Three stars
1. Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
Tom Wilson’s tomfoolery shouldn’t detract from the night Nicklas Backstrom had on Friday. Backstrom recorded a hat trick, including scoring the game-winner and assisting on a fourth Capitals goal for a four-point night. The hat trick goal was placed into an empty net and the first goal of the game was him, as well. The secondary assist he picked up led to Andre Burakovsky’s third-period marker that put the Caps up 3-1.
A man known for his elite passing abilities, the three-goal night was just Backstrom’s second of his career.
2. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
For roughly 54 minutes of the game, Curtis McElhinney was penciled into this spot. Just a day after the Carolina Hurricanes placed both faith in him and pressure on him following the waiving of Scott Darlin, McElhinney looked destined for his first shutout of the season.
It was not to be, of course. The Ducks scored to force overtime and then Ryan Getzlaf slotted home the winner in the extra frame. And lost in the shuffle, perhaps, was the performance of Gibson, who made 33 saves in the win.
The Ducks don’t score a lot of goals, so Gibson needs to keep as many pucks out of the back of the net to make up for the lack of run support. He did that on Friday, giving Anaheim a chance to win, which they obliged.
3. Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames
Backlund put his stamp on the game early, scoring 36 seconds into the first period. He’d then give the Flames a 3-1 lead to seal it with 32 seconds remaining in the game and assisted on the 4-1 goal with eight seconds remaining.
A three-point night for Backlund, then, who is now riding a three-game point streak. Calgary sits atop the Pacific Division with 32 points. They’re 6-3-1 in their past 10 games.
Ejection(s) of the night
Highlights of the night
Tremendous:
One of the greatest renditions you'll ever hear 🇺🇸
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) December 1, 2018
11-year old Leukemia survivor Tyler Figueroa-Butler dazzled the crowd ahead of #HockeyFightsCancer Night. pic.twitter.com/MhVDRrwCxC
Gritty, still king:
Game, blouses. pic.twitter.com/oKQ7wOky2O
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) December 1, 2018
Holtby:
Braden Holtby to the splits for a sensational stop on a Brett Seney breakaway attempt pic.twitter.com/9mfE2W5Xtx
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 1, 2018
Head fake:
It started late in the third and the comeback was completed in @EASPORTSNHL OT.
— NHL (@NHL) December 1, 2018
Stellar way to end it too, Getzy. 👌 https://t.co/9a4NWigZZm
One-hander in OT:
One-handed OT winner alert!! 😲😲 pic.twitter.com/sQJjEDjjww
— NHL (@NHL) December 1, 2018
Factoids
Jeff Skinner joined Richard Martin (20 in 1972-73) as the only players in @BuffaloSabres franchise history to score 20 goals before the month of December.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 1, 2018
He is just the seventh such player to require 27 or fewer team games to tally his 20th goal. #NHLStats #BUFvsFLA pic.twitter.com/vBhSn4vnJy
Alex Ovechkin scored his 626th career goal to surpass Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla (625) for sole possession of 15th on the NHL’s all-time list. #NHLStats #NJDvsWSH pic.twitter.com/J3RjkPGUO4
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 1, 2018
Backstrom collected November's 20th hat trick.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 1, 2018
Only three different months in the last 20 years have featured 20 or more three-goal performances: March 2018 (20), Nov. 2005 (20) and March 2001 (22). #NHLStats #NJDvsWSH pic.twitter.com/AIIvHq9u4Q
Scores
Panthers 3, Sabres 2 (OT)
Capitals 6, Devils 3
Ducks 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT)
Flames 4, Kings 1
Blues 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck