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NHL Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning (20-10-1) at Detroit Red Wings (13-11-7)

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NHL Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning (20-10-1) at Detroit Red Wings (13-11-7)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING NOTES:

LAST GAME
Lightning 1 at Toronto 4
The Tampa Bay Lightning saw their season-long, five-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday night with a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena…The Bolts fell to 20-10-1 on the season with a road record of 8- 6-0…Michael Bunting opened the scoring for TOR at the 16:45 mark of the first period before Auston Matthews doubled the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal 1:01 into the middle frame…Vladislav Namestnikov got the Lightning on the board with his second goal of the season with 15:51 remaining in regulation as Steven Stamkos recorded the lone assist…TOR scored two empty-net goals in the final 1:46 to conclude the contest…Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start for the Bolts and made 36 saves on 38 shots against…Stamkos recorded a career high eight hits…Tampa Bay recorded a season-low 19 shots on goal…The Lightning have one game remaining vs. TOR this season April 11 at AMALIE Arena.
PP: TBL – 0-1 TOR 1-2
SOG: TBL – 19 TOR – 40
Attendance: 18,962

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
The Lightning and the Red Wings are playing the second of four matchups this season and the first of two meetings at Little Caesars Arena…The Bolts dropped the first matchup of the season with a 4-2 loss Dec. 6 at AMALIE Arena…After a scoreless first period, Michael Rasmussen opened the scoring at the 1:54 mark of the second period before Jonatan Berggren made it 2-0 for DET with 14:01 remaining in regulation…Steven Stamkos pulled the Lightning within one when he blasted a one-timer past Ville Husso at the 14:52 mark of the third with Victor Hedman and Corey Perry picking up the assists…With Tampa Bay’s net empty for a sixth attacker, Adam Erne sent a shot the length of the ice that found its way into the net to put DET up 3-1 with 3:38 remaining…Brayden Point got the Bolts back within one when he took a pass from Alex Killorn and beat Husso with a backhand shot at the 17:34 mark of the third as Nikita Kucherov picked up the secondary helper…David Perron sealed the win for DET when he scored an empty-net goal with 25 seconds remaining in regulation…Andrei Vasilevskiy got the start in goal for Tampa Bay and made 22 saves on 24 shots against…The Lightning recorded a season-high 46 shots on goal, including 30 shots in the third period, the most ever recorded in a home period in franchise history…Stamkos has pointed in six consecutive games vs. DET (5-6—11)…Stamkos has picked up points in nine of his last 10 games at DET (7-8—15)…Kucherov has recorded points in 17 of his last 21 games vs. DET (17-18—35)…The Lightning are 36-32-3 with two ties all-time vs. DET, including a road record of 14-18-2 with one tie…Stamkos (20-17—37) holds the Bolts franchise record for career goals vs. DET and is tied with Kucherov (18-19— 37) for the most points.

TBL ALL-TIME POINT LEADERS VS. DET
T1. Nikita Kucherov – 37 pts. (18-19—37, 30 GP)
T1. Steven Stamkos – 37 pts. (20-17—37, 36 GP)

  1. Victor Hedman – 35 pts. (3-32—25, 39 GP)
  2. Ondrej Palat – 28 pts. (8-20—28, 38 GP)
  3. Brayden Point – 25 pts. (14-11—25, 28 GP)

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Tampa Bay is playing the third game of a four-game road trip tonight…The Bolts will play just five of their 14 games in December on the road…The Lightning are 7-4-0 against Atlantic Division opponents this season…Tampa Bay is 8-6-0 on the road this season and have won four of their last six road contests…The Bolts are playing the second game of their fifth back-to-back set this season and have posted a 2-2-0 record in the second game of the previous four back-to-back sets.

INJURIES
2022-23 Regular Season Man Games Lost: 76
Current Injuries:
Rudolfs Balcers (Upper-body injury; Out indefinitely) 11 Games

TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 3 – Re-assigned D Philippe Myers to AHL Syracuse
Dec. 3 – Assigned F Cole Koepke to AHL Syracuse

VLAD TO BE BACK
Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov scored his second goal of the season Dec. 20 at TOR…Both of Namestnikov’s goals this season were scored vs. TOR…Namestnikov has recorded three points over his last four contests (1-2—3) and four points over his last seven (2-2—4)…Namestnikov ranks fourth among Tampa Bay forwards with 41 hits…Namestnikov ranks fifth among Lightning forwards with 18 takeaways.

STAMMER TIME
Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos recorded one assist Dec. 20 at TOR…Stamkos has recorded 24 points over his last 17 games (9-15—24)…Stamkos went on a 14-game point streak Nov. 13 – Dec. 13 (9-12—21), the second-longest point streak in Lightning franchise history, trailing only his 18-game point streak in 2009-10 (17-16—33)…The 14-game point streak is tied for the third-longest point streak in the NHL this season…Stamkos (16-21—37) is tied with Brayden Point (16-15—31) for the Bolts team lead in goals, ranks third in assists and trails only Nikita Kucherov (12-35—47) in points…Stamkos leads the Lightning with seven power-play goals…Stamkos is three goals away from his 500th career goal…Stamkos ranks 48th all-time in NHL history with 497 career goals…Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Stamkos has scored 176 goals, the seventh-most among all NHL skaters during that span…Stamkos has recorded more career goals and points than any player in Tampa Bay franchise history.

TBL ALL-TIME POINT LEADERS

  1. Steven Stamkos – 1,009 pts. (497-512—1,009, 953 GP)
  2. Martin St. Louis – 953 pts. (365-588—953, 972 GP)
  3. Vincent Lecavalier – 874 pts. (383-491—874, 1,037 GP)
  4. Nikita Kucherov – 663 pts. (258-405—663, 593 GP)
  5. Victor Hedman – 620 pts. (135-485—620, 927 GP)

THE MOOSE IS LOOSE
Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott has won seven consecutive starts and posted a 7-1-0 record this season…Elliott is the third NHL goalie age 37 or older in the past 11 years to have at least a seven-game win streak (also: Mike Smith, 9 GP, EDM; Tim Thomas, 10 GP, BOS)…Over his last two starts, Elliott has made 58 saves on 61 shots for a .951 save percentage…Since joining Tampa Bay, Elliott has posted an 18-5-3 record with a .908 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average.

KLUTCHEROV
Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov has recorded assists in six of his last seven games (1-10—11)…Kucherov has eight points over his last four games (1-7—8)…Kucherov has picked up points in 11 of his last 12 games (2-17— 19)…Kucherov has recorded more games with three or more points (7) than he has zero-point games (6) this season…Kucherov (12-35—47) ranks second in the NHL in assists, is tied for fourth in points and is tied for sixth in power-play points (20)…Kucherov leads the Lightning in points, assists, power-play points, even-strength points (27) and shots (110)…Kucherov recorded his 400th career assist Dec. 13 vs. SEA in his 590th career game, the sixth-fewest games needed to reach the mark among active players…Kucherov is the fifth player in Bolts franchise history to hit the 400-assist mark with the club…Since Nov. 19, no NHL skater has more assists than Kucherov’s 19…Kucherov has recorded points in 10 of 14 road games this season (5-13—18) and 25 of 31 games overall.

NHL ASSIST LEADERS

  1. Connor McDavid – 36 assists (28-36—64, 33 GP)
  2. Nikita Kucherov – 35 assists (12-35—47, 31 GP)
  3. Leon Draisaitl – 33 assists (21-33—54, 33 GP)
    T4. Artemi Panarin – 32 assists (8-32—40, 34 GP)
    T4. Josh Morrissey – 32 assists (6-32—38, 32 GP)

HOW ABOUT HAGEL?
Lightning forward Brandon Hagel has recorded points in five of his last six games (5-4—9)…Hagel has recorded 13 points over his last 12 contests (7-6—13)…Hagel (12-14—26) ranks fifth in points, tied for fourth in goals and tied for sixth in assists among all Bolts skaters…Hagel is the only Tampa Bay skater with a shorthanded goal this season…Hagel’s plus-10 rating trails only Nick Paul (plus-13) for the team lead among forwards…Hagel leads all NHL forwards with 43 takeaways…Since the NHL began tracking takeaways in 2005-06, only five forwards have ever recorded more takeaways than Hagel’s 42 in their first 30 games of a season (most: Pavel Datsyuk – 51, 2007-08).

NHL TAKEAWAY LEADERS, FORWARDS

  1. Brandon Hagel – 43 TkA (31 GP)
  2. Evgeni Malkin – 39 TkA (32 GP)
  3. Mitch Marner – 36 TkA (33 GP)
  4. Mark Stone – 35 TkA (34 GP)
  5. Auston Matthews – 33 TkA (33 GP)

CRANK THE A/C
Bolts forward Anthony Cirelli scored his first goal of the season Dec. 17 at MTL…Since making his season debut Dec. 3 vs. TOR, Cirelli has recorded points in five of his eight games (1-6—7)…Since his debut, Cirelli is tied for second in assists and blocked shots (5) and tied for third in plus-minus (plus-3).

BETTER CALL PAUL
Tampa Bay forward Nick Paul scored his 13th goal of the season Dec. 17 at MTL…Paul has scored seven goals over his last 13 contests (7-3—10)…Paul (13-8—21) ranks third in goals and seventh in points among all Lightning skaters…Paul’s three game-winning goals are tied for the second-most among all Bolts skaters…Paul has already surpassed his goal, assist and point totals from his 59 games with OTT last season (11-7—18)…Paul’s 24 blocked shots are tied with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare for the second-most among all Lightning forwards (most: Steven Stamkos, 25), while his 56 hits rank third…Paul leads all Tampa Bay skaters with a plus-13 rating…Paul’s 27 takeaways are tied with Brayden Point for the second-most on the team (most: Hagel, 43)…Paul has won 194 faceoffs, the most on the team, while his faceoff win percentage of 51.7% ranks third.

WILL TO KILL
The Lightning penalty kill has allowed one power-play goal against in the last seven consecutive games, going 15-for16 during that span… hrough the first nine games of December, Tampa Bay has allowed just two power-play goals against…Since Dec. 1, the Bolts have killed off 91.7% of opposing power plays, ranking first among all NHL teams…Overall, the Lightning are killing 80.4% of opposing power plays this season, good for ninth in the NHL…Tampa Bay’s penalty kill is operating at 83% on the road, tied for sixth-best among all NHL teams.

NHL PENALTY KILL LEADERS SINCE DEC. 1

  1. Tampa Bay Lightning – 91.7% (22-for-24)
  2. Pittsburgh Penguins – 89.3% (25-for-28)
  3. Boston Bruins – 88.6% (31-for-35)
  4. Ottawa Senators – 87.5% (28-for-32)
  5. Dallas Stars – 84.6% (22-for-26)

GAME POINT
Bolts forward Brayden Point tied the fifth-longest goal streak in the NHL this season with goals in five straight games from Dec. 6-15…Point was the third Tampa Bay skater to record a five-game goal streak this season (also: Nikita Kucherov, 6 GP, Oct. 25 – Nov. 5; Steven Stamkos, 5 GP, Oct. 11-21)…Point has scored 10 goals over his last 12 contests (10-3—13)…Point has scored the game-winning goal in three of the Bolts’ last five wins…Point (16-15—31) is tied with Stamkos (16-20—36) for the team lead in goals, while ranking third in points and fifth in assists…Point leads the Lightning with five game-winning goals, tied for the second-most among all NHL skaters…Point has recorded at least one shot on goal in every game this season…With his goal Dec. 15 vs. CBJ, Point became the fifth player in Tampa Bay franchise history to score 40 career game-winning goals, joining Stamkos (75), Martin St. Louis (64), Vincent Lecavalier (60) and Kucherov (41).

TBL ALL-TIME GAME-WINNING GOAL LEADERS

  1. Steven Stamkos – 75 GWG (952 GP)
  2. Martin St. Louis – 64 GWG (972 GP)
  3. Vincent Lecavalier – 60 GWG (1,037 GP)
  4. Nikita Kucherov – 41 GWG (592 GP)
  5. Brayden Point – 40 GWG (447 GP)

HED RUSH
Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman has recorded five assists over his last four games and seven over his last seven…Hedman (1-16—17) ranks fourth in assists and eighth in points among all Lightning skaters…Hedman’s seven assists since Dec. 6 are tied for the third-most among all NHL defensemen…Hedman’s 59 shots rank fourth among all Tampa Bay skaters…Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Hedman leads all NHL defensemen with 391 points (86-305—391).

