NFL: Week 14 Quick Capsule – Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) at New York Giants (7-4-1)

Football
NFL

December 9, 2022

NFL: Week 14 Quick Capsule – Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) at New York Giants (7-4-1)

WEEK 14
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-1) @ NEW YORK GIANTS (7-4-1)
DATE: Sunday (12/11/22)
STADIUM: MetLife Stadium
TIME: 1:00 PM ET
REFEREE: Clete Blakeman

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Eagles lead all-time series, 87-85-2
STREAKS Giants have won 2 of last 3
LAST GAME 12/26/21: Giants 10 at Eagles 34
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/28/21: Giants 13, Eagles 7

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LAST WEEK: W 35-10 vs. Tennessee
COACH VS. OPP. Nick Sirianni: 1-1
PTS. FOR 28.2
OFFENSE 388.3
PASSING Jalen Hurts: 243-357-2,940-20-3-108.3
RUSHING Miles Sanders: 187-924-4.9-9
RECEIVING A.J. Brown: 61-950-15.6-9
PTS. AGAINST 18.8
DEFENSE 296.4
SACKS Haason Reddick: 9
INTs C.J. Gardner-Johnson: 6
TAKE/GIVE +13 (23/10)
PUNTING (NET) Arryn Siposs: 45.6 (40.5)
KICKING Jake Elliott: 64 (37/39 PAT; 9/11 FG)

EAGLES NOTES
• QB JALEN HURTS completed season-high 29 of 39 atts. (74.4 pct.) for season-high 380 yards & had 4 TDs (3 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 130.3 rating in Week 13. Is 1 of 2 (Joe Burrow) with 375+ pass yards, 3+ TD passes & rush TD in single game in 2022. Has 2+ TD passes in 6 of his past 7 & rush TD in 3 of his past 4. Needs rush TD to become 1st QB ever with 10+ rush TDs in consecutive seasons. Had 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 102.5 rating in last meeting.

• RB MILES SANDERS had career-high 9th rush TD of season last week. Is only NFC RB with 900+ rush yards (924) & 9+ rush TDs in 2022. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his 5 career games vs. NYG.

• WR A.J. BROWN had 8 catches for 119 yards & 2 rec. TDs in Week 13. Has 13 games with 100+ rec. yards & TD catch since 2019, 3rd-most in NFL. Aims for his 3rd in row with rec. TD. Needs 50 rec. yards for his 3rd career 1,000-yard season.

• WR DEVONTA SMITH had 5 catches for 102 yards & 4th rec. TD of season last week, his 4th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Had 80 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting.

• LB HAASON REDDICK had 9th sack of season last week & aims for his 5th in row with 0.5+ sacks. Had career-high 5 sacks & 3 FFs at NYG (12/23/20 w/ Az.).

• DE BRANDON GRAHAM had sack in Week 13 & aims for his 4th in row with 0.5 sacks.

• DT FLETCHER COX had 5th sack of season in Week 13 & aims for his 3rd in row with sack.

• DE JOSH SWEAT had 3rd-career 2-sack game in Week 13 & aims for his 3rd in row with sack. Has sack in 4 of his past 5 vs. NFC East. Had sack & FF in last meeting.

• DT JAVON HARGRAVE had career-high 8th sack of season in Week 13.

• CB JAMES BRADBERRY had 35 PD & 7 INTs in 32 games (2020-21) w/ NYG.

NEW YORK GIANTS
LAST WEEK T 20-20 vs. Washington (OT)
COACH VS. OPP. Brian Daboll: 0-0
PTS. FOR 20.4
OFFENSE 330.1
PASSING Daniel Jones: 229-347-2,365-11-4-91.2
RUSHING Saquon Barkley: 242-1,055-4.4-8
RECEIVING Darius Slayton: 33-566-17.2-2
PTS. AGAINST 21.0
DEFENSE 359.8
SACKS Dexter Lawrence: 6
INTs Julian Love: 2
TAKE/GIVE +3 (15/12)
PUNTING (NET) Jamie Gillan: 47.6 (40.8)
KICKING Graham Gano: 87 (21/23 PAT; 22/25 FG)

GIANTS NOTES
• QB DANIEL JONES completed 25 of 31 atts. (80.6 pct.) for 200 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 104.3 rating & had 71 rush yards in Week 13. Is 1 of 2 NFC QBs (Geno Smith) with 2 games of 80+ comp. pct. (min. 20 atts.) in 2022. Ranks 5th among QBs with careerhigh 522 rush yards in 2022. Has 100+ rating in 3 of his past 4 at home. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Phi. with 90+ rating.

• RB SAQUON BARKLEY had 8th rush TD of season last week. Ranks 4th in NFL in rush yards (1,055) & 5th in scrimmage yards (1,296) in 2022, his 3rd-career season with 1,000+ rush yards (2018-19). Has 636 scrimmage yards (106 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.) in 6 career games vs. Phi.

• WR DARIUS SLAYTON led team with 6 receptions for 90 yards last week. Has 85+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4.

• WR ISAIAH HODGINS had 1st career TD catch in Week 13.

• DL DEXTER LAWRENCE had career-high 9 tackles & 6th sack of season in Week 13. Leads all DL with 8 games of 5+ tackles in 2022 & aims for his 5th in row with 5+ tackles. Had FF in last home meeting.

• LB KAYVON THIBODEAUX (rookie) had 2nd-career sack in Week 13.

• LB MICAH MCFADDEN (rookie) had 1st-career FF last week.

• LB AZEEZ OJULARI had 10th-career sack, 3rd-career FF & 1st-career FR last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack & FF.

• LB JIHAD WARD had 3rd sack of season & 2nd-career FF in Week 13.

• S JULIAN LOVE had 12 tackles & career-high 6th TFL of season last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 11+ tackles & 4th in row with TFL.

NHL Preview: Minnesota Wild (13-10-2) at Edmonton Oilers (15-12-0)

Hockey
NHL

NHL Editor

December 9, 2022

NHL Preview: Minnesota Wild (13-10-2) at Edmonton Oilers (15-12-0)

MINNESOTA WILD NOTES:

SERIES NOTES
All-Time Wild Record: 59-29-10 (31-15-3 at Xcel Energy Center, 28-14-7 at Edmonton)
2022-23: The Wild notched a 5-3 series-opening win over the Oilers at Xcel Energy Center (12/1)…LW Kirill Kaprizov led Minnesota with three points (1-2=3) while C Joel Eriksson Ek (1-1=2), D Jon Merrill (0-2=2) and RW Mats Zuccarello (1-1=2) each recorded multi-point games…LW Matt Boldy (0-1=1), D Matt Dumba (0-1=1), C Frederick Gaudreau (0-1=1), LW Nic Petan (0-1=1) and C Sam Steel (1-0=1) rounded out the scoring…G Mark-Andre Fleury stopped 18-of-21 shots faced…Edmonton received multi-point performances from C Leon Draisaitl (1-1=2) and C Connor McDavid (1-1=2)…D Evan Bouchard (0-1=1), LW Zach Hyman (0-1=1), C Klim Kostin (1-0=1), C Derek Ryan (0-1=1) and C Devin Shore (0-1=1) all registered points…G Jack Campbell stopped 25-of-30 shots faced.

WILD LEADERS: Zuccarello leads Minnesota with 21 points (6-15=21) in 18 contests vs. Edmonton…D Jared Spurgeon has 12 points (8-4=12) in 31 matches…D Alex Goligoski owns 10 points (0-10=10) in 35 games…Dumba has 10 points (4-6=10) in 18 contests.

WILD GOALIES: Fleury is 15-4-1 with a 2.29 GAA and a .924 SV% in 20 career starts the Oilers…G Filip Gustavsson has not faced Edmonton.

OILERS LEADERS: C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads the Oilers with 21 points (9-12=21) in 31 matches vs. the Wild…LW Evander Kane has 20 points (12-8=20) in 30 contests…McDavid owns 19 points (8- 11=17) in 18 matches…Draisaitl owns 17 points (11-6=17) in 18 contests…D Tyson Barrie has 16 points (4-12=16) in 34 games.

OILERS GOALIES: Campbell is 0-3-1 with a 2.98 GAA and a .897 SV% in four starts…G Stuart Skinner has not faced Minnesota .

INJURIES
Jonas Brodin: lower body
Brandon Duhaime: upper body
Ryan Hartman: upper body

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Nov. 27, 2022 – Dec. 7, 2022
12/2/22 Recalled F Joseph Cramarossa from Iowa
12/1/22 Recalled D Andrej Sustr from Iowa
11/29/22 Reassigned G Zane McIntyre to Iowa
11/28/22 Assigned F Marco Rossi to Iowa

IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
• Minnesota is 6-2-0 in eight games played since Nov. 19. During that span, the Wild are tied for fourth in the NHL in wins and tied for sixth in points (12).

ON THE POWER PLAY
• Through 25 games the Wild has converted 24.4 percent (20 of 82) of power-play opportunities, 11th-best in the NHL.

• The Wild have converted 34.1 percent (15 of 44) of power-play opportunities at home this season, third-best in the NHL.

• Minnesota recorded a power-play goal in a season-high six consecutive games from Nov. 23 – Dec. 4, going eight-for-19 (42.1 pct.) during that span. The streak tied for the fifth-longest in franchise history.

PENALTY KILLERS
• Since Nov. 8, Minnesota is third in the NHL With a 84.0 penalty-kill percentage (42 for 50).

• Minnesota is tied for second in the NHL with a 85.7 penalty-kill percentage (36 of 42) on the road this season.

WE’RE HEADED TO OVERTIME
• This season, Minnesota has five victories in games decided past regulation, tied for third-most in the NHL. The Wild have two overtime wins and three shootout victories.

• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Minnesota leads the NHL with 21 victories in extra-session games.

• During the 2021-22 season, the Wild ranked second in the NHL with a franchise record 11 overtime wins and ranked tied for second with five shootout wins, good for 16 total extra-session victories.

• Minnesota went 16-7 in 23 extra session games during the 2021-22 season – its most extra session contests since 23 in 2013-14. The 16 extra session wins are the second-most in team history (17 in 2006-07).

WE’RE GOING BACK-TO-BACK
• The Wild will play in its fourth of 12 sets of back-to-back games against Edmonton and Vancouver. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, the Wild is 12-4-1 in the first game and 11-4-2 in the second game of back-to-backs.

EDMONTON OILERS NOTES:

EDMONTON OILERS VS. MINNESOTA WILD
7:00 p.m. MT at Rogers Place
BROADCAST INFO: 630 CHED Radio, Sportsnet

15-12-0 – 30 PTS RECORD 13-10-2 – 28 PTS
Div. – 4th Conference – 6th RANK Div. – 3rd Conference – 8th
6th –29.6% (29/98) POWER PLAY 11th – 24.4% (20/82)
28th – 70.9% (73/103) PENALTY KILL 12th – 79.8% (67/84)
ALL-TIME RECORDS vs. MINNESOTA GP RECORD HOME (49) AWAY (49) GF GA
OILERS ALL-TIME vs. MINNESOTA 98 35-49-4-10 18-24-3-4 17-25-1-6 224 281
OILERS vs. MINNESOTA – 2022-23 1 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 3 5

QUICK FACTS
• Friday’s game will mark Edmonton’s second of three games against Minnesota this season and the lone game in Edmonton. The next time these teams will meet is December 12th in Minnesota

• The last time these teams met was on December 1st in Minnesota, with the Wild winning 5-3.

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads the Oilers with 21 career points against the Wild and Tyson Barrie has played in a team high 34 career games against Minnesota.

POINT STREAKING
-Connor McDavid is currently on 6-game goal streak and 7-game point streak (8G, 9A)

-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on a three game point streak (3G, 2A) and posted a multi-goal game (2G, 1A) on Dec. 7 vs. ARI

-Brett Kulak is currently on a two game goal streak

THREE OF A KIND
On Dec. 1 at Minnesota, Tyler Benson, Stuart Skinner and James Hamblin all played for the Edmonton Oilers marking the first time in NHL history where three players who played on the same minor hockey team (SSAC U14 AAA) played a game for the same team in the NHL.

BOUCHARD’S LATE GOAL MAGIC
On Nov. 28 vs. Florida, Evan Bouchard scored the game-tying goal in the final five seconds of regulation before Connor McDavid (1G, 2A – 3PTS) capped off his three-point performance with an assist on Leon Draisaitl’s overtime winner.

OVERTIME WINNER
Connor McDavid scored the overtime winning goal on Nov.19 vs. Vegas. The goal marked his 14th career overtime goal
and he ranks first in the NHL in overtime goals since 2015-16.
MOST OVERTIME GOALS SINCE 2015-16
Connor McDavid – 14
Jonathan Toews – 13
Brad Marchand – 13
Sidney Crosby – 12

POWER PLAY PUNCH
Leon Draisaitl scored his 100th career power play goal on Nov. 21 against New Jersey and recorded his 101st power play goal which also stood as the game winning goal on Nov. 26 against the New York Rangers. Draisaitl holds sole possession of 5th spot all-time in Oilers power play goals and is just 25 goals shy of the all-time lead held by Glenn Anderson and Ryan Smyth. Draisaitl is six power play goals from tying Jari Kurri (107) for 4th on the Oilers power play goals list.

500 AND COUNTING
Following his 500th career game on Nov. 7 at WSH, Connor McDavid finished ranked 6th all-time in NHL scoring (724 PTS) in your first 500 games. McDavid became the 9th player in Oilers franchise history to score a goal in his 500th NHL game, joining the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Leon Draisaitl.

200 CLUB
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored his 200th career goal with the Oilers on Oct. 26 at STL which stood as the game winning goal. Nugent-Hopkins becomes just the ninth player in Oilers history to record 200 goals with the Oilers and has achieved the mark in 726 games all with the Oilers.

SHOOTING GALLERY
The Oilers posted a franchise high 26 shots on goal in one period on Oct. 24 vs. PIT. The previous record of 24 shots was done three times and most recently against Calgary on Feb. 1/20. Evander Kane also posted a team high nine shots against the Penguins and tied an Oilers record for most shots in a period by a player, recording eight shots in the second period. Taylor Hall co-holds the record, posting eight shots previously on Feb. 19/11 vs. ATL). Kane holds the league record of 10 shots in a period by a player, which he recorded on Nov. 1/18 against Columbus as a member of the San Jose Sharks.

LAST 10 GAMES vs. MINNESOTA
Record: 2-8-0
GF: 30 GA: 42
2022-23 12/1/22 @ MIN 5-3 L
2021-22 4/12/22 @ MIN 5-1 L
2021-22 2/20/22 @ EDM 7-3 L
2021-22 12/7/21 @ EDM 4-1 L
2019-20 2/21/20 @ EDM 5-3 L
2019-20 12/12/19 @ MIN 6-5 L
2019-20 10/22/19 @ MIN 3-0 L
2018-19 2/7/19 @ MIN 4-1 W
2018-19 12/7/19 @ EDM 7-2 W
2018-19 10/30/18 @ EDM 4-2 L

OILERS IN DECEMBER
Overall – 532 GP, 233-222-42-34 – 0.509
2022-23 – 4 GP, 2-2-0 – 4 PTS
2021-22 –12 GP, 3-8-1 – 7 PTS

NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets (17-7-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (7-14-4)

Hockey
NHL

NHL Editor

December 9, 2022

NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets (17-7-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (7-14-4)

WINNIPEG JETS NOTES:

Scene Setter
The Winnipeg Jets play the back half of a two-game road trip when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. The Jets beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Thursday in the first game of the trip. After Friday’s game, the Jets start a three-game homestand on Sunday when the Washington Capitals come to Canada Life Centre. The homestand also includes games against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday and Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Last Game
Winnipeg Jets 5
St. Louis Blues 2
Jets Scorers: Dubois (12, 13), Connor (11), Wheeler (8), Perfetti (5)
Blues Scorers: Thomas (6), Leivo (2)
Jets Goaltender: Connor Hellebuyck (29 sv, 2 ga)
Blues Goaltender: Thomas Greiss (15 sv, 4 ga)
Jets PP: 1-for-1
Jets PK: 2-for-2
Recap: Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice and added an assist to lead the Jets to a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues Thursday night. Blake Wheeler had a goal and an assist, while Neal Pionk and Mark Scheifele each had two assists. Scheifele reached 600 career points with his two helpers.
Connor Hellebuyck won his sixth consecutive start by making 29 saves.

Franchise Best Start
The Jets have won 17 games in the first 25 games of a season for the first time in franchise history… It’s one better than the 16 games the team won in the first 25 games of the 2020-21 season… Winnipeg’s plus-21 goal differential is also the best in franchise history through 25 games and fifth in the NHL this season.

