NHL Rink Wrap: McDavid passes 600 points; Ducks’ streak continues

By Nov 15, 2021, 7:00 AM EST
NHL Rink Wrap: McDavid passes 600 points; Ducks' streak continues
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Top players from Sunday in the NHL

Trevor Zegras, Ducks

On Sunday, the Ducks stayed stunningly hot, pushing their NHL-leading active winning streak to seven games. With good reason, Troy Terry is grabbing the most headlines — aside from maybe John Gibson. In the Ducks’ latest win, Terry grabbed an assist to push his point streak to a wildly unexpected 14 games.

When it comes to the Ducks’ larger future, Trevor Zegras stands as one of the reasons to be most excited. Granted, Zegras has been quiet lately, but not on Sunday (when he scored two goals and one assist).

Interestingly, while Zegras’ scoring has been sporadic, he’s been especially dangerous when he can get on the scoring sheet. In 10 of his 14 games, Zegras went pointless. However, in the four games he’s scored this season, three of them have been multi-point games.

If Zegras can be explosive with more regularity, then watch out.

Highlights from the NHL on Sunday, including McDavid reaching 600 points

Another day, another Connor McDavid milestone. In this case, McDavid reached 600 points in just his 421st game. Fittingly, McDavid added an assist to his goal to finish with 601.

By getting there in 421 games, McDavid became the sixth-fastest player to reach 600+ points. The only players to reach 600 points faster than McDavid were: Wayne Gretzky (274), Mario Lemieux (323), Peter Stastny (394), Mike Bossy (400), and Jari Kurri (419). Pretty wild how close McDavid’s come to the pace of some of the scorers from the NHL’s highest-scoring era.

So far, Kaapo Kakko has experienced serious ups and downs in the NHL. Hopefully we get more moments like these — although you can only pull off moves like the ones he deployed so often. (Unless you’re Connor McDavid, perhaps?)

An example of the Capitals making Sidney Crosby‘s first night back in the Penguins lineup in a while also a long night:

At this rate, Andrew Mangiapane may not cool down until he gets a big raise.

The NHL collected every goal from Sunday’s six games. Convenient! Some zany ones between the Bruins and Canadiens.

 

Sunday’s NHL takeaways

Daring Ducks win seventh in a row

No, a seven-game winning streak doesn’t negate the larger suggestion that the Ducks should still rebuild. Don’t forget that the Jack Eichel-era Sabres sat at the top of the standings early in seasons, only to tumble. You tend to remember a seven-game winning streak stretching into November more than one you’d recall in, say, February. For everyone speeding to bet on the Ducks, there are those tapping the brakes.

Certain hot streaks will dwindle. Troy Terry can’t shoot at 30.5 percent forever. And wins are wins, but the Ducks haven’t waddled past the elite much lately.

Those caveats mainly serve as red flags for anyone bragging too much. In other words, don’t bet the farm on the Ducks making a deep playoff run just yet.

That said, the Ducks already banked the points from this 9-4-3 start. In a Pacific that’s pluckier than usual but still vulnerable, the Ducks have a real shot at making the playoffs. At worst, a seven-game winning streak gives young Ducks players a taste of winning. There’s rebuilding, and then there’s the risk of tanking so hard, it scars holdovers who took those bullets.

Over the next three weeks, we should learn more about the Ducks.

Tue, Nov. 16 vs. Washington
Thu, Nov. 18 vs. Carolina
Mon, Nov. 22 @ Nashville
Wed, Nov. 24 @ Colorado
Fri, Nov. 26 vs. Ottawa
Sun, Nov. 28 vs. Toronto
Tue, Nov. 30 @ Los Angeles
Wed, Dec. 1 vs. Vegas
Fri, Dec. 3 vs. Calgary
Mon, Dec. 6 @ Washington

Tough sledding. Especially if the Predators, Kings, and Flames remain feisty.

Again, it’s not a big deal if the Ducks’ short-term outlook seems darker by early December. Every good stretch could at least drive up the price of players who might serve as “rentals” for other teams.

Life after Bob Murray might not be so bad.

Capitals present Crosby with a rude return

To put things mildly, this has been a bumpy start to Sidney Crosby’s season, and that of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In recovering from offseason surgery, Crosby didn’t debut until Oct. 30. Then Sidney Crosby missed five more games in COVID protocol.

