 |
| Carl Hagelin (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) |
Carl Hagelin will return to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to play his former NHL team, the New York Rangers. Hamelin currently plays for the Anaheim Ducks. Last night, the Ducks were beaten by the New York Islanders by a score of 5-2.
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
[ : Around the League Notebook for Monday, Dec. 21 (http://bit.ly/1ZnGPOi - via NHL.com) : ]
MONDAY RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NY ISLANDERS 5, Anaheim 2
PHILADELPHIA 4, St. Louis 3
PITTSBURGH 5, Columbus 2
Washington 2, CAROLINA 1
NASHVILLE 5, Montreal 1
Dallas 6, MINNESOTA 3
Toronto 7, COLORADO 4
EDMONTON 3, Winnipeg 1
CAPITALS, STARS CONTINUE BATTLE ATOP LEAGUE STANDINGS
The Washington Capitals (25-6-2, 52 points) and Dallas Stars (25-7-2, 52 points), the top two teams in the NHL, each earned road victories to continue their franchise-best starts to the season and keep pace atop the NHL standings. The teams share the League lead with 12 road wins in 2015-16 (tied w/ SJS):
* Philipp Grubauer made 31 saves to lead the Capitals to a 2-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, their sixth consecutive victory, and to a 13-1-1 record in their past 15 games, a stretch that includes two six-game winning streaks (also Nov. 21 – Dec. 3: 6-0-0). The Elias Sports Bureau says the Capitals have multiple winning streaks of at least six games for the first time since the 2010-11 season (Oct. 30 – Nov. 11, 2010: 6-0-0 and Feb. 26 – March 15, 2011: 9-0-0). Grubauer is 4-2-1 in seven games this season (2.30 goals-against average, .914 save percentage) and 2-0-1 in four games against the Hurricanes (2.09 GAA, .939 save percentage).
* The Stars scored four straight, including goals by Vernon Fiddler (18:30) and Tyler Seguin (19:29) in the final 90 seconds of the second period, to erase a two-goal deficit and defeat the Minnesota Wild 6-3, picking up their fifth victory in their past seven games. The Stars have won all three games against the Wild this season, including two in which they faced a multigoal deficit (also Nov. 28 at MIN: trailed 3-0, won 4-3 in OT). Antoine Roussel scored his fifth game-winning goal this season (six goals total) to move into a share of the League lead. He had three game-winning goals in his first 200 games before the 2015-16 season.
OILERS PUSH HOME WINNING STREAK TO SEVEN GAMES
The line of Teddy Purcell (2-1—3), Taylor Hall (0-3—3) and Leon Draisaitl (0-2—2) scored all three Edmonton Oilers goals in a 3-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets to guide them to their seventh consecutive home win, equaling their longest such run since Feb. 4 – March 2, 2008.
* The Oilers' home winning streak is one shy of matching the franchise record established from Jan. 19 – Feb. 22, 1985 (8-0-0) and equaled the following season from Feb. 24 – April 2, 1986.
* Edmonton is one of four teams to post a home winning streak of at least seven games this season. In fact, there are four teams with an active home winning streak of at least six games:
Longest Home Winning Streaks, 2015-16
9 – Calgary Flames, from Nov. 5 – Dec. 20^
9 – New York Rangers, from Oct. 19 – Nov. 23
7 – Washington Capitals, from Nov. 21 – Dec. 20^
7 – Edmonton Oilers, from Nov. 20 – Dec. 21^
6 – Los Angeles Kings, from Nov. 12 – Dec. 19^
6 – Chicago Blackhawks, from Oct. 10 – Nov. 2
^ Active
* Purcell had his second three-point game of the season (also Dec. 11 vs. NYR: 1-2—3), while Hall – who ranks fourth in the League with 15-24—39 (35 GP) – eclipsed 300 points (121-181—302 in 334 GP).
* Cam Talbot made 44 saves, including 16 in each of the last two periods, to pick up his first win at Rexall Place since Oct. 29 vs. MTL (4-3 W, 18 SV).
