Dec 17, 2017; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) in game action during the game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dom Gagne-USA TODAY Sports
VancouverCanucksright wingBrock Boeser, who led all rookies with eight goals and ranked second with 13 points in 13 games (8-5—13), has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for December.
Boeser edged Boston Bruins centerDanton Heinen(5-9—14 in 14 GP), New York Islanders centerMathew Barzal(7-5—12 in 14 GP), Columbus Blue Jackets centerPierre-Luc Dubois(4-8—12 in 14 GP) and Tampa Bay Lightning centerYanni Gourde(5-4—9 in 12 GP) for the honor.
Boeser, the 23rd overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, registered at least one point in nine of his 13 appearances, factoring on 39.4 percent of Vancouver’s goals for the month. That included a pair of multi-point performances, highlighted by three assists and four points Dec. 28 vs. CHI (1-3—4).
Boeser reached the 20-goal milestone in his 34th game of the season (Dec. 23 vs. STL). Only three rookies since 1991-92 have achieved the feat in fewer games: Philadelphia’sEric Lindros(26 GP in 1992-93), Winnipeg’sTeemu Selanne(27 GP in 1992-93) and Washington’sAlex Ovechkin(33 GP in 2005-06).
The 20-year-old Burnsville, Minn., native – who also won Rookie of the Month honors in November – shares fourth place in the entire NHL with 21 goals through 36 games this season. He also leads all rookies in goals (21), points (38), power-play goals (6), power-play points (15) and shooting percentage (21.0%).
Jan 1, 2018; Queens, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (15) battles for the puck with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) during the first period in the 2018 Winter Classic hockey game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
MILLER’S OVERTIME GOAL LIFTS RANGERS TO WINTER CLASSIC WIN
The Sabres erased a 2-0 deficit, but J.T. Miller (1-1—2)scored at 2:43 of overtime to power the Rangers to a victory in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field in New York, N.Y. Miller recorded his fourth career overtime goal and second of the season – he also potted the overtime winner Nov. 2..
The Rangers and Sabres played the fifth overtime game in the NHL’s 24 regular-season outdoor contests – and second straight on New Year’s Day:
Overtime Games/Results, Outdoor NHL History
2008 Winter Classic: Pittsburgh 2, Buffalo 1 (SO)
2010 Winter Classic: Boston 2, Philadelphia 1 (OT)
2014 Winter Classic: Toronto 3, Detroit 2 (SO)
2017 Centennial Classic: Toronto 5, Detroit 4 (OT)
2018 Winter Classic: NY Rangers 3, Buffalo 2 (OT)
The Rangers improved to 15-5-0 in their last 20 meetings with the Sabres dating to Dec. 10, 2011 (BUF: 5-10-5).
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves to continue his perfect record in regular-season outdoor NHL games, improving to 4-0-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in four such appearances. No other goaltender has more than two wins in outdoor games.
Lundqvist in Outdoor NHL Games
2012 Winter Classic (at PHI): 34 SV/36 SA, 60:00 MIN
2014 Stadium Series (at NJD): 19 SV/22 SA, 60:00 MIN
2014 Stadium Series (at NYI): 30 SV/31 SA, 60:00 MIN
2018 Winter Classic (at BUF): 31 SV/33 SA, 62:43 MIN
Total: 114 SV/122 SA, 242:43 MIN (4-0-0, 1.98 GAA, .934 SV%)
Lundqvist also earned his 423rd career victory to tie Tony Esposito for eighth place in NHL history (among goaltenders). He now is 14 wins shy of equaling Jacques Plante (437) for seventh place on the all-time list.
RANGERS, VIGNEAULT ALSO REMAIN PERFECT OUTDOORS
The Rangers improved to 4-0-0 in their four regular-season outdoor NHL game appearances – no other team has more than two such victories. They also won in the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia (3-2 W at PHI) and two games in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium in New York (7-3 W at NJD, 2-1 W at NYI).
Three Rangers have played in each of their four outdoor games: Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal. Head coach Alain Vigneault, who served behind the bench in each of New York’s games in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, became the first NHL head coach to record three victories in outdoor game play (3-0-0). He also earned his 635th career win to move past Darryl Sutter and into sole possession of 11th place in League history.
POULIOT TIES OUTDOOR NHL GAME RECORD
Sabres forward Benoit Pouliot played in his fifth regular-season outdoor NHL game, matching Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brad Richards, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews for the most such appearances in League history.
