Big Sunday in the NHL anyway, as eight games were featured. Here are the results:
That’s a wrap on an eight-game Sunday in the NHL!#NHLStats: https://t.co/zgoFkYFN2J pic.twitter.com/rMxRyz6M3D
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) 9 January 2023
1. Reinforcement to the Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson, injured since the start of the season, participated in their first game of the season for the Capitals.
Washington won 1-0 and the two were scoreless.
Sunday victory!#CapsJackets | #ALCAPS pic.twitter.com/7lAwrAXpz0
—Washington Capitals (@Capitals) 9 January 2023
However, their return is good news for the Caps, who were missing blow in attack without these two strikers.
The only goal was scored by Erik Gustafsson (who else?).
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper shut out the Blue Jackets with a 38-save performance.
2. David Pastrnak pays the Ducks
Be that as it may, David Pastrnak had quite the outing last night against the Anaheim Ducks. In fact, the Slovakian winger scored his 30th, 31st and 32nd goals of the season.
Not only did he reach the 30 goal mark, but he also scored a hat trick.
DAVID PASTRNAK HAT TRICK!!! 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/1KaikXqzUo
— NHL (@NHL) 9 January 2023
Let’s say Pastrnak wants to be paid a lot of money at the end of the season. The 88er has 57 points in 40 games this season.
He became the third player this season to reach the amazing 30 goals.
David Pastrnak opened the scoring for @NHLBruins and became the third player to reach the 30-goal mark this season, joining Connor McDavid and Tage Thompson.#NHLStats: https://t.co/zgoFkYFfdb pic.twitter.com/yfnyXyobaT
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) 9 January 2023
3. Hattrick for Kyle Connor
Another who had a strong game and scored three goals was Kyle Connor.
KYLE CONNOR HAT TRICK!!! 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/uZXpf63FzW
— NHL (@NHL) 8 January 2023
It was his fourth career hat trick.
In Jet’s history, he is linked to Nikolaj Ehlers.
Kyle Connor recorded his fourth career hat trick – tied with Nikolaj Ehlers for fourth most in @NHLJets / Thrashers history, trailing only Ilya Kovalchuk (11), Patrik Laine (8) and Mark Scheifele (7).#NHLStats: https://t.co/zgoFkYFfdb pic.twitter.com/JpnwwwXEnN
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) 8 January 2023
Speaking of Ehlers, he also had three points.
After being shut out in his fourth game of the season on Friday and his first since October 17, the Dane has made his case.
This season he has eight points and let’s just say his comeback is doing his team a lot of good.
4. Another 20-goal season for Auston Matthews
In a 6-2 Leafs thaw against the Flyers, Auston Matthews scored the insurance goal on a late power play.
Unlike last year, he doesn’t lead the league in goals, but he still gets the job done. Yesterday, he hit the 20-goal mark for a seventh straight season to start his career.
Auston Matthews became just the third American-born player in NHL history to begin his career with seven or more consecutive 20-goal seasons, joining Patrick Kane (13) and Jimmy Carson (7).#NHLStats: https://t.co/zgoFkYFN2J pic.twitter.com/jVohhCBSAt
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) 9 January 2023
He is the fifth player in franchise history to score in seven consecutive seasons.
Among American players in history, he is only the third player to begin his career with as many 20-goal seasons.
In the win, Conor Timmins scored his first NHL goal.
🚨 FIRST IN HIS CAREER FOR TIMMINS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/rlS1wK7oxp
—Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) 9 January 2023
Expansion
– Here is the state of the forces in the Atlantic.
– Pasta and Pierre-Luc Dubois lead the prosecution.
– Four games on the pitch tonight.
