5 things we learned in NHL: Senators’ road woes continue

Nick Schmaltz scored the winning goal in the shootout to get the Blackhawks a 3-2 win over the Senators.

On a night when all eyes were focused on women’s hockey in Pyeongchang, you’d be excused for not keeping up with the trio of NHL games going on.

Here are five things we learned in the NHL on Wednesday night, while the world was watching an incredible battle for gold half a world away.

Senators’ road woes continue

The Ottawa Senators‘ bad road luck continued on Wednesday — quite literally, as their trip to the rink was interrupted by a minor bus accident. Luckily, no one was harmed.

Their luck didn’t get much better once the puck dropped against the Chicago Blackhawks, losing 3-2 in a shootout. It was their fifth straight road loss, bringing their road record to 7-17-5. Their seven road wins is the lowest across the league, and another sore spot in an overwhelmingly disappointing season for the Senators — and one increasingly filled with trade speculation as the deadline draws near.

Duchene keeps rolling

One bright spot in Ottawa? The play of Matt Duchene.

He tied up Wednesday’s game with a beautiful shot, continuing his hot streak since the turn of the year.

It took a while for the forward to get rolling with his new club, but he’s certainly got plenty of momentum now. He now has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in his past 21 games — this, after registering just six points in his first 24 games with the club.

And now, for a live look-in at Pyeongchang:

Getzlaf completes Hail Mary pass (to himself)

You don’t see this too often…

During Wednesday night’s game between the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars, Ryan Getzlaf flipped a puck up and over Dallas’ defenders, Hail Mary-style… and then completed the play himself for a short-handed marker.

That’s not your average dump-in. Bonus points for creativity from the captain here to help his club to a 2-0 victory.

Meanwhile, in South Korea…

Dougie does it again

Calgary Flames defenceman Dougie Hamilton has been looking unstoppable lately, and he had another highlight-worthy performance Wednesday night against the Golden Knights.

He arrived at the rink in Vegas with 13 goals on the season, tied for his personal best, and he one-upped his own record with an absolutely gorgeous tight-angle shot.

We thought he had two on the night, but his second was later credited to Matthew Tkachuk.

Hamilton now has five goals in his past four games (he had a hat trick Saturday against the Panthers). His 14 goals on the season ranks him second behind only P.K. Subban for the league lead in that category among defencemen.

And now, if your nerves will allow, back to the Gangneung Hockey Centre…

Vegas makes (more) history

The Golden Knights wound up with a big 7-3 victory over the Flames thanks to a strong third period, and earned themselves some pretty cool history in the process:

…And what a game between Canada and USA, with Canada claiming silver following an American shootout victory.

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