Reach For the Top
The Jets have climbed to fourth in the NHL with a .700 points percentage, which also ranks first in the Central Division and Western Conference… Winnipeg’s best points percentage in franchise history was in 2017-18 when the team finished at .695… The franchise has finished
a season with a points percentage better than .600 four times.

Goals, Goals, Goals
The Jets have scored five goals or more in six of their past seven games… Since Nov. 25, Winnipeg has been the NHL’s highest scoring team with 33 goals in seven games… The Jets have tallied five goals or more in eight games this season.

Central Rivals
Winnipeg is atop the Central Division with 35 points… The Jets are 9-2-0 against their Central Division counterparts this season, with both losses coming on the road… The Jets are in the midst of playing three of five games against Central Division foes… Winnipeg went 14-6-6 against their Central Division rivals last season and have a winning record against the Central in each of the past five seasons in which the Jets have been in the Central Division… Josh Morrissey (3G, 12A) and Blake Wheeler (5G, 10A) lead the Jets in scoring against their divisional foes this season with 15 points in 11 games.

String ‘Em Together
With Thursday’s win, Winnipeg is 9-6-1 in games following a win this season… The Jets matched their season high winning streak of three games on Thursday, which they have done four times… Winnipeg had a pair of four-game winning streaks last season, including their final four games of the season.

Busy Time of Year
Winnipeg plays 16 games in 30 days from Dec. 2-31… The stretch includes three back-to-backs… The Jets only consecutive days off in December are from Dec. 24-26 for the Christmas break… The Jets only played eight games in December last season due to COVID-related postponements, going 4-3-1.

PK Prowess
The Jets are 14-for-15 (93.3%) on the penalty kill in their past five games and haven’t allowed a power play goal against in seven of their past 11 contests… Winnipeg is fourth in the NHL this season with a penalty kill clicking at 83.8%… The last time the Jets had a penalty kill better than 82% was in 2013-14 when they finished the season at 83.2%… The franchise record for penalty kill percentage in a season is 85.2%, which occurred in Atlanta during the 2003-04 season.

On The Power Play
The Jets are 19-for-81 (23.5%) on the power play through the first 25 games of the season… Winnipeg is 8-for-20 (40.0%) with the extra man in
the past six games, having scored a power play goal in six consecutive contests… The Jets have scored 14 of their 19 power play goals in their
past 15 games, going 14-for-46 (30.4%) … Pierre-Luc Dubois (5G, 6A) leads the Jets with 11 points on the power play this season.

Back-2-Back
The Jets are playing their fourth of 13 back-to-back sets on their schedule this season, having gone 5-2-0 so far… The Jets were 6-4-2 in the first game of a back-to-back last season and 5-5-2 in the second game for an overall record of 11-9-4

On the Road
The Jets are 7-4-1 on the road this season after winning three consecutive road contests… Winnipeg hasn’t lost consecutive games in regulation on the road this season… Defenceman Josh Morrissey (1G, 13A) leads the Jets in scoring on the road with 14 points, while Pierre-Luc Dubois has a team leading seven goals… Winnipeg’s first 15 road games are against Western Conference teams… The Jets were 16-17-8 on the road last season.

Home Comforts
The Jets are 10-3-0 at Canada Life Centre to start the season, becoming the third team in the NHL to win 10 games at home this season… Winnipeg has won 14 of their past 18 home games dating back to last season… The 24 goals Winnipeg has allowed on home ice this season is tied for the second fewest in the NHL… The Jets are outscoring their opponents 3.3-1.8 at home this season and have scored at least four goals in eight of their 13 games at Canada Life Centre this season… Pierre-Luc Dubois (6G, 11A) and Kyle Connor (7G, 10A) lead the team with 17 points in 13 home games… Connor Hellebuyck has been stellar on home ice this season, going 9-2-0 with a 1.36 goals-against average, .956 save percentage and three shutouts… Winnipeg is 239-152-36 all-time at Canada Life Centre and have posted a .500 record or better at home in six consecutive seasons.

Mo Consistency
Josh Morrissey has a share of the team scoring lead with 28 points (5G, 23A) in 25 games… He has a point in 23 of his 28 games this season and hasn’t gone consecutive games without a point… Morrissey is fourth in the NHL among defencemen in scoring… Morrissey’s 23 assists rank tied for third among NHL defencemen… Morrissey is on pace for 75 assists and 92 points this season… His career high for assists is 26, which he did 65 games during the 2019-20 season… He had a career best 12 goals and 37 points in 79 games last season… Morrissey is on pace to become the first defenceman to lead the team in scoring in franchise history… The franchise record for points by a defenceman in a season is 56, which Dustin Byfuglien did in 2013-14… Byfuglien (4 times), Toby Enstrom (twice), and Jacob Trouba (once) are the only defencemen in franchise history to post 50 points or more in a season.

Seeing Threes
With consecutive three-point games, Pierre-Luc Dubois has tied Josh Morrissey for the team scoring lead with 28 points (13G, 15A) in 25 games… Dubois’ 13 goals also lead the team… He has 12 points (5G, 7A) during a current seven-game point streak, which is the longest by a member of the Jets this season and one shy of his career best eight-game point streak he accomplished last season (Oct. 16-Nov. 2/21)… Dubois has a chance to become the third player in franchise history to post at least three points in three consecutive games, joining Marc Savard (Nov. 9-12/05) and Mark Scheifele (Dec. 13-16/18).

Super Six
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has won six consecutive starts… He has a 2.00 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in the six games… It’s the second longest winning streak of his career, three behind the nine consecutive games he won from Mar. 15-Apr. 7/18… Tuesday’s game against Florida marked the sixth time this season he faced 40 shots or more in a game, improving his record to 5-0-1 with a 2.14 goals-against average and .949 save percentage this season when facing at least 40 shots.

600
Mark Scheifele had his third two-assist game of the season on Thursday to reach 600 career points, which includes 245 goals… Scheifele is the third player in franchise history to reach 600 points and he’s five goals shy of joining Kovalchuk (328) and Blake Wheeler (253) as the only players in franchise history to reach 250 goals.

The Rookie
Cole Perfetti is tied for second in NHL rookie scoring with 17 points (5G, 12A) in 25 games… Perfetti could become the fifth rookie in franchise history to post 50 points in a season, previously done by Dany Heatley (67 – 2001-02), Patrik Laine (64 – 2016-17), Kyle Connor (57 – 2017-18), and Ilya Kovalchuk (51 – 2001-02).

Extra Time
The Jets are 6-1 in overtime this season… Winnipeg’s seven OT games are tied for the second most in the NHL this season and the Jets are the only team with six wins in overtime… Five of Winnipeg’s six OT winners have come in the first two minutes of the extra session… Mark Scheifele holds the franchise record with 12 OT winning goals… The six wins is one better than the five overtime wins Winnipeg had last season in 12 games decided in OT… During the past three seasons, Winnipeg is 17-9 in games decided in overtime.

Goal-Games
Seven of Winnipeg’s past eight games have been decided by three goals or more, including three consecutive wins by 5-2 scores… The Jets have notched their past five wins by at least three goals… Winnipeg’s previous four wins came by one goal… Fifteen of Winnipeg’s 25 games this season have been decided by three goals or more, with the Jets going 9-6.

Zeros
The Jets have registered three shutouts this season, which is tied for first in the NHL… Winnipeg’s first two shutouts were by 4-0 scores (Oct. 24 vs. STL and Nov. 5 vs. CHI), while the Nov. 29 5-0 shutout against Colorado gives the Jets all three shutout wins by at least four goals… The Jets had five shutouts last season, which is two shy of the franchise record.

Jets vs. CHI Notes
Season Series
The Jets and Blackhawks face each other four times this season… Winnipeg won the first meeting 4-0 at home on Nov. 5 and the second meeting Nov. 27 in Chicago 7-2… The final meeting takes place at Canada Life Centre on Feb. 11.

Recent History
Dating back to 2015, the Jets are 13-4-0 in their past 17 games against the Blackhawks, including winning six of the past seven meetings… Winnipeg is 12-for-14 (85.7%) on the penalty kill in the past eight games against Chicago.

In Chicago
The Jets have been victorious in five of their past six games at United Center in Chicago… Three of the wins have come by one goal.

Player Notes
Blake Wheeler leads the Jets in career scoring against Chicago with 34 points (11G, 23A) in 42 games… Defenceman Nate Schmidt has 14 points (2G, 12A) in 16 games against Chicago and is on a seven-game point streak against the Blackhawks (2G, 5A)… Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is 14-7-0 in 21 starts against the Blackhawks with a 2.39 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

Jets vs. CHI Past 10 Games
Date Opp Res G GA S PPO PPG PIM SA PPOA PPGA PIMA
10/12/2019 @Chi W 3 2 33 4 1 4 29 2 1 8
12/19/2019 Chi L 1 4 37 2 0 4 32 2 1 4
01/19/2020 @Chi L 2 5 38 5 0 6 33 2 0 12
02/09/2020 Chi W 5 2 36 6 1 11 26 3 0 17
02/16/2020 Chi W 3 2 38 0 0 0 33 0 0 0
11/05/2021 Chi W 5 1 33 3 1 4 18 2 0 6
02/14/2022 Chi L 1 3 32 1 0 2 24 1 0 2
03/20/2022 @Chi W 6 4 32 2 1 4 36 1 1 6
11/05/2022 Chi W 4 0 37 4 3 6 30 3 0 8
11/27/2022 @Chi W 7 2 44 4 2 8 25 2 1 12

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: NBCSCH – Chris Vosters (PxP) and Troy Murray (analyst)
RADIO: WGN-AM 720 – John Wiedeman (PxP) and Joe Brand (analyst)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Dec. 13 vs. WSH, 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
Thursday, Dec. 15 vs. VGK, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBCSCH, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
Friday, Dec. 16 at MIN, 7:00 p.m. CT (ESPN+, Hulu, WGN Radio)
Sunday, Dec. 18 vs. NYR, 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPN, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))
Wednesday, Dec. 21 vs. NSH, 7:30 p.m. CT (NBCSCH, WGN Radio, Univision (Spanish))

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 7 – Assigned Lukas Reichel to Rockford … Dec. 6 – Recalled Lukas Reichel and placed Petr Mrazek on IR … Dec. 1 – Recalled Ian Mitchell from Rockford and placed Jarred Tinordi on IR … Nov. 24 – Assigned Ian Mitchell to Rockford … Nov. 23 – Activated Seth Jones off IR … Nov. 18 – Recalled Ian Mitchell from Rockford … Nov. 17 – Assigned Alec Regula to Rockford … Nov. 11 – Activated Ian Mitchell (left wrist) off IR and assigned him to Rockford (AHL) … Nov. 8 – Assigned Dylan Wells to Rockford (AHL).

LAST TIME OUT
Score: Chicago (0) vs. New Jersey (3) – Tue., Dec. 6 – Prudential Center
CHI Goals:
NJD Goals: Hamilton (7), Hischier (11), Bratt (10; PP)
Goalies: CHI – Soderblom (26/29, 69:43) NJD – Vanecek (24/24, 59:58) 
CHI PP: 0/3; PK: 1/2
NYI PP: 1/2; PK: 3/3
Recap: The Blackhawks were shutout by the Devils on Tuesday night in New Jersey … Patrick Kane posted a season-high seven shots on goal … Jack Johnson blocked a game-high five shots … MacKenzie Entwistle registered a team-high four hits.

TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – WINNIPEG JETS
The Blackhawks are 0-2-0 against the Winnipeg Jets so far this season after falling to the club 2-7 on Nov. 27 at the United Center … Patrick Kane has points in six of his last nine contests against the Jets (3G, 9A), with four multi-point games including a four-point night on Dec. 19, 2019 (1G, 3A) … Taylor Raddysh has points in three of four career games against Winnipeg (2G, 2A), including a multi-point effort (1G, 1A) on March 20 … Jonathan Toews and Max Domi were both born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  2022-23 Schedule/Results: HOME: Nov. 27 (2-7), Dec. 9 | AWAY: Nov. 5 (0-4), Feb. 11

ACTIVE BLACKHAWKS VS. WPG ALL-TIME
GOALS: Patrick Kane, 17; Jonathan Toews, 11; Seth Jones, 5
ASSISTS: Patrick Kane, 31; Jonathan Toews, 16; Seth Jones, 12 
POINTS: Patrick Kane, 48; Jonathan Toews, 27; Seth Jones, 17 

TEAM NOTES
TWO FOR THE SHOW: Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have skated in 995 regular-season games together in their NHL careers and are seven games shy 1,000 career games played together … They will become the 12th pair of teammates in NHL history to have skated in at least 1,000 regular-season games together and the second pair of Blackhawks players to have done so, joining defensemen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith who skated in 1,069 career games together … In the 995 games Toews and Kane have played together, the Blackhawks own a record of 530-342-123 … The two have also both combined to factor into 297 total goals in their careers, with Toews having scored 115 goals that Kane has assisted on, Kane having scored 101 goals that Toews has assisted on and both earning an assist on 81 goals.

Teammates to play in 1,000 career games together:
GP PLAYER PLAYER TEAMS SEASONS
1353 Gordie Howe Alex Delvecchio Detroit 1950-51 to 1970-71
1276 Henrik Sedin Daniel Sedin Vancouver 2000-01 to 2017-18
1158 Anze Kopitar Dustin Brown Los Angeles 2006-07 to 2021-22
1107 Nicklas Lidstrom Kris Draper Detroit 1993-94 to 2010-11
1069 Brent Seabrook Duncan Keith Chicago 2005-06 to 2019-20
1062 Larry Robinson Bob Gainey Montreal 1973-74 to 1988-89
1044 Tim Horton George Armstrong Toronto 1952-53 to 1969-70
1020 Nicklas Backstrom Alex Ovechkin Washington 2007-08 to 2021-22
1023 Drew Doughty Anze Kopitar Los Angeles 2008-09 to 2022-23
1008 Mark Messier Kevin Lowe Edmonton/NY Rangers 1979-80 to 1995-96
995 Patrick Kane Jonathan Toews Chicago 2007-08 to 2022-23

ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRI-KANE: Patrick Kane recorded three points (1G, 2A), including the 1,200th point of his career, on Saturday night … Kane becomes the third active player to reach the mark, joining Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, while he’s just the second Blackhawks player to accomplish the feat (Stan Mikita – 1,467 points) … Kane has now tallied four points (1G, 3A) in his last four games and has seven points (2G, 5A) over his last eight … Kane posted three-straight multi-point efforts from Oct. 23-27 (2G, 5A) … The forward logged two assists and three points (1G, 2A) against Edmonton on Oct. 27, moving him past Doug Weight (755) into fifth place on the League’s all-time assist list among U.S.-born players … Kane paces the Blackhawks with 16 helpers and 20 points (4G, 16A) in 25 games this season.

TO THE MAX: Max Domi notched three points (2G, 1A) against the Rangers on Saturday for his second three-point outing of the campaign … Domi comes into Friday’s contest having scored four goals and posted five points (4G, 1A) in his last four games, while he’s also logged seven points (5G, 2A) over his last seven … The forward scored two power play goals on Nov. 30, marking the second time he’s notched two power play goals in a game … Domi registered a four-game point streak from Oct. 21-27 (3G, 3A) … It marked his first streak of at least four games since the 2020-21 campaign when he also logged points in four-straight games (2G, 3A) from April 6 – 12 … Domi currently leads the team with seven goals, while he ranks second in assists (10) and points (19) so far this season … He also shares 12th in the NHL and paces the Blackhawks with six power play goals in 2022-23.

TAYLOR MADE: Taylor Raddysh scored a power play goal against New York on Saturday and now has three goals in his last six games … Raddysh also scored goals in back-to-back games from Nov. 25 – 27 (2G) … It’s the fourth time in Raddysh’s career that he’s scored goals in consecutive games and the first since April 12 – 14, 2022 (2G, 1A) … The 24-year-old now ranks third on Chicago with seven goals in 2022-23, while he shares second on the team with four power play goals … He is also tied for fifth on the Blackhawks with 10 points (7G, 3A) in 25 games this season.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!: Jonathan Toews logged an assist against the Rangers Saturday night … Saturday’s contest marked Toews’ 1,037th career game, moving him past Bobby Hull and into sole possession of fifth place in franchise history … The captain recorded his 500th career assist on Nov. 23 at Dallas … His 501 career assists are good for eighth in franchise history … Toews currently paces the NHL in faceoff win percentage at 64.2% … He ranks second on the Blackhawks with eight goals and is tied for second second with four power-play goals so far in 2022-23 … Toews also ranks third on the team with 14 points (8G, 6A) … Toews logged a seven-game point streak (5G, 2A) from Oct. 23 – Nov. 3 … His seven-game point streak is tied for the third-longest of his career while it’s the fifth time he’s logged points in at least seven games … His last seven-game streak came during the 2018-19 season, logging 10 points (4G, 6A) from Feb. 14 – 27 … Toews scored the overtime goal on Nov. 3 for the 16th of his career, which is tied for sixth in NHL history.