FLYERS STAGE MULTIGOAL COMEBACK AGAINST BLUES
The Philadelphia Flyers scored four unanswered goals, including Evgeny Medvedev's first career game-winning goal (23 GP) with 3:13 remaining in regulation, to defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 and improve to 8-2-2 in their past 12 games.
* Via Elias, the Flyers overcame a three-goal deficit to win for the first time since Dec. 19, 2013 vs. CBJ. In that game, Philadelphia rallied from 3-0 and 4-2 deficits by scoring five goals in the third period, behind 2-2—4 by Claude Giroux, to win 5-4 in regulation.
* Four players -- Wayne Simmonds (2-0—2), Chris VandeVelde (1-1—2), Jakub Voracek (0-2—2) and Shayne Gostisbehere (0-2—2) -- had multiple points in the comeback. Voracek stretched his point streak to five games (2-6—8).
* Via Elias, teams have come back to win a game in which they were trailing by at least three goals nine times this season.
OFFENSIVE SURGE
In addition to the Stars, four other clubs filled the net with at least five goals en route to wins:
* Four Nashville Predators players -- Shea Weber (1-2—3), Colin Wilson (1-2—3), Roman Josi (1-1—2) and Calle Jarnkrok (1-1—2) -- each had multiple points to lift them to a 5-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens and a 5-0-3 record in their past eight games against the Canadiens dating to Nov. 14, 2009 (MTL: 3-4-1). Weber (10-15—25), the Predators' second-leading scorer behind Josi (9-17—26), paces the entire NHL with 4-11—15 in the month of December.
* Phil Kessel (2-0—2) and Evgeni Malkin (2-0—2) each scored twice to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2, halting a five-game skid overall (0-4-1) and giving Mike Sullivan his first win since becoming Penguins coach. Kessel notched his fourth game-winning goal of the season, tied for the second-most such goals in 2015-16 behind five players, including Malkin (5 GWG). Goaltender Matt Murray, who made his NHL debut on Saturday, stopped 22 shots to register his first career victory.
* Four different Toronto Maple Leafs players registered at least three points -- Jake Gardiner (0-4—4), Tyler Bozak (3-0—3), Leo Komarov (1-2—3), James van Riemsdyk (1-2—3) -- to help them defeat the Colorado Avalanche 7-4 and improve to 4-0-2 in their past six games. The Avalanche's winning streak ended at five games. Gardiner, who established career highs for assists and points, is the first Maple Leafs defenseman to record four points in a game since Jan. 7, 2011 at ATL (Tomas Kaberle: 0-4—4). Bozak had his second career hat trick (also March 28 vs. OTT: 3-1—4), while Komarov had his second straight three-point effort (also Saturday vs. LAK: 2-1—3).
* The New York Islanders scored three straight in the final 5:06 of the first period, including goals by Travis Hamonic (1-0—1) and Brock Nelson (1-0—1) 43 seconds apart in the last minute, and scored twice more in the third to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 and snap a three-game skid (0-3-0). The Islanders (11-4-1) lead all Eastern Conference teams with 11 wins against opponents from the Western Conference this season – two more than any other Eastern Conference club (NYR: 9-6-1 and TOR: 9-4-1).
NHL ANNOUNCES PERFORMERS FOR WINTER CLASSIC
The NHL announced Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter Nate Ruess, alternative rock band American Authors, "The Voice" season 9 winner and recording artist Jordan Smith, and musicians from the Boston Pops are among the performers for the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, the New Year's Day outdoor game between the Canadiens and Bruins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
LOOSE PUCKS
Stars forward Tyler Seguin (1-1—2) had his League-leading 14th multipoint game of the season. He ranks second in the NHL with 19-27—46, four points behind Patrick Kane (21-29—50) . . . Stars goaltender Antti Niemi made 30 saves in relief to improve to 14-5-2 this season. He also moved to 10-3-2 in 15 career appearances against the Wild (1.93 GAA, .928 save percentage, one shutout) . . . Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko (0-1—1) had his goal streak snapped at five games, but extended his point streak to six (5-5—10) . . . Capitals defenseman John Carlson (0-1—1) extended his point streak to seven games (2-6—8) . . . Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon scored his fifth goal of the season after signing a four-year contract extension earlier in the day . . . Jets defenseman Mark Stuart (600) and Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson (400) played in milestone games . . . ICYMI: Hurricanes forward Kris Versteeg went between his legs to score his fifth goal of the season . . . Blue Jackets forward Alexander Wennberg (1-0—1) has 2-8—10 in his past nine games after scoring one goal in his first 15 games in 2015-16 . . . Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne made 35 saves, including 14 in the first period, to improve to 5-1-1 in seven games against the Canadiens (1.27 GAA, .952 save percentage, two shutouts) . . . The Department of Player Safety suspended Bruins forward Max Talbot two games for interference on Devils forward Jiri Tlusty . . . Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov, Capitals forward T.J. Oshie and Wild forward Mikko Koivu were named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Dec. 20 . . . ICYMI: The NHL officially took over Gillette Stadium with the arrival of the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Ice Plant presented by York. Click here to watch a live webcam of the rink build at Gillette Stadium.
