Nhl Morning Skate – Jan. 4, 2020 Three Hard
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NHL MORNING SKATE – JAN. 4, 2020 THREE HARD LAPS * Twenty-two-year-old Ilya Samsonov put together a 38-save performance to improve to 8-0-0 on the road this season and help the League-leading Capitals become the first team to collect 60 standings points in 2019-20. * After being honored in a pre-game ceremony for recently skating in his 1,000th NHL game, Joe Pavelski helped the Stars rally and earn their fourth consecutive comeback win. * Nineteen-year-old Andrei Svechnikov recorded his 13th multi-point game of the season to reach the 40-point mark (41 GP) and nearly help the Hurricanes overcome a three-goal deficit. CAPITALS, SAMSONOV HOLD OFF HURRICANES IN DIVISIONAL SHOWDOWN Evgeny Kuznetsov (1-1—2) registered his second straight multi-point game and 22-year-old Ilya Samsonov turned aside 38 shots, including all 18 in the first period, to help the League- leading Capitals (28-9-5, 61 points) eclipse the 60-point mark. * The Capitals became the first team to 60 standing points this season, besting the idle Bruins (24-7-11, 59 points) and Blues (26-10-6, 58 points) - who both failed to do so Thursday. Washington (42 GP) required the second-fewest games in franchise history to reach the benchmark, tying the 2016-17 season. The only campaign to require fewer contests: 2015-16 (39 GP). * Washington’s rookie goaltender improved to 8-0-0 on the road this season (2.19 GAA, .919 SV%), while posting a save percentage of at least .925 in six of those contests. PAVELSKI, HINTZ HELP STARS COLLECT FOURTH STRAIGHT COMEBACK WIN After being honored in a pre-game ceremony for recently skating in his 1,000th NHL game, Joe Pavelski joined 23-year-old teammate Roope Hintz in collecting 1-1—2 as the Stars (24-14-4, 52 points) scored four unanswered goals to win their fourth straight game - overcoming a deficit in each contest. * Dallas, which also scored four straight goals to erase a 2-0 deficit to win the 2020 Bridgestone Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, has rallied to overcome a deficit in at least four consecutive games for the fourth time in franchise history. The others: 2005-06 (5-0-0 from Jan. 23-30, 2006; 4-0-0 from Jan. 4-9, 2006) and 2007-08 (4-0-0 from Nov. 21-26, 2007). SVECHNIKOV REACHES 40-POINT MARK FOR FIRST TIME IN CAREER Andrei Svechnikov assisted on two of three Carolina third-period goals as the Hurricanes fell one tally shy of erasing a three-goal deficit. The 19-year-old forward collected his 13th multi- point game of 2019-20 and reached the 40-point mark (17-23—40) for the first time. * Only one teenager in Hurricanes/Whalers history required fewer games to reach the 40-point mark in a season than Svechnikov (41 GP): Hartford’s Ron Francis (28 GP in 1982-1983 and 32 GP in 1981-82). * Svechnikov, set to celebrate his 20th birthday on March 26, has tallied 37-40—77 in 123 career games since being selected with the second-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Only three teenagers in franchise history have registered more points than the Barnaul, Russia native: Francis (47-95—142 in 122 GP), Jeff Skinner (51- 56—107 in 146 GP) and Sylvain Turgeon (55-46—101 in 101 GP). QUICK CLICKS * Halfway Mark: 2019-20 NHL Season * Todd Reirden, Bruce Cassidy, Craig Berube, Gerard Gallant to coach in All-Star Game * Corey Perry of Stars suspended five games for elbowing * Kurtis MacDermid of Kings suspended two games for illegal check to the head * Ilya Kovalchuk agrees to terms with Canadiens PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION The Canucks (22-15-4, 48 points), Lightning (22-13-4, 48 points), Blue Jackets (19-14-8, 46 points), Maple Leafs (23-14-5, 51 points) and Bruins (24-7-11, 59 points) each put their respective streaks on the line in the NHL’s first Saturday of 2020. * Elias Pettersson (19-25—44) and the Canucks, winners of six straight games, put the League’s longest active win streak on the line when they host the Rangers at Rogers Arena. The last time Vancouver won seven or more consecutive contests was a seven-game run from Dec. 1-14, 2013. The longest winning streak in franchise history was a 10-game run in 2002-03 (10-0-0 from Nov. 9-30, 2002). * The Lightning make their way to Ottawa and Canadian Tire Centre with a five-game win streak dating to Dec. 23, outscoring their opponents 21-11. Twenty-three-year-old Brayden Point (2- 5—7) and 29-year-old Victor Hedman (2-6—8 in 5 GP) have each played pivotal roles in the offense over that stretch – posting four-point outings on Dec. 23 and Dec. 28, respectively. * The Blue Jackets and the NHL’s longest active point streak (12 GP: 8-0-4) take to the ice at Nationwide Arena when the Sharks travel to Columbus. When their streak began on Dec. 9 vs. the Capitals (3-0 W), the Blue Jackets sat nine points out of the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card spot. Entering Saturday’s action, Columbus sits three points behind Philadelphia (22- 14-5, 49 points) for the conference’s final playoff position. * Atlantic Division rivals eye to extend their respective point streaks to 10 games when the Maple Leafs (8-0-1) and Bruins (4-0-5) host the Islanders and Oilers, respectively. While Boston sets its sights on its third point streak of at least 10 games this season, Toronto can accomplish the feat for the first time since 2005-06 (8-0-2 from March 26 – April 15, 2006). * Toronto has scored at least four goals in each contest during its nine-game run. The franchise has only scored four or more goals in 10 consecutive games once: 10 GP from Oct. 12 – Nov. 1, 1980. The last time any team scored four or more goals in 10 consecutive games was 1992- 93, when both the Sabres (10 GP from Oct. 8-30, 1992) and Penguins (15 GP from March 18 – April 14, 1993) did so. .