The good news is that Sidney Crosby made another return to action, playing in his second game of the NHL season on Sunday. The bad news is that the Capitals made it a pretty rude return.

Ultimately, it would be a strong return for longtime Capitals (Alex Ovechkin: two assists, Evgeny Kuznetsov: 1G, 1A). Interestingly, former Penguins also did some damage (Daniel Sprong and Conor Sheary both had 1G, 1A).

At least it wasn’t so bad for Crosby as an individual. Crosby wasn’t getting massively out-shot. At even-strength, the Penguins scored one goal (by Jake Guentzel) and allowed one while Crosby was on the ice. Beyond the score, the only worry was that the Capitals controlled high-danger chances (5-2) with Crosby out at even-strength.

Actually, scratch that. Crosby possibly facing supplemental discipline adds another worthy:

Fortunate timing for Ken Holland’s Hall of Fame induction?

Honestly, it was a surprise when Ken Holland was named to the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class. The surprise wasn’t that Holland would eventually get named to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a key builder for the Detroit Red Wings. Instead, it was surprising because of timing.

To be specific, Ken Holland was off to a bit of a bumpy start as Oilers GM. The Zack Kassian contract extension looked like a classic overpay of a perfectly fine player being elevated by superhuman Connor McDavid. (Truthfully, it still does.) Giving up serious draft assets for Andreas Athanasiou stunk of the wrong kind of Remembering a Guy.

At the time of Holland’s HHOF nomination, it sure felt like his moves weren’t exactly helping McDavid add team-related bullet points to his Hockey Hall of Fame resume.

And, to be clear, there are some red flags to the Oilers’ hot start. At times, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can basically win games on their own, but it’s unlikely that Edmonton’s goaltending will remain this good. Saying this team is peaking doesn’t mean they’re bound to be bad; they just might be misleading us ever so slightly.

They’re definitely hot right now, though. COVID delayed the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame inductions, and that’s mostly a bummer. But at least Ken Holland goes in with a hot Oilers team in the present to accompany all of those impressive Red Wings memories.

Monday’s big story

2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class inducted on Monday

As mentioned in that Ken Holland – Oilers takeaway, the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class gets inducted on Monday. Along with Holland, the 2020 HHOF inductees are: Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe, Doug Wilson, and Kim St-Pierre.

Iginla and Hossa both ended up first-ballot Hall of Famers, so expect people to share plenty of memories of their outstanding careers.

For a league reeling from ugly news during the past month, it will likely be refreshing for many to reflect upon hockey triumphs.

Of course, this class isn’t totally isolated from the Blackhawks scandal. Marian Hossa was part of the 2010 Stanley Cup-winning team. On Nov. 1, the Blackhawks decided to postpone “Marian Hossa Legacy Night” from its planned Nov. 9 date. The Blackhawks cited a need to “reflect rather than celebrate.”

Stay tuned at PHT for plenty on the 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class, and maybe some thoughts on possible 2022 inductees.

Sunday’s NHL scores

Flames 4, Senators 0
Oilers 5, Blues 4
Bruins 5, Canadiens 2
Rangers 4, Devils 3 (SO)
Capitals 6, Penguins 1
Ducks 5, Canucks 1

More hockey news

penguins capitals
Malkin’s late goal lifts Penguins past Ovechkin, Caps 4-3
devils senators
Devils defeat Senators 5-3, clinch playoff berth
kings jets
Kings tie franchise mark with point in 11th straight game

—

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.

Malkin’s late goal lifts Penguins past Ovechkin, Caps 4-3

Associated PressMar 26, 2023, 1:56 AM EDT
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Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
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PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin remains a live wire. Even now, 17 seasons into a career that is likely destined for the Hall of Fame, there’s an unpredictability the Pittsburgh Penguins star plays with that can be both endearing and exasperating to teammates and coaches alike.

The latest proof came against Washington on Saturday.

An untimely roughing penalty in the third period helped spark a Capitals’ rally from a three-goal deficit. Malkin made up for it by burying a breakaway with 1:20 left in regulation that lifted the Penguins to a 4-3 victory.

“His care factor and his compete level for me is off the charts and that’s what I love about him and usually when the stakes are high that’s when he’s at his best,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “He gets a huge goal for us tonight at a key time.”

