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Players of the Night:
- Mathew Barzal continues to impress - even if the Islanders still find ways to lose despite boasting Barzal and John Tavares - helping his team grab one standings point. (More on how the Islanders and other Metro teams fared on Thursday here.)
Barzal scored a goal and two assists in this game, pushing him to 65 points in 62 games during this sensational rookie campaign. He’s been all-or-nothing lately, generating three points in two of five games and then zero in the three other contests.
Going to go out on a limb and say the Islanders will take it ...
Barzal now has recorded 8 games of 3+ points in 2017-18, which is just 1 off Bryan Trottier (1975-76) for the most such games in a season by an #Isles rookie https://t.co/SgzphYV4pN
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 23, 2018
- Johnny Gaudreau matched Barzal’s output on Thursday, collected a goal and two assists as well. Gaudreau moved to second in the NHL in points with 73, a distant-but-impressive second to Nikita Kucherov’s 80 points. Gaudreau is on pace to clobber his previous career-high of 78 points, set in 2015-16. Kinda staggering to realize he’s just 24.
Gaudreau’s surely had a hand in Sean Monahan rapidly changing his descriptor from “boring” to “clutch.”
Sean Monahan scored his League-leading 11th game-winning goal of 2017-18 to move within one of tying the @NHLFlames franchise record for most in a season. #NHLStats #CGYvsARI pic.twitter.com/uhccG79RtP
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 23, 2018
Pekka’s 300th
Sure, the Predators probably didn’t need a ton from him on Thursday, what with a 7-1 caging of the Sharks, but Pekka Rinne’s great work - not to mention great season - includes another milestone in his 300th win. Apparently he’s the eighth European-born goalie to hit that mark.
Being named the number one star of the night after securing his 300th NHL win, #Preds Pekka Rinne displays some raw emotional in his chat with @KaraHammer down at Nashville's bench postgame. What a guy! pic.twitter.com/TUVJsK8g0D
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) February 23, 2018
Tough to blame Rinne for becoming emotional when you consider his path to the NHL. Nashville selected him in the eighth(!) round in 2004, making him the 258th overall pick that year and the last pick of that round.
(Remarkably, there were some very solid NHLers who went in the ninth round of that draft: Mark Streit, Daniel Winnik, and Jannik Hansen.)
Good and bad for Matthews
Auston Matthews helped the Toronto Maple Leafs grab an eventual shootout win against the Islanders, continuing a run of even-strength dominance that really cements his beyond-his-years play:
Auston Matthews came through with a clutch tying goal for the @MapleLeafs tonight, as he continues to dominate at even strength- as shown by his place atop this list pic.twitter.com/PUhXTPFoCc
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 23, 2018
Unfortunately, late in regulation, Matthews was sandwiched by two Islanders players and did not return, with people wondering if he suffered a shoulder injury.
Highlights of the Night
Hey, the Oilers aren’t gearing up for a playoff run during this trade deadline, but at least Leon Draisaitl reminded people of his profound skills.
.@Drat_29 just became mayor of Danglestown. pic.twitter.com/pxMCKnr02a
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 23, 2018
Twice. The first move is flashier, but the second likely makes defenders feel just as hopeless.
Unreal moves from @Drat_29 to set up @cmcdavid97's OT winner! pic.twitter.com/sWqRYKTO30
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 23, 2018
Speaking of large hockey humans doing preposterous things, I give you Victor Hedman and the Lightning:
Scores
Maple Leafs 4, Islanders 3 (SO)
Wild 4, Devils 2
Flyers 2, Blue Jackets 1
Canadiens 3, Rangers 1
Lightning 4, Senators 3
Sabres 3, Red Wings 2 (OT)
Panthers 3, Capitals 2
Predators 7, Sharks 1
Oilers 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)
Flames 5, Coyotes 2
Stars 2, Kings 0
—
James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.