5 things we learned in the NHL: Hall continues historic run

NHL insider Chris Johnston joins Shawn McKenzie to discuss the performance of Frederik Andersen and what the Toronto Maple Leafs could be doing at the NHL trade deadline.

A heavy workload, an all-star move and a couple of streaks. Here are five things we learned in the NHL on Tuesday night.

Andersen at his best when he’s busy

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen may not be the best gamer on the team, but he was certainly on his game Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers.

Andersen earned his fifth shutout of the season on a busy night, facing 40 shots and reminding us all that he’s at his best when he’s at his busiest.

According to Sportsnet Stats, Andersen has a 7-0-2 record when facing 40 or more shots.

Looks like the ACC is a good place to be these days.

Hall continues historic run

There’s no hotter player in the NHL right now than Taylor Hall.

The New Jersey Devils winger slipped the puck past Sergei Bobrovsky in the second period of Tuesday’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, padding his historic personal point streak to a franchise-best 19 games.

Hall now has 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points during his personal 19-game streak as the Devils jockey for playoff position.

You have to turn back the calendar to find the last time Hall played a game and didn’t get on the score sheet. He started 2018 off with points in seven straight games, then picked up where he left off after being sidelined three contests with a hand injury, registering 14 points in the past dozen games since returning.

Hall has 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 54 games with the Devils this season.

Flyers riding another streak

The Philadelphia Flyers are currently sitting in the playoff picture, and it’s been a pretty wild ride to get there.

The club has now had three separate win streaks consisting of six or more consecutive wins each to get them within reach of the division’s top spot. This, after struggling through 10 straight losses early in the season.

Tuesday’s win, a 3-2 overtime victory, was their seventh win in eight games, and their eighth straight game with a point (they lost in a shootout to the Devils a week ago).

We see you, Eagles.

Kucherov still in All-Star mode

All-Star Weekend has come and gone, but not if your name is Nikita Kucherov.

The Tampa Bay Lightning‘s leading scorer fooled Braden Holtby Tuesday night when he went five-hole on the Washington Capitals netminder for his 32nd goal of the season to help his club to a 4-2 victory.

Look familiar? Kucherov scored the exact same goal — against the exact same goalie — during the All-Star Game a few weeks ago.

He has also pulled it off against Buffalo Sabres netminder Robin Lehner before, too.

Kucherov’s teammates got a few laughs out of the move (or non-move).

Goalies of the league, take note. You can bet that Holtby won’t let himself be fooled by that move a third time.

Phaneuf embracing life as a King

It hasn’t taken long for Dion Phaneuf to get comfortable with his new club. The 32-year-old defenceman was traded to Los Angeles by the Ottawa Senators last week, and he’s already got three goals to his name in the four games since becoming a King — all on the power-play, too.

His third goal of the week came during Tuesday night’s 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, and matches his season total with the Senators through 53 games in Ottawa (he also had 13 assists with the Senators this season).

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