JAKE THE GREAT: Jake McCabe posted two assists on Saturday night for his first multi-point game of the season, while he added a game-high six hits against the Rangers … Saturday’s contest marked McCabe’s first multi-point outing since he logged two helpers on March 12, 2022 at Ottawa … The blueliner has posted three assists in his last five games and has four assists over his last seven contests … McCabe now ranks second among Blackhawks defensemen with seven assists and eight points (1G, 7A) this season … He also paces the team with 58 blocked shots and ranks fourth on the squad with 46 hits.

COMEBACK KIDS: The Blackhawks overcame a two-goal deficit on Nov. 12 en route to a 3-2 win at Anaheim … The win marked Chicago’s fourth multi-goal comeback win this season which is good for first in the League … The club recorded each of the previous three this season over a three-game span from Oct. 15 – 23 for the team’s first three wins of 2022-23 … Chicago became the ninth team in NHL history to post three or more consecutive multi-goal comeback wins, and the first since Detroit did so during the 2018-19 season … Additionally, the Blackhawks are the fourth team in NHL history to overcome a multi-goal deficit in each of their first three wins of a season, joining St. Louis (3 GP in 2006-07), Detroit (3 GP in 1990-91) and the New York Islanders (3 GP in 1985-86).

LONG STORY SHORTHANDED: The Blackhawks have scored four shorthanded goals this season, all of which came in a three-game span from Oct. 15 – 23 … Chicago’s four shorthanded tallies in 2022-23 are tied for second in the NHL … The team’s three-game streak of scoring a shorthanded goal tied the longest in franchise history, which has happened six times previously, most recently from Feb. 5 – 11, 2009 … Chicago is the first club to score a shorthanded goal in three-straight games since the Ottawa Senators accomplished the feat during the 2019-20 campaign … Sam Lafferty scored two shorthanded goals against the Sharks on Oct. 15 … He is just the seventh Blackhawks player since 1933-34 (when goals by type officially began being tracked) to score two shorthanded goals in a single period, joining Rene Bourque (Feb. 28, 2008), Patrick Sharp (Nov. 3, 2007), Steve Sullivan (Jan. 26, 2001), Rick Paterson (Jan. 16, 1985), Chico Maki (Dec. 9, 1970) and Pep Kelly (Dec. 26, 1940).

BLACKHAWKS FRANCHISE LEADERS
GAMES GOALS ASSISTS POINTS

Stan Mikita 1,396 1. Bobby Hull 604 1. Stan Mikita 926 1. Stan Mikita 1,467
Duncan Keith 1,192 2. Stan Mikita 541 2. Patrick Kane 766 2. Patrick Kane 1,200
Patrick Kane, 1,132 3. Patrick Kane 434 3. Denis Savard 719 3. Bobby Hull 1,153
Brent Seabrook, 1,114 4. Steve Larmer 406 4. Doug Wilson 554 4. Denis Savard 1,096
Jonathan Toews 1,038 5. Denis Savard 377 5. Bobby Hull 549 5. Steve Larmer 923
Bobby Hull 1,036 6. Jonathan Toews 365 6. Duncan Keith 520 6. Jonathan Toews 866
Eric Nesterenko 1,013 7. Dennis Hull 298 7. Steve Larmer 517 7. Doug Wilson 779
Bob Murray 1,008 8. Tony Amonte 268 8. Jonathan Toews 501 8. Dennis Hull 640

BLACKHAWKS RECORD ON…
One-Day Rest: 5-7-1
Two-Days Rest: 0-2-0
Three+ Days Rest: 1-0-1
First Game of a B2B: 1-2-1
Second Game of a B2B: 0-3-1

BLACKHAWKS RECORD BY DAY
Monday: 0-1-0
Tuesday: 1-2-0
Wednesday: 0-4-0
Thursday: 1-2-1
Friday: 1-0-1
Saturday: 3-2-1
Sunday: 1-3-1

NHL Preview: Seattle Kraken (15-7-3) at Washington Capitals (12-12-4)

Hockey
NHL

NHL Editor

December 9, 2022

NHL Preview: Seattle Kraken (15-7-3) at Washington Capitals (12-12-4)

SEATTLE KRAKEN NOTES:

LAST GAME
Montreal 4 at Seattle 2
Goals: Wright, McCann
Goalie: Jones (12/16)
PP: 0/3 PK: 4/4 Shots: Montreal 16 – Seattle 33

CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 70)
Chris Driedger (ACL; IR) – 25 games – month-to-month
Joonas Donskoi (upper body; IR) – 25 games – day-to-day

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
Dec. 5, 2022: Recalled F Shane Wright from Coachella Valley (AHL)
Dec. 6, 2022: Loaned F Shane Wright to Team Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championship

UPCOMING GAMES
Sunday, Dec. 11: Seattle at Florida, 3 p.m. PT
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Seattle at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. PT
Thursday, Dec. 15: Seattle at Carolina, 4 p.m. PT
Sunday, Dec. 18: Winnipeg at Seattle, 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, Dec. 20: St. Louis at Seattle, 7 p.m. PT

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Tonight’s game marks the second and final meeting between Seattle and Washington this season. A win tonight would give the Kraken a season sweep over the Capitals, having previously defeated them on Dec. 1 in Seattle, a 3-2 overtime win.

o It would mark the Kraken’s second sweep of the season, having previously defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in both of the teams’ two matchups this season.

• Entering play Thursday, the Kraken ranked sixth in the NHL with a .660 points percentage this season.

• Justin Schultz has totaled 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in his last nine games, dating back to Nov. 17 vs. the Rangers.

• Jared McCann has nine points (seven goals, two assists) in his last nine games played.

• The Kraken were one of six teams (Arizona, Edmonton, Florida, NY Islanders Winnipeg) this season to have three different defensemen score at least three goals entering play Thursday. Jamie Oleksiak (four), Vince Dunn (four) and Justin Schultz (three) have all scored at least three times for the Kraken this year.

o Despite only playing in 20 games this season, Oleksiak enters tonight’s matchup just two goals shy of tying his career high of six that he set during the 2020-21 season while playing for the Dallas Stars.

• Martin Jones’ next win will surpass his 2021-22 season total (12), despite playing in only 19 games so far this season.

o Jones’ 12 wins were tied for the fourth-most in the NHL this season entering play Thursday.

• The Kraken are outshooting their opponents 604-517 at five-on-five this season. Their 53.9 percent shot share was good for fifth in the NHL entering play Thursday according to Natural Stat Trick.

NO CAP
• Former Capital Andre Burakovsky has five points (one goal, four assists) in five career games against Washington.

• Yanni Gourde has three points (two goals, one assist) in his last three games against Washington.

• Adam Larsson scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 11, 2011 against the Capitals.

• Jaden Schwartz has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 15 career games against the Capitals. Washington is one of four teams (Boston, Edmonton, Toronto) that Schwartz has averaged a point per game or better against in his career.

• Daniel Sprong has an assist in each of his last two games against Washington.

ROAD WARRIORS
• The Kraken have posted an 8-1-1 record while playing on the road this season and are one of only two teams (New Jersey) to have only one regulation loss on the road this year.

o The Kraken’s eight road wins are just three wins shy of matching their total from last season (11) despite only playing in 10 road games so far this year.

• Seattle enters tonight’s game having won a franchise-best six consecutive road games. The Kraken are one of only four teams (New Jersey, Toronto, Vegas) to win at least six consecutive games on the road this season.

o A win tonight would make Seattle the second team this season to win at least seven consecutive road games (New Jersey).

o The team’s current six-game road win streak was the second-longest active streak entering play Thursday (New Jersey; 11).

• Despite playing the second-fewest games on the road this season (10), the Kraken were tied for fifth in the NHL in regulation wins on the road (seven) and ranked second in road points percentage (.850) entering play Thursday.

• The team’s 4.50 goals-per-game played on the road led the NHL entering play Thursday.

• The Kraken have five players playing at a point-per-game pace on the road this season: Daniel Sprong (1.17), Matty Beniers (1.10), Andre Burakovsky (1.00), Jordan Eberle (1.00) and Jared McCann (1.00).

o Beniers is the Kraken’s leading scorer when playing on the road this season, totaling 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 10. He has recorded at least a point in each of his last three road games, and if extends his point streak tonight it would give him points in four consecutive road games for the first time in his career.

• Andre Burakovsky (four goals, one assist), Jordan Eberle (one goal, five assists) and Adam Larsson (four assists) each enter tonight’s game riding a three-game road point streak dating back to Nov. 25 at Vegas.

o A goal or an assist tonight would give Larsson points in four consecutive road games for the first time in his career.

• Yanni Gourde (two goals, five assists) and Alex Wennberg (four goals, three assists) have each recorded seven points in their last six games played on the road dating back to Nov. 1 at Calgary.

• Justin Schultz has six assists in his last five road games.

FAMILIAR FOES
• Seattle’s roster houses four players that formerly played for the Washington Capitals: Andre Burakovsky, Philipp Grubauer, Justin Schultz and Daniel Sprong.

• Andre Burakovsky was selected by Washington with the 23rd-overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft and went on to play for the Capitals for five seasons (2014-15 to 2018-19). He totaled 145 points (62 goals, 83 assists) in 328 regular-season games and added 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 56 playoff games.

• Philipp Grubauer was selected by Washington in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played for the Capitals for parts of six seasons (2012-13 to 2017-18), posting a 43-31-11 record with a .923 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average.

• Burakovsky and Grubauer both won the 2018 Stanley Cup with the Capitals, the team’s first-ever championship.

• Daniel Sprong played for the Capitals for parts of two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) prior to being traded to the Kraken. He recorded 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists) in 89 regular-season games for Washington.

• Justin Schultz played two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) for the Capitals prior to signing with the Kraken as a free agent. He posted 50 points (seven goals, 43 assists) in 120 regular-season games and three points (one goal, two assists) in 11 playoff games.

• Additionally, Video Coach Tim Ohashi was a video analyst for the Capitals from 2015-16 to 2019-20.

BENNY AND THE VETS
• Since Nov. 13 vs. Winnipeg, forwards Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann have played on a line together, totaling 106:28 of ice time at five-on-five together during that span.

• According to Natural Stat Trick, since Nov. 13 when that line is on the ice during five-on-five play, the Kraken are outscoring their opponents 10-2, outshooting them 58-41 and have 53 scoring chances to their opponents’ 34.

• Additionally, according to MoneyPuck.com, the Beniers/Eberle/McCann line ranks 13th in the NHL in expected goals for percentage (60.8) among forward lines that have played at least 100 minutes together.

• One of Beniers, Eberle or McCann have scored in each of the last 10 games the Kraken have played dating back to Nov. 13.

• In the Kraken’s last game on Dec. 6 vs. Montreal, the trio outshot the Canadiens 7-2, out chanced them 6-1 and owned a 75 percent Corsi rating.

WINNING WAYS
• The Kraken have posted an 12-3-1 record in their last 16 games played dating back to Oct. 29 vs. Pittsburgh. Their 12 wins and .781 points percentage during that span were tied for third in the NHL entering play Thursday and their 25 points ranked fourth.

• The Kraken are averaging 3.75 goals per game since Oct. 29, which ranked sixth in the NHL entering play Thursday.

• The team is outscoring its opponents 60-46 in its last 16 games played dating back to Oct. 29. Seattle’s plus-14 goal differential ranked fifth in the NHL during that span entering play Thursday.

• Seattle is currently ranked second in the Pacific Division with 33 points in 25 games played. They trail only the Vegas Golden Knights (39 points) for the division lead.

• The Kraken have a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games played. Entering play Thursday, they were one of nine teams in the NHL to win at least seven of their last 10 games.

CHEERS TO BENIERS
• Matty Beniers led all NHL rookies this season in goals (10) and points (21), and his 11 assists ranked fourth entering play Thursday.

o Beniers’ 10 goals are ranked second on Seattle’s roster, and his 11 assists and 21 points are good for fifth and third, respectively.

• He enters tonight’s game having totaled 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his last eight games played, dating back to Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles. According to NHL Stats, it’s the first time a rookie has had at least 12 points over an eight-game span since Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in eight games from Dec. 4 to 18, 2018.

• Beniers scored the game-winning goal in the Kraken’s game on Dec. 1, a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals. It was the first overtime goal of his career and his second game-winning goal of the season (Last: Nov. 1 at Calgary).

o Beniers’ overtime goal came seven seconds into overtime, the fastest overtime goal in franchise history. According to NHL Stats, it was also the fastest goal by a rookie from the start of a regular-season overtime in NHL history. Walter Jackson (0:08 on March 7, 1933) held the previous record.

o Entering play Thursday, Beniers is one of two rookies (Fabian Zetterlund) to score an overtime goal this season and is one of three rookies (Pontus Holmberg, Shane Pinto) to score two game-winning goals this year.

• Entering play Thursday, Beniers was the only rookie this season to have two three-point games, doing so on Nov. 23 vs. San Jose and on Nov. 27 at Anaheim.

• Beniers is also averaging 17:14 of ice time per game this season, which is the second-most among rookie forwards (Noah Cates; 18:04) and ranks fourth among Kraken forwards.

• The 20-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 33 goals, 36 assists and 69 points. 34 goals would be the most by a rookie since Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews had 36 and 40 goals, respectively, during their rookie season in 2016-17.

EBS AND FLOW
• Jordan Eberle enters tonight’s game having recorded 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in his last 20 games played.

• His 22 points and 16 assists this season are both the second-most on Seattle’s roster, trailing Andre Burakovsky for the team lead.

• Among players from the 2008 NHL Draft class, Eberle ranked third in scoring this season entering play Thursday, trailing only San Jose’s Erik Karlsson (35 points) and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos (30 points).

o Eberle’s 617 career points also ranked third among 2008 draftees, again trailing Stamkos (1,002) and Karlsson (695).

o Eberle was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. He is one of 28 players from the ’08 class that are still playing in the NHL, a list that includes Kraken teammate Justin schultz.

• The 32-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 20 goals, 52 assists and 72 points. 52 assists would be the most of his career, surpassing his current career high of 42 that he set in 2011-12 while playing for the Oilers.

o It would mark the first time in his career that he would reach the 50-assist plateau.

o 72 points would be the second-most of his career, four points shy of his career-best 76 points that he had in 2011-12. It would mark just the second time in his career that he would have at least 70 points in a season.

• Eberle leads all Kraken skaters in career goals (268), assists (349), points (617) and games played (883).

ON THE DL
• This season defensemen Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson have played 409:16 together during five-on-five, starting every game of the season on a pair together.

• According to Natural Stat Trick, the Kraken have scored 25 five-on-five goals when Dunn and Larsson are on the ice together. Only New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler have been on the ice for more of their team’s five-on-five goals (27).

• The pair’s plus-11 goal differential at five-on-five is tied with Vegas’ Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore for the league lead among defensive pairs this season according to Natural Stat Trick.

• Additionally, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Dunn/Larsson pairing ranks eighth in the NHL with 18.7 expected goals.

• Dunn is pacing to finish the year with 13 goals, 39 assists and 52 points, all of which would surpass his current career bests (12 goals, 28 assists, 35 points).

YOU’RE A BURK
• Andre Burakovsky enters tonight’s game leading the Kraken with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) this season. It is the first time in his career that he has played a point-per-game pace through his first 25 games of the season.

• Burakovsky has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his last seven games played dating back to Nov. 23 vs. Winnipeg.

• According to NHL Stats, Burakovsky ranks third in scoring among veteran players who are in their first season with a new team. He trails Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk (35 points) and Los Angeles’ Kevin Fiala (30 points).

• The nine-year vet is currently on pace to finish the season with 30 goals, 55 assists and 85 points, all of which would set career highs for the forward.

• According to Natural Stat Trick, Burakovsky has a 54.5 percent Corsi rating this season, which ranks fourth among Kraken skaters that have played in at least two games.

SETTING THE PACE
• With 25 games played this year, the Kraken are roughly 30 percent of the way through their second season. Heading into tonight’s matchup with the Capitals, 10 of the 19 veteran skaters on the Kraken’s active roster are on pace to surpass their career highs in scoring.

• Will Borgen, Andre Burakovsky, Vince Dunn, Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong are all on pace to set new career highs in goals, assists and points.

o Borgen has already tied his career high with two goals this season.

• Karson Kuhlman (five), Jared McCann (43) and Jamie Oleksiak (15) are all on pace to finish the 2022-23 season with a new career high in goals.

o If the pace holds, it would mark the first time in his career that McCann would surpassed the 40-goal threshold.