Malkin’s 25th goal of the season – a low wrist shot to the far post – helped the Penguins avoid a potentially messy collapse. Pittsburgh appeared to be ready to cruise to victory after Jake Guentzel‘s power-play goal 27 seconds into the third period made it 3-0.

Washington instead stormed back, with Alex Ovechkin right in the middle of it. Ovechkin scored his 42nd goal of the season and 822nd of his career from his favorite spot in the left circle with 6:42 to go in regulation. Washington drew even when Dylan Strome flipped the puck into an open net with 2:44 to go in regulation.

Yet instead of sagging, the Penguins surged. Malkin stripped Washington’s Anthony Mantha near center ice and broke in alone on Kuemper. Seconds later, the puck was in the net and Malkin was on one knee celebrating while pumping his fists, the kind of display of raw emotion that’s become one of his trademarks.

“It’s a huge goal for me, and two points for the team,” Malkin said.

Pittsburgh moved three points clear of Florida after the Panthers lost to the earlier Saturday. Both teams have nine regular-season games left.

Ryan Poehling and Chad Ruhwedel scored a little over two minutes apart in the second period for Pittsburgh. Jake Guentzel added his team-high 32nd goal early in the third before Washington scrambled back. Casey DeSmith played spectacularly at times while finishing with 31 saves.

Tom Wilson started the Capitals’ comeback with his ninth goal of the season 5:19 into the third. Kuemper stopped 36 shots, but was outplayed by DeSmith as Washington’s hopes of making a late push for a playoff berth took a serious hit. The Capitals are six points behind Pittsburgh with only eight games remaining.

“It’s a tough one,” Washington center T.J. Oshie said. “I don’t think that last play was the only thing that lost the game for us. I know that (Mantha) feels terrible about it, but we trust him with the puck. It just wasn’t a good enough 60 minutes against a good hockey team over there.”

It felt like old times for much of the night for teams that usually enter late March battling for a spot near the top of the Metropolitan Division.

Not this season.

While the 35-year-old Crosby is averaging over a point a game as usual and the 37-year-old Ovechkin is steadily making inroads on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, their teams have spent most of the year skating in place.

Pittsburgh has been wildly uneven thanks in part to goaltending that has fluctuated between solid and shaky, the main reason a 17th straight playoff appearance is hardly assured. Washington, meanwhile, appears to be pointing toward the future after injuries and a small sell-off at the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh put itself on slightly firmer footing with DeSmith making a compelling case that he should supplant Tristan Jarry as Pittsburgh’s top goaltender down the stretch.

DeSmith was spectacular at times, including stoning Ovechkin on a breakaway near the end of the second period in which Ovechkin deked DeSmith to his knees, only to see DeSmith extend his left leg just enough to knock the puck out of harm’s way.

“I’m not very tall,” the 6-foot DeSmith said. “But I had that one inch that I needed.”

UP NEXT

Capitals: Host the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

Penguins: Visit Detroit on Tuesday.

Devils defeat Senators 5-3, clinch playoff berth

Associated PressMar 26, 2023, 12:09 AM EDT
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NEWARK, N.J. — Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist, Mackenzie Blackwood had 25 saves and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-3 and clinched a playoff berth on Saturday night.

“It means everything to the group. I went into the dressing room after the game and just said that I was proud of the work that was put in, proud of where we got to clinch tonight to be one of three teams that have an X next to their name,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “All the work that’s been put in, the adversity they face during the year. The adversity they face right at the start of the season to where we’ve got to now.”

New Jersey could have clinched its first postseason berth since 2018 with a win, but it happened before their first intermission when the Florida Panthers lost to the New York Rangers in regulation.

“I had a lesser role then,” said Jesper Bratt, who was a rookie for the Devils in 2017-18. “I would say at a younger age, it’s kind of like you think that just because it happened your first year that it might happen every year. And then it goes pretty fast with reality that was not the case and you got to work extremely hard for it.

“It’s a really tough league. So this feels really good. It’s been a lot of years with struggle, not winning, and it’s just awesome coming out now playing these kinds of games and getting that.”

Bratt, Dawson Mercer and Dougie Hamilton scored for the Devils and Tomas Tatar scored an empty netter with 42.3 seconds left to put things away.

Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Mark Kastelic scored for the Senators and Dylan Ferguson had 30 saves.

