* After dropping their first two games of 2022-23, the Blackhawks have rallied with three straight wins – overcoming a multi-goal deficit in each contest and joining rare company in the process.
* The retooled Red Wings are off to their best start in more than a decade, with offseason acquisition Dominik Kubalik leading the way by collecting eight points through his first five games of the campaign.
* Phil Kessel is set to tie Keith Yandle for the longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history and will do so against the Maple Leafs, with whom his stretch began nearly 13 years ago.
BLACKHAWKS BEST KRAKEN WITH THIRD STRAIGHT MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN
Trailing 2-0 in the first period, Jujhar Khaira scored shorthanded to begin Chicago’s initial comeback attempt andset the stage for Tyler Johnson’s two tying tallies as well as Jason Dickinson’s winner with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Blackhawks have erased a multi-goal deficit to win three consecutive contests for the first time in franchise history following a pair of victories in similar fashion on Oct. 15 and Oct. 21.
* Chicago became the ninth team in NHL history to post three or more consecutive multi-goal comeback wins, joining Carolina (4 GP from Oct. 24-29, 2005), Detroit (3 GP from Nov. 6-10, 2018), Nashville (3 GP from Feb. 27 – March 2, 2018), Edmonton (3 GP from Dec. 15-19, 2005), Pittsburgh (3 GP from Dec. 4-7, 1996), Buffalo (3 GP from Jan. 26-29, 1993), Hartford (3 GP from March 18-22, 1986) and NY Rangers (3 GP from Jan. 9-14, 1979).
* Additionally, the Blackhawks are the fourth team in NHL history to overcome a multi-goal deficit in each of their first three wins of a season, joining the Blues (3 GP in 2006-07), Red Wings (3 GP in 1990-91) and Islanders (3 GP in 1985-86).
* Khaira, with three career shorthanded goals on his resume, netted Chicago’s fourth of the season, joining Sam Lafferty (2) and Connor Murphy (1). Only two other teams have multiple shorthanded tallies in 2022-23: Edmonton (2) and Colorado (2).
KUBALIK AND NEWCOMERS HELP RED WINGS CONTINUE HOT START TO 2022-23
Dominik Kubalik (1-2—3) posted his third consecutive multi-point outing and Ville Husso turned aside 32 shots as the Red Wings (3-0-2, 8 points) posted a season-opening point streak of at least five games for the fourth time in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68). Detroit is one of just four clubs without a regulation loss alongside Pittsburgh (4-0-1), Dallas (4-0-1) and St. Louis (3-0-0).
* Kubalik, who signed a two-year contract with Detroit this offseason and leads the Red Wings with eight points through their first five games (3-5—8), is no stranger to producing offensively after putting together a 30-goal campaign in his rookie season with the Blackhawks in 2019-20. Since 2012-13, only three players have recorded more points through their first five contests with a club: John Tavares (6-4—10 w/ TOR in 2018-19), Matt Duchene (2-7—9 w/ NSH in 2019-20) and Zach Parise (5-4—9 w/ MIN in 2012-13).
* With David Perron (1-0—1) and Elmer Soderblom (1-0—1) also contributing offensively for Detroit, the club has received 11-14—25 from players in their first season with the Red Wings – the most goals and points among all teams, and three more tallies than the next closest (FLA: 8-9—17).
KNIGHT’S 25TH CAREER WIN FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured notable facts and figures from a five-game Sunday slate, highlighted by Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight recording his 25th career win (38 GP). Only four active goaltenders have reached the mark in fewer appearances than the Darien, Conn., native: Frederik Andersen (33 GP), Jordan Binnington (35 GP), Matt Murray (36 GP) and Anton Khudobin (36 GP).
QUICK CLICKS
*Phil Kessel talks ironman streak, love of game with NHL.com
* Auston Matthews of Maple Leafs touts innovative in-line skates, helps design own
* Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj has outstanding nickname, hardly alone in NHL
* Zizing ‘Em Up: Healthy Tyler Seguin shining for Stars after mulling retirement
* Blackhawks off to good start under Luke Richardson
KESSEL SET TO TIE YANDLE FOR LONGEST “IRONMAN” STREAK IN NHL HISTORY
Golden Knights forward Phil Kessel has not missed an NHL game in nearly 13 years and is expected to skate in his 989th consecutive contest – tying Keith Yandle (989 GP) for the longest “Ironman” streak in League history. Kessel will match the mark against the Maple Leafs – one of his four former teams and a franchise that accounts for the first 446 contests of the streak.
* Monday also presents another opportunity for Kessel (399-558—957 in 1,210 GP) – he sits one tally shy of becoming the 12th U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the 400-goal milestone. To date, Patrick Kane (430 in 1,112 GP), Joe Pavelski (425 in 1,173 GP) and Zach Parise (409 in 1,148) are the only active U.S.-born skaters to achieve the feat.
CROSBY, McDAVID READY FOR 10TH HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETING
Sidney Crosby (3-7—10 in 5 GP) and Connor McDavid (5-5—10 in 5 GP) are two of six players with a double-digit point total thus far in 2022-23 and will square off for their 10th all-time meeting when the Penguins travel to Rogers Place to tangle with the Oilers.
* Crosby, with three outings of three-plus points this season, has helped Pittsburgh score six goals in each of its four wins in 2022-23. The Penguins captain has collected 2-3—5 in his previous nine head-to-head matchups with McDavid, with his team holding a 6-2-1 advantage in those contests.
* Conversely, the Oilers captain is 3-3-3 against Crosby but holds the statistical advantage – producing two points per game (5-13—18 in 9 GP). McDavid, held scoreless for the first time this season in Edmonton’s previous matchup against the Blues on Oct. 22, has notched 36-76—112 in 71 career outings immediately following a contest in which he didn’t find the score sheet.
