Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

12/31/2022 at 2:18am EST

* Connor McDavid did what he does best – collect points in bunches. While he assisted on two of Edmonton’s three goals in the opening 3:55, the Oilers captain finished with five points and four assists to eclipse the 70-point mark in 2022-23.

* The Hurricanes benefited from another shutout performance to push their win streak to a franchise-record 10 games while also extending their point streak to 16 contests.

* As the calendar year approaches its conclusion, many star players have milestones on their mind before the clock strikes midnight on an #NHLStats-filled 2022.

McDAVID DAZZLES ON ESPN+ WITH FIVE-POINT PERFORMANCE
In a contest broadcast nationally across the United States on ESPN+, Connor McDavid (1-4—5) collected his first two of five points on Edmonton’s three goals in the opening 3:55 of play and extended his point streak to 17 games – but he wasn’t done there. The Oilers captain (32-40—72 in 37 GP) then factored on three more to reach the 40-assist and 70-point mark in the process.



* The 2022-23 campaign is the second season McDavid has collected 40 assists in 37 games or fewer following 2020-21 (35 GP). He is one of only two active players to accomplish the feat multiple times joining Sidney Crosby (34 GP in 2006-07 & 35 GP in 2012-13).

* Friday marked the 25-year-old’s eighth career game with at least five points – tied with Evgeni Malkin for the most among active players. In fact, only seven players in NHL history have recorded more such performances before their 26th birthday: Wayne Gretzky (71 GP), Mario Lemieux (29 GP), Dale Hawerchuk (11 GP), Bryan Trottier (11 GP), Steve Yzerman (10 GP), Paul Coffey (10 GP) and Jari Kurri (9 GP).

* With Leon Draisaitl out of the lineup, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (0-4—4) also played a crucial part in Edmonton’s seven-goal outburst. McDavid has been involved in each of the past two instances where Oilers teammates each had four-plus assists in the same game (also Jan. 31, 2021; Draisaitl: 0-6—6 & McDavid: 1-4—5). The last instance before Jan. 31, 2021 was March 14, 1986 (Coffey: 2-6—8 & Gretzky: 1-4—5).

HURRICANES SURGE TO 10TH STRAIGHT WIN AND FRANCHISE RECORDBrent Burns (0-2—2) was one of three players with multiple points and Antti Raanta (19 saves) posted his second consecutive shutout as the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (24-6-6, 54 points) established a franchise record with 10 straight wins.

* Carolina, which has trailed for only 6:08 and posted four shutouts through its current 10-game win streak, joined New Jersey (13 GP from Oct. 25 – Nov. 21) as the second team to register a double-digit win streak in 2022-23. All but two campaigns in the past decade have featured multiple teams register a win streak of 10-plus games (2020-21: VGK, 10 GP & 2014-15: none).



* Carolina has also collected at least one point in each of its past 16 games dating to Nov. 25 (14-0-2) – also the longest such run in franchise history. The Hurricanes held a 10-6-4 (24 points) record prior to their point streak and sat eight points back of the first-place Devils (16-4-0, 32 points) in the Metropolitan Division, but now hold a six-point advantage on New Jersey (23-11-2, 48 points).

HUGHES, FORSBERG SHINE IN LATEST EDITION OF #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
On the night Filip Forsberg (1-2—3) played a pivotal part in his 600th career game for the Predators (15-14-5, 35 points), Jack Hughes (2-0—2) reached the 20-goal mark for the second time in as many seasons to lift the Devils (23-11-2, 48 points) to victory. Tap here for the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates, which includes everything you need to know from the action Friday.

* While the Predators scored at least six goals in a road game for the fifth time in 2022 (excluding shootout-deciding goals), Forsberg boosted his career totals to 231-267—498 in 600 games – the most goals and points by any player through their first 600 contests with the Predators franchise. Martin Erat holds the next highest point total (133-252—385).

* After finishing with 26 goals in 49 games during 2021-22, 21-year-old Hughes scored No. 20 in his 36th contest of 2022-23. Only six players in Devils franchise history have reached the mark in fewer games: Paul Gardner (23 GP in 1977-78), Claude Lemieux (27 GP in 1991-92), John MacLean (29 GP in 1990-91 & 31 GP in 1988-89), Lanny McDonald (32 GP in 1979-80), Sylvain Turgeon (33 GP in 1989-90) and Zach Parise (35 GP in 2008-09).



