Gaudreau paced the Flames with another December hat trick, Jagr is a treasure, Montreal could use a break, and more in 6 things we learned in the NHL.
Gaudreau is having a December
Johnny Gaudreau recorded his second hat trick in the month of December in a 4-1 Calgary Flames win over the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday.
Gaudreau put up three in a win versus the Bruins on December 4, too. The 22-year-old has 10 goals and 16 points in 10 games this month.
His first goal of the night was the 100th point of his young career. Gaudreau’s up to 15 goals and 37 points in 34 games this season.
There’s work to be done in Calgary, but 10 straight wins at home is certainly nothing to sneeze at.
Jagr gives the gift of forgiveness
Ageless Florida Panthers star Jaromir Jagr took an accidental high stick from Ottawa Senators forward Alex Chiasson midway through the first period of his club’s 2-1 shootout win Tuesday.
Jagr was left bloodied, and without his two front teeth. He ain’t mad, though.
The future Hall of Famer extended a pat on the helmet to Chiasson on his way to the dressing room as a symbol of forgiveness.
Canadiens limp into holiday break
Minnesota Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves, sending the Montreal Canadiens to their fifth straight loss Tuesday.
The Canadiens entered December with a 19-4-3 record, but currently sit 20-13-3 while maintaining a slim lead atop the Atlantic Division. The loss of Carey Price and the inadequate play of fill-ins Dustin Tokarski and Mike Condon has compounded the Canadiens’ inability to score.
Montreal has scored just five times during their five-game skid, and they have just 15 goals in their last 10 contests.
It’s been a long a time since we’ve had a Domi fighting major
Arizona Coyotes rookie Max Domi picked up his first career fighting major in a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs when he wrestled with Peter Holland in the second period.
Sportsnet’s stats department informed us that Domi’s fighting major was the first “Domi fighting major” since his father Tie earned one on April 16, 2006 in a dance with former Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jay McKee.
That makes 3,537 days between Domi NHL fighting majors. Far too long.
‘Tis the season to feel bad for Boudreau
It’s never nice to see someone lose a job, and doubly so when it’s during the holiday season.
Bruce Boudreau has warmed the hot seat to its maximum temperature as his Anaheim Ducks enter the break in the Western Conference basement. Anaheim fell 3-2 to the New York Rangers in OT Tuesday, scoring two or less goals for the eighth time in eight games in the month of December.
Nobody’s scored less than the Ducks. Something’s gotta give and it could very well be Boudreau’s position behind the bench that goes first.
Anaheim’s problems are many, but nothing has been quite as confounding as the seeming disappearance of Ryan Getzlaf‘s offensive prowess.
Getzlaf has one goal this season, an empty-net marker versus the Carolina Hurricanes. In fact, you would have to go back to an April 30 playoff game against the Calgary Flames to find Getzlaf’s last instance of scoring a goal with a goaltender in the net. 43 games.
Jack Edwards is one of a kind
Boston Bruins play-by-play man Jack Edwards has been known to get fired up now and then when fists start flying. The NESN broadcaster took a different approach when Bruins’ Tyler Randell hooked up with St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves in some third period fisticuffs Tuesday.
Edwards serenaded the proceedings with a version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The Blues snapped the Bruins’ three-game win streak with a 2-0 win. That makes five shutouts for Jake Allen.
