• Jagr passes Howe again
• Crosby keeps pace in scoring race
• Flames’ veterans lead them back into top three
A little over one year ago, Jaromir Jagr passed Gordie Howe on the all-time points list, and on Friday he moved past Mr. Hockey on yet another register.
Just over one minute into the second period of the game between the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers, Jagr tipped a shot on net and Jonathan Huberdeau tapped in the rebound to move the 45-year-old into a tie with Howe with 268 points recorded after the age of 40.
Shortly after the third period began, Jagr took sole possession after this nifty pass.
Jagr’s advanced age has done nothing to hinder his performance in the NHL. In 70 games played this season, he has managed to score 14 goals and add 25 assists which has him sitting in fourth in team scoring.
It seems like he certainly has a lot left in the tank and when reporters asked him about the historic night after the game he certainly (jokingly) hinted that he’ll be around for years to come.
Regardless if he plays for one, five or ten more years, one thing is for certain: Jagr’s still got it.
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Crosby keeps pace and Kessel bounces back
Just one night after Brad Marchand scored his 37th goal to lead the league in goals, Crosby came storming back in the NHL’s scoring race.
Crosby was on the hunt on Friday firing one-timer after one-timer at the net before he finally converted on one on the power play near the end of the first. As the game came to a close, he buried his second goal in the empty net to pull him into a tie with Marchand atop the league’s scoring charts. He had a total of three points on the night to close the gap on the Art Ross Trophy race as well where his 77 points are just two back of the co-leaders Connor McDavid and Marchand.
His assist was the 640th of his career which brings him into a tie for second with Jagr for most assists with the Penguins all-time. Mario Lemieux sits at the top of that category with 1,033.
Phil Kessel entered Friday’s game mired in a 13-game goal-scoring drought. Head coach Mike Sullivan decided to experiment to see if he could kickstart his prolific scorer.
In a move that makes Sullivan look like a genius, his tinkering worked and Kessel found the back of the net just 6:37 into the game.
Flames’ veterans propel them past Oilers again
The battle of Alberta is alive and well as the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers continue to jockey for position in the Pacific Division. Both teams continue to win and take turns usurping each other for third place.
On Friday night it was Calgary’s veteran players that continue to lead their young core to victory. Brian Elliott picked up his 10th straight win and Flames captain Mark Giordano registered points on all three of Calgary’s goals, including this seeing-eye shot from the blue line.
Over the course of Eliott’s winning streak, he has picked up two shutouts and has only allowed more than two goals in two games, while Giordano has been consistently contributing from the backend with nine points during that span.
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