Another weekend of NHL motion is formally within the books and it actually produced its justifiable share of drama. We noticed Mitch Marner proceed to make historical past whereas Mikko Rantanen produced an offensive efficiency for the ages.
Let’s take a better have a look at every part that went down this weekend across the league.
Goal of the weekend: Clayton Keller finishes hat trick in extra time
While there weren’t actually any mind-boggling objectives across the league this weekend, Arizona Coyotes ahead Clayton Keller had fairly the night time in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. He recorded a hat trick in a 5-4 extra time win and scored his third purpose within the extra time interval.
In the ultimate minute of extra time, Keller obtained the puck from defenseman Jakob Chychrun, drifted into the face-off circle and ripped a ferocious snapshot previous Flyers goaltender Carter Hart.
Keller grew to become simply the ninth participant in franchise historical past to complete off a hat trick in extra time. It additionally marked the primary time in Keller’s profession that he accomplished a hat trick in extra time.
Robbery of the weekend: Sergei Bobrovsky goes publish to publish
Sergei Bobrovsky shouldn’t be having a terrific season with the Florida Panthers. But he clearly nonetheless has the expertise to make some spectacular saves, and that is precisely what he did in opposition to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday night.
Late within the first interval, Bobrovsky exploded from one publish to a different to rob Will Borgen of what appeared like a positive purpose because the play was growing.
What I really like about this save is that there was one Panther not puck-watching, and fortunate for them, it was the goalie. Unlike the skaters in entrance of him, Bobrovsky learn the play completely, anticipated the backdoor move and slid throughout simply in time to close it down.
Mitch Marner stays scorching, extinguishes Flames
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames performed a enjoyable one in Toronto over the weekend, and Mitch Marner saved his prolonged level streak going with a heroic efficiency. Through the primary two durations, the Maple Leafs and Flames performed to a 3-3 tie, with Marner extending his level streak to 22 video games with an help on an influence play purpose by William Nylander.
Early within the third interval, Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin scored a weird purpose on a bad-angle shot that simply leaked by Leafs goaltender Matt Murray. At that time, Calgary was in place to select up an enormous highway win.
However, it did not take lengthy for Toronto to reply with a purpose of its personal. Williams Nylander ripped a one-timer from the purpose that kicked off the top boards and bounced in entrance of the online. Michael Bunting was in the correct place on the proper time and fired the puck previous Dan Vladar for a purpose.
Neither workforce would discover the again of the online once more in regulation, however on the opening face-off of extra time, Flames ahead Jonathan Huberdeau took a high-sticking penalty. That gave the Maple Leafs a four-on-three benefit, and Marner ended the sport with an influence play purpose.
With a purpose and help, Marner now has 30 factors over the lifetime of his 22-game level streak. He merely can’t be stopped.
Mikko Rantanen offers St. Louis the blues
For a lot of Sunday’s Central Division showdown between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, there wasn’t a lot offense. Then Mikko Rantanen gave the Avs a 1-0 lead within the second interval and Vladimir Tarasenko answered with an influence play purpose eight minutes into the third.
Late within the third interval is when the fireworks actually started for each side.
Blues ahead Brayden Schenn took a late interference penalty, and the deadly Avalanche energy play had a possibility to win the sport in opposition to a Blues penalty kill that ranked thirty second within the league. However, Brandon Saad determined that the most effective protection is an efficient offense.
The Avalanche turned the puck over within the impartial zone, and Saad out-muscled JT Compher for the unfastened puck earlier than firing it previous Pavel Francouz to present the Blues a 2-1 lead with 96 seconds left in regulation.
That might have been a back-breaking play for the Avs, however as an alternative they dialed the strain as much as 11 within the waning moments of the third interval. With 9 seconds left, it paid off as Rantanen poked house his second purpose of the sport to tie the rating at 2-2.
Just 29 seconds into extra time, Rantanen crashed the online on a move from Cale Makar. He by some means managed to jam the puck behind Jordan Binnington to finish the hat trick and stick a dagger within the Blues.
Jeff Skinner suspended for vicious cross-check
Buffalo Sabres ahead Jeff Skinner gave the NHL Department of Player Safety some work this weekend. During Friday night time’s recreation between the Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins, Skinner gave Jake Guentzel some free dental reconstruction surgical procedure.
Late within the third interval, Skinner and Guentzel exchanged a few slashes, however Skinner selected to escalate issues from there. Skinner bought his palms up excessive and cross-checked Guentzel within the shoulder. Still not glad, Skinner bought his palms up even increased and popped Guentzel within the mouth.
The results of that was a five-minute main and a three-game suspension for Skinner. He already served his first recreation on Saturday night time in opposition to the Penguins, however he may also miss this week’s video games in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche.
Even although it is just for a few extra objectives, Buffalo will battle to exchange Skinner’s manufacturing. With 13 objectives and 32 factors in 27 video games performed, he’s having an outstanding season.
Kris Letang returns simply 12 days after struggling a stroke
Kris Letang suffered a stroke final month and it was dominated that he can be out indefinitely. Just 12 days after struggling the stroke, Letang was within the lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins once they took on the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
Letang logged a team-high 22:14 of ice time within the Penguins’ 3-1 win over the Sabres. The veteran defenseman missed simply 5 video games whereas he was out of the lineup.
“Mentally, I really feel good to be again, to be sincere,” Letang help following Saturday’s recreation. “It’s all the time laborious to be on the sidelines. I do know well being comes first… We’re taking on a regular basis we have to determine this factor out. Like [Vyas] mentioned, after I really feel able to go and apply like I did at this time, he will give me the inexperienced gentle, if it is secure to do.”
Letang returned to the ice and commenced skating on Dec. 1, simply three days after he suffered the stroke. However, the 35-year-old star wasn’t cleared to renew training till Thursday. The Penguins defenseman beforehand had a stroke through the 2013-2014 season and missed greater than two months of motion.
Appointment viewing this week
Stars at Devils | Tuesday, Dec. 13: This must be a enjoyable one to look at due to the elite younger expertise each groups have at ahead. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz have the power to take over a recreation for the Stars. On the opposite aspect, gamers like Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are an enormous cause why the Devils appear to be severe Stanley Cup contenders.
Kraken at Lightning | Tuesday, Dec. 13: This matchup options one of many greatest surprises of the season in opposition to a workforce that has change into a mainstay within the Stanley Cup Final yearly. The Kraken have performed nicely this 12 months, and the Lightning are only a well-oiled machine. Both sides have been scorching of their final 10 video games.
Flames at Canucks | Wednesday, Dec. 14: Two groups that must get it in gear will meet in Vancouver on Wednesday night time because the Flames go head-to-head with the Canucks. If you pay attention intently it is possible for you to to listen to the groan of the shedding workforce’s fan base.
Panthers at Devils | Saturday, Dec. 17: Few groups must get their mojo again greater than the Florida Panthers, and what higher approach to do this than by beating among the best groups in hockey, the New Jersey Devils? Of course, if the Panthers play like they’ve these days, the Devils have the potential to run away with this one.
Penguins at Hurricanes | Sunday, Dec. 18: Take the NHL standings with a grain of salt, particularly earlier than Christmas, however would anybody be stunned if these two groups did meet within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs? This is a enjoyable matchup between two of the most effective groups the Metro Division has to supply.
