One other week is within the books within the NHL, and fairly a little bit of motion befell. Happily, we have got you coated with the weekly NHL Rewind to catch you up.
One of many greatest tales throughout the NHL noticed defenseman Torey Krug tally a five-assist efficiency, serving to the St. Louis Blues defeat the Montreal Canadiens 7-2 on Sunday. The Blues had been victorious for the seventh time of their final eight video games, sustaining their Wild Card playoff spot.
In the meantime, the Ottawa Senators got here away with a 5-3 upset win in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Late within the third interval, the Senators scored an empty-net objective through a slap shot from heart Ridly Greig in shut, however Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly took exception and checked Greig following the objective. A postgame brawl ensued in consequence.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at a few of the greatest tales and highlights from the week that was within the NHL.
Objective of the week: Sebastian Aho bats puck out of midair for insane game-winner
Pyotr Kochetkov and Vitek Vanecek placed on a clinic Saturday as the 2 goaltenders mixed to file 65 saves. Because of this, the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils had been compelled to play an time beyond regulation interval to determine a winner.
With slightly below 90 seconds remaining within the time beyond regulation interval, the Hurricanes lastly broke by means of.
Hurricanes ahead Martin Necas carried the puck into the Devils’ zone and Vanecek was in a position to cease the shot. Nevertheless, the rebound went straight up within the air, and Aho was in a position to name sport. Aho displayed terrific hand-eye coordination as he batted the puck out of the air and into the again of the web.
It was one of many extra insane objectives we have seen all through the 2023-24 NHL season, and the aptitude for the dramatic definitely did not damage.
Theft of the week: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen slides throughout to cease Brandon Saad
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been having fun with a breakout season up to now. The Buffalo Sabres goaltender continued his sensational marketing campaign with probably the most spectacular saves of the week.
Early within the second interval, Blues defenseman Colton Parayko snapped a shot on web that Luukkonen turned apart. Nevertheless, Blues winger Kevin Hayes was in a position to safe the rebound, and he arrange one in all his teammates on the doorstep for a primary scoring likelihood. Hayes slid the puck over to veteran ahead Brandon Saad in entrance for a point-blank vary shot, however Luukkonen slid throughout to disclaim Saad with a pad save.
Luukkonen and the Sabres could have fallen 3-1 on this explicit contest, however this save was definitely probably the greatest of the week.
Torey Krug leads Blues previous Canadiens with five-assist efficiency
The St. Louis Blues have had fairly the stretch just lately with seven wins throughout their final eight video games. The staff stayed within the win column over the weekend with a pair of wins, together with a 7-2 triumph in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
In Sunday’s convincing victory, veteran defenseman Torey Krug led the best way with 5 assists. Krug’s 5 factors had been essentially the most by a Blues participant in franchise historical past.
Krug grew to become simply the second defenseman to register a five-assist sport throughout the 2023-24 season, as he joined Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had six assists in a 7-0 win in opposition to the New York Islanders in December 2023. It’s the first time because the 2003-04 marketing campaign through which a number of defensemen tallied five-assist video games, as Sheldon Souray and Marek Zidlicky achieved the feat.
Whereas all 5 assists had been of the secondary selection, it was nonetheless fairly the efficiency for Krug.
The Blues tallied three objectives within the opening 20 minutes to leap out to an early lead. On the 15:20 mark of the primary interval, Krug was in a position to corral the puck off of the face-off and dished it off to teammate Robert Thomas. Thomas put the puck on web, and star ahead Jordan Kyrou deposited the rebound previous goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for the objective.
It was one in all three power-play objectives for the Blues on the afternoon, and Krug assisted on two of these man-advantage alternatives.
The Blues proceed to climb again into the playoff image as they presently are the No. 2 Wild Card staff within the Western Convention.
Senators topple Maple Leafs, late sport dust-up ensues
The Ottawa Senators returned from the All-Star break following a 10-day layoff, they usually got here away with a powerful 5-3 win in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the ultimate rating that had the hockey world buzzing when it got here to this contest.