DETROIT RED WINGS NOTES:

LAST GAME
RED WINGS 3 at WASHINGTON 4 OT (12/19/22)
1ST PERIOD: DET Perron (Rasmussen, Larkin) 7:30-EV; DET Sundqvist (Berggren, Veleno) 15:36-PP
2ND PERIOD: WSH Dowd (Ovechkin, Gustafsson) 15:35-EV; WSH Dowd (Jensen, Aube-Kubel) 15:46-EV
3RD PERIOD: DET Raymond (Copp, Määttä) 4:49-EV; WSH Gustafsson (Eller, Aube-Kubel) 5:59-EV
OT: WSH Orlov (Johansson, Dowd) 4:38-EV
SHOTS: DET 19 (6-7-5-1) / WSH 42 (10-17-12-3)
GOALIES: DET Husso (OTL, 38-42) / WSH Lindgren (W, 16-19)
PP: DET 1-3 / WSH 0-3

MAN GAMES LOST (games missed / out since)
Robby Fabbri – lower body (31 / Oct. 10)
Jakub Vrána – personal (29 / Oct. 17)
Tyler Bertuzzi – upper body (22 / Nov. 30)
Filip Zadina – lower body (20 / Nov. 5)
Matt Luff – upper body (18 / Nov. 8)
Robert Hägg – undisclosed (5 / Dec. 8)
Total Man Games Lost: 163
Individual Man Games Lost: Elmer Söderblom (13), Gustav Lindström (11), Oskar Sundqvist (7), Olli Määttä (4), Michael Rasmussen (2), Dylan Larkin (1)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
12/20 – Assigned forward Austin Czarnik to Grand Rapids … Reassigned goaltender Sebastian Cossa to Grand Rapids from Toledo (ECHL)
12/19 – Acquired defenseman Michael Del Zotto from Florida in exchange for forward Givani Smith and subsequently traded Del Zotto to Anaheim in exchange for forward Danny O’Regan
12/18 – Reassigned defenseman Donovan Sebrango to Grand Rapids from Toledo (ECHL)
12/17 – Activated defenseman Olli Määttä from injured reserve
12/16 – Assigned defenseman Steven Kampfer to Grand Rapids
12/15 – Reassigned defenseman Eemil Viro to Grand Rapids from Toledo (ECHL)
12/14 – Recalled forward Elmer Söderblom from Grand Rapids … Placed defenseman Olli Määttä on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 6

TONIGHT’S GAME
RED WINGS vs. LIGHTNING / 7:00 P.M. EST / LITTLE CAESARS ARENA / TV: BSD EXTRA / RADIO: WXYT 97.1 FM
TONIGHT: 74th all-time meeting, 36th in Detroit … Second of four games this season, first of two at Little Caesars Arena
ALL-TIME vs. TB: 35-28-2-8 / HOME: 20-7-1-7 / LAST 10: 5-3-2 / IN 2021-22: 1-1-2 / THIS SEASON: 1-0-0
DET top scorers vs. TB: David Perron (6-5-11 in 15 GP), Dominik Kubalík (5-5-10 in 12 GP), Filip Hronek (0-9-9 in 17 GP), Adam
Erne (3-4-7 in 14 GP), Moritz Seider (0-4-4 in 5 GP), Jonatan Berggren (1-0-1 in 1 GP)
TB top scorers vs. DET: Nikita Kucherov (18-19-37 in 30 GP), Steven Stamkos (20-17-37 in 36 GP), Victor Hedman (3-32-35 in 39
GP), Brayden Point (14-11-25 in 28 GP), Corey Perry (11-12-23 in 44 GP), Ross Colton (4-1-5 in 10 GP)

UPCOMING GAMES (ALL TIMES EST)
Fri., Dec. 23: RED WINGS at SENATORS / 7:00 p.m. / Canadian Tire Centre / TV: BSD EXTRA / RADIO: WXYT 97.1 FM
Wed., Dec. 28: RED WINGS at PENGUINS / 7:30 p.m. / PPG Paints Arena / TV: BSD / RADIO: WXYT 97.1 FM
Thu., Dec. 29: RED WINGS at SABRES / 7:00 p.m. / KeyBank Center / TV: BSD / RADIO: WXYT 97.1 FM

LAST TIME OUT
Dec. 19 at Washington – 4-3 OTL
Detroit fell 4-3 in overtime at Washington to move to 13-11-7 overall and 6-5-4 on the road … The Red Wings are 1-0-1 against the Capitals this season, and 6-3-1 against the Metropolitan Division … Detroit is 3-2-7 in one-goal games this season, and 18-3-17 since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign … David Perron opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season, tying Dylan Larkin and Dominik Kubalík for the team lead in that category … Perron has scored 10-or-more goals in 15 of his 16 NHL seasons … Perron has 15 points (5-10-15) in 17 games dating back to Nov. 12 at Los Angeles … Oskar Sundqvist scored on the power play for his fifth goal of the season … It marked Sundqvist’s second power play goal of the season and first since Dec. 3 vs. Vegas … Lucas Raymond gave Detroit a 3-2 lead with his eighth goal of the season … Larkin recorded an assist on Perron’s goal, tying Filip Hronek for the team lead with his 18th assist of the season … Larkin continues to pace the Red Wings with 28 points (10-18-28) through 31 games … Jonatan Berggren picked up an assist on Sundqvist’s power play goal, giving him 10 points (4-6-10) in 18 games to begin his NHL career … Andrew Copp had the primary assist on Raymond’s goal, giving him 11 points (2-9-11) in 15 games since Nov. 17 at San Jose … Copp continues to rank second among Detroit skaters with 16 even-strength points (2-14-16), trailing only Larkin (5-13- 18) … Olli Määttä tallied an assist on Raymond’s goal, giving him four assists in his last four games dating back to Dec. 4 at Columbus … Perron, Raymond and Joe Veleno all have points in back-to-back games (1-1-2 in 2 GP) … Detroit is 8-3-6 this season when scoring first … The Red Wings are 4-0-2 this season when leading after one period … Detroit is 13-2-4 when leading or tied after two periods, and 6-0-4 when doing so on the road …The Red Wings are 12-3-4 this season when scoring three-or-more goals … Detroit is 9-4-4 this season when netting a power play goal and 11-1-4 when not surrendering a power play goal.

FRENCH CONNECTION

  • David Perron ranks among the team leaders with 10 goals (T1st), 13 assists (5th), 23 points (4th), two power play goals (T5th), nine power play points (T3rd), two game-winning goals (2nd) and 84 shots (2nd) through 31 games.
  • Has netted 10-or-more goals in 15 of his 16 NHL seasons.
  • Scored a goal in his 1,000th career NHL game on Dec. 10 at Dallas.
  • Became the 374th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game milestone.
  • Also the fourth player to hit the 1,000-game mark this season, joining Minnesota defenseman Alex Goligoski (Oct. 20 vs. Vancouver), New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey (Oct. 28 at Carolina) and Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin (Nov. 20 at Chicago).
  • Became the sixth active player to score a goal in his 1,000th career NHL game, joining Malkin, Bailey, Jeff Carter, Patrice Bergeron and Brent Burns.
  • He is the fourth member of the 2007 NHL Draft class to reach the 1,000-game milestone, joining Patrick Kane, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds.

FIL THE THRILL

  • Filip Hronek ranks among the team leaders with seven goals (5th), 18 assists (T1st), 25 points (3rd), a plus-13 rating (1st), three power play goals (4th), 11 power play points (2nd), 69 shots (4th) and 21:58 average time on ice (2nd) through 31 games.
  • Became the first Red Wings defenseman to reach the 25-point mark (7-18-25) within a season in 30 games or fewer since both Brian Rafalski (27 GP) and Nicklas Lidström (30 GP) did so in 2010-11.
  • Tied for the team lead with seven multi-point games. He recorded 16 points (6-10-16) and a plus-nine rating during an 11-game stretch from Nov. 12-Dec. 6.
  • Set a franchise record for the longest season-opening road point streak (4-11-15 in 11 GP), eclipsing Sergei Fedorov who set the mark in 1993-94 (9-10-19 in 10 GP).
  • Became the second defenseman in NHL history to post a road point streak of 11-or-more games from the start of a season, joining Paul Coffey who notched a point in each of Edmonton’s first 12 road games in 1986-87 (4-16-20 in 12 GP).
  • Also became the third Red Wings defenseman to post a road point streak of 11-or-more games, following Brian Rafalski (12 GP in 2007-08) and Paul Coffey (15 GP in 1994-95).

NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER

  • Filip Hronek totaled 14 points from Nov. 3-30 (6-8-14 in 13 GP), which were the most by a Red Wings defenseman in a calendar month since Nicklas Lidström in December 2010 (8-8-16 in 16 GP).
  • Had a career-high four-game goal streak from Nov. 17-25 (5-2-7 in 4 GP) and six-game point streak from Nov. 12-25 (6-4-10 in 6 GP).
  • His four-game goal streak matched the longest goal streak by a defenseman in franchise history, joining Mathieu Schneider (4 GP in 2005-06), Nicklas Lidström (4 GP in 2000-01) and Reed Larson (4 GP in 1980-81).
  • Became the first Red Wings defenseman to record six goals in a six-game span since Reed Larson did so from Jan. 29-Feb. 8, 1981 (6-3-9 in 6 GP).
  • Scored a pair of goals – including his first career GWG – on Nov. 19 at Columbus for his first career multi-goal game.

BIG VILLE STYLE
Detroit acquired goaltender Ville Husso from St. Louis in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (Aleksanteri Kaskimäki) on July 8 and subsequently signed him to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

  • Ville Husso has earned three shutouts in 22 games with the Red Wings, tying Connor Hellebuyck, Pyotr Kochetkov and Ilya Sorokin for the league lead. Husso posted three shutouts in 57 appearances with the Blues from 2020-22.
  • Became the third Red Wings/Falcons/Cougars goaltender with three shutouts prior to his 15th appearance with the franchise, joining Hap Holmes (4 in 1926-27) and Dolly Dolson (3 in 1928-29).
  • Has allowed one goal or fewer in eight starts this season.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Detroit forwards Andrew Copp, Austin Czarnik, Dominik Kubalík, Matt Luff and David Perron, and defensemen Ben Chiarot, Robert Hägg and Olli Määttä have made an immediate impact to begin the 2022-23 season. The eight players, all signed as free agents by the Red Wings in July, have combined for 91 points (30-61-91) through the first 31 games of the campaign.

  • Ben Chiarot netted his second goal of the season on Nov. 19 at Columbus. He recorded a goal and an assist on Oct. 15 at New Jersey for his first multi-point game in a Detroit uniform.
  • Andrew Copp tallied six points (1-5-6) in a five-game span from Nov. 30-Dec. 8. He ranks second among Detroit skaters with 16 even-strength points (2-14-16), trailing only Dylan Larkin (5-13-18).
  • Austin Czarnik (AHL) potted a goal on Nov. 8 vs. Montreal and Dec. 4 at Columbus. The Metro Detroit native has also racked up 14 points (6-8-14) in 12 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
  • Robert Hägg (IR) ranks among the team leaders with 36 hits (8th) and 17 blocks (T10th). He registered an assist on Oct. 21 at Chicago and Oct. 25 vs. New Jersey.
  • Dominik Kubalík places among the team leaders with 10 goals (T1st), 16 assists (3rd), 26 points (2nd), five power play goals (1st), 12 power play points (1st), one overtime goal (1st) and 82 shots (3rd) through 31 games. He became the first Detroit skater to average a point-per-game through their first 25 career contests with the franchise since Marián Hossa in 2008-09 (14-14-28 in 25 GP).
  • Matt Luff (IR) earned his first goal/point with Detroit on Nov. 6 against the New York Rangers. He picked up seven points (3-4-7) in five appearances with Grand Rapids to begin the 2022-23 season.
  • Olli Määttä has registered 11 points (2-9-11) and a plus-eight rating through 27 games. With a pair of assists on Dec. 4 at Columbus, he surpassed his scoring total from the 2021-22 campaign in 42 fewer games (1-7-8 in 66 GP with Los Angeles).
  • David Perron has totaled 23 points (10-13-23) in 31 games, including a pair of game-winning goals. Perron, who scored a goal in his 1,000th career NHL game on Dec. 10 at Dallas, has notched 15 points (5-10-15) in 17 games dating back to Nov. 12 at Los Angeles.

