Watch as Marc-Andre Fleury gets a standing ovation from Pittsburgh after the Penguins play a tribute video for him in his return.
Feb 6, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) takes the ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is brought to tears in his return to Pittsburgh, as the Penguins and Steel City fans honor the Pens’ all-time winningest goalie with a heartfelt tribute and standing ovation. It was a game that was marked on the schedule when it was released. Fleury was a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and will always be remembered as one of the all-time Penguins greats. The Penguins went on to defeat the Fleury lead Vegas Golden Knights 5-4.
Dec 16, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
MCDAVID NETS FOUR GOALS, FIVE POINTS IN OILERS VICTORY Facing the League-leading Lightning, Connor McDavid (4-1—5) netted his third career hat trick and first career four-goal game to power the Oilers to victory in the finale of a five-game homestand (3-1-1). McDavid became the 11th different player to register five points in a game this season (Mathew Barzal has two such outings) and just the third to score four goals in one contest in 2017-18.
McDavid, who also recorded five points on Feb. 11, 2016 vs. TOR (2-3—5), is the only Oilers player since the start of 1990-91 to record multiple games of 5+ points. Only one player younger than McDavid (21 years, 23 days) has scored at least four goals in a game for the Oilers: Wayne Gretzky achieved the feat six times before reaching McDavid’s current age, including his first such effort on Feb. 18, 1981 vs. STL at 20 years, 23 days.
McDavid (21-40—61) eclipsed both the 20-goal and 60-point marks to move into a share of third in the League in points, trailing only Nikita Kucherov (27-39—66) and Phil Kessel (23-40—63) in pursuit of a second straight Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top point-getter. McDavid, who scored three goals on opening night in October, tallied the 45th hat trick of the season and became the fifth player to post multiple games of 3+ goals in 2017-18. He is the first Oilers player to record multiple hat tricks in one season since 2000-01, when Ryan Smyth had two.
Prior to Tuesday’s contest, McDavid had at least one point against 29 of 30 opposing NHL clubs – the lone exception being Tampa Bay (now 4-1—5 in 3 GP). There are now only four clubs (aside from EDM) against whom McDavid has yet to score a goal: BOS (0-7—7 in 3 GP), NJD (0-8—8 in 5 GP), OTT (0-6—6 in 5 GP) and WPG (0- 8—8 in 8 GP)
The Ducks are on a tail spin. Is tonight the night they get back on track. They are in Buffalo on the second night of a back-to-back. After two horrible stats Ryan Miller is back in net. Be very wary of the Calgary at Chicago game. Both teams need two points and it has the making of a lockdown defensive battle.
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NHL SCHEDULE
NHL BACK-TO-BACK
Anaheim @ Buffalo
*Team in italics is on the second night of a back-to-back
Jan 25, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) awaits the face-off against the Minnesota Wild during the third period of an NHL hockey game at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Florida Panthers goaltender Harri Sateri and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 4.
FIRST STAR – EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Malkin led all skaters with six goals and eight points (6-2—8 in 3 GP) as the Penguins (29-22-3, 61 points) gained four of a possible six points to finish the week in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Malkin began the week by recording his 12th career regular-season hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks Jan. 30. He followed it up with two goals and two assists in a 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Feb. 2 before scoring Pittsburgh’s lone marker in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils Feb. 3. The 31-year-old Magnitogorsk, Russia, native leads all skaters in goals and points since Jan. 1 (15-9—24 in 14 GP) and sits tied for fourth among NHL scorers this season with 29-31—60 in 50 games.
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SECOND STAR – HARRI SATERI, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS
Sateri went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .946 save percentage to guide the Panthers (22-22-6, 50 points) to a perfect week and into a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Division. Sateri opened the week by making 32 saves in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders Jan. 30 to earn his first career win. On Feb. 1, he stopped 30 shots in a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and finished the week with a 26-save performance in a 3-2 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings Feb. 3. The 28-year-old Toijala, Finland, native has appeared in seven games for Florida this season – his first NHL campaign – posting a 3-3-0 record with a 3.19 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.
THIRD STAR – REILLY SMITH, RW, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Smith finished second in goals and tied for third in points (4-1—5 in 4 GP) as the Golden Knights (35-13-4, 74 points) won three of four games, set a new benchmark for wins by a team in its inaugural NHL season and finished the week first overall in the Western Conference standings. Smith recorded one goal and one assist in a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames Jan. 30. He then notched one goal in a 3-2 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets Feb. 1 before being held pointless in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild Feb. 2. Smith closed out the week with a two-goal outing in a 4-3 triumph over the Washington Capitals Feb. 4. In his seventh NHL season, the 26-year-old Toronto, Ont., native has recorded 16-25—41 in 52 games for the Golden Knights this season and ranks tied for third in the League with a plus-25 rating.
