Wheeler Looks to Restart Goal Train – DFS GAMEPLAN 3/15/18
Thursday night in the NHL brings us 9 games. The playoff push continues with five games with serious playoff implications. Columbus is a good line stack option versus Philadelphia. St. Louis and Colorado also match up in a game of serious importance for both teams.
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NHL SCHEDULE
NHL BACK-TO-BACK
Toronto @ Buffalo
Pittsburgh @ Montreal
*Team in italics is on the second night of a back-to-back
Feb 24, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Scott Darling (33) makes a save against Detroit Red Wings right wing Anthony Mantha (39) during the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 20
Carolina Chaos, NHL Player Poll, and No Playoff Surge
Debate 1 | Carolina removes Ron Francis at General Manager
Debate 2 | NHL Player Poll – Who are the players favorites
Debate 3 | What teams are playing themselves out of the playoffs.
Brad Burud and Blake Friars are ready to debate. What is going on in Carolina and will the removal of Ron Francis change this team dynamic. Who do the players think is the best. Analysis on the recent NHL players poll. Teams are stumbling down the playoff stretch, who will find themselves on the outside of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
OVECHKIN BECOMES 20TH PLAYER TO SCORE 600 CAREER NHL GOALS
Alex Ovechkin became the 20th player in NHL history to reach the 600-goal milestone, doing so in his 990th career game (600-509—1,109). Only three players achieved the feat in fewer contests: Wayne Gretzky (718), Mario Lemieux (719) and Brett Hull (900).
Ovechkin required only 189 games to get from 500 goals to 600 goals – tied with Mike Gartner (189) for fifth-fewest among all players to achieve the feat, behind Lemieux (114), Gretzky (143), Marcel Dionne (146) and Bobby Hull (171). Selected first overall by the Capitals in the 2004 NHL Draft, Ovechkin became the sixth player to score 600 goals for one franchise. The ot hers: Gordie Howe (786 w/ DET), Steve Yzerman (692 w/ DET), Mario Lemieux (690 w/ PIT), Joe Sakic (625 w/ QUE/COL) and Bobby Hull (604 w/ CHI).
Mar 10, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) controls the puck against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Ovechkin (Moscow, Russia) became the fourth European-born player to reach 600 NHL goals, joining Jaromir Jagr (766; Kladno, Czech Republic), Teemu Selanne (684; Helsinki, Finland) and Jari Kurri (601; Helsinki, Finland). Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, Ovechkin (600) has 195 more goals than the next-closest player (Sidney Crosby: 405). Ovechkin (600-509—1,109) and Crosby (405-698—1,103) are the only players with 1,100 or more points in that span. Less than 1,000 games into his NHL career, Ovechkin already is the League’s all-time leader in overtime goals (22), ranks ninth in game-winning goals (100), 10th in power-play goals (225) and 10th in shots on goal (4,839). Overall, Ovechkin’s average of 0.61 goals per game ranks fifth in NHL history among players with a minimum of 300 games played, behind Mike Bossy (0.76), Lemieux (0.75), Cy Denneny (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62). In fact, only two of 19 players ahead of Ovechkin on the all-time goals list averaged at least 0.60 goals per game: Lemieux (0.75) and Gretzky (0.60).
Only one other active NHL player is averaging at least 0.50 goals per game (min. 300 GP): Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos (0.53), who has 348 career goals in 655 games. Ovechkin has averaged at least 0.60 goals per game in nine of his 13 NHL seasons (including 0.61 in 2017-18: 42 G in 69 GP). At that rate, Ovechkin would need 490 more games – just under six full seasons – to equal Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals and approximately 334 more games – a little more than four seasons – to join Gretzky and Gordie Howe (801) as the only players in League history to score 800 goals.