SWEDISH MAFIA KEEPS GROWING

  • Jonatan Berggren has recorded 10 points (4-6-10) in 18 games to begin his NHL career.
  • Became the eighth Red Wings rookie in the past 30 years to record six-or-more points through their first nine contests, joining Lucas Raymond (4-5-9 in 2021-22), Moritz Seider (0-8-8 in 2021-22), Filip Zadina (1-5-6 in 2019-20), Taro Hirose (1-6-7 in 2018-19), Dennis Cholowski (2-4-6 in 2018-19), Dylan Larkin (2-5-7 in 2015-16) and Henrik Zetterberg (3-3-6 in 2002-03).
  • Registered seven points (4-3-7) in seven games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins to begin the 2022-23 campaign.
  • Made his North American professional debut with the Griffins in 2021-22 and set franchise records for a rookie in assists (43), points (64), game-winning goals (7) and overtime goals (3) in 70 games.
  • Named AHL Rookie of the Month for April after totaling 20 points (6-14-20) in 14 contests. He finished the season with 26 points (7- 19-26) in his last 18 games, including a season-high 11-game point streak (6-13-19) to close out the year.

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

  • Lucas Raymond ranks among the team leaders with eight goals (4th), 10 assists (T6th), 18 points (T5th), four power play goals (T2nd), nine power play points (T3rd), three game-winning goals (1st) and 57 shots (5th) through 31 games.
  • Became the third member of the 2020 NHL Draft class to reach the 30-goal mark, joining Tim Stützle (44) and Alexis Lafrenière (36).
  • Has five career game-winning goals, trailing only Steve Yzerman (8), Dylan Larkin (6) and Alex Delvecchio (6) for the most GWGs in franchise history at age 20 or younger.

GERMAN ENGINEERING

  • Moritz Seider leads the Red Wings in blocks (73) and average time on ice (22:51).
  • Set career highs in assists (3) and points (3) in his 100th NHL game on Nov. 19 at Columbus.
  • Became the fourth defenseman in franchise history to register 60-or-more points (9-53-62 in 112 GP) at age 21 or younger, joining Steve Chiasson (15-48-63 in 139 GP), Reed Larson (19-42-61 in 89 GP) and Nicklas Lidström (11-49-60 in 80 GP).
  • Also moved past Nicklas Lidström (11-49-60 in 80 GP) for the most assists by a Detroit defenseman before age 22.

LOVE TO ‘C’ IT

  • Dylan Larkin is in his third season as Detroit’s captain and eighth NHL campaign. He was named the 37th captain in franchise history on Jan. 13, 2021, becoming the first Michigander and native metro Detroiter to wear the ‘C’ for the Red Wings, assuming a captaincy that had been vacant for two seasons following the end of Henrik Zetterberg’s career in 2017-18 due to injury.
  • Ranks among the team leaders with 10 goals (T1st), 18 assists (T1st), 28 points (1st), a plus-five rating (4th), four power play goals (T2nd), nine power play points (T3rd), one shorthanded goal (T1st) and 98 shots (1st) through 30 games.
  • Currently places 22nd on the franchise’s all-time points list (see list below):
  1. Vyacheslav Kozlov – 415 career points with Detroit
  2. Igor Larionov – 392
  3. Dylan Larkin – 386
  4. Johan Franzén – 370
  5. Marcel Dionne – 366
  6. Shawn Burr – 362

CAPTAIN CLUTCH

  • Dylan Larkin tallied his 157th career NHL goal on Dec. 10 at Dallas. He is currently one goal away from tying Kris Draper for 22nd place on the franchise’s all-time list (see list below):
  1. Mickey Redmond – 177 career goals with Detroit
  2. Red Kelly – 162
  3. Kris Draper – 158
  4. Dylan Larkin – 157
  5. Ray Sheppard – 152
  6. Bruce MacGregor – 151
  • Larkin recorded his 228th career NHL assist on Dec. 3 vs. Vegas, passing Marcel Dionne for sole possession of 22nd place on the franchise’s all-time list (see list below):
  1. Syd Howe – 248 career assists with Detroit
  2. Gary Bergman – 243
  3. Dylan Larkin – 229
  4. Marcel Dionne – 227
  5. Marcel Pronovost – 217
  6. Shawn Burr – 214
  • Larkin scored his fourth career shootout-deciding goal on Nov. 25 vs. Arizona, passing Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar for the sixth-most in Franchise history. He trails only Pavel Datsyuk (11), Todd Bertuzzi (7), Henrik Zetterberg (7), Frans Nielsen (6) and Jiri Hudler (5).
  • Also has seven career overtime goals, which is tied with Herbie Lewis and Henrik Zetterberg for the fifth-most in franchise history. He trails only Sergei Fedorov (12), Brendan Shanahan (9), Steve Yzerman (9) and Pavel Datsyuk (8).

NHL Preview: New Jersey Devils (21-9-2) at Florida Panthers (15-14-4)

NHL Editor
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NHL Preview: New Jersey Devils (21-9-2) at Florida Panthers (15-14-4)

NEW JERSEY DEVILS NOTES:

LAST GAME
New Jersey Devils 1 Carolina Hurricanes 4
(21-9-2—44 PTS) (20-6-6—46 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. P. Kochetkov 2. J. Slavin 3. J. Kotkaniemi

Goals:
CAR: J. Kotkaniemi, J. Staal, T. Teravainen (SHG), S. Noesnen
SCORE 1
ST 2
ND 3
RD OT SO FINAL
Carolina 1 2 1 – – 4
DEVILS 0 0 1 – – 1

INJURIES/ILLNESS
PLAYER INJURY OUT SINCE GAMES MISSED
Jonathan Bernier – LTIR Lower-body, hip 2021-22 32
Ondrej Palat I.R. Lower-body Retro-active to Oct. 24 26
Nate Bastian Upper-Body Nov. 27 10
2022-23 Total Man-Games Lost to Injury/illness: 90

TRANSACTIONS
DATE PLAYER ACTION
12/1 Nico Daws Reassigned to Utica
12/2 Andreas Johnsson Recalled from Utica
12/13 Mackenzie Blackwood Assigned to Utica (conditioning loan)
12/19 Akira Schmid Reassigned to Utica
Mackenzie Blackwood Recalled from conditioning loan, Utic

WHAT TO KNOW
Wednesday’s contest vs Florida marks the second half of a back-to-back set, while the team suffered a 4-1 loss at Carolina on Tuesday. The Devils are 1-2-1 in first games played and 2-1-0 in second games played for back-to-back sets this season. The last time the Devils experienced six consecutive games without a win was the final six games of the 2021-22 season from Apr. 21 to Apr. 29 (0-4-2). The last time that the Devils witnessed seven consecutive games without a win was Jan. 23, 2022, to Feb. 7, after the team experienced a seven-game losing streak (0-7-0). After Tuesday’s loss, Jersey’s team allowed a shorthanded goal against for the second time this season, last: Oct. 24, vs WSH, in a 6-3 loss at the Rock. After Tuesday’s loss, the Devils suffered their second regulation defeat on the road for 2022-23, and the team’s two losses on the road in regulation are tied with Vegas (14-2-2) as the fewest in the NHL, per Dec. 20. The Devils entered the third period trailing by a score of 3-0 on Tuesday, and are now 1-8-0 when trailing after two periods of play this season. Tuesday marked the fifth time that the Devils allowed 20 shots or fewer in a game this season. The fewest shots that the Devils allowed in a game this season is 17, which was logged on Oct. 20, at NYI, in a 4-1 win. Jersey’s team is now 3-2-0 when allowing 20 or fewer shots in a game this season. Opponents have outscored Jersey’s team 24-12 over the current winless streak dating to Dec. 9, vs the New York Islanders (6-4, L). Yet, the team’s shots per game average still ranks fourth in the league since Dec. 9 at 35.5. Since Dec. 9, the team ranks fourth in the NHL for shots against per game at 26.7. After Thursday’s defeat, the team is now 3-1-1 when tied after two periods of play in a game this season. Prior to Dec. 9, the team’s goal for per game average was 3.69, which ranked fourth in the NHL. Jersey’s team is 19-2-2 when scoring three-or-more goals in a contest this season. The Devils are 11-8-1 vs the Eastern Conference and 6-3-0 vs the Atlantic Division for 2022-23. Side note…the Devils entered the month of December with a share of first place, or sole possession, atop the League standings for the first time in franchise history. Jersey’s team is 18-1-2 when Nico Hischier recorded a point in a game this season and 10-3-1 when Jack Hughes scored a goal in a game for 2022-23. The Devils have allowed 1, or fewer, goals against nine times this season in a game. Jersey’s team allowed one, or fewer goals against, in a game just eight times all of last season.

2022-23 TEAM STATS
RECORD ON DAYS OF THE WEEK
The Devils record on Wednesday in 2022-23…0-1-0…at home: 0-1-0…road: 0-0-0
Record in night games in 2022-23…18-9-2…home: 8-7-1…road: 10-2-1
Record in day games in 2022-23…3-0-0…home: 2-0-0…road: 1-0-0
2022-23 Alternate jersey record…3-1-0

RECORD WHEN SCORING FIRST
Scoring first…14-5-1…Trailing first…7-4-1

BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
Overall: 3-3-1
First game: 1-2-1 | home: 0-1-0 | road: 1-1-1
Second game: 2-1-0 | home: 1-1-0 | road: 1-0-0

AROUND THE RINK THE RINK
On Wed., Dec. 28, the Devils celebrate Pride Night the Rock. Fans will have the opportunity to get involved and support the cause with various fundraising activities and more.

VS THE SUNSHINE STATE
The Devils and Florida meet for the second of three matchups this season (0-1-0):
Next: Mar. 18, at FLA, 6:00 P.M.
The Devils were 1-1-1 vs Florida last season.
The last time that the Devils won a season series vs Florida was 2018-19 (2-0-1). Side note…Head coach Lindy Ruff was an assistant coach for Florida from 1993-94 to 1996-97, while Executive Vice President, General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald played for Florida from 1993-94 to 1997-98. Associate coach Andrew Brunette completed his first stint as an NHL head coach in an interim role with Florida last season and was nominated for the 2021-22 Jack Adams Award.

ALL-TIME vs THE CATS
Record: 56-34-7-7
Home: 33-16-3-2
Road: 23-18-4-5

DID YOU KNOW…
The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs Florida is seven, twice, last earned on Nov. 9, 2021, in a 7-3 win. The most goals that the Devils allowed in a single game vs Florida is seven, which occurred on Apr. 2, 2022, in a 7-6 OT loss. The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs Florida is 50, which occurred on Mar. 23, 2004, in a 4-3 win. The most shots that the Devils allowed in a single game vs the Cats is 47, which occurred on Apr. 10, 1994, in a 2-2 at Florida. The last time the Devils shut out the Panthers was on Jan. 20, 2010, in a 2-0 win (M. Brodeur, 22 saves). Florida has never shut out the Devils in a regular-season contest.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE .
Fri. Dec. 23, vs BOS, 7:00 P.M.
Wed., Dec. 28, vs BOS, 7:30 P.M.
Fri. Dec. 30, at PIT, 7:00 P.M.
Sun. Jan. 1, vs CAR, 3:00 P.M.

DHN QUIZ QUESTION
While the Devils eliminated Florida twice from playoff contention all-time, the Devils have eliminated the Flyers and one other opponent three times which is the most in franchise history vs any opponents. Can you name the other opponent?

LAST TRADE
The last time that the Devils and Florida executed a trade was on Mar. 1, 2017, when the Devils acquired Shane Harper in exchange for Reece Scarlett.

