Karlsson and the Senators put a beating on the Maple Leafs, Crosby kept a good thing going, the Canadiens came away with a win, and more in six things we learned in the NHL.
You can’t spell Norris without Karlsson
The Ottawa Senators flat out embarrassed the Toronto Maple Leafs to the tune of a 6-1 thumping Saturday night.
Erik Karlsson was his usual dominant self, totaling four assists in a relatively light 24 minutes and 30 seconds of work. Nobody logs as much ice time as the Senators two-time Norris Trophy winner, who is averaging 28:48 per night.
Karlsson raised his season point total to 59 (11 goals, 48 assists) and currently sits in second behind Patrick Kane for the NHL scoring lead. Impressive? Most impressive.
Also impressive in Saturday’s Battle of Ontario: Mark Stone managed to avoid serious injury when Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul‘s skate blade came up and nearly left him looking like a Hannibal Lecter victim.
Stone made his way to the dressing room, but likely the only thing in need of repair was his visor.
Crosby, Letang come up big
The Pittsburgh Penguins were staring down a 2-0 deficit with just over five minutes in the third period Saturday night versus the Florida Panthers.
Enter: Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang.
Letang brought the Penguins to within one while Crosby pulled them even with just over one minute to go in regulation. Letang potted the game-winner on a feed from Crosby with the man advantage at 1:27 of the overtime period. Both players finished with three points.
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Crosby extended his point-scoring streak to 10 games and moved into a tie with Evgeni Malkin for the team lead. The 28-year-old superstar is now 10th in NHL scoring. Crosby notched his 900th career point on Letang’s first goal and finished the night with 902 on his resume.
It wasn’t all bad news for the surprising Panthers. The BB&T Center attracted 20,295 fans Saturday night, which stands as a season-high attendance figure and third-largest ever for the franchise.
Plekanec comes alive, powers Canadiens to win
Tomas Plekanec totaled a goal and three assists to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers Saturday afternoon.
Plekanec had just one point in his previous seven games before exploding for his seventh multi-point effort of the season.
It was just the sixth win in 27 games for the Canadiens, who also put the brakes on a four-game losing streak.
Oilers rookie Connor McDavid was held pointless for the first time in three games since returning from a three month layoff with a broken clavicle.
Ferland does Ferland things in Flames’ win
Calgary Flames forward Micheal Ferland made quite an impression last spring when he put forth a very physical effort in the Calgary Flames’ first-round playoff upset of the Vancouver Canucks.
The 23-year-old was at it again early in the Flames’ 4-1 win over Vancouver Saturday night, laying some body on Daniel Sedin and taking a run at Henrik, too. Luca Sbisa attempted to answer the call.
Safe to say Canucks fans have seen enough of Ferland. He’s done his job.
Anisimov’s big night paces Blackhawks to win
Artem Anisimov scored a short-handed goal and notched three assists to record the second four-point game of his career in the Chicago Blackhawks‘ 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars.
Anisimov’s first four-point performance came on January 19, 2011 when he piled up four assists for the New York Rangers in a 7-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Chicago effectively quieted any discussion over who is the most dominant team in the competitive Central Division on this night. Corey Crawford made 36 saves for his 30th win of the season, which puts him one behind Braden Holtby for most in the NHL.
The 31-year-old is enjoying his finest NHL season, sitting in third with a .931 save percentage and sixth with a 2.12 goals-against average.
Marchand, Bruins frustrate Sabres in controversial OT win
The Boston Bruins topped the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in overtime behind a penalty shot goal by Brad Marchand.
Marchand was awarded the shot after getting tanlged up with Sabres defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen during the overtime period. He put the puck past Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner. The Sabres were not happy with the call.
Lehner let his feelings be known and tossed his mask before making his way off the ice.
The Sabres have good cause to be upset. Marchand never appeared to breakaway from Ristolainen on the play. File this one under ‘frustrating loss.’
With files from Associated Press