Nikita Kucherov eclipsed the 80-assist plateau for the third straight marketing campaign and tied Nathan MacKinnon for first place within the Artwork Ross Trophy race together with his League-leading sixteenth three-point outing of the season.
* Connor Hellebuyck held St. Louis to 1 aim to assist the League-leading Jets snap the Blues’ 12-game successful streak and proceed their push for the primary Presidents’ Trophy in franchise historical past.
* A ten-game Tuesday contains an ESPN doubleheader which opens with an Atlantic Division showdown that may pit the Maple Leafs (47-25-4, 98 factors) towards the Panthers (44-29-4, 92 factors) for the second time in seven days.
KUCHEROV HITS 80 ASSISTS, MAKES MOVES IN ART ROSS TROPHY RACENikita Kucherov (34-81—115) posted 1-2—3 to eclipse the 80-assist mark for the third straight marketing campaign and transfer right into a tie with Nathan MacKinnon (32-83—115) for first place within the Artwork Ross Trophy race. The Lightning (45-26-6, 96 factors) moved inside two factors of the Atlantic Division-leading Maple Leafs (47-25-4, 98 factors) – the golf equipment will conflict at Amalie Area on Wednesday.
* Kucherov recorded his League-leading sixteenth three-point efficiency and the 106th of his profession to tie former teammate Steven Stamkos for sixth most amongst all lively skaters. The record is topped by Sidney Crosby (186), Alex Ovechkin (140), Connor McDavid (134), Evgeni Malkin (117) and Patrick Kane (112).
* Brayden Level (2-1—3) hit the 40-goal mark for the third straight season and tied Stamkos (3 from 2009-10 – 2011-12) for the longest run in Lightning historical past. Solely 4 lively skaters have posted an extended streak: Auston Matthews (5 from 2019-20 – 2023-24), Ovechkin (5 from 2005-06 – 2009-10), Leon Draisaitl (4 from 2021-22 – 2024-25) and David Pastrnak (4 from 2021-22 – 2024-25).
HELLEBUYCK HELPS JETS SNAP BLUES’ WINNING STREAK
Connor Hellebuyck held the Blues to 1 aim because the Jets (53-21-4, 110 factors) snapped a staff’s double-digit win streak for the second time in franchise historical past (additionally BUF’s 10 GP run in 2006-07). Winnipeg at present owns a three-point edge over Washington (49-19-9, 107 factors) within the Presidents’ Trophy race, with the Capitals holding a sport in hand, because the membership continues to chase its first end atop the League standings in franchise historical past.
* Hellebuyck tied his Jets/Thrashers report for many wins in a season (additionally 44 in 2017-18) and is now one victory shy of tying the sixth most in a marketing campaign in NHL historical past.
CELEBRINI SETS SHARKS MARK IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Macklin Celebrini (21-36—57 in 65 GP) notched a pair of assists and handed Logan Couture (32-24—56 in 2010-11) for the second-most factors in a season by a Sharks rookie behind Pat Falloon (25-34—59 in 1991-92). Discover extra notes on Celebrini and the remainder of Monday’s five-game slate within the newest version of #NHLStats: Dwell Updates.
QUICK CLICKS
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* The NHL mourns the lack of former NHL goaltender and broadcaster, Greg Millen
PLAYOFF-BOUND CLUBS HIGHLIGHT ESPN DOUBLEHEADERThe Maple Leafs (47-25-4, 98 factors) and Panthers (44-29-4, 92 factors) open an ESPN doubleheader once they meet for the second time in seven days for a vital Atlantic Division conflict earlier than the Golden Knights (47-22-8, 102 factors) and Avalanche (47-27-4, 98 factors) go head-to-head at Ball Area. Toronto and Colorado can turn into the primary groups with at the least 4 consecutive 100-point seasons since Washington (5 from 2014-15 – 2018-19) and Pittsburgh (4 from 2015-16 – 2018-19).
* Auston Matthews (398-322—720 in 623 GP) and the Maple Leafs personal a two-point cushion on the second-place Lightning and a six-point lead on the third-place Panthers within the Atlantic Division standings. The Toronto captain, recent off changing into the primary U.S.-born participant in NHL historical past with 9 consecutive 30-goal seasons, is inside attain of changing into the quickest lively skater to succeed in the 400-goal milestone; Alex Ovechkin (634 GP) at present holds that distinction.
* Nathan MacKinnon (32-83—115 in 78 GP) is tied with Lightning ahead Nikita Kucherov (34-81—115 in 73 GP) for first place within the 2024-25 Artwork Ross Trophy race and enters Tuesday with an lively 25-game dwelling level streak courting to Dec. 12, 2024 (16-26—42). He’s one in all 4 gamers in NHL historical past with a number of such streaks of 25 or extra contests following Wayne Gretzky (4x; longest: 40 in 1988-89), Mario Lemieux (2x; longest: 31 GP in 1995-96) and Man Lafleur (32 GP in 1979-80).
STREAKING WILD CARD TEAMS IN EAST EYE MORE SUCCESS
The Senators (42-29-6, 90 factors) and Canadiens (38-30-9, 85 factors) occupy the primary and second Wild Card positions within the Jap Convention and take to the ice Tuesday with their sights set on enhancing their possibilities of collaborating within the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a fourth and sixth straight win, respectively.
* Ottawa, inside placing distance of clinching its first postseason berth since 2016-17, are two factors again of Florida for third place within the Atlantic Division – nevertheless, the Senators wouldn’t overtake their division rivals with a win of any form and a Panthers regulation loss as a result of the latter owns the regulation wins tie-breaker (FLA: 35; OTT: 33). Ottawa can register three straight shutouts for the second time in franchise historical past, following Jan. 9-14, 2003.
* Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (27-57—84 in 77 GP), recent off ‘Second Star’ of the Week honors, has led Montreal’s playoff push because the NHL returned to motion from the 4 Nations Face-Off (12-20—32 in 21 GP); his 32 factors throughout that span are the third most amongst all gamers behind Robert Thomas (8-27—35 in 23 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (9-24—33 in 21 GP).
CROSBY CLOSING IN ON CLIMBING NHL’S ALL-TIME LIST
Two nights after longtime rival Alex Ovechkin turned the NHL’s all-time targets chief, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby appears to climb an all-time record of his personal when Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks go to PPG Paints Area. Crosby (622-1,060—1,682) already has 4 three-assist video games in 2024-25 and would require a fourth to tie Steve Yzerman (1,603 in 1,514 GP) for ninth place on the League’s all-time assists record.
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