Marc-Andre Fleury moved up a spot on the NHL’s all-time shutouts list, the Flames were victorious despite another scoreless first period, the Rangers slowed down the streaking Bruins and John Scott scored a goal.
Here are three more things we learned Wednesday:
Perron sticks it to former club
David Perron’s return to Edmonton was the main storyline heading into Wednesday’s action and it delivered. Perron, playing on a line with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz, was all over the ice as his current team blanked his former team 2-0. Perron ran over goalie Viktor Fasth, was dinged two minutes for a hook, scored a fluky goal with less than one second remaining in the second period and was involved in a scrum near the Oilers bench towards the end of the game.
Whenever Perron was on the ice something notable happened. No surprise his name was trending on Twitter in Canada all throughout the game.
ATTENTION Rogers and Shaw customers.
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Rick Nash has never played better
The criticism Nash faced last year for his underwhelming post-season performance – 10 points in 25 games as his Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup final – is so far in the rear-view mirror it’s almost like it never happened. The 30-year-old Brampton, Ont., native buried his 32nd of the year Wednesday to leapfrog Alex Ovechkin for the league lead in goals. He also added an assist as the Rangers beat the Boston Bruins 3-2. Nash is on pace to set a new career high in goals, which is quite the accomplishment considering he has been one of the most consistent scorers since being drafted first overall by the Blue Jackets in 2002 and has a Rocket Richard Trophy on his mantle.
He’s not only having arguably the best season of his NHL career, but he’s in the midst of the best season from a Rangers forward since Marian Gaborik’s first year with the team back in 2009-10. Nash is tied for the league lead in short-handed goals and is simply deadly on a breakaway. Tuukka Rask found that out the hard way.
Mike Richards is a pretty decent AHL player
In his second game with the Manchester Monarchs, Mike Richards showed he doesn’t quite belong there. The 704-game NHL veteran registered a goal and two assists as the Monarchs beat the Albany Devils 4-1. It’s not often a player scores his first regular season AHL goal at the age of 29. Then again, it’s not often you see a player of Richards’ calibre in the AHL.
“I’m getting used to playing with the same linemates, and getting to know them a little bit better,” Richards told reporters after the game. “I thought we made some plays tonight, but still have some things to work on.”
Was Richards underperforming for the Los Angeles Kings this season? Yes. Is managing the salary cap difficult in today’s NHL? Sure. Does having a player like Richards toiling away in the minors simply because he makes a lot of money seem right? Not at all.