• Oliver Bjorkstrand (33), Jordan Eberle (52), Justin Schultz (43), Carson Soucy (13) and Brandon Tanev (23) are all pacing to finish the year with new career highs in assists.

• Karson Kuhlman (11), Jared McCann (61), Jamie Oleksiak (26), Justin Schutlz (52) and Brandon Tanev (36) are all playing at a pace to surpass their career highs in points.

IT’S NOT OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER
• The Kraken have won four overtime games this season: Nov. 17 vs. NY Rangers, Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles, Nov. 29 at Los Angeles and Dec. 1 vs. Washington.

• Entering play Thursday, only the Winnipeg Jets (six) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (five) had won more overtime games this season.

o Last year the Kraken won only one overtime game – Jan. 27, 2022 at Pittsburgh (Larsson). The team was 1-5 in 3-on3 overtime last season.

• Four different players have scored in overtime for the Kraken this season: Matty Beniers, Andre Burakovsky, Jordan Eberle and Justin Schutlz. Entering play Thursday, only the Winnipeg Jets (five) have had more players score an overtime goal.

SECOND TIME AROUND
• The Kraken enter tonight’s game with an 15-7-3 record, which is good for a .660 points percentage and 33 points.

• The team won their 15th game of the season on Dec. 1 vs. Washington, their 23rd game played of the season. Last year, it took the Kraken 46 games and 113 days from the start of the season to reach 15 wins, earning their 15th win of the season on Feb. 2, 2022, a 3-0 win at the New York Islanders, the first shutout in franchise history.

• It also took the Kraken 46 games to reach 33 points last season. This year, the Kraken earned their 33rd point of the season in their 23rd game played, a 3-2 OT win against the Capitals on Dec.1.

• Thursday, Dec. 8 marked the 58th day of the 2022-23 NHL season, roughly 30 percent of the way through. Compared to the first 58 days of the 2021-22 regular season, the Kraken have won six more games, earned 13 more points and have improved their points percentage by 0.275.

o The Kraken’s 0.275 points percentage improvement from the first 58 days of the 2021-22 season to the first 58 days of the 2022-23 season ranks second the NHL, trailing only the New Jersey Devils (0.306).

o Their six extra wins are the sixth-best mark in the league. Only the New Jersey Devils (plus-11), New York Islanders (plus-11), Boston Bruins (plus-eight) and Montreal Canadiens (plus-seven) have a better year-over-year win improvement.

o The team’s 13 more points through the first 58 days of the 2022-23 season is tied with Montreal for the fourth-best points improvement, trailing the New Jersey Devils (18), Boston Bruins (15) and New York Islanders (15).

• The Kraken have been at or above a .500 points percentage the entire 2022-23 season. They did not achieve that mark past the first three games of the 2021-22 season.

• The team’s 15 wins this season have come against the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings (3), Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins (2), San Jose Sharks, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals. Eight of those 12 teams made the playoffs last season.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Washington 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1
December 7, 2022 * Wells Fargo Center * Philadelphia, PA
Shots: WSH: 27; PHI: 30
Power Plays: WSH: 1/4; PHI: 1/3
Three Stars: 1. Strome (WSH), 2. Lindgren (WSH), 3. Hayes (PHI)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Loaned forward Connor McMichael to AHL Hershey, 11/20

INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12-12/7 (28 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12-12/7 (28 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12-12/7 (28 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-12/7/22 (24 games)
Beck Malenstyn: 11/3/22-12/7/22 (17 games)
Dmitry Orlov: 11/7/22-12/7/22 (15 games)
T.J. Oshie: 10/31/22-11/19/22 (11 games)
John Carlson: 10/31/22-11/9/22 (6 games)
Man Games Lost: 157

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dec. 11, 7 p.m. ET at Winnipeg (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 13, 9 p.m. ET at Chicago (ESPN, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 15, 7 p.m. ET vs. Dallas (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 17, 7 p.m. ET vs. Toronto (NBCSW, NHLN, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
Dec. 19, 7 p.m. ET vs. Detroit (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)

TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals host the Seattle Kraken on Friday at Capital One Arena for the second of two meetings between the teams this season. The Capitals fell to the Kraken 3-2 in overtime on Dec. 1 at Climate Pledge Arena. Martin Fehervary and Conor Sheary scored in regulation for Washington, while Alex Ovechkin recorded two assists. Washington is 1-1-1 all-time and 1-0-0 at home versus Seattle. The Capitals enter Friday’s contest on a two-game winning streak.

HOME vs. SEATTLE KRAKEN
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
1-0-0 5 2 1 WSH win (3/5/22)

CAPITALS vs. KRAKEN ALL-TIME (CAREER TOTALS)
Games Goals Assists Points
Gustafsson (4) Sheary/Aube-Kubel (3) Ovechkin (4) Ovechkin (6)
Milano (4) Ovechkin/Wilson (2) Kuznetsov/Wilson/Brown (2) Sheary/Wilson (4)
Multiple Players (3) Fehervary/Orlov (1) Multiple Players (1) Aube-Kubel (3)

POINT STREAKS
Dylan Strome – 3 game point streak (1g, 3a), 3 game assist streak (3a)
Evgeny Kuznetsov – 3 game point streak (0g, 4a), 3 game assist streak (4a)
T.J. Oshie – 2 game point streak (2g), 2 game goal streak (2g)

TOP CAPS FACTS
Home Sweet Home

The Capitals return to Capital One Arena on Friday following a season-long six-game road trip. The Capitals went 3-2-1 on the trip, collecting seven out of a possible 12 points.
Washington has a record of 7-4-1 at home this season (.625 point percentage) and have won two-straight games at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals are allowing 2.83 goals against at home, which is the 11th-lowest rate in the NHL.
Washington’s 86.2 penalty kill percentage at home ranks fifth in the NHL, while their 28.2 power play percentage ranks 11th. 25 Years at Capital One Arena
Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the Capitals’ first game at Capital One Arena (originally called MCI Center). The Capitals defeated the Florida Panthers, 3-2, in overtime (Jeff Toms scored the game-winner 3:32 into the overtime period) in their inaugural game on Dec. 5, 1997.
The Capitals have a record of 539-283-34-90 (1,202 points, .636 point percentage) in 946 regular-season games at Capital One Arena. Washington has the fourth-most home wins, the third-most home points and the third-highest point percentage (excluding Vegas) in the NHL since Dec. 5, 1997.
The Capitals have scored 2,893 regular-season goals at Capital One Arena. Alex Ovechkin (422 in 716 GP), Nicklas Backstrom (155 in 594 GP) and Peter Bondra (130 in 263 GP) are the top-three goal scorers in the arena’s history. In addition, Washington has scored 231 goals in 92 playoff games at Capital One Arena.
Capitals players have scored 36 hat tricks during the regular season and three hat tricks in the playoffs at Capital One Arena. Alex Ovechkin (15), Peter Bondra (6) and Alexander Semin (5) have the most regular season hat tricks at Capital One Arena.
24 Capitals goaltenders have earned a win at Capital One Arena, with the winningest goaltenders being Olie Kolzig (179 in 364 GP), Braden Holtby (177 in 286 GP) and Michal Neuvirth (41 in 75 GP).
308 different players have played for the Capitals at Capital One Arena (281 skaters; 27 goaltenders).
A total of 17,400,952 fans have attended Capitals’ regular season and playoff games at Capital One Arena.
Information courtesy of NHL Stats

Approaching 800

Alex Ovechkin scored two empty net goals on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking the 50th and 51st empty net goals of his career. Only Wayne Gretzky (56) has more empty net goals in NHL history.
It marked the second game in Ovechkin’s career in which he scored two empty net goals (also Nov. 30, 2019 at Detroit).
Ovechkin is five goals shy of becoming the third player in NHL history to score 800 career goals and seven goals shy of passing Gordie Howe (801) for second on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
Ovechkin (currently at 159 GP) can require the fewest games between milestone goals No. 700 and No. 800 and become the first to make the jump in fewer than 200 contests (Wayne Gretzky: 231 GP from Jan. 3, 1991 to March 20, 1994; Gordie Howe: 256 GP from
Dec. 4, 1968 to Feb. 29, 1980).*
After reaching the 700-goal milestone on Feb. 22, 2020, against the Devils, the Capitals’ captain has found the back of the net 95 times since – an average of 0.60 goals-per-game over that span, a rate just shy of his overall career average (0.61 G/GP). Gretzky’s goals-per-game rate from No. 700 to No. 800 was 0.44, while Howe’s was 0.39.*
Ovechkin ranks first in NHL history in power play goals (291) and overtime goals (25), second in game-winning goals (124) and multigoal games (161), and fourth in even strength goals (499).
Ovechkin is one game-opening goal shy of passing Jaromir Jagr (135) for the most in NHL history.
Ovechkin has recorded 27 points (15g, 12a) in 28 games this season, which leads the Capitals. Ovechkin has recorded 13 points (7g, 6a) in his last 10 games, which includes six multi-point efforts during that span.
Ovechkin is on pace to score 43 goals this season. Should Ovechkin reach the 40-goal mark, it would mark his 13th career 40-goal season, passing Gretzky (12) for the most in NHL history.
*Information from NHL Stats’ “The Road to 800” stats pack

Clutch Carly

John Carlson recorded two assists on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking his fifth multi-point game of the season and the 139th of his career. Carlson is tied with Victor Hedman for the fourth-most multi-point games among active defensemen (Brent Burns: 175; Erik Karlsson: 168; Kris Letang: 151).
Carlson recorded both of his assists in the third period, including the primary assist on Dylan Strome’s game-winning goal. Carlson’s three game-winning assists this season rank tied for first on the Capitals (Erik Gustafsson, Alex Ovechkin, Strome: 3).
Carlson has scored six of his eight goals this season in the third period. In addition, Carlson has recorded four of his eight assists in
the third period.
Seven of Carlson’s eight goals have come when the Capitals have trailed, with two being game-tying goals in games the Capitals won (Oct. 17 vs. VAN; Oct. 22 vs. LAK).
Carlson’s eight goals this season rank tied for third among NHL defensemen.
Carlson has recorded nine points (6g, 3a) in his last 11 games.

Kuz Control

Evgeny Kuznetsov recorded two assists on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking his 359th and 360th career assists.
With his two-assist performance, Kuznetsov passed Bengt Gustafsson (359) for the eighth-most assists in franchise history.
Kuznetsov now sits two assists shy of passing Calle Johansson (361) for the seventh-most assists in franchise history.
Among Washington’s top-10 assists leaders all-time, Kuznetsov’s 0.58 assists per game rate ranks second, trailing only Nicklas Backstrom (0.71 A/GP).
Since entering the NHL during the 2013-14 season, Kuznetsov has recorded 1.52 assists per 60 minutes at five-on-five. That’s the fifth-highest rate in the NHL during that span (Connor McDavid: 1.77; Artemi Panarin: 1.68; Ryan Getzlaf: 1.54; Johnny Gaudreau: 1.54).

Special Teams

The Capitals have killed off 56 of 67 power plays (83.6 percent) over their last 23 games, dating back to Oct. 22. During that span, Washington’s 83.6 penalty kill percentage ranks third in the NHL.
Through games played Dec. 7, the Capitals’ 80.3 penalty kill percentage ranks ninth in the NHL.
Washington has drawn 125 penalties this season – the third most in the NHL – and their +21 net penalty differential ranks tied for first in the NHL.
The Capitals have had 99 power play opportunities this season, which is tied for the third most in the NHL.
Washington has scored a power play goal in seven of their last eight games, dating back to Nov. 23 (seven goals on 25 opportunities = 28.0%).
The Capitals have scored a power play goal in four-straight games, marking their longest stretch of consecutive games with at least one power play goal this season.

Chuck Stops Here

Charlie Lindgren stopped 29 of 30 shots faced on Wednesday at Philadelphia, including all 21 shots faced at five-on-five.
Over his last two starts, Lindgren is 2-0-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage.
The Capitals have earned at least one point in six of the eight games Lindgren has started this season (4-2-2).
In 39 career games, Lindgren has a record of 19-15-4 with a 2.82 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage with two shutouts.

Strome Cookin’

Dylan Strome recorded two points (1g, 1a) assist on Wednesday at Philadelphia, including the game-winning goal in the third period.
It marked his sixth multi-point game of the season. Strome’s six multi-point games are the second most on the team, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (8).
Strome has recorded 22 points (6g, 16a) in 28 games this season. Strome ranks first on the Capitals in primary assists (11) and second in assists, points and power-play points (2g-9a—11p).

At The Dot

The Capitals won 30 of 56 faceoffs (53.6%) on Wednesday at Philadelphia, marking the fourth-straight game in which Washington has won the majority of the faceoffs.
Since Nov. 1, the Capitals have won 52.4 percent of their faceoffs, which is tied for the eighth-highest win percentage in the NHL during that span.
Lars Eller has won 56.9 percent of his faceoffs since Nov. 1, which ranks tied for 10th in the NHL during that span (min. 200 faceoffs taken).
Since Nov. 1, all four of the Capitals’ centers have a faceoff win percentage above 50 percent (Dylan Strome: 53.2 percent; Evgeny Kuznetsov: 52.1 percent; Nic Dowd: 51.5 percent).

Did You Know?

The Capitals are 12-1-1 when scoring three or more goals this season.
The Capitals have a record of 6-1-2 against Pacific Division opponents this season.
Washington’s 737 hits this season are the sixth most in the NHL, through games played Dec. 7.
The Capitals rank seventh in the NHL in blocked shots (423), through games played Dec. 7.
Nic Dowd leads the Capitals and ranks tied for seventh in the NHL with 14 drawn penalties this season.

NHL Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-4) at Buffalo Sabres (12-13-1)

Hockey
NHL

NHL Editor

December 9, 2022

NHL Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-4) at Buffalo Sabres (12-13-1)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS NOTES:

LAST 2 GAMES
Dec. 6: Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 1 – PPG Paints Arena
PIT Goals: Crosby (2), Rust, Blueger (EN)
Multiple Points: Rust (1G-1A), Crosby (2G), Guentzel (2A)
Goalie: Jarry (38 saves/39 shots)
Key Stats: Sidney Crosby’s two-goal effort helped the Penguins extend their win streak to three games.
PP: 1-5
PK: 5-5

Dec. 3: Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 2 – PPG Paints Arena
PIT Goals: Kapanen (3), Rust, Zucker, Crosby (EN)
Multiple Points: Rust (1G-3A), Kapanen (3G), Malkin (3A),
Zucker (1G-2A)
Goalie: Jarry (26 saves/28 shots)
Key Stats: Kasperi Kapanen recorded his second career hat trick (3G) as Pittsburgh picked up points for the eighth time in the last nine games (7-1-1).
PP: 2-4
PK: 2-2

INJURIES
Position Player Status Consecutive Games Missed Total Games Missed
D Kris Letang Stroke 4 5
F Ryan Poehling Upper-Body 1 1
2022-23 Total Regular-Season Man-Games Lost: 35

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Date Transaction
Nov. 15 F Teddy Blueger activated off of LTIR. F Filip Hallander re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Nov. 13 D Mark Friedman re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Nov. 11 D Mark Friedman recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). F Sam Poulin re-assigned to WBS.
Nov. 7 F Filip Hallander recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Nov. 6 F Drew O’Connor re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).

Pittsburgh’s All-Time Record vs. Sabres: 98-67-41
In Pittsburgh: 58-26-20
In Buffalo: 40-41-21
OT Record vs. Buffalo: 11-8-16
Shootout Record vs. Sabres: 4-2
2022-23 Results: Pittsburgh is 0-1-0.

Penguins All-Time Point Leaders vs. SABRES:
Sidney Crosby: 54 GP, 77 PTS (25G-52A)
Jaromir Jagr: 47 GP, 70 PTS (31G-29A)
Mario Lemieux: 40 GP, 70 PTS (29G-41A)

TONIGHT’S GAME

The Penguins take on the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center for their second meeting of the 2022-23 season and the first of back-to-back games against Buffalo (TV: AT&T SportsNet; Radio: 105.9 The X).
In the last 11 games at Buffalo, Pittsburgh has gone 7-2-2, outscoring them 38-24 with a power-play conversion rate of 46.4% (13/28).
The Penguins have points in 16 of their last 18 visits to Buffalo (13-2-3) dating back to Mar. 30, 2012.
Pittsburgh enters tonight’s game with points in seven-straight road games (6-0-1).

QUICK HITS
1) Sidney Crosby (35) is one of just three players along with Erik Karlsson (32) and Artemi Panarin (31) to rank in the top-15 in scoring in the NHL over the age of 30.

2) Winger Rickard Rakell has 10 points (4G-6A) in 15 career games versus the Sabres, which includes points in four of his last six visits there (2G-3A).

