Today is Friday, January 4th, 2019, and these are your news and notes.
There were eight games in action today.
Nope, your eyes aren't failing you. Hockey is starting early today! https://t.co/C2B8b5jDHj pic.twitter.com/wr99hHOYwp
— NHL (@NHL) January 3, 2019
A hard-fought battle at home. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/TjkcfKhr6W
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 3, 2019
The Minnesota Wild would take on the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday afternoon in the “Next Gen Game” in Toronto and the Maple Leafs would fall to the Wild by the score of 4-3.
Toronto’s Mitch Marner would open up the scoring in the first seven seconds of the contest. With that goal, he tied a mark set back in 1932 for the quickest goal by a Maple Leaf in the storied history of the Maple Leafs franchise.
Mitchell Marner scored 7 seconds into the Next Generation Game, matching the @MapleLeafs franchise record for fastest goal from the start of a game.
Charlie Conacher scored 7 seconds into a 6-0 victory vs. Boston on Feb. 6, 1932. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/5ON48XdAbR
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 3, 2019
Mitch Marner would score again at the 5:38 mark in the contest and became the first Maple Leaf player to have two goals in the opening six minutes of the contest since Phil Kessel achieved the same feat back on January 30th, 2010.
Maple Leafs to score two goals in the opening six minutes of a game, since 1967-68:
Mitchell Marner: Jan. 3, 2019
Phil Kessel: Jan. 30, 2010
Dave Andreychuk: Feb. 6, 1995
Mark Osborne: Dec. 15, 1988
Jack Valiquette: Feb. 16, 1977
Mike Walton: Dec. 30, 1967#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/rDIqzsmzUe— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 3, 2019
William Nylander would net the final goal for the Maple Leafs, his first of the season, at the 8:16 mark in the second period.
🚨 GOAL 🚨
William Nylander gets the lead back for the Leafs as he roofs the shot from a tough angle! 3-2 with 11:44 left in the second. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/kz6aVfLSUe
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 3, 2019
Despite playing a strong first six minutes in this contest, Toronto would virtually fall flat for the duration of the contest with costly turnovers and being outshot the entire game. On four Power-Play chances for Toronto, they would fail to take advantage of the extra-man on all four chances.
How many goals did #mnwild score today?
How many penalties did #mnwild kill off today?
🙌🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/HgASeZFHy0— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 3, 2019
Steve Gardiner, TXHT’s Maple Leafs writer, has the full recap of the contest at the following page.
01/3/2019 – Minnesota Wild vs Toronto Maple Leafs
The Boston Bruins, fresh off their win against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 Winter Classic two days ago, would continue their winning ways with the 6-4 win over the Calgary Flames on home ice last night.
For Calgary, they would register a League-high 13th shorthanded goal and this would be the ninth time that they would register at least 13 shorthanded goals in a season.
Jake DeBrusk scored in the game twice, including the eighth game-winner in his career, and helped the Bruins win their third consecutive game.
Jake DeBrusk scored twice, including his 8th career winning goal as the @NHLBruins won their third straight game.
Only two players from the 2015 draft class have more GWG since @JDebrusk entered the NHL: Connor McDavid (13) & Kyle Connor (9). https://t.co/cjnyOOsTg1 #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/FMTnHgLKuN
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Take a look at tonight's @CDWCorp postgame infographic. 👀 pic.twitter.com/vAGFFOVwyj
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 4, 2019
The @NHLFlames recorded their League-leading 13th shorthanded goal of the season, the ninth time they have done so in franchise history. #NHLStats #CGYvsBOS pic.twitter.com/dipPutYWX1
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Johnny Gaudreau would tie Bob MacMillan for the fewest games played (42) to reach the 60-point mark in franchise history in this contest for the Flames.
Johnny Gaudreau tied Bob MacMillan (42 GP in 1978-79) for fewest games to reach the 60-point mark in @NHLFlames / Atlanta franchise history. #NHLStats #CGYvsBOS pic.twitter.com/jKou2IC5db
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Buffalo’s Jeff Skinner would score his 27th goal of the season to take over sole possession of second place in League goals. He only trails Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, who has 30 goals thus far on the season. At the time of Skinner’s goal, Ovechkin has 29 goals.
Jeff Skinner scored his 27th goal of the season, to take sole possession of second in League goals, only behind Alex Ovechkin (29). #NHLStats #FLAvsBUF pic.twitter.com/exRy0NyqQe
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Carolina Hurricanes phenom Sebastian Aho would reach the 40-point mark in his 39th game on the season with two assists in the contest. Carolina would go on to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers by the score of 5-3 in downtown Philadelphia last night.