FLORIDA PANTHERS NOTES;

BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT

  • F Anthony Duclair | Games Missed: 33
  • F Anton Lundell | Games Missed: 9
  • D Radko Gudas | Games Missed: 8
  • F Patric Hornqvist | Games Missed: 8
  • F Chris Tierney | Games Missed: 3
  • F Aleksander Barkov | Games Missed: 1
    Total Man Games Lost Due to Injury: 97

LAST GAME
Panthers 3, Bruins 7– Dec. 19 – TD Garden
FLA Goals: Reinhart (12), E. Staal (2), Verhaeghe (17)
BOS Goals: Clifton (3), Carlo (1), Coyle (9), Pastrnak (21-PPG), Krejci (10), Bergeron (11, 12-PPG)
FLA Goalie: Knight (L) – 19 Saves
BOS Goalie: Ullmark (W) – 36 Saves
FLA Shots: 39
BOS Shots: 26
Notes: Sam Reinhart recorded two points (1-1-2), extending his goal/point streak to four games (5-3-8), tied for the longest goal streak of his career and the longest on Florida this season…Reinhart’s goal marked his 400th NHL point…Carter Verhaeghe posted two points (1-1-2), extending his point streak to three games (2-2-4)…Brandon Montour notched an assist, extending his point streak to four games (1-3-4)…Gustav Forsling produced an assist for his second point in as many games (1-1-2)…Eetu Luostarinen logged an assist for the second consecutive game…FLA PP: 0-3, FLA PK: 2-4

RECENT TRANSACTIONS:

  • Dec. 19: F Givani Smith acquired from DET in exchange for D Michael Del Zotto
  • Dec. 15: F Aleksi Heponiemi recalled from Charlotte (AHL)
  • Dec. 14: G Alex Lyon loaned to Charlotte (AHL)
    PANTHERS vs. DEVILS
    ALL-TIME vs. NJD: 41-48-7-8
    ALL-TIME HOME vs. NJD: 23-18-4-5
    2022-23 vs. NJD: 1-0-0

CATS STATS

  • 11 different Panthers skaters have recorded a game-winning goal this season.
  • Three different Cats (Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett) have registered over 100 shots on goal in 2022-23.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Panthers return to FLA Live Arena tonight where they own an 8-4-3 record for a .633 points percentage. Since Jan. 1, 2022, Florida’s .743 points percentage (26-8-3) and 28.7 power-play success rate at home each rank fourth among NHL clubs, and their 4.41 goals per game at home over that span leads all teams. Seven different Panthers have produced at least 10 points at home this season led by Matthew Tkachuk (7-13-20 in 13GP), including three (Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Brandon Montour) averaging at least a point per game. Spencer Knight owns a 4-2-2 home record this season with a .920 save percentage.

CATS AND DEVILS
The Panthers and Devils face off for the second time in the past five days, with Florida taking a 4-2 victory at Prudential Center on Dec. 17. Sam Reinhart tallied two goals, Aaron Ekblad notched two assists, 10 different Cats recorded a point and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 32 Devils shots against (.932 SV%) in the win. Florida has won each of its past three matchups against New Jersey and are 5-1-0 in their past six matchups. The Panthers are 7-1-0 over their past eight home games against the Devils dating to April 11, 2015.

THE TALE OF THE TAPE
Florida has produced the most shots on goal per game overall (37.1) and at home (37.3) of any team this season, and New Jersey ranks second in overall shots per game (35.1). Florida also leads the league in five-on-five goals (78) while New Jersey ranks second (77).

BOOMIN’ BLUELINE
21 of Florida’s goals this season have come from defensemen, tied for the second-most goals by d-men among NHL teams this season behind NYI (23). Florida’ 83 points by blueliners also ranks second through games played Dec. 19, behind SJS (85).

CHUCKIE’S CHEESE
Matthew Tkachuk posted his team-leading 14th multi-point game (1-1-2) Dec. 13 vs. CBJ. He also posted his third plus-four rating in the game, the most of any NHL skater this season. Tkachuk posted at least a point in four straight games from Dec. 1-8 (2-5-8), his third point streak of at least four games in 2022-23. He leads Florida with 39 points (14-25-39) this season. His 37 points through his first 25 games in 2022-23 were both the most by any Panthers skater through their first 25 games with the franchise and the most by any Panthers skater through their first 25 games of a season in franchise history. The Scottsdale, Ariz. Native also paces the Cats in assists (25), PIMs (45), points per game (1.30), even-strength points (27), power-play points (12) and shots on goal (110).

Most Points by a Panthers Skater Through first 25 Games with the Franchise

  1. Matthew Tkachuk 2022-23 37 Points (13-24-37)
  2. Pavel Bure 1998-99 to 1999-00 30 Points (21-9-30)
  3. Kris Versteeg 2011-12 28 Points (12-16-18)

Most Points by a Panthers Skater Through First 25 Games of a Season

  1. Matthew Tkachuk 2022-23 37 Points (13-24-37)
  2. Pavel Bure 1999-00 34 Points (21-13-34)
  3. Jonathan Huberdeau 2019-20 31 Points (10-21-31)

BARKOV COUNTY
Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov notched an assist Dec. 17 at NJD for his third point of his past three games (1-2-3). He posted two points (1-1-2) Dec. 13 vs. CBJ for his sixth multi-point game this season and 150th multi-point game of his career, and logged a plus-three rating. He has registered 22 points (5-17-22) over 25 games in 2022-23, leading Florida with a 56.5 faceoff win percentage. His five multi-assist games are tied with Matthew Tkachuk for the most on Florida this season. Barkov sits at 66 career power-play goals, tied with Scott Mellanby for the most in Panthers history. Over his past 10 games played, Barkov has produced 11 points (3-8-11). Barkov is also two even-strength goals away from surpassing Jonathan Huberdeau (150) for the franchise record.

MONTOUR OF DUTY
Brandon Montour has produced at least one point in each of his past four games (1-3-4), his longest point streak of the season. He leads Panthers blueliners in goals (6), assists (20) and points (26) this season, and his 26 points tied for the eighth-most among NHL defensemen following games played Dec. 19. He notched an assist Dec. 17 at NJD and led all skaters with five blocked shots, tied with Marc Staal for the most by a Panthers skater in a game this season. Montour skated in his 400th NHL game Dec. 10 at TBL. His 25 points through his first 30 games this season were the fourth-most points by a Panthers defenseman through 30 contests in a season. With his assist Nov. 28 at EDM, he surpassed Aaron Ekblad (22 GP, 2021-22) for the fewest games to reach the 20-point mark in a season among Panthers blueliners in club history. The Brantford, Ontario native’s seven points from Nov. 6-9 tied Bryan McCabe (1-6-7, March 3-6, 2010) for the most points in a two-game span by a Panthers defenseman in club history. He matched his career high with four points (1-3-4) Nov. 6 at ANA, also tying the franchise record for single-game points by a defenseman. His three game-winning goals are the most on the Panthers in 2022-23.

‘HART OF GOLD
Forward Sam Reinhart posted two points (1-1-2) Dec. 19 at BOS for his second consecutive multi-point game and sixth of the campaign. He has also tallied a goal in each of his past four games (5-3-8), tied for the longest goal streak of his career and tied for the longest on Florida this season. Reinhart’s goal Dec. 19 at BOS marked his 400th NHL point. His 401 points are the third-most of any skater selected in the 2014 NHL Draft. He logged his second multi-goal outing (2-0-2) Dec. 17 at NJD, including his team-leading sixth power-play goal. Reinhart registered a season-high three points (1-2-3) Dec. 13 vs. CBJ and posted a plus-four rating, tied for the best by a Panthers skater this season. He notched an assist Dec. 8 vs. DET and posted a season-high seven shots on goal, and he logged at least one point in five consecutive games (2-5-7) from Nov. 23-Dec. 1, tied for the longest point streak on Florida this season. Reinhart scored a power-play goal in three consecutive games from Nov. 15-19, behind only Anthony Duclair and Evgenii Dadonov (4 games each) for the longest PPG streak in franchise history.

Most Career Points, Players Drafted in 2014

  1. Leon Draisaitl 670 (275-395-670)
  2. David Pastrnak 547 (261-286-547)
  3. Sam Reinhart 401 (179-222-401)

MR. CARTER
Forward Carter Verhaeghe logged two points (1-1-2) Dec. 19 at BOS to extend his point streak to three games (2-2-4). He leads Florida with 17 goals and 13 even-strength goals (17-11-28 in 32GP). Verhaeghe’s 17.2% shooting percentage is the highest on Florida among skaters with at least 10 games played this season. He has posted at least one point (5-4-9) in seven of his past nine games, and he skated in his 200th NHL game Dec. 8 vs. DET. He tallied his fourth power-play goal of the season and matched his career high with eight shots on goal Dec. 6 at WPG, and he produced his team-leading fifth multi-goal game Dec. 3 at SEA. His goals came :26 seconds apart, tied for the third-fastest two goals scored by one player in franchise history. He posted a point in four straight games from Nov. 3-9 (4-3-7). The Toronto, Ontario native’s nine total multi-point games and 22 even-strength points each rank second on Florida. Just 32 games into the season, Verhaeghe is seven goals away from matching his career high in goals (24 in 78GP, 2021-22).

EK’S GON’ GIVE IT TO YA
Aaron Ekblad led Florida with six shots on goal and 26:58 time on ice Dec. 19 at BOS. He notched two assists Dec. 17 at NJD, and he skated in his 574th NHL game Dec. 15 vs. PIT, surpassing Robert Svehla for most games played by a defenseman in franchise history and fifth-most overall. Ekblad also posted a plus-three rating against PIT. He notched his 202nd NHL assist to surpass Keith Yandle for second-most by a defenseman in franchise history and sixth-most by a Panthers skater Dec 8 vs. DET. He logged his 611th career blocked shot Dec. 6 at WPG, surpassing Dmitry Kulikov for the most blocked shots in franchise history (since the NHL began tracking in 2005-06). Ekblad logged his 200th NHL assist Nov. 29 at CGY to cap his point streak at five games (3-4-7 from Nov. 20-29), tied for the longest by a Panthers skater this season. He was the third blueliner to reach 200 assists with Florida. Ekblad notched his 199th career assist Nov. 28 at EDM for his 300th NHL point (101-198-299). He was the first Panthers defenseman to reach the mark with Florida and the first blueliner from the 2014 draft class to post 300 points. He scored his 100th career goal Nov. 23 vs. BOS and produced a season-high three points (1-2-3).

BENNY AND THE CATS
Forward Sam Bennett has logged 17 points (6-11-17) over his past 21 contests. He matched his career high with three assists Dec. 3 at SEA, and he logged his second multi-goal game of the season (2-0-2) Dec. 1 at VAN. He also produced three assists while skating in his 500th NHL game Nov. 17 vs. DAL. Bennett’s five third-period tallies are tied for the team lead with Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. He has registered eight multi-point games this season, the third-most on the team. The Holland Landing, Ontario native’s 101 shots on goal are tied for second-most on Florida and his 84 hits lead Florida forwards.

JUST THE TWO OF GUS
Defenseman Gustav Forsling has posted a point in each of his past two games (1-1-2). He scored his fifth goal of the campaign Dec. 17 at NJD. All five of his goals this season have come on the road, the most road tallies among Panthers defensemen in 2022-23. He notched his third multi-assist performance of the season Dec. 13 vs. CBJ. His first helper in the game represented his 100th NHL point. He scored a goal in consecutive games from Dec. 1-3. He has amassed 22 points (5-17-22) in 2022-23, including 18 even-strength points which are the most among Panthers defensemen. Forsling notched an assist in five straight games (0-6-6) from Nov. 12-20, the longest assist/point streak of his career. He also posted a four-game assist/point streak earlier this season (1-4-5, 4GP Oct. 15-21). He logged a career-high seven shots on goal Nov. 1 at ARI. His 101 total shots this season are tied for second-most on the Panthers.

WHAT ABOUT BOB?
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky started six consecutive games from Dec 8-17, posting a .923 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average over that span (since Dec. 8). He earned his 38th NHL shutout Dec. 13 vs. CBJ, stopping all 22 shots he faced in the game. He stopped a season-high 41 shots for a .953 save percentage Nov. 15 vs. WSH. His 41 saves were his most since stopping 42 shots against Jan. 11 vs. VAN. Bobrovsky appeared in his 600th NHL game Nov. 5 at LAK, becoming the 53rd goaltender in league history to reach the mark. His 339 career wins were the most through a goaltender’s first 600 appearances in NHL history.

OH WHAT A KNIGHT
Goaltender Spencer Knight earned at least one point in six consecutive decisions (3-0-3) from Nov. 19-Dec. 1. He surrendered five goals over three starts from Dec. 1-6 for a .940 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average, the third-best SV% among goaltenders over that span. Knight appeared in his 50th NHL game Dec. 3 at SEA and earning his 30th NHL win Dec. 1 at VAN. His 49 games were the fewest games required to reach the 30-win mark with Florida in franchise history. Knight stopped all 40 Carolina shots he faced Nov. 9 vs. CAR to earn his third career shutout. The 21-year-old native of Darien, Conn., owned a 31-13-6 record over his first 50 NHL games.

