NHL News and Notes from Friday, December 31st, 2021
News
- The NHL postponed the game between the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes on Jan. 2nd.
- Dallas is still being affected by COVID-19.
- The NHL announced that they have postponed eight more games due to Canada’s Attendance Restrictions.
- The League also postponed the New York Islanders Jan. 4th game in Seattle due to their other three games being postponed.
Game Recaps
- Pittsburgh Penguins v. Ottawa Senators – 1p ET
- Postponed due to Canadian Attendance Restrictions
- Edmonton Oilers v. New Jersey Devils – 1p ET
- In New Jersey the Devils kick off the action on New Year’s Eve as they host the Edmonton Oilers, and in the first period it would be a wild one as Connor McDavid and Kailer Yamamoto would score for the Oilers, but goals from Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer would give the Devils the 3-2 lead. In the second period McDavid’s second of the game would tie it at three. Then in the third period Devin Shore and Yamamoto would score for the Oilers, and Janne Kuokkanen and Yegor Sharangovich would strike for the Devils as this game would go to overtime tied at five a piece. In the extra frame Hughes would net his second of the game to give the Devils the 6-5 victory over the Oilers.
- Scott’s TXHT Recap – Devils Win a Wild One in OT
- Anaheim Ducks v. Vegas Golden Knights – 3p ET
- In the lone west coast game the Vegas Golden Knights would host the Anaheim Ducks, and in the first period Nicolas Roy and Adam Brooks would score to give the Knights the 2-0 lead. In the second period Mattias Janmark would grow the Knights lead to three. Then in the third period Ryan Getzlaf would score for the Ducks, but they would fall to the Golden Knights 3-1.
- New York Rangers v. Tampa Bay Lightning – 7p ET
- In Tampa Bay the Lightning would play host to the New York Rangers, and in the first period the Steven Stamkos would score to give the Bolts the 1-0 lead. In the second period Alexis Lefreniere and Barclay Goodrow would score for the Rangers to take the 2-1 lead, but Ross Colton would score to tie the game at two. Then in the third period both teams would trade goals as Goodrow would net his second of the game and Corey Perry would strike late to send the game to overtime. After a scoreless five minutes of extra hockey it would be Mika Zibanejad with the winner in the shootout to give the Rangers the 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Washington Capitals v. Detroit Red Wings – 730p ET
- In Detroit for the final NHL game of 2021 the Red Wings would play host to the Washington Capitals, and after a scoreless first period Pius Suter would open the scoring for the Wings, but later in the period Evgeny Kuznetsov would strike to tie the game at one for the Caps. Then in the third period Alex Ovechkin would continue to climb the goal scoring ranks as he would net a pair to give the Capitals the 3-1 victory over the Red Wings.
- Colorado Avalanche v. Dallas Stars – 830p ET
- Postponed due to COVID-19
- Winnipeg Jets v. Calgary Flames – 9p ET
- Postponed due to Canadian Attendance Restrictions
- BUF v. BOS – 1p ET
- MON v. FLA – 1p ET
- CAR v. CLB – 1p ET
- CHI v. NAS – 2p ET
- EDM v. NYI – 2p ET
- STL v. MIN – 7p ET
- 2022 Winter Classic
- OTT v. TOR – 7p ET
- VAN v. SEA – 10p ET
- PHI v. LA – 1030p ET
Noteworthy in Hockey
- Ontario cuts stadium capacity to 1,000; shortens isolation period for vaccinated (SportsNet)
- NHL’s Bill Daly weighs in on schedule shifts, protocol changes and what comes next. ‘It’s been quite the storm’ (The Athletic – $)