Within the ultimate seconds of Saturday’s sport, the Senators had a 4-3 lead and Ottawa ahead Ridly Greig had an empty web in entrance of him. Greig uncorked an enormous slap shot to place the sport away, however Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly took exception to the assertion objective.
Rielly skated over to Greig by the facet boards and delivered a jarring cross-check to the pinnacle of Greig. On account of Rielly’s hit, a brawl started to ensue between the 2 groups.
Senators heart Shane Pinto registered a objective and a pair of assists to assist lead the staff to victory. Veteran forwards Claude Giroux, Vladimir Tarasenko and Josh Norris additionally scored objectives for Ottawa.
Rielly obtained a significant penalty for cross-checking and a sport misconduct because of the vicious hit.
“We clearly did not just like the consequence on the empty-netter,” Toronto captain John Tavares mentioned following the sport. “So, we’ll stick collectively and stand our floor when obligatory.”
Rielly has an in-person listening to with the NHL scheduled for Tuesday to ensure that the league to assist decide what kind of suspension the Maple Leafs blue-liner will obtain.
Panthers shut out Avalanche
The Florida Panthers took the NHL by storm final season once they surged all the best way to the Stanley Cup Remaining. Now, it seems the Panthers are getting scorching on the proper time but once more.
On Saturday, the Panthers shut out the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 behind one other stellar efficiency from star heart Aleksander Barkov, who registered a objective and two assists.
Along with Barkov’s huge evening, Panthers ahead Sam Reinhart continued his spectacular marketing campaign together with his league-leading twenty second power-play objective.
With the Panthers already main 1-0 due to a Carter Verhaeghe power-play tally, Reinhart was the beneficiary of some phenomenal puck motion by his teammates.
Barkov had possession of the puck behind the web, and he discovered star ahead Matthew Tkachuk within the face-off circle. Tkachuk then slid the puck throughout to Reinhart within the slot, who scorched a one-timer previous Avalanche netminder Alexandar Georgiev to offer the Panthers a 2-0 benefit.
Reinhart’s 22 power-play objectives are presently the seventh-most by an energetic participant in a single season. Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl holds the file with 32 power-play objectives throughout the 2022-23 season.
It marked the sixth win in seven video games for the Panthers. Florida continues to climb within the Atlantic Division standings and solely trails the Boston Bruins by three factors for first place.
Appointment viewing this week
Avalanche at Lightning | Thursday, Feb. 15: The Avalanche have been on an enormous slide recently as they’ve dropped 4 consecutive video games following the All-Star break. In the meantime, the Lightning had been dealt a brutal blow final week once they misplaced defenseman Mikhail Sergachev for the remainder of the season. This can be a sport each groups may desperately want within the win column.
Hurricanes at Coyotes | Friday, Feb. 16: The Hurricanes had been extraordinarily energetic over the summer season, however have been up-and-down all through the 2023-24 season. Now, Carolina appears to have hit its stride with 5 wins over its final six video games. This can be a street contest the Hurricanes will wish to have.
Kings at Bruins | Saturday, Feb. 17: The Kings notched their first win below interim head coach Jim Hiller on Saturday in a 4-0 win victory in opposition to the Oilers. Los Angeles undoubtedly can have its fingers full when the staff travels to Boston, however it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if offseason acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois continues to raise his stage of play.
Flyers at Devils | Saturday, Feb. 17: The Stadium Sequence takes place this weekend with a pair of contests. The Flyers and Devils will do battle in a matchup of Metropolitan Division foes. The Devils discover themselves outdoors of the playoff image up to now, whereas the Flyers have been one of many greater shock groups. This must be a enjoyable outside contest at MetLife Stadium.
Rangers at Islanders | Sunday, Feb. 18: The Stadium Sequence continues Sunday when the battle for supremacy within the New York Metropolis space takes place between the Rangers and Islanders. The Islanders have been taking part in a lot better below new head coach Patrick Roy, whereas the Rangers are thriving with Jonathan Fast in web. Hockey followers will come away as winners with a pair of rivalry matchups within the nice outside.