SUPER STAAL BROS.
Eric and Marc Staal have combined for eight assists and 10 points (2-8-10) over Florida’s past 11 games. Eric has produced seven points (2-5-7) over that span. He scored his 443rd career goal Dec. 19 at BOS, matching Ilya Kovalchuk for the 66th-most in League history. Eric’s 443 tallies rank fifth among active skaters. Marc led Florida with a plus-three rating and four blocked shots Dec. 8 vs. DET, and Eric recorded a season-high six shots on goal Dec. 6 at WPG. The Thunder Bay, Ontario natives have combined for 2,371 total NHL games and 1,259 points.

GOTTA GO TO MO’
Nov. 15 vs. WSH marked Paul Maurice’s 1,700th game as an NHL head coach, becoming the fourth in League history to reach the mark. He earned his 783rd win as an NHL head coach Nov. 9 vs. CAR, surpassing legendary bench boss Al Arbour for sixth-most in League history. He is one of three coaches to earn at least 300 wins with two different franchises. He is 10 wins away from achieving his 800th NHL win as a head coach.

Sacramento State Women’s Basketball closes non-conference slate at Cal-State Fullerton

NCAABB Editor
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SACRAMENTO — The non-conference schedule comes to a close on the road in Orange County on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 21) as Sacramento State takes on its third consecutive Big West Conference opponent in Cal State Fullerton at Titan Gym. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader featuring the Hornets’ and Titans’ men’s teams, which tip-off at 6 p.m.

GAME #11

WHAT: Sacramento State (8-2) at Cal State Fullerton (5-3)

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

TIME: 3 p.m.

WHERE: Fullerton, Calif.

VENUE: Titan Gym

WATCH: ESPN+ (https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/eventCalendarId/401494379?gameId=401494379&sourceLang=en)

LIVE STATS: FullertonTitans.com (https://fullertontitans.com/sports/w-baskbl/2022-23/boxscores/20221221_maes.xml)

BE A FOLLOWER: Fans can keep up with the latest in Sacramento State athletics by following us on Facebook (/SacramentoStateAthletics), Twitter (@HornetSports), and Instagram (@sacstateathletics). You can also follow the Hornets’ women’s basketball program on all three platforms at the handle @SacStateWBB.

IN THE RANKINGS: Neither Sacramento State, nor Cal State Fullerton, are ranked nationally. However, the Hornets are listed among those receiving votes in the College Insider Mid-Major poll for the fourth consecutive week, picking up 20 votes in this week’s rankings released on Dec. 20.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following Wednesday’s afternoon clash with the Titans, the Hornets won’t play until they open their Big Sky Conference schedule on the road on New Year’s Eve at Portland State. Tip-off in the Rose City is scheduled for 2 p.m.

NATABOU ON MID-MAJOR AWARD WATCH LIST: One season after showing she’s one of the best in the West, junior post Isnelle Natabou is garnering national attention heading into the 2022-23 campaign, named as one of 25 players to the watch list for the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats on Oct. 19. The first Big Sky Conference student-athlete ever to be named to the list for this particular award, Natabou is joined by 24 of her peers on the initial watch list and is only one of four from the West Coast named to the list along with Gonzaga’s Brynna Maxwell, Portland’s Alex Fowler, and San Francisco’s Ioanna Kimili. For more details, read the complete release on HornetSports.com.

NATABOU NAMED TO BIG SKY’S PRESEASON HONOR ROLL: In addition to her national honor, Natabou was also named to the seven-member preseason all-conference team, joining Montana State’s Darian White (who also was selected the MVP), Idaho’s Beyonce Bea, Montana’s Carmen Gfeller, Northern Colorado’s Hannah Simental, Montana State’s Kola Bad Bear, and Weber State’s Daryn Hickock. The native of the Czech Republic became only the third Hornet to earn preseason all-league honors in the process, joining former standouts Kennedy Nicholas (2019-20) and Brianna Burgos (2016-17).

BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!: The accolades continued to roll in for Natabou, who was also named the Big Sky’s Preseason Player of the Year according to ESPN.com, which made its picks for all 32 Division I conferences on Oct. 25.

NATABOU PICKS UP SECOND BIG SKY WEEKLY HONOR: For the third time in the last four weeks, the Big Sky Conference player of the week in women’s basketball resides in Sacramento as Hornet junior Isnelle Natabou picked up weekly honors from the league office for the second time this season and the fourth time in her career on Dec. 13. It is the second such award for Natabou in the last three weeks after she shared the honor back on Nov. 29, and the third time in the last four weeks that a Sacramento State player has been named player of the week following Kahlaijah Dean’s award back on Nov. 22. The nation’s leader in field goal percentage entering the week, Natabou averaged a double-double in head-to-head clashes with San Diego State and CSU Bakersfield, putting up 21.0 points and grabbing 12.0 rebounds per game in the two contests, shooting .679 (19-for-28) from the field and hitting all four of her attempts from the field. Read the complete details at HornetSports.com.

ABOUT THE TITANS: Cal State Fullerton enters Wednesday’s game with a 5-3 overall record, having won four of its last five following a 78-72 overtime win over California Baptist on Dec. 17… Wednesday’s meeting marks the Titans’ non-conference finale as they open Big West play at UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 29… Fullerton is a perfect 3-0 at Titan Gym this year, posting wins over Pepperdine (64-55), Pacific (80-66), and the Lancers around a road loss to UCLA… Senior guard Fujika Nimmo, a transfer from Florida International, is one of four Titans in double figures, leading the team at 16.4 ppg while shooting 39 percent from the field… Junior center Ashlee Lewis leads the team on the glass at 7.5 rpg to go with 10.3 ppg, while sophomore Una Jovanovic is averaging 15.5 ppg to go with 3.4 apg.

SERIES NOTES: Cal State Fullerton holds a commanding 8-1 lead in the all-time series with Sacramento State, winning the last four consecutive meetings… Wednesday marks the first meeting between the two programs since Nov. 11, 2012, when the Titans posted a 94-75 win over the Hornets in Fullerton… Sacramento State’s lone win in the series came on Dec. 30, 1997, in a 79-75 win in Orange County… The Hornets are 1-3 on the road against the Titans, losing their last two trips to Fullerton in 2010 and 2012.

EIGHT IS GREAT, BUT NINE WOULD BE FINE: Sacramento State’s win at CSUN on Monday afternoon continued one of the best starts in the program’s Division I history, improving the Hornets to 8-2 on the year. The eight non-conference victories are tied for the most in the program’s history, matching the 2013-14 squad’s 8-2 start en route to an 18-win season, while a win at Fullerton on Wednesday would give this year’s Sacramento State squad the record all by itself.

MIND IF WE JOIN YOU?: Sacramento State may not only be challenging for a Big Sky Conference title this season, but the Hornets may also be making a play for a Big West crown as well if it were possible. Monday’s win over CSUN improved Sacramento State to 5-1 against Big West schools, suffering its only loss on a buzzer beater to UC Irvine in the regular season opener. 

START ME UP: Despite having its six-game winning streak snapped with last week’s loss at San Diego State, the Hornets are still off to its second-best start in the program’s Division I history with eight wins in their first 10 contests, trailing only the 9-1 start — one that eventually ballooned into an 11-1 start — to open 2013-14.

FIT TO BE TIED: The Hornets have taken a lead into the lockerroom eight times in their first nine games this season, but had never been tied after the first 20 minutes until Monday in Northridge when they were knotted up with the Matadors at 28 points apiece.

TOO CLOSE: Sacramento State’s two-point win at CSUN marked the team’s third win by two or fewer points this season, its fourth victory by single digits, and its fifth game overall decided by nine or fewer points.

OFF AND RUNNING: Through nine games, Sacramento State has put opponents in a hole quickly, shooting 51 percent (68-for-134) from the field in the first quarter and 46 percent (60-for-131) in the second en route to halftime advantages in eight of its 10 contests. The Hornets are shooting a combined .483 from the field in the first half compared to “just” .426 after the break.

DEEP THOUGHTS: By Katie Peneueta. The Hornet sharpshooter had only three-pointers on her mind in Sacramento State’s win at CSUN on Monday, draining 6-of-11 from distance — including three of those during the decisive third quarter — in the Hornets’ two-point win. The six makes (overall and from distance) were both season high’s, while the six three’s tied Peneueta’s career high set at Northern Arizona on Feb. 3, 2022. The six makes from distance are also tied for the third-most in a single-game by a Big Sky player this year as Peneueta is one of only five to hit at least six in a game.

THREE IS MORE THAN TWO: Trust us… Peneueta has certainly done the math. In 31 career games with the Hornets, the Vancouver, Wash., native has made a living from long distance, sinking 84 of her 89 career field goals from behind the three-point line. At the media timeout of the second quarter on Nov. 22 against UC Davis, Peneueta’s last 30 makes from the field had all been three-pointers until she posted up and found room inside for a lay-up at the four-minute mark of the period — her first two-point basket since scoring inside at Northern Arizona with 21 seconds left in a 76-62 victory on Feb. 3 last year. Her last 17 consecutive makes have all been from three-point range entering Wednesday.

IZZY DOES IT: Natabou’s bid for her fifth consecutive double-double fell just short on Monday at CSUN, but the junior still managed to lead all scorers with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-8 from the line, adding five rebounds and a blocked shot. Entering Wednesday’s game ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage (.689), Natabou posted her third 20-point performance of the season, joining her 23-point games at Santa Clara and at San Diego State, and extended her double-digit scoring streak to 16 consecutive games (see below).

16 AND COUNTING: Natabou’s 20 points at CSUN gave her double-digit points in her last 16 consecutive games dating back to last season, averaging 17.0 ppg (272 total) in that stretch while shooting .698 (113-for-162) from the field.

I DOUBLE DOUBLE-DOUBLE DARE YOU: Keep on eye on your box scores. If Isnelle Natabou has a double-double, you may be in trouble. Thanks to her 19-point, 14-rebound effort in the win over CSU Bakersfield, Natabou collected her fourth-straight double-double and her sixth of the season overall — ranking tied for eighth in the NCAA in that category as of Dec. 20 and tied with Idaho’s Beyonce Bea for the most in the Big Sky. Despite her run ending on Monday at CSUN, Natabou is averaging 19.0 ppg and 10.8 rpg while shooting .722 (39-for-54) from the floor and 17-for-19 (.895) from the line during that stretch. In her six double-double performances this year, the native of the Czech Republic is averaging 17.8 ppg, 13.8 rpg, and shooting 45-for-62 (.726) from the floor.

BOXING OUT AND CLOSING IN: Following a year in which she grabbed the fourth-most rebounds in a single Hornet season, Natabou has her sights set on both the school’s all-time and Division I top-10 lists for career rebounds during her second season in the green and gold. Entering the week with 435 boards to her name, Natabou stands 135 rebounds shy of the all-time top-10 list (Linda Simmons is 10th with 570 from 1977-81) and only 94 back of the Division I list (Emily Christensen is 10th with 529 from 2007-12).

THE GIVING SEASON: Sacramento State has handed out more assists than the opposition in every game this season — including allowing just seven assists in each of its last two games against CSU Bakersfield (Dec. 10) and CSUN (Dec. 19), marking the fourth and fifth times this year that an opponent has been held to fewer than 10 in a game.

HELP ME, HELP YOU: Senior Kahlaijah Dean did a little bit of everything in the Hornets’ win at CSUN, finishnig with 16 points (her ninth double-digit scoring performance in 10 games) to go with a team-high seven rebounds, six assists, and a pair of steals. The six assists are tied for her second-highest total of the season and the most since she had a Sacramento State career-high nine helpers at Santa Clara on Nov. 14. Dean enters the non-conference finale ranked second in the Big Sky at 5.00 assists per game, while posting five or more assists in a game five times.

THE DEAN OF SCORING: Dean brings with her a pedigree of knowing where the basket is, reaching the 1,000 career point milestone as only a junior at Oakland University and finishing her four years with the Golden Grizzlies with 1,425 points to her name. Following her first nine performances in the green and gold, the Bakersfield, Calif., native has brought her total up to 1,603 career points, ranking No. 31 among active scorers across the country as of Dec. 20 and posting a total that would rank fourth on Sacramento State’s all-time scoring list, just 24 points back of Maranne Johnson’s third-place total of 1,627 points from 2014-18.

BLOCKING IT OUT: Boasting the Big Sky Conference’s second-best scoring defense at 58.6 ppg allowed, the Hornets have also done work in the defensive glass, holding opponents to a league-best 30.0 rebounds per game. The 28 rebounds by the Roadrunners on Dec. 10 are tied for the third fewest surrendered by Sacramento State this season, while the 29 rebounds by CSUN on Dec. 19 marked the seventh time in 10 games that the Hornets have allowed fewer than 30 rebounds in a game this season.