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
[ : AHL Notebook: Predators affiliate full of talent (http://bit.ly/1RE6EIF - via NHL.com) : ]
One could be excused for mistaking the list of Milwaukee Admirals alumni with an NHL All-Star team.
The likes of Shea Weber and Roman Josi now occupy spots on the Nashville Predators' defense after learning the pro game in the American Hockey League with Milwaukee. Goaltender Pekka Rinne carried the Admirals to a Calder Cup final in 2006.
The Nashville roster also includes Milwaukee graduates Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm on its blue line, plus forwards Filip Forsberg and Colin Wilson. Defensemen Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Klein and forward Scottie Upshall are among the Admirals that have moved on to long NHL careers with other organizations.
Now there is another crop of Predators prospects for the next infusion of talent through the Milwaukee-to-Nashville pipeline. At 19-9-0-1, the Admirals are a point behind the Western Conference-leading Rockford IceHogs after a 6-2 win at Rockford on Monday.
Goaltender Juuse Saros, a fourth-round pick by Nashville in the 2013 NHL Draft, headlines the latest round of Milwaukee-based talent. The 20-year-old goaltender is 12-3-0 in his first 15 AHL games with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. At 5-foot-11, 182 pounds, Saaros is an anomaly in today's game of big goaltenders.
But Saros brought an impressive resume with him to Milwaukee. Along with two seasons with HPK Hameenlinna of the SM-Liiga in Finland, Saaros led Finland to a gold medal in the 2014 World Junior Championship. Four months later, he was a part of Finland's silver-medal team at the World Hockey Championship.
"I like it here," said Saros, who made his NHL debut earlier this season. "Lots more happening in a game. Of course, more scoring chances too, but I still like the small rink. I still have a lot to learn about this game.
Swiss right wing Kevin Fiala, the 11th pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, is another top prospect learning in Milwaukee. He played his first AHL season in 2014-15 as an 18-year-old and debuted with 11 goals in 33 games. This season, he has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 25 games.
A second-round pick by the Predators in 2012, left wing Pontus Aberg debuted last season with the Admirals and had 16 goals. This season he has eight goals in his first 28 games.
"Clearly Pontus is being rewarded on the scoresheet, but he's working, he's competing, he's battling," Milwaukee coach Dean Evason said after Aberg scored the winning goal in a 7-5 home win against the Manitoba Moose on Saturday. "He's playing fast and hard."
Another second-round pick, 19-year-old center Vladislav Kamenev, has six goals in 24 games in his first season in North America.
But the Nashville-Milwaukee partnership, which dates to the 1998-99 season when Nashville entered the NHL as an expansion franchise, also has a knack for turning less-heralded players into legitimate prospects.
Undrafted coming out of the Ontario Hockey League, Nashville signed defenseman Trevor Murphy in September, and he has bloomed in Milwaukee with five goals and eight assists in 23 games with the Admirals as rookie.
A fourth-round pick in 2014, forward Viktor Arvidsson needed last season and 14 AHL games this season before pushing himself into the Nashville lineup. He had seven goals and 10 assists in 14 games in Milwaukee before earning a recall to Nashville, where he has remained.
Leading scorer Frederick Gaudreau stands out as another undrafted player who is establishing himself as a late-blooming prospect. The 22-year-old center, who had to play an overage year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2013-14, has eight goals and 12 assists in 28 games with the Admirals.