3) Last game, Jeff Petry logged his highest time-on-ice total of the year (27:00). It marked his highest single-game total since May 3, 2021 against Toronto (27:11). Petry has been plus or even in 10 of his last 11 games.

4) Rickard Rakell recorded his 200th NHL assist on Tuesday against Columbus. In doing so, he became the 15th member of his draft class to accumulate 200 or more assists.

5) Bryan Rust has six points (2G-4A) over his last two games. In that span, no Penguin has more points, and his six points are tied for sixth in the NHL.

TEAM NOTES
CLIMBING THE LADDER
Pittsburgh enters tonight’s game with a three-game winning streak, which is tied for the longest active win streak in the NHL with Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Nashville. The Penguins have also won each of their last four road games, which trails only New Jersey (11), Seattle (6) and Vancouver (5) for the longest active road winning streak in the league. Dating back to November 9, Pittsburgh has points in 12 of its last 14 games overall (10-2-2). Since this 14-game stretch began, only New Jersey (23) and Toronto (23) have picked up more points than the Penguins (22) and during this span, they have vaulted from 27th in the league standings to 10th (tied).

BEST IN THE BUSINESS
Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby has been nothing short of dominant all season, as he enters tonight’s game tied for eighth in the NHL with 35 points (15G-20A) in 26 games. Of his 35 points, 29 of them have come at even strength (13G-16A) which is first in the NHL, and he ranks in the top-20 in almost every major offensive category:

Crosby is one of just three players in the NHL with at least 15 goals and 20 assists along with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
He enters tonight’s game riding a six-game (5G-3A) point streak, and has points in 10 of his last 11 games (9G-10A). Only Mitch Marner (21), Kirill Kaprizov (13), Steven Stamkos (12), Connor McDavid (7), Michael Bunting (7) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (7) have longer active point streaks than Crosby.

OFFENSIVE THREAT
Through the first 26 games, Pittsburgh has been one of the most dangerous teams in the league offensively. The
Penguins’ 92 goals for are 10th-most in the NHL, but their 3.54 goals-per-game average is eighth best.

JAKE N’ BAKE
Jake Guentzel enters tonight’s game riding a five-game assist/point streak (2G-6A). It marks the first time in his career he’s picked up assists in five-consecutive games, and is currently tied for the second-longest active assist streak in the NHL.

BRICK WALL
Tristan Jarry enters tonight’s game having picked up points in each of his last nine games (7-0-2). Jarry has been one of the hottest goalies in the NHL since Nov. 17. In nine career starts against Buffalo, Jarry is 7-2-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and one shutout. In Buffalo, he is 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average, a .954 save percentage and his lone shutout versus them came at KeyBank Center on Dec. 1, 2017.

BUFFALO SABRES NOTES:

LAST GAME
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Buffalo 9 at Columbus 4
Goals: Thompson (5), Cozens, Dahlin, Krebs, Tuch
Goalie: Luukkonen (20 saves/24 shots)
PP: 3/5; PK: 2/2; Shots: Buffalo 30 – Columbus 24

CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 62)
Player (injury, first game missed) – total games missed
Eric Comrie (Lower body, Nov. 19; IR) – 9 games
Ilya Lyubushkin (Lower body, Nov. 30; IR) – 4 games
Vinnie Hinostroza (Undisclosed) – 2 games

TRANSACTIONS IN PAST SEVEN DAYS
12/4: Activated D Jacob Bryson off IR; Placed D Ilya Lyubushkin on IR

UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday, Dec. 10: Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Los Angeles at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 15: Buffalo at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 17: Buffalo at Arizona, 9 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 19: Buffalo at Vegas, 10 p.m.

TONIGHT’S GAME
PENGUINS at SABRES
• This is the second of three meetings between the Sabres and the Penguins this season.
• Last meeting: Buffalo defeated Pittsburgh 6-3 in Buffalo on Nov. 2, 2022.
• Next meeting: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 in Pittsburgh.
• The Sabres are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games against the Penguins; 4-6-0 at home.
• This is the 207th game all-time between Buffalo and Pittsburgh; Buffalo has a 73-89-44 series record.
• The Sabres are 45-35-22 at home against the Penguins all-time.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Five Sabres skaters (Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Quinn, Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson) have recorded at least one point in each of the team’s last five games.
• Tage Thompson has notched 37 points (20+17) in his last 19 games.
• In his current five-game point streak, Thompson owns 14 points (8+6).
• Thompson is also riding a five-game assist streak, the longest of his career.
• Thompson has tallied seven goals in his last three games, including at least one in each of the last three.
• Dylan Cozens has tallied 19 points (6+13) in his last 13 games and is riding a five-game point streak, the longest of his career.
• Cozens recorded 12 points (5+7) during his point streak.
• Jeff Skinner has tallied 19 points (9+10) in his last 11 games, including 17 (7+10) in his last eight.
• Skinner has recorded more multi-point games (9) than single-point games (7) in 2022-23.
• Skinner has recorded multiple points in three consecutive games and a multi-point performance in tonight’s game would give him the longest streak of multi-point games in his career.
• Rasmus Dahlin is riding a five-game point and assist streak and has recorded 15 points (2+13) in his last 11 games.
• With a point in tonight’s game, Dahlin would match the longest point streak of his career.
• An assist in tonight’s game would give Dahlin the longest assist streak of his career.
• Jack Quinn owns 10 points (5+5) in his last nine games, including six points (3+3) during his current five-game point streak.
• Alex Tuch is riding a three-game point streak and has recorded six points (3+3) in that span, including at least one goal in each game.
• With a goal in tonight’s game, Tuch would match the longest goal streak of his career.

MR. MADISON, THERE’S NO PENGUIN
• The Sabres have recorded at least one point in each of their last four meetings with Pittsburgh.
• Kyle Okposo has recorded at least one point in four straight games against the Penguins.
• Tage Thompson has notched multiple points in each of his last two games against Pittsburgh.
• Rasmus Dahlin owns four points (1+3) in his last four games against the Penguins.
• A point in tonight’s game would give Alex Tuch a three-game point streak against Pittsburgh.

STAGE FRIGHT
• Tage Thompson is one of nine skaters in NHL history who have recorded multiple games of three or more goals and six or more points in a single season.
o Thompson is the second skater in Sabres history to record multiple six-point games in a single season (Pat LaFontaine, 1991-92). He is the only Sabres skater to accomplish the feat within the team’s first 26 games.
• Through Buffalo’s first 26 games, Thompson is on pace for 126 points and would become just the third Sabres skater to record 126 or more points in a single season (Pat LaFontaine, 148 points in 1992-93; Alexander Mogilny, 127 points in 1992-93)
• Thompson is also on pace to score 66 goals in 2022-23, which would make him the second skater in franchise history to score 66 or more goals in a single season.
 Alexander Mogilny’s 76 goals in 1992-93 is the only other instance of a Sabres skater recording 66 or more goals in a single season. No other Sabres skater has ever scored 60 or more goals in a single season.
• Entering play on Thursday and dating back to Oct. 29, Thompson was tied for first in the NHL in goals (20), points (37) and points per game (1.95).
• Thompson leads all Sabres skaters in goals (21), points (40), even-strength goals (11), even-strength points (23), points per game (1.54), shots (121) and power-play goals (9).
• Thompson ranks first among all Sabres forwards in time on ice per game (18:31) and is tied for first among all Sabres skaters in time on ice per shift (0:49).
• According to Natural Stat Trick, Thompson leads all Sabres skaters with 55 individual high-danger scoring chances and he leads the team with 44 individual high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5.
• Entering play on Thursday, Thompson ranked third among all NHL skaters with 121 shots on goal and was one of four NHL players who had recorded 120 or more shots in 2022-23.
• Thompson owned the highest shooting percentage (17.4) among the four skaters who had recorded 120 or more shots on goal.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
• Five Sabres skaters (Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin, Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch) are currently scoring at a point per game pace or better through the team’s first 26 games.
o The Sabres have never had a season in which five or more players have recorded at least one point per game played (Min. 25 games played).
• The Sabres have converted on 29.0 percent of their power-play opportunities through their first 26 games of 2022-23.
• The current franchise record for power-play percentage in a single season is 24.5 percent, set in 2016-17.
• An NHL team has only recorded a power-play percentage of 29.0 percent or higher in a single season seven other times in NHL history.
• Buffalo currently owns a 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage of 52.6 percent, the highest mark by a Sabres team in a single season since the league began tracking the stat in 2009-10.
• Buffalo’s 4.00 goals scored per game is the highest by a Sabres team since the 1980-81 Sabres recorded 4.09 goals per game.

LINE RIDER
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the line of Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch owns a corsi for percentage of 63.36 and an expected goals for percentage of 58.20.
• When on the ice together, Skinner, Thompson and Tuch have recorded 37 goals and allowed just 13.
• The trio has recorded a combined 46 goals on the season, 44.23 percent of all goals scored by Buffalo skaters in 2022-23.
• Skinner (nine multi-point games), Thompson (10 multi-point games) and Tuch (six multi-point games) have all recorded multiple points in at least six games in 2022-23.
• There have been 19 instances of a Sabres skater tallying three or more points in a single game in 2022-23 and 12 of the 19 were recorded by Skinner, Thompson or Tuch.
• Skinner (two times), Thompson (three times) and Tuch (one time) are the only Sabres skaters who have recorded four or more points in a single game in 2022-23.
• Skinner (31 points, 12+19), Thompson (40 points, 21+19) and Tuch (28 points, 13+15) all rank in the top three in points among Sabres forwards.
• In Buffalo’s last five games, the trio has recorded 31 combined points (14+17).

THE KIDS TABLE
• Cozens (21), Peterka (20) and Quinn (21) are all 21 years of age or younger.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the line combination consisting of Dylan Cozens, JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn has produced 35 high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 when playing together for the Sabres in 2022-23.
• All but three of the high-danger scoring chances they have created as a line have come at 5-on-5.
• Cozens and Quinn are both one of eight NHL skaters aged 21 or younger who have recorded a point streak of five or more games in 2022-23.
• At 5-on-5, the line’s expected goals for percentage is 62.21 and their corsi for percentage is 55.19.
• The line’s collective 5-on-5 corsi for percentage and 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage are higher than each individual member’s percentages without the other two.
• Entering play on Thursday, Cozens was tied for second in points (27) among NHL skaters aged 21 or younger.
• Cozens is one of 19 NHL skaters aged 21 or younger, and the first since Erik Karlsson (Jan. 20 to Feb. 25, 2012), who has recorded three or more points in three consecutive games at least one time.
• Three points in tonight’s game would make Cozens one of four skaters aged 21 or younger to record three or more points in four consecutive games.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Buffalo is 8-1-0 in games in which Rasmus Dahlin records multiple points in 2022-23.
• Dahlin is on pace for 104 points this season, which would shatter Phil Housley’s single-season franchise points record by a Sabres defenseman (81).
• Dahlin would be the first NHL defensemen since Paul Coffey (113 points) in 1988-89 to record 104 or more points in a single season.
• Dahlin is on pace for 29 goals and would become the first defenseman in NHL history to record 104 or more points in a single season without scoring 30 goals.
• Entering play on Thursday, among NHL defensemen, Dahlin ranked first in points per game (1.28), second in goals (9), second in points (32), first in power-play points (17), tied for first in power-play goals (4), and fourth in time on ice per game (25:41).
• Through his first 25 games, Dahlin has only failed to record a point on four occasions (Oct. 27 vs. Montreal, Nov. 12 vs. Boston, Nov. 23 vs. St. Louis and Nov. 25 vs. New Jersey).
• Dahlin (642:11) and Owen Power (613:49) are the only Sabres skaters who have logged more than 600 or more minutes of ice time through the team’s first 26 games.
• Entering play on Thursday, only five skaters in the NHL had skated more minutes than Dahlin in 2022-23.

UNLIMITED POWER
• Entering play on Thursday, Owen Power and Jake Sanderson were the only defensemen aged 20 or younger who had notched 10 or more points this season.
• Entering play on Thursday, Owen Power ranked tied for third among rookie defensemen in points (10) and was tied for second in even-strength points (7).
• Entering play on Thursday, Power led all rookie skaters in time on ice per game (23:37), with the next closest rookie at 20:55 (Sanderson).
• Power’s time on ice per game trails just Tyler Myers (23:44) in 2009-10 for the most by a Sabres rookie in a single season.
• Power leads all Sabres skaters in even-strength time on ice per game (20:44). No Sabres rookie has ever averaged more than 20 minutes of even-strength time on ice per game.

AMERKS UPDATE
• The Rochester Americans host the Utica Comets tonight at 7:05 and are looking to get back in the win column after dropping their last two contests.
• The Amerks are currently second in the North division, trailing first-place Toronto by three points.
• Brett Murray leads the Amerks with nine goals in 21 games this season. He has nine points (4+5) in the last eight games.

SABRES AMONG LEAGUE-LEADERS (Sabres’ league rankings before 12/8 games)
• Buffalo Sabres: 104 GF (1st), 4.00 GF/GP (1st), 29.0 PP% (3rd), 32.5 S/GP (9th)
• Rasmus Asplund: 1 SHG (T-8th)
• Dylan Cozens: 1 SHG (T-8th), 2 SHP (T-5th)
• Rasmus Dahlin: 23 A (T-9th), 25:41 TOI/GP (4th), 17 PPP (4th)
• Casey Mittelstadt: 1 SHG (T-8th)
• Victor Olofsson: 1 OTG (T-8th)
• Tage Thompson: 21 G (3rd), 40 P (4th), 1.54 P/GP (5th), 11 EVG (T-9th), 23 EVP (T-5th), 9 PPG (T-3rd), 16 PPP (T-5th), 1 SHG (T-8th), 121 S (3rd)
• Alex Tuch: 4 GWG (T-2nd)

SABRES REAL-TIME STATS LEADERS
Shots: Thompson (121), Skinner (82), Dahlin (81)
Hits: Dahlin (40), Lyubushkin (36), Samuelsson (25)
Blocked Shots: Dahlin (43), Bryson (37), Power (31)

SABRES’ RECORD IN 10 GAME SEGMENTS [W-L-OTL (PTS), GF/GA, PP, PK]
1-10: 7-3-0 (14), 43/28, 9/38, 25/32
11-20: 2-8-0 (4), 32/42, 12/42, 23/34
21-30: 3-2-1 (7), 29/26, 8/20, 15/21

OVERTIME RESULTS (1-1; 131-147 all-time)
Oct. 29 vs. CHI: W, 4-3 (GWG-Olofsson)
Nov. 28 vs. TBL: L, 6-5 (GWG-Stamkos)

SHOOTOUT RESULTS (1-0; 85-77 all-time)
Nov. 30 at DET: W, 5-4 (GWG-Quinn)

NHL Preview: New York Islanders (16-11-0) at New Jersey Devils (21-4-1)

Hockey
NHL

NHL Editor

December 9, 2022

NHL Preview: New York Islanders (16-11-0) at New Jersey Devils (21-4-1)

NEW YORK ISLANDERS NOTES:

LAST GAME
DATE NYI RESULT SCORE NYI SCORERS IN GOAL
Tues., Dec. 6, 2022 Loss STL 7 at NYI 4 Dobson, Parise,
Fasching, Pageau
Sorokin (21/26)
Noah Dobson and Zach Parise each recorded a goal and assist, and Hudson Fasching scored his second career NHL goal, but the New York Islanders fell to the St. Louis Blues, 7-4, Tuesday night at UBS Arena. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his seventh goal of the season, one of the Islanders’ three third-period goals, and the Islanders recorded 40 shots on goal in the loss.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight, the New York Islanders visit the New Jersey Devils in the second of three matchups between the two clubs this season. These teams last met on October 20 at UBS Arena. Tonight’s game is the Islanders’ first visit to Prudential Center since April 3 of last season, when Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored a hat trick in a 4-3 Islander win. The Islanders enter tonight’s contest with a 6-2-0 record against Metropolitan Division opponents this season, and have a 9-4-0 record on the road against the Devils since the 2020-21 season.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 4 Robin Salo has been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL).
Dec. 3 Cole Bardreau has been assigned to Bridgeport (AHL).
Dec. 1 Kyle Palmieri is being placed on IR (retroactive to 11/21/22), Cal Clutterbuck is day-to-day with an upper body injury, Cole Bardreau and Hudson Fasching have been recalled from loan (Bridgeport).
Nov. 29 Josh Bailey is day to day with an upper body injury.
Nov. 28 Robin Salo has been recalled from loan (Bridgeport).
Nov. 27 Robin Salo has been loaned to Bridgeport.