“HARNESS. ENERGY. BLOCK. BAD.”: Sophomore Katie Peneueta is feeling the flow at the defensive end of the court, swatting a career high-tying three blocks in the win over Cal Poly on Nov. 25 and blocking at least one shots in all but one game this season. Her lone block at CSUN brought her season total to 16 — just five shy of her 22-game total of 21 blocks last year — while she enters the week sharing the Big Sky Conference lead with teammate Isnelle Natabou in both total blocks and blocks per game (1.60).

THE THEME FROM SWAT: The paint has not been a pleasant place to be for opposing shooters as of late as the Hornets have collected 34 of their 47 total blocks on the year in their last six contests, averaging 5.67 blocks per game as a team in that stretch. Sacramento State leads the Big Sky in both blocks and blocks per game and ranks No. 39 in the nation in the latter.

MINUTE WOMEN: There haven’t been many players in the Big Sky — let alone the entire country — who have seen more time on the court to start the year than the Hornets’ Isnelle Natabou (35.63 mpg — including all 40 minutes against UTEP on Nov. 26), Kahlaijah Dean (35.56 mpg), and Katie Peneueta (35.13 mpg — including all 45 minutes against UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 19). The trio ranks fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively, in the league in minutes.

PASSING THE CRASH TEST: Another 14 rebounds in the win over CSU Bakersfield (Dec. 10) is nothing new for Natabou, who owns four of the top six single-game rebounding performances in the Big Sky this season, along with her 20 against UC Irvine (more on that in a minute) and the 14 against both UC Davis and UTEP. Natabou ranks among the top 30 in the nation in three of the four major rebounding categories: rebounds per game (14th), offensive rebounds per game (18th), and total rebounds (28th).

ARE YOU BOARD?: Natabou clearly wasn’t in the Hornets’ opener against UC Irvine, as her 20 rebounds were the most since she had 22 against Idaho in an overtime win on Jan. 22 last year and was her third career game with 20-or-more rebounds. Nationally, the 20-rebound performance is tied for the ninth-highest in the NCAA for a single-game — and the most of any Big Sky player — as of Dec. 20, and stands as one of only seventeen 20-rebound games in the NCAA entering the week.

THIS IS PERFECT! PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT!: They say that nobody’s perfect, but junior Isnelle Natabou was just that against Fresno State on Dec. 3, finishing 7-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line en route to sharing team-high honors with 16 points in the win. The shooting performance is the best of the season by a Hornet, surpassing teammate Kahlaijah Dean’s 5-for-5 showing against UTEP on Nov. 26, and is the best single-game showing in the program’s Division I history, besting Margaret Huntington’s 6-for-6 from the floor against Montana on Feb. 16, 2017.

MIND THE GAP: The 22-point margin of victory over Causeway rival UC Davis on Nov. 22 marked the largest against an NCAA Division I opponent in head coach Mark Campbell’s tenure at the helm of the Sacramento State program and was the largest since a 23-point win over Sonoma State on Nov. 16 of last year.

HORNETS GO GLOBAL WITH SIGNEES: Head Coach Mark Campbell racked up the frequent flier miles to sign four student-athletes during the recent NCAA signing period, welcoming post Paula Haw and guard Lina Falk from Germany, forward Summah Hanson from Australia, and guard Sofia Alonso from Spain.

Nevada Set to Close out Nonconference Play Wednesday Against Norfolk State

NCAABB Editor
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Nevada Set to Close out Nonconference Play Wednesday Against Norfolk State

RENO, Nev. – Coming off of a win over UC San Diego last week, the University of Nevada Men’s Basketball team will return to the court Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Pack will take on Norfolk State, seeking to remain unbeaten at home, and eclipse the double-digit win mark in non-conference play. 

Wednesday’s game will serve as the City of Carson Day, and the Carson High School Band will be performing throughout the game. Pre-game photos with Santa Claus will be available prior to the start of the contest, and The Rockin’ Holiday Cirque Show from Grand Sierra Resort will provide entertainment during halftime. 

Preview 

After earning a victory over UC San Diego last Wednesday, Nevada is off to their best start through 12 games under the guidance of Head Coach Steve Alford. A win on Wednesday would also mark the Pack’s highest winning percentage through the non-conference portion of their schedule under Alford, as the Pack would own an impressive winning percentage of 76.9% through 13 games if they are able to secure the victory. 

The Pack had a stout defensive performance against UC San Diego, fueling them to an eight-point victory over the Tritons. Nevada held UC San Diego to just 35.6 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from three, including a mark of 16.7 percent from behind the arc in the second half. The Pack dominated the glass in the contest, outrebounding the Tritons, 39-32, throughout the game.  

Kenan Blackshear led all scorers in the game, pouring in 19 points on an efficient 7-9 shooting from the field. Blackshear also pulled down five rebounds, dished out four assists, and recorded two steals and two blocks throughout the game.  

Over Nevada’s past three games, Blackshear is averaging 20.3 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the field, 43 percent from behind the arc, and 87 percent from the free throw line, in addition to pulling down 4.3 rebounds, recording 3.3 assists, and tallying 1.7 steals per game.  

Blackshear has scored 61 total points over Nevada’s past three games, marking the most points scored over a three-game stretch throughout his career. Blackshear currently ranks in the top 15 of the Mountain West Conference in points per game (13th), rebounds per game (13th), steals per game (13th), and free throw percentage (10th), while leading the conference in assists per game (5.2). 

Will Baker also had a strong outing for the Pack against UC San Diego, scoring 17 points on 6-10 shooting from the field while knocking down all four of his free throw attempts.    

Jarod Lucas maintained his 10-game streak of reaching double figures in scoring, putting up 13 points in the second half alone on 4-7 shooting from the field. Lucas has now scored in double figures in 11 of 12 contests this season, and he currently ranks first overall in the 

Mountain West in total points this season (202). Lucas also ranks second in the conference in free throw percentage (88.3%), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8%), and fourth in points per game (16.8). 

Junior forward Tre Coleman had an all-around stellar performance against UC San Diego, scoring nine points while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Coleman also limited the Tritons’ leading scorer, Bryce Pope, to just 5-13 shooting from the field as the primary defender.  

Freshman forward Darrion Williams continues to lead the Pack in rebounding after pulling down a game-high 10 boards in Nevada’s win over UC San Diego. Williams has achieved double-digit rebounds in four games this season and currently ranks sixth in the Mountain West in rebounds per game (7.2).  

Following another sensational defensive performance against UC San Diego, the Pack continues to rank in the top five of the Mountain West in a multitude of defensive statistical categories, including opponent points per game (5th), opponent field goal percentage (2nd), opponent 3-point field goal percentage (4th), defensive rebounding (4th), and blocks per game (3rd).  

Nevada is limiting opponents to just 37.6 percent shooting from the field, which not only ranks as second-best in the conference but is also the 16th-best mark in the country. 

Nevada has maintained an exceptional free throw percentage throughout the season, and they currently lead the Mountain West and rank 11th in the nation in free throw percentage, knocking down 78.2 percent of their attempts at the line this season. 

The Pack will need another strong defensive performance against an efficient and high-scoring Norfolk State team if they hope to improve their overall record to 10-3 on Wednesday. 

Scouting Norfolk State 

Norfolk State has had a solid start to the season, picking up nine wins in their first 13 games, with their only losses coming on the road to Baylor, UCLA, and Houston, in addition to dropping a home game against Old Dominion.  

The Spartans have been strong on both sides of the court, as they currently rank fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in points per game (75.1) and third in opponent points per game (69.4). 

Norfolk State also ranks second in the MEAC in field goal percentage (46.7%) and first in opponent field goal percentage (41.3%).  

Individually, they have been led by Joe Bryant Jr., who is averaging a team-high 15.5 points per game while ranking second on the team in assists at 3.4 per contest. 

Forward Kris Bankston has been impressive all season for the Spartans, as the 6-9 graduate student is averaging 13.7 points per game on 70 percent shooting from the field, in addition to pulling down a team-high 7.1 boards per game. 

Guards Cahiem Brown and Christian Ings are also averaging double figures in scoring this season. Brown is putting up 12.6 points per game, while Ings is averaging 10.9 points and currently leads the team in assists per game (3.5). 

Nevada will look to slow the pace of the game, while limiting the production from Norfolk State’s backcourt and protecting the paint, forcing the Spartans to consistently hit shots from behind the arc. 

Series History 

Wednesday’s contest will mark the second time throughout history that Nevada has faced Norfolk State on the court, with the Pack claiming a 56-46 victory over the Spartans in 2005. 

First-Year Coach Kevin Wilson Inks Eight to Tulsa Football’s Early Signing Class

NCAAFB Editor
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First-Year Coach Kevin Wilson Inks Eight to Tulsa Football’s Early Signing Class

TULSA, Okla. –– In just a two-week period since his appointment as The University of Tulsa’s head football coach, Kevin Wilson signed a total of eight student-athletes to his first Golden Hurricane recruiting class, it was announced today.

The class includes three local signees, including two from Tulsa Union High School – safety Devin Robinson and athlete Grayson Tempest – and Oklahoma State transfer and former Bixby High School star running back Braylin Presley. Tulsa also dipped into Arkansas and Texas to finish out the early signing class.

“Since I came aboard, the number one goal from a recruiting standpoint has been to stabilize our current roster as well as the committed recruits. The current staff has continued to do a solid job connecting with these guys. Although I have not had that face-to-face contact with some of these guys, I feel pretty good about this class,” said Wilson.

“We didn’t try to add a great deal to the early class, but we’ll do that as the new year starts and we approach the second signing period,” said Wilson. “As I’ve gotten to know this group better, I think we’ve signed what appears to be guys who are strong students, have come from great families with strong values and not only do they value education, but hard work as well.

In addition to the three state signees, the early class of newcomers includes one player from Arkansas and four Texans. The class encompasses four receivers, one running back, one safety and one defensive lineman and one athlete.

“We always want to have a solid presence in the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma and still have a regional reach within that 5-6 hour radius of Tulsa,” said Wilson. “We always want to do our best within the city and the state.”

Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside High School receiver Mari Smith is one of four receivers coming on board with the Hurricane. He is joined by a trio of receivers from Texas – Jahrid Hughes (Fort Worth Timber Creek HS), Matthew Ogunrin (Katy Tompkins HS) and Ashton Schumann (League City Clear Springs HS).

The fourth Texan the Hurricane added is defensive lineman James Eaglin from Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas.

Honors abound for the three Tulsa-area signees as Tempest earned 6A1 District 2 co-MVP honors and his Union teammate was named the District’s co-Defensive Player of the Year. Although a year removed from his prep playing days at Bixby, Presley transfers to Tulsa following one season at Oklahoma State.

Robinson totaled 72 tackles and four interceptions with two pick sixes in 2022, while Tempest had 1,216 all-purpose yards and 12 TDs as a receiver, rusher, passer and kick returner.

In his high school career, Presley rushed for 4,978 yards and totaled 102 career touchdowns as a rusher, receiver and kick return specialist in helping lead Bixby to a 49-game winning streak and four state championships.

As for the incoming receivers, Smith totaled 956 yards and 14 TDs in his final two seasons at Fort Smith Northside and on the track became the state of Arkansas’ fastest high school sprinter. Hughes, at 6’3″, brings good size to the outside receiver slot where he caught 48 passes for 681 yards and seven TDs in his final two seasons at Timber Creek. Ogunrin had 57 receptions for 888 yards and five TDs in his prep career at Tompkins High School, while Schumann hauled in 80 passes for 1,525 yards and 21 TDs in his three-year career as a starter at Clear Springs High School.

Eaglin was credited with 28 tackles and four TFL while earning first-team all-district honors from his defensive line position at Ridge Point.

“Our philosophy will be to recruit athletes with a good skill set and talent to reach championship level play, as well as to fit the culture of the university academically and socially, and that of the city of Tulsa,” said Wilson, who is still coaching with Ohio State as the Buckeyes prepare for their CFP semifinal matchup against Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 31.