Fewest games required to reach 40 points since @NHLCanes relocated:
Eric Staal (27 GP in 2005-06 & 35 GP in 2012-13)
Rod Brind'Amour (37 GP in 2006-07)@SebastianAho (39 GP in 2018-19)
Cory Stillman (39 GP in 2005-06)#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Lhp3qLTm6k— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
The comeback falls short in Philly. #CARvsPHI pic.twitter.com/2DEn9425Pj
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 4, 2019
NY ISLANDERS 3, Chicago 2 (OT)
The New York Islanders faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nassau Coliseum and would go on to defeat Chicago 3-2 in overtime.
Devon Toews would net the game winner in the overime frame, Toews’ first NHL goal.
DEVON TOEWS IN OVERTIME!!! 🚨#Isles WIN!!! ☝️☝️☝️ pic.twitter.com/aFKnLFnvSc
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 4, 2019
First #NHL G🚨AL for @DevonToews6 is the overtime winner!! Congrats Devon! 👏 pic.twitter.com/sRbzClSj9g
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 4, 2019
On commence 2019 de la même manière qu'on a fini 2018.
2⃣0⃣1⃣9⃣
We're starting 2019 off the same way we closed out 2018.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/rl4svRV2mQ— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 4, 2019
Jordie Benn and Jonathan Drouin would be the lone goal scores for the Canadiens in the contest and goaltender Carey Price would earn his 42nd career regular-season shutout in the contest and is four shy of tying the all-time franchise mark of 46 set by Ken Dryden.
De retour dans la formation, Joel Armia a obtenu une passe dans la victoire.
Joel Armia collected an assist in his return to the lineup.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/MGn6fxC9Bt
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 4, 2019
Carey Price made 33 saves to earn his 42nd career regular-season shutout, four shy of Ken Dryden (46) for third place on the @CanadiensMTL all-time franchise shutout list. #NHLStats: https://t.co/JqRzdjReVv pic.twitter.com/SFaKLqGLkh
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
The St. Louis Blues would face off against the Washington Capitals last night and would come away with the 5-2 victory at Enterprise Center last night.
Never tell us the odds. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/Xf5IAOxGZs
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 4, 2019
Blues defenceman Alex Pietrangelo would score his fifth goal of the season in the contest and now has possession of second place all-time for most goals by a defenceman in St. Louis Blues history with 85 goals.
With his 85th goal, Alex Pietrangelo now ranks second all-time in history amongst Blues defensemen. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/fw8AI7FMaU
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 4, 2019
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin would go on to score his 30th goal on the season in the contest and now has had 14 seasons of scoring at least 30 goals.
Alex Ovechkin of the @Capitals is the sixth player in NHL history to reach the 30-goal mark in at least 14 total seasons (consecutive or otherwise). #NHLStats https://t.co/8uaenkZOF9 #WSHvsSTL pic.twitter.com/ryZdQTp9nu
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Ovechkin joined Mike Gartner (15) as the only players in NHL history to begin their career with 14 consecutive 30-goal seasons, one of three players in NHL history with 14 seasons in a row at any point in his career with at least 30 goals (Gartner: 17; Jaromir Jagr: 15 seasons).
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) January 4, 2019
TXHT has your recap of the contest between the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues at the following page.
Game Recap – 1/3/2019 – Washington Capitals v. St. Louis Blues#ALLCAPS fail to play a full 60 minutes for a 2nd straight game as they open their 3 game road trip with a loss to the #StLBlues. https://t.co/YGShN28ptA pic.twitter.com/3fJDlrbj3e
— TXHT Hockey (@TXHT_Hockey) January 4, 2019
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov would register his seventh straight multi-point game to become only the second player to have seven consecutive multi-point games and the first since Vincent Lecavalier had an eight-game streak during the 2007-08 season.
Kucherov would also become the sixth different player since the 1993-1994 season to have at least 69 points through 41 team games.
Nikita Kucherov became the sixth different player since 1993-94 to record 69 or more points through his team’s first 41 GP in a season. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/efDlSELzJ8
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Nikita Kucherov recorded his seventh consecutive multi-point game to become the second player in @TBLightning franchise history to accomplish the feat, joining Vincent Lecavalier who posted a streak of 8 GP (Nov. 3 – 19, 2007). #NHLStats #TBLvsLAK pic.twitter.com/UXbuFPsZYV
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
With Tampa Bay’s win, they now have a 12 point lead in the overall NHL standings and also marks the first time since the NHL’s expansion era (1967-68) that a team holds a 12 point lead at the mid-point of their season.
This marks the first time in the expansion era and just the eighth time in NHL history that a team has led by at least 12 points in the overall standings at the mid-way point of their season. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Slp7RT2eRE
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 4, 2019
Today there are seven games on the schedule…