NHL PODCASTS: WEEKLY ROUNDUP

* NHL @ The Rink (Dec. 28): Winter Classic, Bruins' needs, Super 16 & Alex Ovechkin
* NHL Fantasy (Dec. 29): Fantasy waiver wire pickups, mailbag for Week 12


QUICK CLICKS

* National Anthem at 2023 Winter Classic to be performed in ASL

* 'Ideal' rink, weather expected for 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic

* Linus Ullmark of Bruins chosen as Unmasked Goalie of the Year

* Fans of Bruins, Penguins enjoy atmosphere at 2023 Winter Classic Plaza

* Alex Ovechkin's son Sergei scores goal at Capitals practice

BRUINS READY FOR FINAL TUNE UP AHEAD OF WINTER CLASSIC

While the Penguins (19-11-6, 44 points) contested their final game before the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic on Friday, the Bruins (28-4-3, 59 points) will do the same Saturday when they eye an NHL-first against the Sabres (17-14-2, 36 points). Boston, with 65 regular-season wins since Jan. 1, 2022, can become the first team in League history to record 66 such victories in a single calendar year.

* Click here for the 2022 Year in Review for #NHLStats, a detailed breakdown of all the biggest storylines that caught our attention this year. Please note, all stats are updated as of games through Dec. 18 and will be updated again on Dec. 31.



* The Bruins return to TD Garden after a three-game road trip – an arena which has witnessed the team collect at least one point in their past 20 outings (18-0-2) as well as David Pastrnak finding the score sheet in each of his past seven home contests (6-4—10 in 7 GP since Dec. 3). Pastrnak already has 56 regular-season goals in 2022 and should he score again, he would tie Phil Esposito (57 in 1972) for the sixth most in a calendar year by a Boston skater.



U.S.-BORN GOAL-GETTERS ALSO LOOK TO END 2022 ON A HIGH NOTE
A trio of high-scoring Americans are set to contest their final game of 2022 when Auston Matthews, Jason Robertson and Tage Thompson take to the ice.

* Matthews (57), Robertson (55) and Thompson (52) have each scored more than 50 regular-season goals in 2022, marking the first calendar year in NHL history with three U.S.-born players to have each reached the mark. Prior to 2022, the only years to have featured multiple U.S.-born players with 50-plus tallies were 1997 (John LeClair: 56 & Keith Tkachuk: 55), 1996 (Tkachuk: 55 & LeClair: 54) and 1992 (Pat LaFontaine: 61 & Kevin Stevens: 54).

* The Maple Leafs forward has found the score sheet in all but two games during the month of December (5-8—13 in 11 GP) and sits three points shy of 500 in his career (276-221—497 in 443 GP). Matthews can require the fourth-fewest games by a U.S.-born skater to reach the milestone behind Jeremy Roenick (430 GP), Stevens (431 GP) and Craig Janney (435 GP).

* Robertson (13) also shares the lead in game-winning goals in 2022 with Sidney Crosby and Leon Draisaitl. Should he score another Saturday, he would become the fourth player in NHL history with at least 14 in a calendar year.



* Thompson has collected 5-4—9 in his past five games and has registered 98 regular-season points in 2022 to go along with his 52 goals through that span (52-46—98 in 79 GP). He can become the sixth different Sabres player to record 100-plus points in a single calendar year and first since Alexander Mogilny in 1993 (59-50—109 in 75 GP).


OVECHKIN EYES MORE HISTORY AS CALENDAR YEAR COMES TO AN END

Alex Ovechkin has collected a plethora of milestones this year and most recently his 802nd career goal just before the Holiday Break on Dec. 23. While he has amassed 49-33—82 in 2022 (82 GP), Ovechkin returns to Capital One Arena with the hopes of closing out another calendar year with another stretch of 50 regular-season goals.

* Ovechkin has netted at least 50 regular-season goals in a calendar year seven times in his career to date: 2018 (54), 2015 (57), 2013 (62), 2009 (57), 2008 (60), 2007 (51) and 2006 (54). Should he do so in 2022, the NHL’s second-highest goal scorer would tie Mike Bossy (8: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 & 1986) for the most in League history.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.

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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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