Pouliot, who has 1-2—3 in his five outdoor contests, also skated with the Canadiens in the 2011 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, the Rangers in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium in New York (2 GP) and the Oilers in the 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.
SELLOUT CROWD RAISES OUTDOOR NHL GAME ATTENDANCE
A sellout crowd of 41,821 attended the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field. Total attendance for the League’s 24 regular-season outdoor games now stands at 1,284,097 – an average of 53,504 per game. The sellout crowd also raised attendance for the NHL’s 10 Winter Classics to 569,171 – an average of 56,917 per game.
* There now have been 24 total regular-season outdoor NHL games: 10 Winter Classics, eight Stadium Series, four Heritage Classics, one Centennial Classic and one NHL100 Classic.
* Road teams improved to 15-7-2 in the NHL’s 24 outdoor games. Home clubs fell to 9-12-3, but are 4-0-1 in the last five and 5-2-1 in the past eight.
* Teams that score first improved to 14-7-3 in the League’s 24 outdoor games, including a 9-1-1 record in the last 11 such contests.
* Twenty players appeared in their first outdoor game (not including backup goaltenders Chad Johnson or Ondrej Pavelec). Buffalo’s Phil Housley also coached in his first outdoor game.
* Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner made 39 saves, two shy of the record for an outdoor game set by Toronto’s Jonathan Bernier in the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at DET (41 SV in 3-2 SO W).
WinnipegJetsgoaltenderConnor Hellebuyck, VegasGolden KnightscenterWilliam Karlssonand BostonBruinsright wingDavid Backeshave been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 31.
FIRST STAR – CONNOR HELLEBUYCK, G, WINNIPEGJETS
Nov 29, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) defends his net in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Hellebuyck went 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average, .952 save percentage and one shutout to propel theJets(23-11-6, 52 points) to a perfect week and the top of the Central Division standings. He made 22 saves in a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 27, followed by 42 stops in a 4-2 victory against the New York Islanders Dec. 29. Hellebuyck then made 35 saves to earn his ninth career shutout – and third of the season – in a 5-0 triumph over the Oilers Dec. 31. The 24-year-old Commerce, Mich., native has appeared in 32 games this season, ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in wins (3rd; 21), shutouts (t-4th; 3), goals-against average (8th; 2.37) and save percentage (8th; .923). That includes a 5-0-1 record in his last six outings dating to Dec. 17 (1.65 GAA, .949 SV%, 2 SO).
SECOND STAR – WILLIAM KARLSSON, C, VEGASGOLDEN KNIGHTS
Karlsson registered 4-1—5 in three contests to help theGolden Knights(26-9-2, 54 points) extend their win and point streaks to seven and 12 games (11-0-1), respectively – the longest such runs by any NHL team in its inaugural season. He scored once in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 27. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings Dec. 28, Karlsson rebounded with a career-high 3-1—4 (including his first career hat trick) in a 6-3 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 31. The 24-year-old Marsta, Sweden, native ranks sixth in the League with 20 goals in 37 games this season (20-13—33); he had 18 goals in 183 career NHL appearances prior to 2017-18 (18-32—50).
THIRD STAR – DAVID BACKES, RW, BOSTONBRUINS
Backes paced the NHL with 3-3—6 in three games to guide theBruins(21-10-6, 48 points) to a 2-0-1 week, extending the club’s point streak to eight contests (6-0-2). Backes recorded multiple points in all three of his outings, posting 1-1—2 in a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators Dec. 27, two goals in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals Dec. 28 and two assists in a 5-0 triumph over the Senators Dec. 30. The 33-year-old Minneapolis, Minn., native – who has 7-8—15 in 20 appearances this season – has collected multiple points in four straight games overall (3-5—8), matching a career high set Jan. 6-13, 2015 (6-4—10 in 4 GP w/ STL).
Dec 22, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (23) skates during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
INSIDE EDGE HOCKEY NEWS – RADIO SHOW | EPISODE 3
Rookie Sensation, Secret Superstars, and Flames Relocation
In a year when many felt the rookie class was not as strong, five rookies have emerged as young superstars. Every team has their superstars, but the NHL is filled with secret stars. Who are the NHL’s secret superstars? Will the Flames relocate? Brad Burud discusses all these topics on the Inside Edge Hockey News Radio Show.