INJURIES GAMES MISSED

12 Josh Bailey Nov. 29 at PHI

15 Cal Clutterbuck Oct. 13 vs. FLA , Nov. 8 at NYR, Dec. 2 vs. NSH –

21 Kyle Palmieri Nov. 23 vs. EDM –

25 Sebastian Aho Oct. 13 vs. FLA – Oct. 20 vs. NJD

26 Oliver Wahlstrom Oct. 13 vs. FLA

Man Games Lost: 18

RECENT RESULTS
Tuesday, Dec. 6 vs. St. Louis L (7-4)
Sunday, Dec. 4 vs. Chicago W (3-0)
Friday, Dec. 2 vs. Nashville L (4-1)
Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Philadelphia L (3-1)

SEASON SERIES
DATE LOCATION TV RESULT
Oct. 20, 2022 UBS Arena (Belmont Park, NY) MSG L (4-1)
Dec. 9, 2022 Prudential Center (Newark, NY) MSG
Mar. 27, 2022 UBS Arena (Belmont Park, NY) MSG

UPCOMING GAMES
Dec. 10 vs. Carolina UBS Arena (Belmont Park, NY) 7:30pm
Dec. 13 at Boston TD Garden (Boston, MA) 7:00pm
Dec. 16 at Arizona Mullett Arena (Tempe, AZ) 9:30pm
Dec. 17 at Vegas T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV) 10:00pm
Dec. 19 at Colorado Ball Arena (Denver, CO) 9:00pm

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VS. NEW JERSEY
Oct. 20, 2022 UBS Arena (Belmont Park, NY) Loss (4-1)
Apr. 3, 2022 Prudential Center (Newark, NJ) Win (4-3)
Jan. 13, 2022 UBS Arena (Belmont Park, NY) Win (3-2)
Dec. 11, 2021 UBS Arena (Belmont Park, NY) Win (4-2)
Nov. 11, 2021 Prudential Center (Newark, NJ) Loss (4-0)

vs. THE DEVILS:
2022-23 0-1-0
Last 5 meetings 3-2-0
Franchise History 145-87-22-8
NYI Home 83-36-11-3
NYI Away 62-51-11-5

VISITING THE DEVILS
Since the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign, the Islanders have a 9-4-0 record on the road against the Devils. Last season, the Islanders had a 1-1-0 record in Prudential Center and a 3-1-0 record against New Jersey in their four-game season series. Tonight’s matchup is the Islanders’ lone road game against the Devils this season, and the Islanders enter the matchup with a 3-2-0 record against New Jersey in their last five meetings. The last time the Islanders played at Prudential Center was April 3, 2022, a 4-3 Islander victory.

SOGs
Tuesday night, the Islanders recorded 40 shots on goal vs. St. Louis. It is the third straight game in which the Islanders have recorded at least 40 shots on goal. It is only the second time in club history the Islanders have registered three straight 40-SOG games, and the first time since February 2015. They also recorded exactly 40 shots on goal in their 3-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Friday night vs. Nashville, the Islanders tallied a season-high 49 shots on goal in the 4-1 loss. It is the most they have recorded in a single game since March 11, 2020, in Vancouver, and the most in regulation since October 25, 2008. Tuesday night vs. St. Louis, Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson led the Islanders with five shots on goal. Dobson leads the Islanders and is fifth amongst NHL defensemen in shots on goal, with 85.

SIX GAME STREAK
Islanders forward Brock Nelson recorded an assist on Tuesday night vs. the Blues, extending his point streak to six games. It is the second-longest by any Islander this season (Barzal, 7) and matches his season-high from the 2021-22 campaign. He is the second Islander this season to record a point streak of at least five games. Nelson leads the Islanders in goals, as he found the back of the net for the 12th time this season on Sunday night against Chicago. Four of Nelson’s 12 goals this season have been game-winners, leading the team. The Islanders are 10-0-0 when Nelson finds the back of the net so far this season.

ASSISTS LEADER
Mathew Barzal recorded his 25th assist of the season on Tuesday night against St. Louis, extending his team-lead. Barzal also leads the Islanders in points (28) through 27 games. Barzal’s 25 assists are tied with Quinn Hughes for sixth-most in the league and are second amongst Metropolitan Division skaters (Panarin, 27). The last time the Islanders and Devils met, the Coquitlam, BC native recorded an assist on the lone Islander goal scored. Barzal has tallied 18 career points against the Devils, including 13 assists. His 13 assists against New Jersey second-most amongst active Islanders. Barzal enters tonight’s game having been held off the scoresheet just twice in his last 12 games.

VARLAMOV
Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov tallied his sixth win of the season on Sunday and his 12th shutout as an Islander when he turned away all 21 shots he faced vs. Chicago. It was his first shutout since April 1 (at NY Rangers) and the 37th of his NHL career. Varlamov’s 37 career shutouts are tied with Sergei Bobrovsky for tenth-most amongst active NHL netminders. The 21-save showing earned the Islanders their third shutout of the 2022-23 campaign, becoming just the third NHL club to record three shutouts so far this season (Detroit, Winnipeg).

417
Islanders forward Zach Parise has found the back of the net in each of his last two games, and four times in his last five. Parise is second on the Islanders in goals, and tallied his ninth of the season (third PPG of the year) on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. It was his 417th career goal, and he passes Tony Amonte for tenth-most amongst American-born skaters in NHL history. Parise was drafted by the New Jersey Devils (first round, 17th overall) in 2003. The Minneapolis, MN native played 502 games for the Devils, recording 410 points (194g, 216a).

44

The last time the Islanders visited the Devils (April 3), islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored three goals and added an assist in his second career four-point game. Each of Pageau’s two career hat tricks have been scored against the Devils. He has recorded 19 career points against New Jersey, and is third amongst active Islanders in goals (8) and assists (11) against them. Pageau has scored as many points against just two other teams: the New York Rangers (19) and the Buffalo Sabres (20). Pageau has recorded seven goals through 27 games so far this season. Four of them have been scored on the power play, leading the team in PPGs. Pageau found the back of the net for the seventh time this season in the Islanders’ last matchup on Tuesday, against St. Louis.

FIRST AS AN ISLANDER
Hudson Fasching made his Islanders debut on December 4 vs. Chicago. In his second game as an Islander on Tuesday vs. St. Louis, Fasching scored his second career NHL goal in his 40th career NHL game. It was the Milwaukee, WI native’s first goal since he scored in his NHL debut on March 26, 2016 vs. Winnipeg (as a member of the Buffalo Sabres).

QUICK GOALS
The Islanders have scored two goals in under a minute five times this season, and three times in their last five games. Tuesday night vs. St. Louis, Hudson Fasching and Jean-Gabriel Pageau found the back of the net in the third period 21 seconds apart.

AGAINST THE METRO
The Islanders began their division play this season with a 4-1 loss to New Jersey on October 20. Since then, the Islanders have a 6-2-0 record in the Metropolitan Division. They collected six straight Metropolitan Division victories after October 20. The Islanders have an 8-2-0 record in their last ten matchups against Eastern Conference teams.

8

Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson leads blueliners in points, with 18 (eight goals, ten assists) and goals (8) through 27 games. Dobson’s eight goals are tied with John Carlson (WSH) for third-most by an NHL defenseman this season, behing Rasmus Dahlin (9) and Erik Karlsson (11). Dobson scored his eighth goal of the season and added an assist on Tuesday night vs. St. Louis, his fifth multi-point game of the season.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Chicago Blackhawks 0 New Jersey Devils 3
(7-14-4—18 PTS) (21-4-1—43 PTS)
Three Stars: 1. V. Vanecek 2. D. Hamilton 3. J. Hughes

Goals:
CHI: SHUTOUT
SCORE 1
ST 2
ND 3
RD OT SO FINAL
Chciago 0 0 0 – – 0
DEVILS 1 2 0 – – 3
New Jersey Devils: Media Notes
NJD: D. Hamilton, N. Hischier, J. Bratt (PPG)
Game Summary | Event Summary

INJURIES/ILLNESS
PLAYER INJURY OUT SINCE GAMES MISSED
Jonathan Bernier – LTIR Lower-body, hip 2021-22 26
Ondrej Palat I.R. Lower-body Retro-active to Oct. 24 20
Mackenzie Blackwood Lower-Body, MCL sprain Nov. 3 15
Nate Bastian Upper-Body Nov. 27 4
2022-23 Total Man-Games Lost to Injury/illness: 70

DATE PLAYER ACTION
11/5 Andreas Johnsson Reassigned to Utica
Akira Schmid Recalled from Utica
11/12 Nico Daws Recalled from Utica
Mackenzie Blackwood Placed on I.R. retro to Nov. 3
11/13 Nico Daws Reassigned to Utica
11/22 Kevin Bahl Reassigned to Utica
Alexander Holtz Reassigned to Utica
11/23 Tyler Wotherspoon Recalled from Utica
11/27 Tyler Wotherspoon Reassigned to Utica
11/28 Kevin Bahl Recalled from Utica
Nico Daws Recalled from Utica
Alexander Holtz Recalled Utica
12/1 Nico Daws Reassigned to Utica
12/2 Andreas Johnsson Recalled from Utica

Jersey’s team enters Friday night’s contest riding a six-game point streak (5-0-1). The team is fresh off earning its second shutout for the season, after a 3-0 win over Chicago on Tuesday at Prudential Center. The win also marked their 10th win at home this season, while the team earned 16 home wins all of last season. The Devils improved to 10-0-1 vs Western Conference opponents this season. The Devils improved to 17-0-1 when leading after two periods this season, and 14-3-0 when scoring first this season. The team’s 17 wins when leading after two periods of play this season ranks first in the NHL (BOS 14, 2nd ). Jersey’s team is now 16-4-1 when outshooting an opponent in a contest this season, which also ranks first in the NHL (BOS 14, 2nd). New Jersey is 19-1-1 when scoring three-or-more goals in a game this season. Per NHL Pr, the Devils are the third team in NHL history that earned 10+ home and road wins through a team’s first 26 games of a season:

Boston: 1929-30
Chicago: 2012-13
The Devils enter tonight’s contest with a with a +16 goal differential at home (47-31).
The Devils produced franchise history on Saturday, after earning their 11th consecutive road win, which marked the longest in franchise history.
The previous record was a 10 game winning streak on the road (Feb. 27, 2001, to Apr. 7).
The Devils are set to wear their Reverse Retro sweaters for the first time at home this season, after the team debuted the jerseys in Philadelphia in a 3-2 win on Saturday.

The most wins earned by teams in NHL history after 26 games played (modern era):
SJS: 22 wins, 2008-09
OTT: 21 wins, 2005-06
CHI: 21 wins, 2012-13
DET: 21 wins, 2001-02
NJD: 21 wins, PRESENT
BOS: 21 wins, Present
BUF: 20 wins, 2006-07 (coached by L. Ruff)
EDM: 20 wins, 1984-85
DAL: 20 wins, 2015-16
ANA: 20 wins, 2012-13

The Devils are 11-4-0 vs the Eastern Conference and 5-2-0 vs the Metropolitan Division. The Devils 57 goals against are tied for the fourth fewest allowed in franchise history after the team’s 26 games played top open a season. Jersey’s team allowed a franchise best 40 goals against after 26 games played in 2003-04. The Devils set an NHL record for the most wins in the month of November with 13 (13-1-0). Keep in mind the Devils won 13 games in a single month one other time via March 2001 (13-2-0). “Only four teams in NHL history have recorded more wins in a single calendar month: Colorado (15 in Jan. 2022), Boston (15 in March 2014), Pittsburgh (15 in March 2013) and Columbus (14 in Dec. 2016),” per NHL Pr. There are eight other instances when an NHL team earned 12 wins for the month of November:

TEAM RECORD SEASON
Toronto 12-2-0 2021-22
Chicago 12-2-0 2013-14
Boston 12-0-0 2011-12
Vancouver 12-1-0 2002-03
Philadelphia 12-2-0 1985-86
NY Islanders 12-1-2 1980-81
Montreal 12-2-1 1975-76
Buffalo 12-2-3 1974-75

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 14-3-0 when scoring first this season, which ranks third behind Boston (15-0-0) and Vegas (15-3-0). The Devils are 7-1-1 when trailing first this season, which is tied with Toronto (7-2-3) and Philadelphia (7-10-3) for the most wins in the NHL for that matter. Jersey’s team is 18-0-1 when Nico Hischier recorded a point in a game this season and 10-0-0 when Jack Hughes scored a goal in a game for 2022-23. Keep an eye on…As of Dec. 8, the Devils ranked first in the NHL with 40 goals scored in the second period of play this season (EDM, 2nd, 39 GF). The team’s +19 goal differential for the second period of play this season also ranked first in the NHL, while Toronto ranked second at +14, as of Dec 8. 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. As of Dec 8, the Devils ranked second in the NHL with a 2.19 GAA, while Boston ranked first at 2.08 GAA. Yet, Jersey’s team also ranked fourth in the NHL for goals, per game, at 3.69 (BUF, 1st , 4.00). As of Dec. 8, the Devils ranked first in the NHL for shots against, per game at 26.4, while Carolina ranked second at 26.5. Additionally, as Dec. 8, the Devils are ranked third for shots on goal, per game, at 35.1 while the Florida Panthers ranked first (38.7). Since 1994-95, the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship, the Devils have finished a season averaging under 25 shots against, per game seven times:

23.7 1997-98
24.7 1998-99
24.7 2000-01
23.2 2001-02
23.6 2002-03
24.4 2003-04
23.1 2012-13

The team clinched a playoff berth in six of those seasons, while winning a Stanley Cup championship in 2002-03, plus advancing to the Stanley Cup final in 2000-01. The team didn’t clinch a playoff berth in the shortened (lockout year) in 2012-13. Since 1994-95, the team’s highest shots per game total is 33.1, which was earned in 1999-00. The team then won its second Stanley Cup championship. Head coach Lindy Ruff became the fifth bench boss in NHL history who earned 800 wins. Only four other NHL coaches all-time are in the “800 club.”

S. Bowman: 1,244 wins
Joel Quenneville: 969 wins
Barry Trotz: 914 wins
Ken Hitchcock: 849 wins

The Devils officially announced and revealed their second-ever Adidas Reverse Retro sweater, which turns back the clock and nods to the franchise’s Colorado roots. The team is scheduled to wear the sweaters four times this season and twice on the road:

Dec. 3, at PHI, 7:00 P.M. 3-2, W
Dec. 9, vs NYI, 7:00 P.M.
Dec. 30, at PIT, 7:00 P.M.
Jan. 7, vs NYR, 1:00 P.M

AROUND THE RINK THE RINK
On Fri., Dec. 9, the Devils will wear their Reverse Retro sweaters for the first time at home and the first 9,000 fans in attendance receive a “Chico & Nico” bobblehead set that’s retro-themed.

VS NY Islanders
The Devils and Isles face-off for the second of three matchups this season, after Jersey’s team defeated New York 4-1 on Oct. 20 at UBS Arena.
Next: Mar. 27, at NYI, 7:30 P.M.
The Devils were 1-3-0 vs the orange and blue last season.
The last time that the Devils won a season series vs New York was 2017-18 (3-0-1).

ALL-TIME vs NY ISLANDERS
Record: 95-129-22-16
Home: 56-52-11-10
Road: 39-77-11-6

DID YOU KNOW…
The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs the Islanders is nine, which was earned in a 9-7 win on Apr. 6, 1986, at
the Meadowlands. The most goals that the Devils allowed in a single game vs the Isles is nine, four times, which was last logged on Mar. 17, 1983, in a 9-5 loss at the Meadowlands. The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs New York was 57 in a 4-2 loss on Apr. 12, 1999, at the Meadowlands. The most shots that the Devils allowed in a single game vs the Isles is 51, which was logged on Feb. 22, 1977 (CLR), in a 2-1 loss at Long Island. The last time the Devils shut out the Isles was Nov. 11, 2021, at the Rock in a 4-0 win (M. Blackwood, 42 saves). The last time New York shut out the Devils was on Nov. 3, 2018, at NYI in a 3-0 loss.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Fri. Dec. 9, vs NYI, 7:00 P.M.
Mon. Dec. 12, at NYR, 7:00 P.M.
Tue., Dec. 13, vs DAL, 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Thu. Dec 15, vs PHI, 7:00 P.M.
Dec. 17, vs FLA, 7:00 P.M.

LAST TRADE
The last time that the Devils and Islanders executed a trade was on Apr. 8, 2021, when Jersey dealt Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri in exchange for A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, a 2021 first-round draft pick and 2022 fourth-round draft pick.

