Nhl Morning Skate – Jan. 11, 2020 Three
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NHL MORNING SKATE – JAN. 11, 2020 THREE HARD LAPS * Petr Mrazek (69 GP), who posted his third of seven career shutouts with Carolina dating to 2018-19, became the third goaltender in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record at least seven such performances prior to his 70th game with the franchise. * Friday’s contest between the Red Wings and Senators marked the second game of 2019-20 to feature all of its goals scored in regulation (min. 4) by players 24 or younger. The other: Philadelphia and Toronto on Nov. 9, 2019. * Connor McDavid (152-290—442 in 333 GP) enters his final game before celebrating his 23rd birthday Monday. Only one player in Oilers history has collected more goals, assists and points by their milestone date: Wayne Gretzky (329-532—861). MRAZEK, HURRICANES BLANK COYOTES AT PNC ARENA Warren Foegele, Lucas Wallmark and Martin Necas each scored their 10th goals of the season and Petr Mrazek (32 saves) recorded his League-leading third shutout of 2019-20 (tied) as the Hurricanes (26-16-2, 54 points) moved within three points of the Islanders (27-12-3, 57 points) for third in the Metropolitan Division. * Mrazek (69 GP), who earned four shutouts in his first campaign with Carolina in 2018-19, became the third goaltender in Hurricanes/Whalers history to record at least seven such performances prior to his 70th game with the franchise. The others: Kevin Weekes (8) and Arturs Irbe (7). * The 27-year-old netminder is no stranger to a stifling start with a team. Mrazek also collected seven shutouts prior to his 70th contest with the Red Wings in 2015-16. Additionally, Jaroslav Halak is the only other active goaltender to accomplish the feat with multiple franchises, doing so with the Blues (8 in 69 GP), Islanders (8 in 69 GP) and Bruins (8 in 59 GP). YOUTH SHINES IN ONE-GOAL GAME BETWEEN RED WINGS AND SENATORS Twenty-four-year-old Tyler Bertuzzi (1-1—2) and 23-year-old Dylan Larkin (1-0—1) helped the Red Wings build a 2-0 lead before 20-year-old Brady Tkachuk (1-0—1) and 22-year-old Colin White (1-1—2) helped the Senators send the game to a shootout. * Friday’s contest marked the second game of 2019-20 to feature all of its goals scored in regulation (min. 4) by players 24 or younger. The other: Philadelphia and Toronto on Nov. 9, 2019: Philippe Myers (22), Oskar Lindblom (23), Travis Dermott (22) and William Nylander (23). * Tkachuk’s 36th career goal sparked the Senators comeback and boosted his career totals to 36-34—70 in 115 games. His father Keith Tkachuk (37-33—70 in 108 GP) and brother Matthew Tkachuk (21-49—70 in 111 GP) both required fewer games to collect their 70th career point than the fourth-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. MALKIN, PENGUINS SKATE PAST AVALANCHE IN OT After Evgeni Malkin (1-1—2) gave the Penguins their first lead of the contest and Colorado’s Matt Calvert tied the game with 31 seconds remaining in regulation, Jared McCann scored his second career overtime goal scored to give Pittsburgh its seventh win in its last eight road games. * Malkin, with points in 12 of his last 14 last contests, paces the Penguins with 29 assists in 2019-20 (13-29—42 in 31 GP). His helper on Bryan Rust’s game-tying goal boosted his career totals to 404-640—1,044 and into a tie with Jaromir Jagr (640) for third place on the Penguins’ all-time assists list. Only Mario Lemieux (1,033) and Sidney Crosby (782) have recorded more with the franchise. * The 14-season NHL veteran has collected 11-25—36 in 25 games without Crosby in the lineup since Nov. 12, 2019. Overall, Malkin has registered 77-119—196 in 145 career regular- season games without the Penguins captain in the lineup. * Calvert netted the NHL’s 19th game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation this season and first by the Avalanche. The Capitals lead the League with three such tallies (Oct. 8, 2019, Nov. 16, 2019 and Jan. 5). QUICK CLICKS * Pekka Rinne goal for Predators against Blackhawks 'once-in-a-lifetime thing' * Oskar Lindblom 'in real good spirits' during visit with Flyers * Max Pacioretty, Tomas Hertl named to Pacific Division NHL All-Star Game roster * NHL/NHLPA Learn to Play program extends partnership with Pure Hockey * Matthew Tkachuk blossoms into complete player for Flames, headed to All-Star Game PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION McDAVID SET FOR FINAL GAME BEFORE 23RD BIRTHDAY Connor McDavid (152-290—442 in 333 GP) travels to Calgary tonight for his final game before celebrating his 23rd birthday Monday. Only one player in Oilers history has collected more goals, assists and points by their milestone date: Wayne Gretzky (329-532—861). * McDavid, who has found the score sheet in seven of his last eight games dating to Dec. 21 (4- 7—11 in 8 GP), will finish with the fifth-most points before age 23 among all players in NHL history: * McDavid, who also leads the NHL with 46 assists in 2019-20, will finish with the fifth-most assists before age 23 in NHL history: * McDavid needs one goal to pass Mark Messier (152) and tie three players (Jeremy Roenick, Eric Lindros and Michel Goulet: 153) for the 15th-most goals in NHL history before age 23. McDavid already is one of five active NHL players with at least 150 regular-season goals before age 23: Steven Stamkos (186), Sidney Crosby (183), Alex Ovechkin (163) and Ilya Kovalchuk (152). PAVELSKI RETURNS TO SAN JOSE, MARLEAU TO REACH 1,700 GAMES Joe Pavelski returns to San Jose for the first time since signing with Dallas on July 1, 2019 when the Stars visit the Sharks at SAP Center. Pavelski spent the first 13 seasons of his NHL career with the Sharks where he served as captain from 2015-16 to 2018-19 and ranks among the franchise’s top-three in goals (2nd; 355), assists (3rd; 406) and points (3rd; 761). * In the same game, Pavelski’s longtime teammate, Patrick Marleau, is expected to become the fifth player in NHL history to appear in 1,700 regular-season games. Marleau has not missed a regular-season game while under contract since April 9, 2009 – an active “Ironman” streak of 830 games which ranks as the sixth-longest all-time and second-longest among active skaters (behind Keith Yandle: 841 GP). * Marleau (40 years, 118 days) will become the youngest of the five players while skating in his 1,700th regular-season game, behind Gordie Howe (51 years, 223 days), Jaromir Jagr (45 years, 32 days), Mark Messier (42 years, 309 days) and Ron Francis (40 years, 328 days). .