tom Gilbert played in his 500th NHL game . . . ICYMI: Jaden Schwartz and the Blues discussed their recent visit to New Haven, Conn., in support of “White Out for Mandi.”

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Rangers @ NY Islanders, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN, RDS2
San Jose @ Edmonton, 9:30 p.m., CSN-CA, SNET-W
Chicago @ Vancouver, 10:30 p.m., TSN, WGN

above information 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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