Tkachuk scored his 33rd goal of the season to give the Senators the 1-0 lead 3:14 into the first period. The Devils responded midway through the first period with Hughes’ 40th goal of the season on a breakaway, going five-hole to tie it.

Nick Holden gave the puck away and Bratt scored his 31st goal of the season on the breakaway 2:24 into the second period to give New Jersey the 2-1 lead. Mercer’s 23rd of the season came just over a minute later.

The Senators answered midway through the second period when Thomas Chabot scored his 11th goal of the year to cut the deficit to 3-2. They knotted things up 16:03 into the second when Kastelic scored his fifth of the season.

“We were confident going into the third period. We felt like the game was there for our taking,” Travis Hamonic said. “They score on their chance, and that’s game.”

Hamilton scored 3:34 into the third period to give the Devils the lead. His 19th goal breaks the franchise record for goals in a season by a defenseman, surpassing Scott Stevens – the Devils great whose number is hanging in the rafters – record of 18 in 1993-94.

NOTES: This was the first game for the Devils backup Blackwood since Feb. 19. … Nico Hischier has a six-game point streak after recording two assists.

UP NEXT

Senators: Host the Florida Panthers on Monday night.

Devils: Play at New York Islanders on Monday night. —

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Kings tie franchise mark with point in 11th straight game

Associated PressMar 25, 2023, 11:36 PM EDT
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Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports
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LOS ANGELES — Viktor Arvidsson had two goals and the Los Angeles Kings matched their longest point streak in franchise history with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon.

Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist and Alex Iafallo netted a power-play goal for Los Angeles, which has earned points in 11 straight games for the fourth time. The last occurrence was 2013-14, when the Kings won their second Stanley Cup championship.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 25 shots for Los Angeles.

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Winnipeg and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves.

Arvidsson – who has 22 goals on the season – has four in the last four games while Doughty has found the net four times in the last five games.

Arvidsson’s first goal came 82 seconds into the game. Trevor Moore won the faceoff in the offensive zone and made a backhand pass to Arvidsson, who snapped it into the net from the back of the left faceoff circle.

He also had an empty-net goal late in the third period.

The Kings extended their lead to 2-0 five minutes into the second period on the power play. Phillip Danault made a great pass between Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon and Hellebuyck as Iafallo buried it into the short side of the net.

Doughty extended the lead to 3-1 27 seconds into the third period with a wrist shot from outside the right faceoff circle near the boards after Anze Kopitar won the faceoff.

POWERING UP

Winnipeg got its first power-play goal in seven games with 1:23 remaining in the second period when Dubois took a cross-ice pass from Kyle Connor and scored from the left faceoff circle to get the Jets within 2-1.

The Jets got a five-minute power play after Los Angeles’ Blake Lizotte received a five-minute match penalty for a vicious cross-check to Josh Morrissey’s face. The goal came with 33 seconds left in the man advantage.

NOTES: Danault picked up his 300th career point and 200th assist. … Winnipeg’s Connor set a career high for most assists in a season when he got his 47th on Dubois’ goal.

UP NEXT

Jets: Travel to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Kings: Host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

Coyotes minority owner suspended by NHL following arrest

Associated PressMar 25, 2023, 1:45 AM EDT
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NEW YORK — Arizona Coyotes minority owner Andrew Barroway was suspended indefinitely by the NHL on Friday following his arrest for domestic violence in Colorado.

Online court records show Barroway was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of second-degree assault strangulation, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He appeared in court Friday to be advised of the possible charges he is facing and is scheduled to back in court on April 3.

Barroway spent Thursday night in Pitkin County Jail after police arrested him at an Aspen hotel, according to a police report obtained by the Aspen Daily News.

“The National Hockey League is aware of the arrest of Arizona Coyotes’ minority owner Andrew Barroway,” the NHL said in a statement. “Pending further information, he has been suspended indefinitely.”

The 57-year-old Barroway was arrested after a verbal altercation with his wife turned physical, according to the police report. He is prohibited from having contact with his wife, except when it involves their children, and can’t consume alcohol under a court order.

A prominent hedge fund manager, Barroway owns 5% of the Coyotes.

“We are aware of the allegation regarding Mr. Barroway and we are working with the League to gather more information,” the Coyotes said in a statement. “When we have enough information, we will have an appropriate response. Until the investigation is complete, we will have no further comment.”