Ovechkin has scored against 128 different goaltenders on his way to 600 goals (plus 28 goals into an empty net), including 22 goals against Henrik Lundqvist (37 GP) – his highest total against one netminder. Monday marked the first time Ovechkin scored against Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (2 G in 4 GP). Among goaltenders Ovechkin has faced at least 10 times, his best goals per game has come against Ben Bishop (0.91 G/GP; 10 G in 11 GP). Also of note is that Ovechkin has scored 12 goals – his eighth-highest total against one goaltender – in seven contests against Devan Dubnyk (1.71 G/GP).
The road to 600 goals has seen Ovechkin score in 46.2% of his appearances (457 of 990 GP). That includes 99 contests with exactly two goals, 16 with exactly three goals and four with four goals – a total of 119 multi-goal performances (20 hat tricks). Ovechkin’s 119 career multi-goal games are tied for 16th on the League’s all-time list (w/ Luc Robitaille); Jari Kurri and Bobby Hull share 14th place with 121 apiece, while Wayne Gretzky holds the record with 189. Since 2005-06, Ovechkin has 39 more multi-goal games than the next-closest player (Sidney Crosby: 80).
Ovechkin has scored the opening goal of a game 109 times, tied a game 112 times and put his team ahead 208 times (including 22 overtime goals). Additionally, Ovechkin has pulled his team within one goal 53 times and given the Capitals a two-goal lead on 112 occasions. Ovechkin has scored 44 of his goals in the opening five minutes of a game – including 10 in the first 60 seconds – and 76 in the last five minutes of regulation – with 35 of those coming in the final minute.
* Information provided via NHL Press Release - Video courtesy SportsNet
Mar 13, 2018; Nashville, TN, USA; Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (29) during the first period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine, Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 11.
FIRST STAR – PATRIK LAINE, RW, WINNIPEG JETS
Laine led the NHL with five goals in three games to propel the Jets (41-18-9, 91 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He registered his fourth career hat trick, including the winning goal, in a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers March 6. In doing so, Laine became the third player in League history to post four hat tricks prior to his 20th birthday, joining Jimmy Carson (5) and Dale Hawerchuk (5). Laine then added one tally in both a 3-2 triumph against the New Jersey Devils March 8 and a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers March 10 to join Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin atop the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race and become the ninth player in NHL history to score 40 goals in one season as a teenager (40-23—63 in 68 GP). The 19-year-old Tampere, Finland, native has collected at least one point in a franchise-record 11 consecutive games (15-6—21), including goals in five straight (9-1—10).
SECOND STAR – BRAD MARCHAND, LW, BOSTON BRUINS
Marchand paced the NHL with 4-4—8 in three games as the Bruins (43-16-8, 94 points) earned three wins in four contests. He notched 3-2—5, including his third career hat trick, fourth career five-point performance and franchise-record 11th career overtime goal, in a 6-5 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings March 6. Marchand then scored his third straight game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers March 8, becoming the seventh player in Bruins history to register the decisive tally in three consecutive team games (and first since Tyler Seguin from Nov. 5-10, 2011). He added two assists in a 7-4 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks March 10 before missing a 3-1 loss to the Blackhawks March 11. The 29-year-old Halifax, N.S., native ranks fourth in the League with 1.30 points per game this season, sitting 16th overall with 29-40—69 in 53 outings.
THIRD STAR – EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Malkin ranked second in the NHL with 3-5—8 in four games to lift the Penguins (40-26-4, 84 points) to a 3-1-0 week and back into first place in the Metropolitan Division. He registered 1-2—3, his League-best 12th three-point effort of the season, in a 4-3 overtime win against the Calgary Flames March 5. Malkin then posted 1-1—2 in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers March 7, one assist in a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs March 10 and 1-1—2 in a 3-1 triumph against the Dallas Stars March 11. The 31-year-old Magnitogorsk, Russia, native places second in the NHL with 87 points and third with 39 goals in 66 appearances this season. That includes a League-high 51 points and 25 goals in 30 contests during the calendar year as well as 3-8—11 during an active six-game point streak.
