It’s protected to say that it was a chaotic weekend within the NHL ranks. We noticed every little thing from the Minnesota Wild maintaining their successful methods to a pair of historic milestones.
Let’s get caught up on the entire motion with the NHL rewind.
Goal of the weekend: Jordan Eberle pulls off insane spinning, backhand purpose
Sometimes you want the fitting mixture of nonetheless and luck to tug off a ridiculous purpose. That was the case for Seattle Kraken winger Jordan Eberle in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
During the second interval of Sunday’s contest, defenseman Adam Larsson put a slap cross proper on the tape of Eberle’s stick. Eberle then spun and uncorked a backhanded shot that someway discovered its well past Jets goaltender David Rittich.
Eberle was in a position to collect the puck and put the puck on web. Obviously, he did not know the place precisely the puck would find yourself, however generally some luck by no means hurts. This was one of many extra insane objectives that we have seen this season.
Robbery of the weekend: Charlie Lindgren denies Mitch Marner
Ever since Darcy Kuemper went down with harm, Charlie Lindgren has stepped up in purpose for the Washington Capitals. In the Caps’ 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night time, Lindgren got here up massive on a number of events.
None of Lindgren’s saves have been greater than his first-period cease on Mitch Marner. Somehow, Washington defenders misplaced monitor of Marner — however Lindgren didn’t. He tracked the puck from Rasmus Sandin’s stick within the nook to Marner’s in entrance of the web and slid throughout to make a beautiful blocker save.
Since Dec. 5, Lindgren has posted 5.03 objectives saved above common, which is fourth within the NHL in that span. He has been an enormous a part of the Capitals’ turnaround.
Wild prime Senators to win fifth straight sport
The Minnesota Wild are at the moment one of many hottest groups within the NHL and saved that stellar stretch going with a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. It marked the fifth consecutive win for the Wild.
Star winger Kirill Kaprizov registered his second consecutive three-point efficiency as he tallied a purpose and two assists. Kaprizov additionally turned the quickest Wild participant to succeed in 200 profession factors in Sunday’s win.
Kaprizov opened the scoring simply 8:19 into the competition when he obtained a picture-perfect cross from teammate Mats Zuccarello and one-timed the puck previous Senators goalie Anton Forsberg.
With the Wild already main 2-0 within the second interval, Kaprizov hit a chopping Jared Spurgeon proper in entrance of the web and Spurgeon roofed a shot previous Forsberg to make it a 3-0 sport. Kaprizov ended up aiding on Minnesota’s first three objectives.
With their fifth consecutive win in toe, the Wild now sit in third place within the Central Division with a 18-11-2 file (38 factors). Minnesota is just 4 factors behind the division-leading Dallas Stars because of the latest surge. The Wild have a reasonably simple stretch arising with the likes of the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and St. Louis Blues arising on their schedule. It’s fairly seemingly that this group continues to make strikes within the Western Conference because the NHL strikes into the New Year.
Elias Lindholm rating twice in 19 seconds to assist Flames beat Sharks
Calgary Flames middle Elias Lindholm had fairly the accomplishment throughout Sunday’s 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Lindholm scored two objectives in 19 seconds to open the third interval.
In doing so, Lindholm tied Bob Murray for the eighth-fastest two-goal stretch by one participant to start a interval in NHL historical past. The most up-to-date skater to attain two quicker period-beginning objectives was former Boston Bruins ahead Mike Knuble, who did it within the first 27 seconds of the primary interval on Feb. 14, 2003.
Lindholm scored simply 16 seconds into the ultimate interval off assists from veteran forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri whereas the Flames have been on the power-play.
Erik Karlsson information 700th profession level
Defenseman Erik Karlsson is within the midst of getting one of many extra spectacular seasons of his NHL profession. On Sunday, Karlsson recorded his 700th profession level in a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Karlsson turned simply the twenty seventh defenseman in NHL historical past to file at the very least 700 factors. The solely different energetic defenseman to register 700 profession factors is Brent Burns of the Carolina Hurricanes, who at the moment has 799 factors (seventeenth all-time) to his credit score.
In addition to reaching the 700-point plateau, Karlsson additionally turned the primary defenseman within the league to succeed in the 40-point mark in the course of the 2022-23 season. Karlsson wanted the third-fewest video games with a view to attain 40 factors over the previous 20 years. Only John Carlson (29 video games in 2019-20) and Bryan McCabe (32 video games in 2005-06) achieved the feat in a shorter span of time.
Karlsson now has 41 factors (12 objectives & 29 assists) on the season, together with two assists that he recorded in Sunday’s loss. The veteran defenseman leads the Sharks in factors (41) and assists (29) on the 12 months.
The 32-year outdated is about to have his finest 12 months since being traded to San Jose previous to the 2018-19 marketing campaign. Karlsson’s career-high is 82 factors (16 objectives & 66 assists), which got here in the course of the 2015-16 season as a member of the Ottawa Senators. Now Karlsson could not set a brand new career-high, however he is having fun with one among his finest seasons in years.
John Tortorella scratches Kevin Hayes
As the Philadelphia Flyers proceed to wrestle and sink towards the underside of the NHL standings, drama is brewing between head coach John Tortorella and main scorer Kevin Hayes.
Despite main the Flyers in factors with 29, Hayes was a wholesome scratch for Saturday night time’s loss to the New York Rangers. Prior to that sport, Tortorella selected to not develop on his determination. He opened up extra on Monday.
“Standards are held for everyone on this group, it doesn’t matter what draft choose or it doesn’t matter what stature,” Tortorella instructed reporters. “No matter what you are considered within the space right here, I’ve to carry a regular for everyone, and that is how it will be. I feel that is the correct option to construct this hockey membership.”
Hayes was stunned by Tortorella’s determination to scratch him however acknowledged that Tortorella has the ultimate say on lineup choices.
“I do not suppose I ought to have been benched, however he is the coach, I’m the participant,” Hayes stated, in line with Giana Han of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Tortorella has been recognized to push his gamers with hard-nosed teaching all through his profession. It’ll be fascinating to see how Hayes responds when he will get again into sport motion.
Appointment viewing this week
Lightning at Maple Leafs | Tuesday, Dec. 20: Not solely are these two of the most effective groups within the Eastern Conference, however they’re additionally two of the most well liked groups within the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs and Lightning are each taking part in nice hockey proper now, and thiis ought to be a barn burner.
Oilers at Stars | Wednesday, Dec. 21: If you want objectives, that is the sport for you. Edmonton and Dallas are each top-five within the NHL in objectives scored, and there’s offensive firepower on either side. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl gong up towards Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz is must-watch TV.
Capitals at Senators | Thursday, Dec. 22: The largest sport of the week is all the time the subsequent Capitals sport, at the very least for now. Alex Ovechkin had a number of pictures to tie or surpass Gordie Howe towards the Detroit Red Wings, however he narrowly missed on these scoring probabilities. We’ll see if he can get it achieved towards the Senators.
Bruins at Devils | Friday, Dec. 23: Before the NHL goes on its three-day Christmas break, make this one of many video games you watch. There’s not an excessive amount of I have to say about this one as a result of the Bruins and Devils have merely been the 2 finest groups within the league this 12 months.