NHL Preview: Calgary Flames (13-10-3) at Columbus Blue Jackets (8-15-2)

Hockey
NHL

NHL Editor

December 9, 2022

NHL Preview: Calgary Flames (13-10-3) at Columbus Blue Jackets (8-15-2)

CALGARY FLAMES NOTES:

FLAMES LAST GAME RECAP
DECEMBER 7, 2022 – MINNESOTA WILD [3] vs. CALGARY FLAMES [5]
The Calgary Flames closed out their five-game homestand on Wednesday night by welcoming the Minnesota Wild to the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames fell behind early with Kirill Kaprizov and Mason Shaw both scoring before the three-minute mark. The Flames would remain level with the Wild in shots at eight a piece but were behind on the scoreboard 2-0 through 20. However, in the second period it would be the Flames who would come out of the gate flying, first with Nazem Kadri scoring just 16 seconds into the frame on the powerplay followed by Blake Coleman netting his fifth and Tyler Toffoli deflecting home his ninth and with just 3:11 gone in the second, the Flames had flipped the script and taken their first lead of the night, 3-2. Calgary would maintain that lead until 15:45 of the third when Jon Merrill’s point shot took a deflection to tie the game. Off the ensuing draw the Flames would gain possession and 12 seconds later Rasmus Andersson’s backhand would beat Marc-Andre Fleury to help the Flames regain the lead 4-3. Toffoli would add an emptynetter for his second of the night, and the Flames closed out their homestand with a 5-3 win over the Wild.
CGY GOAL SCORERS: Kadri (10), Coleman (5), Toffoli (9, 10), Andersson (4)
GOALIE: Vladar (25-28, .893 Sv%)
PP: 2/6 (33.3%)
PK: 4/4 (100%)

FLAMES LAST FIVE RESULTS, RECORD: 4-1-0
DATE RESULT GWG CGY GOALIE OPP. GOALIE
December 7, 2022 MIN [3] vs. CGY [5] Andersson Vladar Fleury
December 5, 2022 ARI [2] at CGY [3] Kadri Vladar Vejmelka
December 3, 2022 WSH [2] at CGY [5] Ruzicka Vladar Kuemper/ Lindgren
December 1, 2022 MTL [2] at CGY [1] Caufield Markstrom Allen
November 29, 2022 FLA [2] at CGY [6] Andersson Vladar Bobrovsky
*shootout winning goal

FLAMES UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
DATE TIME
(MST) OPPONENT VENUE
December 9, 2022 5:00pm at Columbus Blue Jackets Nationwide Arena
December 10, 2022 5:00pm at Toronto Maple Leafs Scotiabank Arena
December 12, 2022 5:00pm at Montreal Canadiens Bell Centre
December 14, 2022 8:00pm vs. Vancouver Canucks Scotiabank Saddledome
December 16, 2022 7:00pm vs. St. Louis Blues Scotiabank Saddledome

TONIGHTS STORYLINES & STATS
This is the first of two matchups this season between the Flames and Blue Jackets. The Flames swept the season-series in 2021-22, scoring six goals in both matchups. This is a Pacific Division versus Metropolitan Division Matchup; The Flames have an overall record of 4-3-3 against Central Division opponents this season and a record of 6-7-3 against Eastern Conference opponents.

LAST SEASON AGAINST THE BLUE JACKETS:
The Flames and Blue Jackets squared off twice during the 2021-22 campaign with the Flames winning both contests. Calgary outscored Columbus 12-2 and managed to put up six goals in both games (6-0 at CBJ, 6-2 at CGY). The Flames last three trips to Nationwide Arena have seen them score 18 goals to Columbus’s six and have won all three of those meetings. Nazem Kadri currently leads the Flames with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 21 career games against the Blue Jackets.

CALGARY TIES ON COLUMBUS:
Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau will play his first game as an opponent of the Calgary Flames. Gaudreau spent nine years with Calgary, skating in 602 games as a Flame with 609 points (210 G, 399 A) and was a Flames fourth-round pick (104th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft. Defenseman Erik Gudbranson posted a career year last season with the Flames, skating in 78 games with 17 points including six goals and eleven assists, all of which were career bests. Fellow defenseman Jake Bean was born in Calgary and played his junior hockey right at home with the Hitmen. Bean posted 175 points with the Hitmen in 187 games and was an Assistant Captain in his final season with the club.

RING OF FIRE:
The Flames kick off a three-game road trip to the Eastern Conference with their first stop coming tonight in Columbus, Ohio. Calgary is coming off a successful five-game homestand where the Club went 4-1-0 and outscored their opponents 20-11, only surrendering more than two goals against in a game in their 5-3 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night. The Flames had five different skaters who amassed six points over the five-game window: Lindholm (3G, 3A), Toffoli (3G 3A), Andersson (2G 4A), Ruzicka (1G 5A), and Huberdeau (1G 5A). After their strong homestand, Calgary now leads all Western Conference teams in home points and their 10 home wins is tied with Winnipeg for the most in the conference.

ANDERSSON IN THE CLUTCH:
Rasmus Andersson recorded three points (1G, 2A) and was named the First Star in Calgary’s 5-3 triumph over Minnesota. After John Merrill drew Minnesota level in the third, Andersson’s scored just 12 seconds later to restore the Flames lead and would hold up as the game winner, Andersson’s team-leading third game-winning goal on the season. The Malmo, SWE native is currently tied for third in the NHL for game winning goals and tied for first among defensemen, prior to this season Andersson had only recorded one game-winning goal coming on March 19th, 2022 in Vancouver. Andersson has moved to sixth all-time in multi-assist games by a defenseman under the age of 27 in Flames franchise history and is the first blueliner on Calgary to eclipse the 20-point mark this season.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK:
The Calgary Flames recalled forward Matthew Phillips from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) on Thursday morning. Phillips was the AHL’s leading scorer with 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points at the time of his recall and is coming off a two-point game in his last outing with the Wranglers against San Diego. Phillips led the Stockton Heat in scoring in 2021-22 and was tied for top scorer on the Heat in 2020-21. Phillips has skated in one NHL game in his career, it came on May 19th, 2021 against the Vancouver Canucks during the COVID-shortened 2021 season. The Calgary, AB native skated in over 14 minutes of ice-time with two shots in his NHL debut.

DID YOU KNOW?
Tyler Toffoli played his first game and scored his first goal as a member of the Flames against the Blue Jackets on February 15th, 2022, in a 6-2 victory. The Flames competed their third multi-goal comeback with Wednesday nights come-from-behind win over Minnesota. The other two came against Vegas on Oct. 18 and Carolina on Oct. 22 with the Flames erasing a two-goal defecate in all three games and have the second most multi-goal comeback wins in the NHL, only Chicago has more. With his three assists on Wednesday Night against Minnesota, Elias Lindholm recorded his 300th point in the regular season/playoffs as a member of the Calgary Flames

CALGARY FLAMES vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
ALL-TIME HOME AWAY L10 STRK
CGY vs. CBJ 31-24-0-8 17-8-0-6 14-16-0-2 7-2-1 W6

GAME INFO:
Calgary Flames vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
7:00pm ET
Scotiabank Saddledome
TV: Sportsnet West
Radio: Sportsnet Fan 960

2022-23 Season Series: 0-0-0 (Home: 0-0-0, Road 0-0-0)
Dec. 9, 2022 – CGY at CBJ
Jan. 23, 2023 – CBJ at CGY

2021-22 Season Record vs. CBJ: 2-0-0 (Home: 1-0-0, Road: 1-0-0)
Last Home Win vs. CBJ: February 15, 2022 – Columbus [2] vs. Calgary [6]
Last Road Win @ CBJ: January 26, 2022 – Calgary [6] at Columbus [0]
Last Home Loss vs. CBJ: March 29, 2018 – Columbus [5] vs. Calgary [1]
Last Road Loss @ CBJ: November 22, 2017 – Calgary [0] at Columbus 1

2022-23 CALGARY FLAMES
FLAMES RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Nov. 6 – recalled Nick DeSimone (D) and Dennis Gilbert (D) from Calgary (AHL); placed Michael Stone (D) on IR
Nov. 13 – reassigned Dennis Gilbert (D) to Calgary (AHL)
Nov. 15 – recalled Dennis Gilbert (D) from Calgary (AHL): reassigned (D) Nick DeSimone to Calgary (AHL)
Nov. 27 – reassigned Dennis Gilbert (D) to Calgary (AHL)
Dec. 8 – placed Kevin Rooney (F) on waivers
Dec. 8 – recalled Matthew Phillips (F) from Calgary (AHL)

FLAMES RECENT INJURIES (Total man games lost – 20)
Noah Hanifin – illness (1 game: Oct. 21)
Chris Tanev – upper-body (5 games: Nov. 3 – Nov. 10)
Jonathan Huberdeau – upper-body (3 games: Nov. 8 – Nov. 12)
Michael Stone – lower-body (11 games: Nov. 7 – Nov. 25)

RECORD BY MONTH
October November December January February March April
HOME 4-2-0 3-2-1 3-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
AWAY 1-0-0 2-5-2 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
TOTAL 5-2-0 5-7-3 3-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0

RECORD BY DAY
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
0-0-0 3-0-1 3-2-0 1-0-1 1-5-0 0-0-0 4-2-1

RECORD BY DAYS BETWEEN GAMES/ON…
0 Days: 0-2-0
1 Day: 9-6-2
2 Days: 3-2-0
3 Days: 0-1-0
4+ Days: 0-0-0
First of B2B: 0-1-1
Second of B2B: 0-2-0

RECORD WHEN…
0G 1G 2G 3G 4G 5G 6G
Scoring 0-1-0 0-1-1 0-3-0 4-1-2 2-1-0 5-0-0 2-0-0
Allowing 0-0-0 1-0-0 7-1-1 3-5-0 1-2-2 1-1-0 0-1-0

LAST TIME (2022-23) PREVIOUS
Regulation win, home 5-3 vs. MIN: 12/7/22 3-2 vs. ARI: 12/5/22
Regulation win, away 5-2 vs. PHI: 11/21/22 4-3 vs. EDM: 10/15/22
Regulation loss, home 1-2 vs. MTL: 12/1/22 1-4 vs. NSH: 11/03/22
Regulation loss, away 2-3 vs. CAR: 11/26/22 0-3 vs. WSH: 11/25/22
OT win, home 3-2 vs. CAR: 10/22/22 1-0 vs. VAN: 01/29/22
OT win, away – 5-4 at NSH: 4/26/22
OT loss, home 3-4 vs. NJD: 11/05/22 0-1 vs. BUF: 3/18/22
OT loss, away 3-4 vs. NYI: 11/07/22 2-3 at MIN: 4/28/22
Shootout win, home – 2-1 vs. PIT: 11/29/21
Shootout win, away 5-4 at FLA: 11/19/22 4-3 at ANA: 12/3/21
Shootout loss, home – 2-3 vs. LAK: 3/31/22
Shootout loss, away 1-2 at PIT: 11/23/22 2-3 at NSH: 04/19/22
Shutout, home – Markstrom, 19 saves: 3/12/22
Shutout, away – Markstrom, 23 saves: 1/26/22

CALGARY FLAMES JERSEY RECORD:
JERSEY GP W L OTL/SOL Last Result
Home 12 6 5 1 1-4 L at TBL
Away 9 3 4 2 2-3 L at CAR
Alternate 2 1 1 0 1-2 L vs. MTL
Reverse Retro 3 3 5-3 W vs. MIN

CALGARY FLAMES ALTERNATE JERSEY SCHEDULE:
November 29 vs FLA (6-2 W) December 1 vs. MTL (1-2 L) December 16 vs. STL January 18 vs. COL
January 21 vs. TBL January 23 vs. CBJ January 26 vs. CHI February 28 vs. BOS
March 2 vs. TOR March 4 vs MIN March 23 vs. VGK March 25 vs. SJS

CALGARY FLAMES REVERSE RETRO SCHEDULE:
December 3 vs. WSH (5-2 W) December 5 vs. ARI (3-2 W) December 7 vs. MIN (5-3 W) December 14 vs. VAN

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS NOTES:

Dec. 9, 2022 Game No. 26 (8-15-2, 18 pts.)
vs. Calgary Flames (13-10-3, 29 pts.), Nationwide Arena Home Game No. 18 (6-10-1, 13 pts.)
The Blue Jackets Press Box website, which includes game notes, stats, releases and video/audio clips as well as the 2022-23 Media Guide can be accessed at bluejackets.com/pressbox. Follow @BlueJacketsPR on Twitter for comprehensive information and updates on the team.

THE LAST GAME: DEC. 7, 2022 – CBJ 4 vs. BUF 9
CBJ Goal Scorers: Laine (5), Nyquist (5), Laine (6), Nyquist (6)
BUF Goal Scorers: PP – Cozens (10), Thompson (17), Dahlin (9), Thompson (18), PP – Thompson (19), PP – Thompson (20),
Thompson (21), Krebs (1), Tuch (13)
Goalies: CBJ – Korpisalo (6/9; 27:28), Merzlikins (15/21; 32:32); BUF – Luukkonen (20/24; 60:00)
CBJ PP: 0/2; PK: 2/5 | Shots: CBJ: 24 / BUF: 30
3 Stars: 1. Thompson, BUF; 2. Tuch, BUF; 3. Dahlin, BUF
Noteworthy: CBJ fell for 3rd consecutive game… Laine notched his 2nd multi-goal/3rd multi-point game of the season (2-0-2)… Nyquist recorded his 1st multi-goal/3rd multi-point game of the campaign (2-0-2)… Gaudreau extended his points streak to a season-high 6-straight games with an assist (2-8-10)… Jenner tallied an assist to give him 1-4-5 in the last 5 contests… Kuraly skated in his 100th career game as a Blue Jacket.

OhioHEALTH INJURY REPORT
Danforth (torn labrum); Placed on Injured Reserve (Oct. 25); 6 months (19 games)
Boqvist (broken foot); Placed on Injured Reserve (Oct. 26); 6 weeks (17 games)
Voracek (upper body); Placed on Injured Reserve (Nov. 4); out indefinitely (14 games)
Blankenburg (ankle); Placed on IR (Nov. 10); 6-8 weeks (12 games)
Werenski (torn labrum); Placed on IR (retro to Nov. 10); Expected to miss rest of regular season (12 games)
Bean (shoulder); Placed on IR (retro to Nov. 15); out indefinitely (10 games)
Christiansen (illness); day-to-day (2 games)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 142

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 5 Recalled Marchenko from Cleveland (AHL) and assigned Fix-Wolansky to Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 1 Activated Laine and Merzlikins off IR and assigned Tarasov to Cleveland (AHL)
Dec. 1 Signed 2022 2nd round pick Luca Del Bel Belluz and 2021 5th round pick James Malatesta to 3-year entry level contracts
Nov. 29 Assigned Sweezey to Cleveland (AHL)
Nov. 28 Recalled Berni from Cleveland (AHL) and assigned Gaunce to AHL club.
Nov. 25 Signed 2022 third round pick Jordan Dumais to three-year entry level contract
Nov. 24 Recalled Meyer from Cleveland (AHL) and assigned Bemstrom to Cleveland (AHL)
Nov. 20 Placed Merzlikins on Injured Reserve retroactive to Nov. 15 and recalled Fix-Wolansky from Cleveland (AHL)

TONIGHT’S GAME BROADCAST INFO
7:00pm ET | Bally Sports Ohio | 97.1 The Fan

AGAINST THE FLAMES
2022-23 Series: 0-0-0 (0-0-0 vs. CGY)
2021-22 Series: 0-2-0 (0-1-0 vs. CGY)
All-Time Series: 32-24-0-7 (18-10-0-4 vs. CGY)
Last 10 (Overall | Home): 3-6-1 | 3-6-1
All-Time GF/GA: 161/167
All-Time SF/SA: 1,737/1,889
All-Time PP: 40-of-264
All-Time PK: 212-of-245

THE LAST GAME: FEB. 15, 2022 – CBJ 2 at CGY 6
CBJ Goal Scorers: Boqvist (9), Werenski (7)
CGY Goal Scorers: Gudbranson (3), Lindholm (19), Tkachuk (22), SHG – Dube (5), Ruzicka (4), Toffoli (10)
Goalies: CBJ – Merzlikins (35/41; 60:00); CGY – Vladar (18/20; 60:00)
CBJ PP: 0/1; PK: 2/2 | Shots: CBJ: 20 / CGY: 41
3 Stars: 1. Lindholm, CGY; 2. Toffoli, CGY; 3. Dube, CGY
Noteworthy: CBJ had their 3-game win streak snapped and fell for just the 2nd time in last 7 contests… Boqvist has 2-1-3 in the last 4 games… Laine tallied an assist to extend his points-streak to 7 consecutive games (7-6-13)… Werenski stretched his points streak to 3-straight (1-2-3).