2023 Tulsa Football Signees

DECEMBER SIGNEES

Player                                    Pos.        Ht.        Wt.       Cl.           Hometown / Previous School

James Eaglin                        DL           6-4        300       Fr.           Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS

Jahrid Hughes                     WR         6-3        185       Fr.           Fort Worth, Texas / Timber Creek HS

Matthew Ogunrin              WR         6-0        170       Fr.           Katy, Texas / Tompkins HS

Braylin Presley                    RB           5-8        170       So-TR     Bixby, Okla. / Bixby HS / Oklahoma State

Devin Robinson                  SAF         6-1        189       Fr.           Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS

Ashton Schumann              WR         6-2        180       Fr.           League City, Texas / Clear Springs HS

Mari Smith                           WR         6-0        160       Fr.           Fort Smith, Ark. / Northside HS

Grayson Tempest               ATH        5-11      170       Fr.           Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS

James Eaglin                 DL         6-4            300           Fr.         Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS

Was a three-year letterwinner at Ridge Point High School … earned Texas 20-6A first-team all-district honors both his junior and senior seasons … totaled 28 tackles and four TFL along with a 19-yard pick-6 his senior campaign … high school coach was Rick Lafavers.

Coach Wilson on James Eaglin … James is a big inside interior defensive lineman. He’s an inside gap guy. He’s strong, has a big frame and is very disruptive on the inside. He’s a big plugger, physical interior defensive line prospect.

Jahrid Hughes               WR       6-3            185           Fr.         Fort Worth, Texas / Timber Creek HS

Was a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Timber Creek High School … started his junior and senior seasons at receiver and his sophomore and senior seasons in the defensive secondary … caught 55 passes for 750 yards and seven TDs in his final two seasons … played receiver and cornerback … named all-District 4-6A second team as a senior … had 30 receptions for 485 yards and four TDs as a senior … high school coach was Marshall Williams.

Coach Wilson on Jahrid Hughes … Jahrid is a bigger outside receiver. He has a big frame. He has the capability to make big plays. He’s a big guy who can make over the top plays and be a great outside target.

Matthew Ogunrin       WR       6-0            170           Fr.         Katy, Texas / Tompkins HS

Was a three-year letterman at Katy Tompkins High School … played receiver and also returned kicks … caught 57 passes for 888 yards and five TDs in his career … had 25 receptions for 296 yards and one TD as a senior … earned second-team all-district honors his senior season … hauled in 17 passes for 375 yards and three TDs his junior season … played his freshman season at Katy Seven Lakes High School … high school coach at Tompkins was Todd McVey.

Coach Wilson on Matthew Ogunrin … Matthew has the size and speed to play outside, but athletic enough to be a slot receiver. He’s pretty dynamic and has big play ability. He’s fast. He shows a lot of speed and athleticism.

Braylin Presley             ATH      5-8            170           So-TR   Bixby, Okla. / Bixby HS / Oklahoma State

Spent the 2022 season at Oklahoma State … saw limited playing time in seven games as a true freshman … caught five passes for 26 yards and had two carries for three yards … also returned one kickoff for 19 yards … HIGH SCHOOL – Was a four-year letterwinner and starter at Bixby High School … helped lead Bixby to a 49-game winning streak and four Class 6A-II state titles (2018-21) … was a four-star prospect … named the 2021 Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year …  earned Tulsa World Oklahoma Player of the Year honors twice … totaled 102 career touchdowns – 75 rushing, 23 receiving and four on returns … rushed for 4,978 yards and 75 touchdowns on 579 carries for an 8.6 average per attempt and 101.6 yards per game in his career … also caught 145 passes for 1,684 yards, 116 average per catch and 23 TDs …  totaled 22 100+ yard rushing games in 49 career games played … had 13 career kick returns for 442 yards and a 34.0 average and two TDs … also returned 29 punts for 305 yards a 10.5 average per return and two touchdowns … as a senior, rushed for 1,105 yards, 17 TDs, 10.1-yard average per carry and 92.1 yards per game … also added 665 yards receiving for seven TDs on 56 receptions as a senior … totaled 1,744 rushing yards, 158.5 yards per game, 7.9 yards per carry and 25 TDs his junior campaign … high school coach was Loren Montgomery. 

Coach Wilson on Braylin Presley … Braylin is a tremendous, dynamic talent. He’s very good with the ball in his hands. He will come in as a running back but has the ability to play in space and move around. He’s very good in the return game as well. He comes in with a lot of notoriety, and appears to be tremendous young man with great character.

Devin Robinson            SAF       6-1            189           Fr.         Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS

Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at Union High School … played safety … totaled 72 tackles, including 47 solos, and had four INTs, including two pick sixes his senior season … earned all-district honors … was the District 6AI-2 co-Defensive Player of the Year his senior campaign … had 64 tackles and 5 pickoffs as a junior … had 28 stops as a sophomore … was team captain as a senior … a three-star prospect by 247Sports … high school coach was Kirk Fridrich.

Coach Wilson on Devin Robinson … Devin has really good size and speed. He was very productive and very physical in the defensive secondary. He’ll fit well into our defensive system as we move forward at Tulsa. He was a tremendous player from a great local school. He’s a tremendous early signee for us. I’m glad he’s on board.

Ashton Schumann       WR       6-2            180           Fr.         League City, Texas / Clear Springs HS

Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at Clear Springs High School … a three-star prospect by 247Sports … was a three-time 24-6A all-district selection … hauled in 80 passes for 1,525 yards and 21 touchdowns in his prep career … had 44 receptions for 798 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in leading his team to an 8-4 record … caught 30 passes for 560 yards and seven TDs his junior season … high school coach was Anthony Renfro.

Coach Wilson on Ashton Schumann … Ashton will be a mid-year enrollee. He looks to be a very solid receiver and good route runner, who caught it well. He has length to be outside guy. He’s a strong student and looking forward to getting him on campus in January.

Mari Smith                    WR       6-0            160           Fr.         Fort Smith, Ark. / Northside HS

Was a three-year starter at Fort Smith Northside High School … compiled 956 receiving yards and 14 TDs in his final two seasons … caught 28 passes for 528 yards and nine TDs for an 18.9 average per receptions and 88.0 yards per game as a senior … had an 89-yard fumble return for a touchdown during his junior season … also a track star in the state, laying claim to the fastest prep sprinter in Arkansas … was the 200m state champion as a junior … best prep times of 10.60 in the 100m and 21.32 in the 200m … high school football coach was Felix Curry.

Coach Wilson on Mari Smith … Mari is fast and dynamic. I thought he was very productive in high school. He probably has the ability to play multiple receiving positions, in the slot or outside, but a very productive guy. He made a lot of big plays and showed good speed and versatility.

Grayson Tempest        ATH      5-11          170           Fr.         Tulsa, Okla. / Union HS

Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at Union High School … caught 48 passes for 646 yards and 5 TDs in his first season at receiver as a senior … was the starting quarterback his sophomore and junior seasons … scored as a receiver, rusher, passer, punt returner and kickoff returner as a senior … was team captain as a senior … had 1,216 all-purpose yards with 12 TDs his senior season … helped lead his team to an 11-1 record, district title and the state semifinals as a senior … threw for 1,832 yards and 14 TDs while completing 118-of-225 passes in his two seasons at quarterback … named the 6AI District 2 co-MVP as a senior … earned academic all-state honors in each of his three seasons … high school coach was Kirk Fridrich.

Coach Wilson on Grayson Tempest … Grayson was a high school quarterback who moved to receiver as a senior. He’s really a well-rounded athlete and a very strong student. He’s very fast and dynamic. A great athlete who can play multiple positions, maybe on either side of the ball. He’s a big playmaker and good in the return game with the ball in his hands.

Orioles agree to terms with right-handed pitcher Mychal Givens

MLB Editor
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Orioles agree to terms with right-handed pitcher Mychal Givens

The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher MYCHAL GIVENS on a one-year contract for the 2023 season with a mutual option for 2024.

Givens, 32, appeared in a combined 59 games between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs in 2022, pitching to a 7-3 record with two saves, a 3.38 ERA (23 ER/61.1 IP), and 71 strikeouts. His seven wins were tied for third among NL relievers and tied for fifth among MLB relief pitchers. He began the season in Chicago, where he went 6-2 with a 2.66 ERA (12 ER/40.2 IP) in 40 games, including recording his 500th career strikeout in his 387th career game on June 22 at Pittsburgh. He did not allow an earned run in 16 consecutive outings (17.1 IP) from June 16 to July 29, a career best. After he was acquired by the Mets in exchange for right-handed pitcher Saúl González on August 2, Givens appeared in 19 games and went 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA (11 ER/20.2 IP), including pitching to a 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP) in his final 12 games of the season, which ended with 11.1 scoreless innings.

A native of Tampa, Fla., Givens was selected by the Orioles as a shortstop in the second round (No. 54 overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of H.B. Plant (FL) High School. He played three minor league seasons as a position player before converting to a pitcher prior to the 2013 season. Givens was named the named the Orioles’ 2015 Jim Palmer Minor League Co-Pitcher of the Year. He made his Major League debut with Baltimore on June 24, 2015. In 419 career appearances over eight Major League seasons with the Mets (2022), Cubs (2022), Cincinnati Reds (2021), Colorado Rockies (2020-21), and Orioles (2015-20), Givens has gone 32-23 with 31 saves, a 3.40 ERA (173 ER/457.2 IP), and 537 strikeouts. His 537 strikeouts since 2015 are the 10th-most by a relief pitcher during that span.

Additionally, infielder LEWIN DÍAZ has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Astros sign Michael Brantley to one-year deal

MLB Editor
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Astros sign Michael Brantley to one-year deal

All-Star outfielder returns for 5th season with Houston

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros have signed free agent outfielder Michael Brantley to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As a result of the deal, Brantley will return to the Astros for a fifth season in 2023. In his previous four seasons with Houston (2019-22), Brantley has earned two All-Star selections (2019, 2021) while hitting a combined .306 in 379 games with an .832 OPS. His .306 average since 2019 ranks third in the American League in that span. His 9.09 plate appearances- per-strikeout ratio also ranks third-best in the AL since 2019. In 13 career World Series games, Brantley has hit .327 (17×52), and in 47 postseason games as an Astro, he has hit .314 (60×191).

In 2022, Brantley hit .288 in 64 games with 14 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI before being placed on the Injured List on June 27 with a right shoulder injury. He eventually underwent an arthroscopic labral repair on his right shoulder and was lost for the season.

Throughout his Major League career (2009-22), Brantley has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Majors. In his career, he has posted a .298 career batting average, hitting .300 or better six times. He has also had an OPS of .801 or higher six times while tallying 35 or more doubles five times.  Brantley is a five-time All-Star and earned a Silver Slugger Award in 2014.

NFC Players of the Week – Week 15

NFL Editor
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NFC Players of the Week – Week 15

VIKINGS QB KIRK COUSINS, GIANTS LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX & LIONS WR KALIF RAYMOND NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 15

Quarterback KIRK COUSINS of the Minnesota Vikings, linebacker KAYVON THIBODEAUX of the New York Giants and wide receiver KALIF RAYMOND of the Detroit Lions are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 15 (December 15, 17-19).

OFFENSE: QB KIRK COUSINS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

  • Cousins passed for a career-high 460 yards with four touchdowns in the Vikings’ 39-36 overtime win over Indianapolis in Week 15. He totaled all four of the touchdown passes and 417 passing yards in the second half and overtime, leading Minnesota back from a 33-0 deficit, the largest comeback victory in NFL history. The win also clinched the NFC North division title for Minnesota.
  • This is the seventh-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Cousins and first this season:
    • 2015: Weeks 7, 10 (with Washington) 
    • 2016: Week 11 (with Washington)
    • 2017: Week 3 (with Washington)
    • 2020: Weeks 12, 17 (with Minnesota)
    • 2022: Week 15 (with Minnesota)
  • Cousins is the fifth Vikings quarterback to win an Offensive Player of the Week award at least three times with the team, joining Daunte Culpepper (eight-time winner), Randall Cunningham (three), Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (three) and Wade Wilson (three).

DEFENSE: LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX, NEW YORK GIANTS

  • Thibodeaux registered career highs in tackles (12) and tackles for loss (three), as well as recording a strip-sack, which he returned for a touchdown in the second quarter of the Giants’ 20-12 win over the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.
  • This is Thibodeaux’s first-career Defensive Player of the Week award, making him the sixth rookie to earn the honor this season. Only the 2014 season has had as many rookies win Defensive Player of the Week.
  • Thibodeaux joins linebacker Devon Kennard (2014) as the only Giants rookies to earn the honor and becomes the first former University of Oregon player to earn the award as a rookie.

