Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

02/05/2014 at 10:38am EST

CALLAHAN, LUNDQVIST SPARK RANGERS
Ryan Callahan (2-1—3) scored a pair of first-period goals, including the eventual game-winner, and Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves to power the Rangers to their season-high fourth consecutive victory.

* The Rangers improved to 15-5-1 in their past 21 games, including a 10-3-0 mark in their last 13. They also have registered at least one point in 11 of their past 15 games at Madison Square Garden (9-4-2), including nine of their last 12 (8-3-1).

* Callahan posted his second multi-goal game of the season and first since Oct. 12 (2-0—2). He led all skaters with six shots on goal and seven hits, and matched a season high with a +3 rating (also Nov. 7).

* Lundqvist has started all four games during the Rangers’ winning streak, compiling a 1.50 goals-against average and .950 save percentage in that span. He is 11-3-1 with a 1.85 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and one shutout in his last 15 appearances dating to Dec. 29.

* Lundqvist now has 297 career victories (554 GP), four shy of tying Mike Richter for the most in franchise history (666 GP).

* Mats Zuccarello collected two assists to eclipse the 40-point mark for the first time in his NHL career (15-26—41 in 56 GP). He has 2-4—6 and a +6 rating during a four-game point streak.

* ICYMI: Rangers teammates and Team USA members Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh and Callahan appeared on the “TODAY” show this morning to discuss the upcoming 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

JETS INCH CLOSER TO WILD CARD
Chris Thorburn scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:03 remaining in regulation to lead the Jets to their third consecutive victory. With the win, the team moved within two points of the Canucks for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference:

* The Jets improved to 9-2-0 under head coach Paul Maurice, who returned to Carolina for the first time since being dismissed by the club Nov. 28, 2011. Maurice is the winningest coach in Hurricanes/Whalers history, posting a 384-391-167 record over two stints with the franchise (1997-03, 2008-11).

* Jets captain Andrew Ladd, who was drafted by the Hurricanes fourth overall in 2004, scored his 13th goal of the season and now has 8-8—16 in 20 games against his former team.

* Thorburn recorded his first game-winning goal since March 8, 2009 – a 5-2 victory by the Thrashers over the Flames.

IGINLA, BRUINS STAY HOT AT HOME
Jarome Iginla posted 1-1—2, including the game-winning goal, to lift the Bruins to their seventh victory in their last nine games (7-1-1). With the win, the team improved to 19-3-2 in its past 24 contests at TD Garden. At 22-6-2 (46 points), the Bruins are tied with the Penguins (23-4-0) and Ducks (22-4-2) for the most points on home ice this season.

* Iginla has registered multiple points in four of his last six outings, totaling 3-8—11 in that span. He had five multi-point performances in his first 49 games of the season.

* Iginla also recorded his 600th NHL assist, becoming the eighth active skater to reach that milestone. His 1,146 career points (1,287 GP) rank fourth among active players.

SENATORS RALLY PAST BLUES
Down 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Senators scored three times in the third period and another three times in the shootout to improve to 3-1-1 in their last five games. The team picked up its fifth victory this season when trailing after two periods (5-17-2), tied for the third-most such wins in the League.

* Jason Spezza posted 1-2—3, matching a season high in points (also Oct. 15: 3-0—3 and Oct. 17: 1-2—3). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Senators are 9-0-3 when Spezza records two or more points this season, versus 16-21-8 when he fails to do so.

PRICE, NABOKOV SHUT THE DOOR
* Carey Price stopped all 27 shots he faced to lead the Canadiens to their third win in their past five games (3-1-1). Price has four shutouts this season, including two in his last four starts, and 23 in his NHL career, tied with Jose Theodore for seventh in franchise history.

* Evgeni Nabokov denied all 22 shots he faced to help the Islanders end a five-game skid (0-4-1). Nabokov has two shutouts this season and 57 in his NHL career, which ranks third among active goaltenders and 19th all-time.

LOOSE PUCKS
Antoine Roussel scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period to help the Stars improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven games . . . Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper made his 11th consecutive start, stopping 34 shots to improve to 7-3-2 on the season . . . The Panthers recorded a season-high 48 shots on goal en route to their second win in their last three games . . . The Blues fired a season-high 50 shots on goal, including 23 in the second period – their most in a single period since Nov. 21, 2002 (23 in the third period) . . . Canadiens forward Rene Bourque scored the game-winning goal against his former team. Bourque played in 249 games for the Flames, totaling 88-76—164 in parts of four seasons before being traded to the Canadiens Jan. 12, 2012 . . . Defenseman Raphael Diaz scored in his Canucks debut, snapping a 53-game drought dating to Feb. 19, 2013 . . . Blues captain David Backes reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his eight NHL seasons . . . Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette recorded his 21st goal of the season to stretch his career-long point streak to eight games (8-3—11) . . . Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scored his 17th goal of the season to push his point streak to seven games (3-6—9) . . . Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri (3-7—10), Stars forward Tyler Seguin (3-7—10) and Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (3-6—9) all extended their point streaks to six games . . . Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk played in his 300th NHL game . . . Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher skated in his 100th career contest.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN2, RDS2
Chicago @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., WGN, FS-W
Dallas @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., FS-SW+, CSN-CA

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.

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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