* Sergei Bobrovsky posted a 40-save shutout and the Panthers continued their high-scoring ways Thursday.
* Roman Josi had two assists to claim sole possession of the most in Predators franchise history.
* Friday’s eight-game slate opens with the Rangers visiting the Hurricanes with first place in the Metropolitan Division on the line.
FLORIDA FOILS EDMONTON TO RECLAIM FIRST PLACE IN NHL STANDINGS
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 40 shots he faced and the Panthers (27-8-5, 59 points) potted six unanswered goals to blank Edmonton at Rogers Place and move ahead of the idle Lightning (27-9-5, 59 points) for top spot in the League standings. Bobrovsky boosted his record to 8-0-1 in nine appearances since Dec. 29, 2021 (2.20 GAA, .938 SV%, 1 SO).
* Florida leads the NHL with 165 goals this season (including one shootout-deciding goal), which mark its most through 40 games in any campaign. Only four other teams have scored as many goals through 40 games in a season since 1993-94 when the Panthers joined the League: Pittsburgh in 1995-96 (194), Detroit in 1993-94 (183), Tampa Bay in 2018-19 (168) and Ottawa in 2005-06 (167).
DEFENSEMEN LETANG, JOSI HELP PENGUINS, PREDATORS PICK UP WINS
Veteran blueliners Kris Letang (0-1—1) and Roman Josi (0-2—2) each had assists Thursday as Pittsburgh and Nashville climbed the NHL standings:
* The Penguins (24-10-5, 53 points) marched to a 5-1 lead through 40 minutes and quelled a third-period comeback attempt by the Senators to extend their home winning streak to six games and move past the Capitals (22-10-9, 53 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Letang extended his point streak to a career-high nine games (2-12—14) – his 14 points in 2022 are the most among all NHL defensemen, while Josi (3-10—13 in 10 GP) ranks second.
* Josi recorded the 357th and 358th assists of his NHL career as the Predators (25-14-3, 53 points) leapfrogged the idle Blues (23-11-5, 51 points) for second place in the Central Division and Western Conference. Josi surpassed David Legwand for sole possession of the most helpers in franchise history.
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS IN 2022 FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Thursday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates features several more notes from the nine-game slate, which included Avalanche teammates Mikko Rantanen (1-1—2) and Nathan MacKinnon (0-2—2), Bruins forward David Pastrnak (2-0—2) and Stars forward Jason Robertson (2-1—3) continuing to shine since the calendar flipped to 2022:
* Rantanen and MacKinnon combined for 1-3—4 as Western Conference-leading Colorado (27-8-3, 57 points) extended its point streak to 11 games (10-0-1). Rantanen (7-11—18 in 11 GP) and MacKinnon (6-12—18 in 11 GP) pace the NHL for points in the New Year with 18 apiece.
* Pastrnak potted a pair of tallies as Boston edged Washington thanks to a last-minute go-ahead goal by Charlie McAvoy. Pastrnak has 10 goals since Jan. 1 (10-3—13 in 11 GP), which mark the most among all players over that span – teammate Brad Marchand (9-7—16 in 11 GP) ranks second.
* Robertson registered his third multi-point game in 2022 (5-5—10 in 6 GP) as Dallas mounted a third-period comeback to defeat Buffalo. Robertson eclipsed 80 points in his NHL career (32-49—81 in 83 GP) – among players to debut with the Stars/North Stars franchise, only three others have reached 80 career points in 83 games or fewer (all w/ DAL/MNS): Neal Broten on March 3, 1982 (33-47—80 in 62 GP), Dino Ciccarelli on Dec. 28, 1981 (47-34—81 in 68 GP) and Bobby Smith on Oct. 14, 1979 (33-47—80 in 83 GP).
QUICK CLICKS
* Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes faces monumental task
* On Campus: Matty Beniers, Owen Power among Hobey Baker favorites
* Stars fan has birthday wish come true, Tyler Seguin signs stick as gift
* Islanders fan Ralph Macchio has own hockey card, relives playoffs with Jimmy Fallon
* NHL announces plans for Truly Hard Seltzer Fan Fair at 2022 All-Star Game
RANGERS, HURRICANES READY FOR METROPOLITAN CLASH
In a battle of Metropolitan Division heavyweights, the top-seeded Rangers (26-10-4, 56 points) and second-place Hurricanes (26-8-2, 54 points) are ready to go head-to-head on TVAS. It marks the clubs’ first meeting since Carolina swept New York in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifying Round, a three-game series where the Hurricanes trailed for only 3:06.
* Artemi Panarin (10-30—40 in 35 GP) has multiple assists in each of his past two games and has collected 59-134—193 in 146 contests (1.32 P/GP) since joining the Rangers in 2019-20. Only three players have produced a higher points-per-game rate than Panarin over that span (min. 50 GP): Connor McDavid (1.65), Leon Draisaitl (1.52) and Nathan MacKinnon (1.38).
* Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 16-23—39 (33 GP) in 2021-22 and is set to appear in his 400th career game (161-198—359 in 399 GP). Among players to debut with the franchise, only two have recorded more points than Aho at the time of their milestone contest with the Hurricanes/Whalers.
KUCHEROV EYES ANOTHER MULTI-POINT OUTING
Nikita Kucherov sets his sights on a fifth straight game with multiple points when the Lightning (27-9-5, 59 points) put their four-game win streak on the line against the Ducks (19-16-7, 45 points). Kucherov, with 4-7—11 since he returned to Tampa Bay’s lineup Jan. 6, has notched 5-10—15 through his first nine appearances in 2021-22.