SPECIAL TEAMS: WR KALIF RAYMOND, DETROIT LIONS

  • Raymond recorded a 47-yard punt-return touchdown, the first of his career, in Detroit’s 20-17 win over the New York Jets. It marked only the third punt-return touchdown in the NFL this season.
     
  • This is Raymond’s first-career Special Teams Player of the Week award. He is the fifth Lion to be named a Player of the Week this season.
  • He becomes the first player from Holy Cross to ever win a Player of the Week award.

2022 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OffenseDefenseSpecial Teams
Wk 1RB Saquon Barkley, N.Y. GiantsLB Uchenna Nwosu, SeattleCB Zech McPhearson, Philadelphia
Wk 2WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DetroitCB Darius Slay, PhiladelphiaK Graham Gano, N.Y. Giants
Wk 3RB Cordarrelle Patterson, AtlantaDE Brandon Graham, PhiladelphiaP Pat O’Donnell, Green Bay
Wk 4QB Geno Smith, SeattleLB Haason Reddick, PhiladelphiaK Greg Joseph, Minnesota
Wk 5TE Taysom Hill, New OrleansLB Micah Parsons, DallasK Cameron Dicker, Philadelphia
Wk 6QB Marcus Mariota, AtlantaCB Tariq Woolen, SeattleP Ryan Wright, Minnesota
Wk 7QB Daniel Jones, N.Y. GiantsCB Marco Wilson, ArizonaK Cairo Santos, Chicago
Wk 8RB Christian McCaffrey, SFLB Za’Darius Smith, MinnesotaTE Will Dissly, Seattle
Wk 9QB Justin Fields, ChicagoS Kerby Joseph, DetroitP Jake Camarda, Tampa Bay
Wk 10WR Justin Jefferson, MinnesotaLB Devin White, Tampa BayK Joey Slye, Washington
Wk 11RB Tony Pollard, DallasDL Aidan Hutchinson, DetroitRB Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta
Wk 12QB Jalen Hurts, PhiladelphiaDE Brian Burns, CarolinaRB Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota
Wk 13QB Jalen Hurts, PhiladelphiaDL Nick Bosa, San FranciscoK Michael Badgley, Detroit
Wk 14QB Baker Mayfield, L.A. RamsDE Brandon Graham, PhiladelphiaK Eddy Pineiro, Carolina
Wk 15QB Kirk Cousins, MinnesotaLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, N.Y. GiantsWR Kalif Raymond, Detroit

AFC Players of the Week – Week 15

NFL Editor
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AFC Players of the Week – Week 15

BILLS QB JOSH ALLEN, JAGUARS S RAYSHAWN JENKINS & CHIEFS P TOMMY TOWNSEND NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 15

Quarterback JOSH ALLEN of the Buffalo Bills, safety RAYSHAWN JENKINS of the Jacksonville Jaguars and punter TOMMY TOWNSEND of the Kansas City Chiefs are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 15 (December 15, 17-19).

OFFENSE: QB JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS

  • Allen completed 25 of 40 pass attempts (62.5 percent) for 304 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions for a 119.2 passer rating in Buffalo’s 32-29 victory over Miami in Week 15. Allen also added 77 rushing yards in the playoff-clinching divisional win.
  • This is Allen’s 10th-career Player of the Week award, and third this season, the most among all players in 2022:
    • 2018: Week 17
    • 2019: Week 11
    • 2020: Weeks 2, 9, 13, 15
    • 2021: Weeks 3
    • 2022: Weeks 5, 6, 15
  • Since Allen entered the NFL in 2018, no other player has won 10 Player of the Week awards.

DEFENSE: S RAYSHAWN JENKINS, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

  • Jenkins recorded 18 tackles and two interceptions, including the game-winning 52-yard return in overtime in the Jaguars’ 40-34 comeback win over the Cowboys. His second interception marked the seventh-longest game-winning interception return for a touchdown in overtime since 1974 and the longest since 2015 (Robert Alford, 59 yards).
  • Jenkins’ 18 tackles are the most tackles in a game by a player with multiple interceptions since 1991.
  • This is the first Defensive Player of the Week for Jenkins and he is the first Jacksonville player to win since Josh Allen (Week 9, 2021).
  • He is the first former Miami Hurricanes defensive back to win the award since Antrel Rolle (Week 6, 2012).

SPECIAL TEAMS: P TOMMY TOWNSEND, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

  • Townsend recorded four punts with two inside the 20-yard line and a net average of 42.5 yards in Kansas City’s 30-24 overtime win over Houston. The average opponent starting field position following Townsend’s punts on Sunday was the 17.5-yard line, the best in the AFC in Week 15.
  • This is the third-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Townsend (Week 15, 2020 and Week 9, 2021) and first this season.
  • He is tied with kicker Evan McPherson for the most Special Teams Player of the Week awards by a former Florida Gator.

2022 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OffenseDefenseSpecial Teams
Wk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas CityQB Tua Tagovailoa, MiamiQB Trevor Lawrence, JacksonvilleQB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas CityQB Josh Allen, BuffaloQB Josh Allen, BuffaloS Minkah Fitzpatrick, PittsburghCB Jaylen Watson, Kansas CityDE Trey Hendrickson, CincinnatiS Jordan Poyer, BuffaloLB Matthew Judon, New EnglandDL Quinnen Williams, N.Y. JetsK Cade York, ClevelandP Braden Mann, N.Y. JetsP Corliss Waitman, DenverK Evan McPherson, CincinnatiK Chase McLaughlin, IndianapolisK Dustin Hopkins, L.A. Chargers
Wk 7QB Joe Burrow, CincinnatiCB Sauce Gardner, N.Y. JetsK Randy Bullock, Tennessee
Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10RB Derrick Henry, TennesseeRB Joe Mixon, CincinnatiRB Jonathan Taylor, IndianapolisDE Dre’Mont Jones, DenverLB Justin Houston, BaltimoreLB Alex Highsmith, PittsburghK Nick Folk, New EnglandK Cameron Dicker, L.A. ChargersP Ryan Stonehouse, Tennessee
Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15TE Travis Kelce, Kansas CityRB Josh Jacobs, Las VegasQB Joe Burrow, CincinnatiQB Trevor Lawrence, JacksonvilleQB Josh Allen, BuffaloLB Matt Milano, BuffaloDT Ed Oliver, BuffaloDE Chandler Jones, Las VegasLB Josh Uche, New EnglandS Rayshawn Jenkins, JacksonvilleDB Marcus Jones, New EnglandP JK Scott, L.A. ChargersWR Donovan Peoples-Jones, ClevelandDE Calais Campbell, BaltimoreP Tommy Townsend, Kansas City

NFL: Week 16 Quick Capsule – Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) at Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

NFL Editor
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NFL: Week 16 Quick Capsule – Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) at Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

WEEK 16
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8-6) @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-9-1)
DATE: Monday (12/26/22)
STADIUM: Lucas Oil Stadium
TIME: 8:15 PM ET
REFEREE: Clay Martin

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Chargers lead all-time series, 17-10
STREAKS Chargers have won 3 of past 4
LAST GAME 9/8/19: Colts 24 at Chargers 30 (OT)
LAST GAME AT SITE 9/25/16: Colts 26, Chargers 22

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
LAST WEEK W 17-14 vs. Tennessee
COACH VS. OPP. Brandon Staley: 0-0
PTS. FOR 22.3
OFFENSE 357.9
PASSING Justin Herbert: 407-603-4,019-21-9-91.5
RUSHING Austin Ekeler: 165-692-4.2-9
RECEIVING Joshua Palmer: 66-714-10.8-3
PTS. AGAINST 24.3
DEFENSE 354.5
SACKS Khalil Mack: 7
INTs Bryce Callahan: 3
TAKE/GIVE +3 (18/15)
PUNTING (NET) JK Scott: 43.2 (41.6)
KICKING Cameron Dicker (R) (2022): 56 (14/14 PAT; 14/15 FG)

CHARGERS NOTES
• QB JUSTIN HERBERT has 300+ pass yards in 3 straight games, longest active streak in NFL. Has 12 TDs vs. 3 INTs with 95 rating in 7 road starts this season. Has 3+ TD passes & 105+ rating in 2 of 3 career starts on MNF. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 4,019 pass yards in 2022 & is 1st player ever with 4,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 3 seasons.
• RB AUSTIN EKELER aims for 6th in row with 70+ scrimmage yards & 3rd in row with rush TD. Has TD in 4 of past 5. Had 154 scrimmage yards (96 rec., 58 rush) & 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) in last meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with TD. Ties for NFL lead with 14 TDs (9 rush, 5 rec.) & can become 2nd Charger ever (HOFer LaDainian Tomlinson) with 15+ TDs in consecutive seasons.
• RB JOSHUA KELLEY had 2nd rush TD of season last week.
• WR KEENAN ALLEN aims for 4th in row with 6+ catches & 85+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in each of his 2 road games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Ind. with 100+ rec. yards & rec. TD. Has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 on MNF.
• WR MIKE WILLIAMS can become 4th player in SB era with 100+ rec. yards in 6 straight road games. Aims for 3rd in row overall with 65+ rec. yards.
• WR JOSHUA PALMER has 5+ catches in 4 of past 5.
• LB KHALIL MACK had 5 tackles & PD in Week 15. Has TFL in 2 of past 3 on road. Is only player with 6+ sacks in each of past 8 seasons. Has sack in 4 of his past 5 on MNF.
• LB DRUE TRANQUILL had 10 tackles, sack & 1st-career FF last week. Has 5+ tackles in all 14 games this season. Leads team with career-best 116 tackles in 2022.
• LB KYLE VAN NOY aims for 3rd in row with sack.
• S NASIR ADDERLEY had 2nd INT of season in Week 15. Has PD in 2 of past 3.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
LAST WEEK L 39-36 at Minnesota
COACH VS. OPP. Jeff Saturday: 0-0
PTS. FOR 17.5
OFFENSE 319.6
PASSING Matt Ryan: 309-461-3,057-14-13-83.9
RUSHING Zack Moss (2022): 48-203-4.2-0
RECEIVING Michael Pittman: 86-815-9.5-2
PTS. AGAINST 24.1
DEFENSE 329.3
SACKS Yannick Ngakoue: 9.5
INTs Stephon Gilmore, Rodney Thomas: 2
TAKE/GIVE -12 (15/27)
PUNTING (NET) Matt Haack: 44.6 (40.5)
KICKING Chase McLaughlin: 97 (16/16 PAT; 27/32 FG)

COLTS NOTES
• QB MATT RYAN passed for 182 yards & TD with 0 INTs last week. Has 8 TDs vs. 2 INTs with 99.7 rating in 5 home starts this season. Has 105+ rating in 3 of his past 4 starts vs. AFC West. Has 0 INTs in 5 of his past 6 on MNF. Has 3,057 pass yards in 2022 & is 8th QB in NFL history with 3,000+ pass yards in 13 straight seasons.
• RB ZACK MOSS tied career high with 81 rush yards last week.
• RB DEON JACKSON rushed for 55 yards & had 1st-career TD catch in Week 15.
• WR MICHAEL PITTMAN led team with 10 catches for 60 yards last week, 3rd-career game with 10+ catches. Has 50+ rec. yards in 4 of past 5 overall & each of past 4 at home. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with TD catch.
• WR ALEC PIERCE ranks 5th among rookies with 510 rec. yards.
• DE YANNICK NGAKOUE had sack in Week 15. Has sack in 3 of his past 4 & 0.5+ sacks in 7 of his past 8. Needs 0.5 sacks for 3rd-career season with 10+ sacks.
• DT DEFOREST BUCKNER had 2 TFL, sack & PD last week. Has TFL in 2 of past 3.
Buckner & Ngakoue are 2 of 6 players with 6+ sacks in each of past 5 seasons.
• LB ZAIRE FRANKLIN had 10 tackles & 2nd FF of season last week. Aims for 6th in row with 10+ tackles. Ranks 4th in NFL with career-high 140 tackles this season.
• LB BOBBY OKEREKE led team with 12 tackles & had PD last week. Aims for 6th in row with 5+ tackles. Had TFL in last meeting.
• CB STEPHON GILMORE had 7 tackles & season-high 3 PD last week, his 4th game this season with 2+ PD, tied 2nd-most in NFL. Aims for 4th in row with 6+ tackles & 3rd in row with 2+ PD. Has 2 PD & INT in 2 of his past 3 in primetime.
• S JULIAN BLACKMON had 17-yard INT-TD last week, 1st-career TD.

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