Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

12/03/2013 at 11:04am EST

TOFFOLI, SCRIVENS LEAD KINGS PAST BLUES
Tyler Toffoli scored a pair of goals and Ben Scrivens made 25 saves to help the Kings improve to 15-3-0 in their last 18 games versus the Blues, including nine consecutive victories at STAPLES Center (regular season and playoffs).

* At 17-7-4 (38 points), the Kings are off to their fourth-best start in franchise history (best 28-game start was in 1980-81: 20-7-1, 41 points).

* The Kings are 8-1-4 in their past 13 games, outscoring opponents 30-18 over that span.

* The Kings have allowed two or fewer goals (excluding shootouts) in 13 consecutive games, a club record.

* Toffoli has 6-5—11, including four game-winning goals, in 14 games this season. He recorded his first career multi-goal game Nov. 9, setting a career-high with 2-1—3.

* Scrivens improved to 6-1-4 since taking over for injured goaltender Jonathan Quick. He leads the League with a .943 save percentage and three shutouts (tied), and ranks second with a 1.56 goals-against average.

HABS CONTINUE TO ROLL
Alex Galchenyuk scored the tiebreaking goal with 10:26 remaining in regulation and Carey Price made 27 saves to lead the Canadiens to a victory in the first half of a home-and-home series versus the Devils.

* The Canadiens improved to 6-0-1 in their past seven games, including four straight wins at Bell Centre.

* The Canadiens have allowed two or fewer goals (excluding shootouts) in 11 consecutive games (8-1-2, 19 GA). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the longest such single-season streak for the club since 1975-76, when the Canadiens also played 11 straight games without allowing more than two goals from Feb. 22-March 14 (10-0-1, 17 GA).

* Price has won five consecutive contests and has allowed two or fewer goals in eight straight starts (6-1-1), posting a 1.63 goals-against average and .949 save percentage in that span.

HARDING, WILD BLANK FLYERS
Josh Harding made 21 saves for his 10th career shutout and third this season to help the Wild snap a four-game losing streak (0-3-1). Jason Pominville and Charlie Coyle scored 57 seconds apart in the third period to break a 0-0 stalemate.

* Harding improved to 14-4-3 in 22 games this season, setting a career high for victories (previously, 2011-12: 13-12-4 in 34 GP). His three shutouts also are a new career best.

* Harding leads the NHL with a 1.45 goals-against average and three shutouts (tied), and places second with a .939 save percentage.

* Harding improved to 11-1-0 with a 1.12 goals-against average, .949 save percentage and three shutouts in 12 appearances at home this season. He is 32-10-2 with a 1.96 goals-against average and .929 save percentage all-time at Xcel Energy Center, including a 25-5-1 record since Jan. 27, 2010.

* Pominville leads the Wild and is tied for fifth in the NHL with 14 goals and four game-winners this season.

JOKINEN POWERS JETS PAST FORMER TEAM
Olli Jokinen (2-1—3) scored a pair of third-period goals to break a 2-2 deadlock and lead the Jets to their third win in their past four games. Jokinen played 26 games for the Rangers during the 2009-10 season, totaling 4-11—15. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he has only had one other multi-goal game over the past five seasons and it also was against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden (Feb. 26, 2013).

* Ondrej Pavelec made 35 saves to improve to 10-10-3 this season, including a 6-0-1 record when facing 35 or more shots on goal.

* John Albert, who was recalled from St. John’s (AHL) on Sunday, scored his first goal on his first shot in his NHL debut. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Albert, who was selected by the Thrashers in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft, is the third player in Jets/Thrashers history to score in his League debut (Bryan Little: Oct. 5, 2007; Jacob Trouba: Oct. 1, 2013).

“That was the greatest feeling I’ve ever experienced,” Albert told the Associated Press. “Especially to score at a key moment of the game the way I did. And to score my first goal at Madison Square Garden was extra special.”

LOOSE PUCKS
The Kings improved to 52-11-12 all-time in the regular season when Mike Richards (0-2—2) registers a point . . . The Devils suffered their first regulation loss in Montreal since March 11, 2008 (8-0-1) . . . Blues forward Jaden Schwartz recorded an assist to push his career-long point streak to seven games (3-5—8) . . . Rangers captain Ryan Callahan scored his seventh goal of the season, stretching his goal/point streak versus the Jets to six games (6-5—11) . . . Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty posted his team-leading 10th goal of the season and now has eight goals in his past seven contests following an eight-game drought . . . Rangers goaltender Cam Talbot allowed more than two goals for the first time in his eight career NHL starts . . . Wild forward Mike Rupp played in his 600th NHL game.

Create an Account

In order to leave a comment, please create an account.

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.

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.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]