Yesterday’s NHL Scores
Last Night’s News 📰
MORE GREEN FOR GREENWAY: Yesterday, the Minnesota Wild agreed to a three-year extension with 24-year-old Jordan Greenway with an average annual value (AAV) of $3 million. Greenway, who would have been a restricted free agent after this season, has recently impressed with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past 16 games.
A-MASON ACHIEVEMENT: Known more for his gritty, physical game, Mason Marchment showcased some slick offensive skills on Monday night, scoring two goals and adding four assists in the Florida Panthers’ 8-4 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. His six-point night set a career-high for Marchment, who came into the season with just 11 career points.
THREE IN THE SIX: Three is the magic number in Toronto, as the Maple Leafs scored four or more third-period goals for the second game in a row. After scoring five goals in the final frame against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, the Leafs potted four against the New Jersey Devils last night to secure the 6-4 victory, including an empty-netter to complete the hat trick for Auston Matthews.
OVERTIME FIRSTS: Two games went into overtime on Monday night, and both resulted in firsts for their respective franchises. Second-year forward Tim Stützle recorded his first career fight and first overtime winner as the Ottawa Senators outlasted the Edmonton Oilers 3-2. South of the border, Jordan Oesterle notched his first goal in 61 games, waiting until the extra frame to tally his initial goal with the Red Wings.
NO RUST FOR HALAK: In his first game back since Dec. 30, Jaroslav Halak made 20 saves on 21 shots to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Marc-André Fleury made 29 saves at the other end for the Blackhawks, who have now lost six of their last seven games.
Trivia Tuesday
How well do you know Roman Josi?
- Roman Josi leads all Nashville Predators with 397 career assists. Who did he pass to set the record?
- David Legwand
- Martin Erat
- Shea Weber
- Kimmo Timonen
- How many seasons has Josi scored at least 50 points?
- 6
- 3
- 2
- 5
- Who was named Josi’s associate captain when he became the Predators’ captain?
- Mattias Ekholm
- Ryan Ellis
- Ryan Johansen
- Filip Forsberg
Answers can be found at the bottom of the email.
Winningest Months in NHL History
With a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Denver on Sunday, the Colorado Avalanche won their 15th game of the month, setting a new NHL record for most wins in January and tying the record for most wins in a single month with the 2014 Boston Bruins and the 2013 Pittsburgh Penguins. As we turn the page on the calendar, let’s take a look at the three NHL teams to win 15 games in a single month.
Colorado Avalanche (Jan. 2022)
The Avalanche have 67 points on the season, putting them behind only the Florida Panthers, who have played three more games. Of those 67 points, 31 of those came in January, in which the Avs went 15-0-1. The lone loss was a 5-4 overtime defeat at the hands of the Nashville Predators on Jan. 11.
(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Since that loss, the Avalanche have won 10 in a row. They’re also currently on a streak of 18 consecutive home wins, which is the longest such streak in franchise history and the fifth-longest in NHL history, and they haven’t lost a game in regulation since Dec.16.
During January, the Avalanche outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 66-35. With a record of 32-8-3, they’re currently in the driver’s seat. They’ll look to stay hot and start a new month on the right foot when they host the Arizona Coyotes tonight.
Boston Bruins (March 2014)
The 2013-14 Boston Bruins, led by Patrice Bergeron, Jarome Iginla, Zdeno Chára, Brad Marchand, and Vezina Trophy winner Tuukka Rask, finished with a record of 54-14-9 (117 points), winning the Presidents’ Trophy. Their best hockey came in the last complete month of the season, as they went 15-1-1 in March.
That month included a perfect 9-0 road record. The only losses the Bruins suffered came in Boston, 4-2 to the Washington Capitals on the first day of the month and 2-1 in a shootout to the Montreal Canadiens on March 24. In total, Boston outscored its opposition 58-28 in March 2014.
The Bruins beat the Detroit Red Wings four games to one in the first round of the playoffs, setting up a second-round meeting with the rival Canadiens, who eliminated Boston in seven games.
Pittsburgh Penguins (March 2013)
Coincidentally enough, the two winningest months in NHL history before 2022 were in March of back-to-back years. A year before the Bruins did it, the Penguins did, and they did it better than either of the teams that have followed, winning all 15 of their games in March 2013.
(Photo Credit: Andy Martin Jr)
In a season that was only 48 games long due to the NHL lockout, a Penguins team led by Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz, and Marc-André Fleury went 36-12-0 (72 points), enough for first in the Eastern Conference and second in the NHL, five points behind the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks.
In their 15-0-0 March, the Penguins outscored their opponents by a combined total of 54-26. After beating the New York Islanders in six games and the Ottawa Senators in five games that postseason, the Bruins swept the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final.
Frenzied February
The shortest month of the year likely won’t feel like it if you’re a hockey fan. Once dedicated to providing an Olympic break to allow NHL participation at the Beijing Games, February is now going to see the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey tournaments coincide with a slew of games rescheduled on account of COVID-related postponements.
It’s not the ideal February that most fans had in mind, but it promises to be pretty wild and potentially a lot of fun. Let’s look at what’s to come this month:
All-Star Weekend, Feb. 4-5
Injuries to the likes of All-Stars Nathan MacKinnon and Adam Fox won’t put a damper on an All-Star Weekend that the league seems to be wholly embracing as a Las Vegas-inspired spectacle. In addition to bringing back fun events like the Breakaway Challenge, the NHL will lean heavily into the Sin City vibe with the newly announced “Fountain Faceoff” in the famous Bellagio Fountains.
Olympic Games, Feb. 4-20
It’s not quite best-on-best (not for the men, anyway), but, be honest, you’ll be watching. The usual appeal of sheer national pride coupled with the prospect (see what I did there?) of promising future NHLers like Owen Power and Matty Beniers going for gold on the biggest stage will keep fans glued to their TVs.
Makeup Games, Feb. 6-22
While hockey talent from outside the NHL vies for gold in China, the league will forge ahead with league play, playing catch-up after a litany of postponements over the past few months. Schedule makers in the league offices did their best, but making such a random assortment of games fit logically within a two-week time frame was never going to be easy. Whether it’s the Ottawa Senators playing back-to-back afternoon games or the Anaheim Ducks playing once between now and Feb. 16, things are going to get weird.
Throw in a gradual increase in trade chatter, a continued push towards the 2022 postseason, and the possible return/debut of Jack Eichel, February promises to be quite the month.
Trivia Answers
1. David Legwand
2. 5 Seasons
3. Ryan Ellis
NHL Standings
NHL’s Leading Scorers
Today’s NHL Schedule
- Today’s newsletter was edited by Kyle Knopp, with contributions by Ben Fisher, Kristy Flannery, and Brooke LoFurno.
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