SEASON SERIES LEFT: Jan. 23 at CGY
Columbus Blue Jackets: Media Notes

NOTED (Team Highlights vs. CGY)
CGY has won 6-straight in the series (CBJ; 0-5-1) since 12/4/18 after CBJ went 13-4-2 vs. CGY from 11/28/09-3/29/18… Winning team has recorded 3+ goals in each of the last 7 meetings and 4+ in 5 of those outings… CBJ have killed off all 9 CGY power play attempts over the last 5 games… Most goals scored vs. CGY: 6 – 2x (MR: 12/4/18)… Most goals allowed vs. CGY: 9 (12/4/18).

NOTED (Player Highlights vs. CGY)
Jenner made NHL debut on 10/4/13 vs. CGY… Merzlikins stopped a career-high, and franchise-record, 56 shots on 1/26/22 vs. CGY… Voracek notched his 200th career NHL goal on 11/23/19 vs. CGY… Werenski skated in his 100th career NHL game on 11/22/17 vs. CGY and notched his 100th career point (goal) on 12/4/18 vs. CGY.

PLAYER NOTABLES vs. CGY
•Korpisalo – 1-2-1 with 2.42 GAA and .920 SV% in 5 career GP, including a 2.12 GAA and .929 SV% in his last four outings (1-1-1)

•Laine – 5-3-8 in 12 career GP, including points in three of his last four games vs. the club (2-3-5)

•Nyquist – 5-7-12 in 16 career GP, including points in 10 of his contests and 1-1-2 in his last three

BLUE JACKETS NOTES
A LOOK AT DECEMBER
The Blue Jackets fell for a third consecutive game and moved to 5-6-2 in the last 13 games overall following a 9-4 loss to the Sabres on Wednesday. The club plays the second contest of a three-game homestand tomorrow before finishing against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. The team will then play six-of-eight contests on the road from December 13-29. The Blue Jackets play 15 games in the month of December with two sets of back-to-back games (Dec. 6 at PIT/Dec. 7 vs. BUF; Dec. 19 vs. DAL/Dec. 20 at PHI).

HERE’S JOHNNY!
Left wing Johnny Gaudreau stretched his points streak to a season-high six-straight games (2-8-10), including three-straight multi-point efforts from Nov. 25-Dec. 2, with an assist on Wednesday. He has now collected 4-15-19 in his last 13 contests. The forward tied the franchise record for assists in the month of November with 3-11-14 in 11 outings (Andrew Cassels in November 2002). The six-time All-Star leads the club in goals (tied), assists and points with 9-19-28 in 25 games while recording points in 18 of his contests. The winger has done most of his damage at home with 8-14-22 in 17 outings, ranking eighth-T in the NHL in points. He played in his 319th consecutive game on Wednesday, the third-longest active iron man streak in the NHL and trailing only Phil Kessel (1,010) and Brent Burns (705). The Salem, New Jersey native, who signed a seven-year contract with Columbus in July, was selected by the Flames in the fourth round, 104th overall, at the 2011 NHL Draft and ranked fifth on the franchise’s all-time list in assists, points and game-winning goals following his first nine NHL campaigns from 2013-22 with 210-399-609, 41 GWG in 602 contests, including a career-high 40-75-115 in 82 games last season when he earned First Team All-NHL honors.

WHAT’S GOOD
Defenseman Erik Gudbranson scored his first goal with the club last Friday at Winnipeg, picking up his 100th career point in the process (28-72-100 in 665 games). He ranks third on the Blue Jackets in hits (47) and blocked shots (39) and has collected 1-5-6 and 17 penalty minutes in his first 24 contests with Columbus this season. He set career highs in goals, assists, points and games played in his lone season with Calgary in 2021-22, finishing with 6-11-17 and 68 PIM in 78 contests.

A PAIR OF NHL DEBUTS
Right wing Kirill Marchenko, who was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters on Monday, and defenseman Tim Berni, who was recalled from Cleveland on November 28, both made their NHL debuts on Tuesday at Pittsburgh. Marchenko was selected by the club in the second round, 49th overall, at the 2018 NHL Draft while Berni was selected in the sixth round, 159th overall in the same draft. It’s only the sixth instance in franchise history that two players from the same draft made their NHL debut in the same game and the first instance that was not in a season opener. Marchenko played in the KHL from 2017-22 before making the move to North America this season. He ranked second among AHL rookies in points and power play goals (tied), fourth-T in assists and fifth-T in goals at the time of his recall on Monday with 8-11-19 and four PPG in 16 games this season and recorded points in 14 of his 16 outings. Berni has posted 4-15-19 with 54 PIM in 87 career AHL games with the Monsters since making his North American pro debut in 2021-22. The 22-year-old blueliner has collected 1-3-4, 10 PIM, 14 shots and a +1 plus/minus rating in 15 contests with Cleveland in 2022-23. Defensemen Marcus Bjork and David Jiricek have also made their NHL debuts with the Blue Jackets this season.

FROM THE BLUELINE
CBJ blueliners have collected 2-3-5 in the last four games and 13-29-42 in 25 games this season to rank ninth-T in the NHL in goals. Vladislav Gavrikov, who has tallied an assist in three of the last five games (0-3-3), notched his second career overtime winner and fifth career game-winning goal on Nov. 15 vs. the Flyers, finishing with 1-1-2, while also skating in a career-high 28:40 TOI (previous 28:20 on Apr. 22, 2022 vs. OTT). He became the fifth different defenseman in NHL history to score each of his first two or more goals of a season in overtime and is also one off the franchise record for overtime goals by a defenseman in a single season (3; Seth Jones, 2016-17 & 2018-19).

ROOKIE REPORT
The club currently has eight rookies on the roster with forwards Liam Foudy, Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko and Carson Meyer along with defensemen Tim Berni, Nick Blankenburg (injured), Marcus Bjork and Jake Christiansen. They have combined for 10-16-26 in 25 games in 2022-23. CBJ rank fifth among NHL team rookies in goals (tied) and points. Johnson ranks fourth-T among NHL rookies in goals, sixth in points-per-game (.59; min. 15 GP) and eighth-T in points with 6-7-13 in 22 games. He has registered 3-4-7 in his last 11 outings and 6-6-12 in his past 19 contests played. Bjork,has collected points in two of his last three games (1-1-2) and has 2-4-6 in his first 12 NHL games. He ranks second among NHL rookie defensemen in points-per-game (.50; min. 5 GP). The blueliner tallied points in his first two NHL games after scoring his first career goal in his NHL debut on Nov. 12 at NY Islanders and picking up his first career assist on Nov. 15 vs. Philadelphia. He is the first blueliner and seventh player overall in franchise history to score in his debut.

CAPTAIN BOONE JENNER
Boone Jenner has collected points in four of his last five games (1-4-5) after picking up an assist against Buffalo on Wednesday and has now registered 8-7-15 in his last 15 contests since Nov. 4. He finished the month of November with 8-3-11 in 11 contests, which was the third-most goals in the month in franchise history (tied). The forward ranks 10-T in the NHL in goals scored at home this season with 9-8-17 in 17 outings. He also ranks fourth in the NHL in faceoff wins (310-of-542 faceoffs; 57.2 pct.). The 29-year-old, who was selected 37th overall at the 2011 NHL Draft, is the longest-tenured Blue Jacket in his 10th season with the club, including his second as the team’s captain. The forward skated in his 600th career game on Nov. 4 vs. Colorado, becoming just the third player to reach the milestone with the franchise. With his second goal on Nov.15 vs. Philadelphia, Jenner notched his 150th career goal with the Blue Jackets and became the third player to reach the milestone with the franchise, joining Rick Nash (289) and Cam Atkinson (213). He also ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time list in points (303).

RK PLAYER TOTAL GP SEASONS WITH CBJ

Rick Nash 674 2002-12 (9 seasons)
Cam Atkinson 627 2011-21 (10 seasons)
Boone Jenner 614 2013-current (10 seasons)
Nick Foligno 599 2012-21 (9 seasons)
David Savard 597 2011-21 (10 seasons)

TOUGH TO REPLACE Z
Defenseman Zach Werenski recorded his first multi-point game of the season with 1-1-2 in a win over Philadelphia on Nov. 10 to extend his points-streak to three-straight games (1-3-4) before leaving the with an upper body injury. Unfortunately, that was the last CBJ will likely see the club’s top defenseman this regular season as it was announced Friday that he suffered a separated shoulder and torn labrum and likely to miss six months. He led the club’s blueliners in goals, assists and points at the time of the injury with 3-5-8 in 13 games. The two-time NHL All-Star blueliner set single-season career highs in assists, points and time on ice and posted the third-most assists (tied) and points by a defenseman in a single season in franchise history with 11-37-48 and 25:40 TOI in 68 games in 2021-22.

Boxing Preview: Arslanbek Makhmudov (15-0-0, 14 KOs) vs Raphael Akpejiori (14-0-0, 14 KOs)

Fight Editor

December 9, 2022

Boxing Preview: Arslanbek Makhmudov (15-0-0, 14 KOs) vs Raphael Akpejiori (14-0-0, 14 KOs)

Boxing fans in the Mauricie region will be treated to a true clash of titans in the finale of the December 16 gala at Shawinigan’s Centre Gervais Auto, when Arslanbek Makhmudov (15-0, 14 KOs) will defend his NABF and NABA belts against imposing Nigerian boxer Raphael Akpejiori (14-0, 14 KOs). The event, which will also feature Simon Kean and Steven Butler, as well as Mary Spencer in her IBO super middleweight world championship fight against Femke Hermans, will be simulcast at 7:00 pm on the Punching Grace network, as well as on ESPN+ in the United States.

Arslanbek Makhmudov (15-0, 14 KOs), who is “NABF Champion of the Year”, 4th in the WBC World Ranking, and NABF and NABA heavyweight titleholder, won the WBC Silver against Carlos Takam on September 16 in a fight that showcased his ability to hold a steady pace for 10 rounds. On December 16, he’ll face off against an adversary who is every bit as powerful and physically imposing as he is.

Towering over most fighters at 6’8”, Raphael Akpejiori (14-0, 14 KOs) immigrated to the United States on a basketball scholarship. He later turned to football and made the Miami Dolphins’ rookie training camp. An outstanding athlete, Akpejiori boasts impressive physical skills, including excellent coordination, remarkable reach, and imposing punching power, making him as feared and respected as the EOTTM protégé. Akpejiori’s m.o. is to deliver a KO within the first two rounds, making him a dangerous adversary who can put an end to the fight at any moment.

“On December 16, we’ll get to see two prospects who are at the same stage in their career: two aggressive boxers each with a 92% KO record. This will be an interesting challenge for Arslanbek, and guaranteed fireworks for the boxing fans who will be there,” explained EOTTM development director and Makhmudov’s trainer, Marc Ramsay.

On the undercard, Steven Butler (31-3-1, 26 KOs) will try to continue his winning streak when he defends his NABF title against American rookie Joshua Conley (17-4-1, 11 KOs). Simon “The Grizzly” Kean (21-1, 20 KOs) will star in his first fight on ESPN+ following his co-promotion agreement with Top Rank. Buckingham native Alexandre Gaumont (5-0, 3 KOs), who recently delivered a decisive 1st-ound knockout, will also be featured on the card. And, last but not least, Thomas Chabot (7-0, 7 KOs), Leïla Beaudoin (7-0, 1 KOs) and Luis Santana (7-0, 2 KOs) will also be there to dazzle thee boxing fans.

Boxing Preview: Paul Butler vs Naoya Inoue

Fight Editor

December 9, 2022

Boxing Preview: Paul Butler vs Naoya Inoue

Paul Butler goes in search of boxing immortality in December when he faces Naoya Inoue for the undisputed world bantamweight title.

The WBO champion tackles Japanese hero Inoue, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, on Tuesday, December 13 on a historic night for the sport, promoted by Ohashi Promotion and Teiken Promotions in association with Probellum.

Inoue holds the IBF, WBA and WBC belts and wants to clean up the division before moving up in weight – but two-time world champion Butler holds the missing piece of the puzzle.

And the fighter from Ellesmere Port, in the UK, heads to the Land of the Rising Sun, fully intent on becoming boxing’s first undisputed bantamweight champion in half a century and scoring one of the biggest away wins by a British fighter ever.

Paul Butler said: “I’ve been boxing for over 20 years and all the successes and set-backs have led me here, to the biggest fight of my career, with the biggest prize in the sport on offer.

“I am under no illusions as to the size of the task that faces me, but I have been going to bed dreaming of becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.

“Inoue is a phenomenal fighter but not one person should be underestimating me, my skills, or my resolve. I am going to Japan to write my name into the history of our sport.”

Key fighter imagery and event artwork can be found HERE
(Please credit Probellum if used)

Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum, said: “It does not get any bigger than this, but Paul Butler is ready to carve out history, cause a seismic upset and return home as the undisputed world bantamweight champion.

“We all appreciate how good Naoya Inoue is, we have seen it repeatedly, but the people who really know Paul, know what he is made of and the greater the challenge, the greater his performance will be.”

Boxing Preview: Teofimo Lopez (17-1-0, 13 KO’s) at Sandor Martin (40-2-0, 13 KO’s)

Fight Editor

December 9, 2022

Boxing Preview: Teofimo Lopez (17-1-0, 13 KO’s) at Sandor Martin (40-2-0, 13 KO’s)

Junior welterweight contender Teofimo Lopez will have a new “Heisman Night” foe. Jose “Sniper” Pedraza contracted a non-COVID-related illness, and Lopez will now face former European champion Sandor Martin on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Madison Square Garden.

Lopez-Martin, scheduled for 10 rounds, is a final eliminator for the WBC world title.

Brooklyn native Lopez (17-1, 13 KOs), the former lightweight king, made his junior welterweight debut in August with a seventh-round stoppage over Pedro Campa. He hopes to become a two-weight world champion in 2023, but the WBO No. 1 junior welterweight contender must first defeat the slippery Spanish southpaw. Martin (40-2, 13 KOs), who hails from Barcelona, authored the 2021 Upset of the Year when he stunned Mikey Garcia by majority decision and sent the four-weight world champion into retirement. Martin, ranked in the top 15 by all four major sanctioning organizations, followed up the Garcia triumph with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jose Felix in April.

“We wish Jose Pedraza a speedy recovery, but we look forward to facing Sandor Martin. He was the opponent we originally wanted for Heisman Night at Madison Square Garden,” Lopez said. “I will continue to silence the doubters as I take over the 140-pound division. I look forward to giving my hometown fans a special night of boxing.”

Martin said, “I’ve dreamed of fighting in a main event at Madison Square Garden. This is my time. I’ve taken the risk, and I will take control against Teofimo Lopez on December 10th. I will give the fans what they want to see.”

Lopez-Martin tops a televised quadruple-header airing immediately after the Heisman Trophy Ceremony at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Heavyweight sensation Jared “The Real Big Baby” Anderson aims for his 13th straight knockout against the battle-tested Jerry “Slugger” Forrest, Puerto Rican junior middleweight star Xander Zayas steps up in class against 28-fight veteran Alexis Salazar, and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis looks to jumpstart his world title ambitions in a lightweight duel versus Juan Carlos Burgos.

TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SANDOR MARTIN DATE, START TIME
Date: Saturday, December 10
Card start time: 9.00 p.m. ET / 2.00 a.m. GMT
Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. GMT
The fight will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, and for viewers in the US they can watch it LIVE on ESPN+
The fight will be staged at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The preliminary card is set to get underway at 9.00 p.m. ET / 2.00 a.m. GMT with the Lopez vs. Martin ringwalks scheduled for 11 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. GMT.

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NFL: Week 14 Quick Capsule – Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) at New York Giants (7-4-1)

NHL Preview: Minnesota Wild (13-10-2) at Edmonton Oilers (15-12-0)

NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets (17-7-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (7-14-4)

NHL Preview: Seattle Kraken (15-7-3) at Washington Capitals (12-12-4)

NHL Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-4) at Buffalo Sabres (12-13-1)

NHL Preview: New York Islanders (16-11-0) at New Jersey Devils (21-4-1)

12 Josh Bailey Nov. 29 at PHI

15 Cal Clutterbuck Oct. 13 vs. FLA , Nov. 8 at NYR, Dec. 2 vs. NSH –

21 Kyle Palmieri Nov. 23 vs. EDM –

25 Sebastian Aho Oct. 13 vs. FLA – Oct. 20 vs. NJD

26 Oliver Wahlstrom Oct. 13 vs. FLA

44

8

NHL Preview: Calgary Flames (13-10-3) at Columbus Blue Jackets (8-15-2)

Boxing Preview: Arslanbek Makhmudov (15-0-0, 14 KOs) vs Raphael Akpejiori (14-0-0, 14 KOs)

Boxing Preview: Paul Butler vs Naoya Inoue

Boxing Preview: Teofimo Lopez (17-1-0, 13 KO’s) at Sandor Martin (40-2-0, 13 KO’s)

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