Opposite directions: The Grand Rapids Griffins have a franchise-record 14-game winning streak going into their holiday break; they have not lost since Nov. 14 and have won 10 consecutive games at Van Andel Arena.
Conversely, the San Antonio Rampage ended a seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 win at the Iowa Wild on Sunday. They had not won since Nov. 29 after a 12-3-6-0 start to their season.
San Antonio will also be without leading scorer Mikko Rantanen, the 10th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. He has 10 goals and 16 assists in 22 games as a 19-year-old rookie. He will represent host Finland in the World Junior Championship.
The Rampage have been without captain Ben Street and defenseman Zach Redmond for much of the season. Each player remains with the parent Colorado Avalanche; Street, who had three goals and nine assists in six games with the Rampage, is out with a long-term chest injury. Defenseman Duncan Siemens, veteran center Marc-Andre Cliche and veteran defenseman Maxim Noreau have been out of the lineup at various points in December as well.
Toronto on top: The Toronto Marlies continued to overwhelm opponents and improved their road record to a league-best 15-1-1-0 with a three-game sweep last week. The Marlies went into Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, whose 12 home wins are most in the AHL. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held a 3-0 lead entering the third period before Toronto scored three shorthanded goals in a 2:34 span to tie the game and set up a 4-3 shootout win.
From there, the Marlies moved south for a visit with the Hershey Bears and took a 6-2 win. The Marlies' 48 points and .800 winning percentage top the AHL, and they have at least a point in each of their past nine games (8-0-1-0).
The Marlies continue to win even with goaltenders Antoine Bibeau and Garret Sparks on recall with the Toronto Maple Leafs. To replace them, the Marlies added NHL veteran Ray Emery on an AHL tryout deal. Six goaltenders have won a game with the Marlies this season.
Toronto will be without top prospects William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen, who will participate in the World Junior Championship. Nylander, the AHL's leading scorer (14 goals, 20 assists), will represent Sweden while Kapanen will play for Finland.
AHL Game of the Week: Toronto and the St. John's IceCaps play out latest chapter in the AHL's version of the Montreal Canadiens-Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry. They start a two-game series in Toronto at Air Canada Centre on Saturday.
As a team with one of the most challenging travel burdens in the AHL, the IceCaps should be refreshed after their traditional lengthy holiday break. They have not played since Dec. 16 after sweeping a two-game series with the Albany Devils at Mile One Centre and are off until they visit the Marlies.
Statistically speaking: Nylander has 34 points in 27 games… Rookie Devin Shore of the Texas Stars, Petr Straka (Lehigh Valley Phantoms) and Scott Wilson (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) are in a three-way tie with an AHL-leading 15 goals. …Ontario Reign goaltender Peter Budaj leads the League with a 1.49 GAA. His .938 save percentage ties him with Sparks and Matt Murray of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for best in the AHL. Budaj is tied with Michael Leighton (Rockford) with a league-high 15 wins. … Toronto defenseman T.J. Brennan has 11 goals in 29 games, most among AHL defensemen.
Around the AHL: Portland Pirates goaltender Mike McKenna won the CCM/AHL Player of the Week Award for the period ending this past Sunday. He won each of his three starts last week and had a 1.00 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage. …The Stockton Heat defeated the Bakersfield Condors 3-2 in the Golden State Hockey Rush outdoor game at Raley Field in Sacramento on Saturday, the eighth outdoor game in AHL history. …The AHL will be represented at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Two members of the Charlotte Checkers will head to Davos to represent Canada, including a return trip for veteran goaltender Drew MacIntyre. He played three games in the 2014 tournament. Checkers defenseman Trevor Carrick, 21, will also represent Canada. His seven goals rank him third among AHL defensemen. …Albany has added forward Brian O'Neill, who won the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's most valuable player last season. …The Utica Comets have brought in veteran AHL defenseman Danny Syvret. Utica's power play ranks 19th, something that the 30-year-old veteran should be able to help. He had a goal and an assist in his first two games this past weekend. …Sixty-seven AHL players have made their NHL debut this season, including six last week.
No comments:
Post a Comment