NHL News and Notes from Sunday, January 2nd, 2022
News
- The NHL announced Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras as Rookie of the Month for December.
- NHL Rookie of the Month – Zegras Dazzles for Top Honor
- The NHL announced that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews as the First Star for the month of December.
- Max Pacioretty (VGK) and Thatcher Demko (VAN) would round out the rest of the Three Stars.
- NHL 3 Stars of the Month – Matthews Doubles Up December
- The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett has been suspended.
- Bennett was suspended three games for doing an illegal check to the head of Montreal Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette on Saturday.
- Bennett is considered a repeat offender, and per the CBA, and based on his average annual salary, and will forfeit $161,890.23.
Game Recaps
- Tampa Bay Lightning v. New York Rangers – 1230p ET
- At Madison Square Garden to kick off the new year the New York Rangers hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning, and in the first period Mika Zibanejad would net a pair of goals and Ryan Strome would score to give the Rangers the 3-0 lead. Then in the second period Zibanejad would complete the hat trick to give the Rangers the 4-0 victory over the Lightning.
- Boston Bruins v. Detroit Red Wings – 1p ET
- In Detroit the Red Wings would start the new year facing off against their Original Six rival Boston Bruins, and in the first period Tyler Bertuzzi would score for the Wings, but Patrice Bergeron would score to tie the game at one. In the second period Erik Haula would score for the B’s to take the 2-1 lead. Then in the third period Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic, and Tomas Nosek would score to give the Bruins the 5-1 victory over the Red Wings.
- San Jose Sharks v. Pittsburgh Penguins – 1p ET
- In Pittsburgh the Penguins would play host to the San Jose Sharks, and in the first period Alexander Barabanov would score for the Sharks, but Evan Rodrigues and Bryan Rust would both net a pair of goals, and Jake Guentzel and Kasper Bjorkqvist would score to give the Pens the 6-1 lead. In the second period Brent Burns would score for the Sharks. Then in the third period Matt Nieto, Jacob Middleton, and Logan Couture would score for the Sharks, but both Rodrigues and Rust would both score to complete their hat tricks and give the Penguins the 8-5 victory over the Sharks.
- Anaheim Ducks v. Colorado Avalanche – 3p ET
- In Colorado the Avalanche would host the Anaheim Ducks, and in the first period Sam Carrick would strike for the Ducks to take the 1-0 lead. In the second period Cam Fowler would score to grow the Ducks lead to two, but Devon Toews would score to get the Avs on the board. Then in the third period Gabriel Landeskog, Logan O’Connor, and Mikko Rantanen would score to give the Avalanche the 4-2 victory over the Ducks.
- New Jersey Devils v. Washington Capitals – 3p ET
- In DC to kick off 2022 the Washington Capitals would host the New Jersey Devils, and in the first period Yegor Sharangovich and Damon Severson would score to give the Devils the 2-0 lead, but John Carlson would score to get the Caps on the board. In the second period Nico Hischier would score to give the Devils their two goal lead back. Then in the third period Nic Dowd and Conor Sheary would score to tie the game at three and force overtime. In the extra frame Hischier would net his second of the game to give the Devils the 4-3 victory over the Capitals.
- Scott’s TXHT Recap – Devils Avoid Disaster, Win in OT
- Winnipeg Jets v. Vegas Golden Knights – 4p ET
- In Vegas the Golden Knights would face the Winnipeg Jets, and in the first period Michael Amadio and Evgenii Dadonov would score to give the Knights the 2-0 lead. In the second period Jansen Harkins and Kristian Reichel would score to tie the game at two for the Jets. Then in the third period Paul Stastny and Andrew Copp would score for the Jets, but Mattias Janmark would score a pair of goals as this game would go to overtime tied at four. In overtime Kyle Connor would score to give the Jets the 5-4 victory over the Golden Knights.
- Calgary Flames v. Chicago Blackhawks – 7p ET
- In Chicago the Blackhawks would host the Calgary Flames, and in the first period Alex DeBrincat would open the scoring for the Blackhawks, but Matthew Tkachuk would score to tie the game at one. In the second period Elias Lindholm and Trevor Lewis would score to give the Flames the 3-1 lead. Then in the third period Oliver Kylington and Johnny Gaudreau would score to give the Flames the 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks.
- Dallas Stars v. Arizona Coyotes – 8p ET
- Postponed due to COVID-19
- EDM v. NYR – 7p ET
- CAR v. TOR – Postponed
- MIN v. OTT – Postponed
Noteworthy in Hockey
- Michael recaps the past week for the Washington Capitals (TXHT)
- Dickson recaps the past week for the Montreal Canadiens (TXHT)
- Scott recaps the past week for the Seattle Kraken (TXHT)
- Aryan recaps the past week for the St. Louis Blues (TXHT)
The Xperience Hockey Talk 