NHL News and Notes from Saturday, December 31st, 2023
News
- The NHL announced that the 2023 NHL Heritage Classic will take place on Oct. 29th, 2023.
- The Heritage Classic will take place at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
- The Oilers will host the Calgary Flames.
- The game will mark the return to the site of the League’s first regular season outdoor game that took place on Nov. 22nd, 2003.
Game Recaps
- Buffalo Sabres v. Boston Bruins – 1p ET
- In Boston for the first of many early afternoon matinees for New Year’s Eve the Bruins would play host to the Buffalo Sabres, and in the first period David Pastrnak would open the scoring for the B’s while Tage Thompson would score to tie the game at one for the Sabres. In the second period Alex Tuch would score to give the Sabres the lead. Then in the third period Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand would score to give the B’s the 3-2 lead, but a late Dylan cozens tally would tie the game at three for the Sabres to force overtime. In the extra frame Tuch would net his second of the game to give the Sabres the 4-3 victory over the Bruins.
- Chicago Blackhawks v. Columbus Blue Jackets – 1p ET
- In Columbus the Blue Jackets would play host to the Chicago Blackhawks, and in the first period Andreas Athanasiou would score for the Blackhawks, but Emil Bemstrom would score to tie the game at one for the Jackets. In the second period Gustav Nyquist and Kirill Marchenko would score to give the Jackets the 3-1 lead. Then in the third period Nyquist would score his second of the game to give the Blue Jackets the 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks.
- Nashville Predators v. Vegas Golden Knights – 3p ET
- In Vegas the Nashville Predators would look to dim the Golden Knights, and in the first period Keegan Kolesar would strike for the Knights, but goals from Filip Forsberg and Jeremy Lauzon would give the Preds the 2-1 lead. In the second period Michael Amadio and Reilly Smith would score to give the Knights the 3-2 lead. Then in the third period Chandler Stephenson would score for the Knights, but a pair of goals from Forsberg to complete the hat trick would tie the game at four for the Preds to force overtime. In the extra frame Nicolas Hague would strike to give the Golden Knights the 5-4 victory over the Predators.
- Philadelphia Flyers v. Los Angeles Kings – 4p ET
- In Hollywood the Philadelphia Flyers would continue their California trip as they would take on the Los Angeles Kings, and in the first period Scott Laughton would score for the Flyers, but goals from Adreian Kempe and Phillip Danault would give the Kings the 2-1 lead. In the second period Owen Tippett would score to tie the game at two for the Flyers. Then in the third period Noah Cates and Travis Konecny would score to give the Flyers the 4-2 victory over the Kings.
- Montreal Canadiens v. Washington Capitals – 4p ET
- In Washington the Capitals would end 2022 with a visit from the Montreal Canadiens, and in the first period Erik Gustafsson and Garnet Hathaway would score to give the Caps the 2-0 lead. In the second period Cole Caufield would net a pair of goals for the Habs, but goals from Nic Dowd, Alex Ovechkin, and Dylan Strome would give the Caps the 5-2 lead. Then in third period Marcus Johansson and Anthony Mantha would score and Ovechkin would net a pair to complete the hat trick to give the Capitals the 9-2 victory over the hapless Canadiens.
- Arizona Coyotes v. Tampa Bay Lightning – 5p ET
- In Tampa Bay the Lightning would play host to the Arizona Coyotes, and in the first period Travis Boyd and Christian Fischer would strike for the Yotes to take a 2-0 lead, but Brayden Point would score to get the Bolts on the board and back within one. In the second period Nick Bjugstad would score for the Yotes, but goals from Mikhail Sergachev, Steven Stamkos, and Alex Killorn would give the Bolts the 4-3 lead. Then in the third period Brandon Hagel would score to give the Lightning the 5-3 victory over the Coyotes.
- Minnesota Wild v. St. Louis Blues – 6p ET
- In St. Louis the Blues would take on the Minnesota Wild, and in the first period Calle Rosen would strike first for the Blues, but Matt Dumba would score to tie the game at one for the Wild. In the second period Robert Bortuzzo would score for the Blues, but a pair of goals from Ryan Hartman would give the Wild the 3-2 lead. Then in the third period Jared Spurgeon and Jordan Greenway would score to give the Wild the 5-2 victory over the Blues.
- Toronto Maple Leafs v. Colorado Avalanche – 7p ET
- In Colorado the Avalanche would play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in the first period JT Compher would score for the Avs, but goals from Mitch Marner and Pierre Engvall would give the Leafs the 2-1 lead. In the second period Devon Toews would score for the Avs, but goals from Michael Bunting, Auston Matthews, and TJ Brodie would give the Leafs the 5-2 lead. Then in the third period Bunting would net his second of the game to give the Maple Leafs the 6-2 victory over Avalanche.
- Ottawa Senators v. Detroit Red Wings – 7p ET
- In Detroit the Red Wings would take on the Ottawa Senators, and in the first period Austin Watson and Claude Giroux would score to give the Sens the 2-0 lead. In the second period Pius Suter would score to get the Wings on the board and back within one. Then in the third period Lucas Raymond, Elmer Soderblom, and Michael Rasmussen would score to give the Red Wings the 4-2 victory over the Senators.
- San Jose Sharks v. Dallas Stars – 8p ET
- In Dallas the San Jose Sharks would come to town to take on the Stars, and in the first period Alexander Barabanov would open the scoring for the Sharks, but goals from Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson would give the Stars the 2-1 lead. In the second period Oskar Lindblom would score to tie the game to two for the Sharks, but Fredrik Olofsson would score to retake the lead for the Stars. Then in the third period Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell would score to give the Stars the 5-2 victory over the Sharks.
- Vancouver Canucks v. Calgary Flames – 10p ET
- In Calgary the Flames would play host to the Vancouver Canucks, and after a scoreless first period Sheldon Dries would score for the Canucks, but goals from Elias Lindholm, Blake Coleman, and MacKenzie Weegar would give the Flames the 3-1 lead. Then in the third period Elias Pettersson would score for the Canucks, but it would not be enough as the Flames would hold on to defeat the Canucks 3-2.
- Winnipeg Jets v. Edmonton Oilers – 10p ET
- In the last Reverse Retro battle of 2022 the Edmonton Oilers would play host to the Winnipeg Jets, and in the first period Neal Pionk would score to give the Oilers the 1-0 lead. Then after a scoreless second period Klim Kostin would score for the Oilers, but Kyle Connor would score to give the Jets the 2-1 victory over the Oilers.
Today’s Games
- CAR v. NJ – 3p ET
- NYR v. FLA – 5p ET
- SJ v. CHI – 7p ET
- BUF v. OTT – 7p ET
- NYI v. SEA – 8p ET
Noteworthy in Hockey
- Bedard not buying into his own hype amid historic personal run at World Juniors (TSN)
- What led the Rangers to scratch first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere? (SportsNet)
- 32 Thoughts: What will Maple Leafs’ trade deadline priority be? (SportsNet)
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