Each week, I’ll bring you random numbers from around the NHL.
0
The number of 0-0 games going into overtime this season before Thursday night: The Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils became the first game to accomplish that.
Last season, 10 games went into overtime 0-0. The Rangers and Flyers were each involved in four.
3
Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild is the third goaltender (since 1967-68) to post 3 consecutive shutouts multiple times in his career. The other two? Brian Elliot (three times) and Roberto Luongo (twice). (via @EliasSports)
12
How many goals that were scored when the New Jersey Devils defeated the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, making it the third highest goal total in a game this season. The Lightning beat the Panthers 8-5 on October 30, while the Leafs defeated the Rangers 8-5 on October 7.
The highest goal total in one game in NHL history happened in January 1920. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto St. Pat’s, 14-7 (maybe the era had something to do with that). The Habs also hold the record for most goals scored by one team in a game, potting 16 two months later in March 1920 against the Quebec Bulldogs, en route to a 16-3 victory.
5
How many assists Islanders rookie standout Mathew Barzal tallied in a 6-4 victory against the Avalanche. A story about Barzal from Elliotte Friedman’s “31 things” column, a weekly must-read for hockey fans.
Barzal is a confident lad. There is a story about him that made me want to talk to him. During one of his draft interviews, a team asked him, “Why should we pick you?” Word is he answered something along the lines of, “Don’t, and we’ll see how it works out.”
[Fischler: How High Is Barzal’s Ceiling?]
7
How many consecutive games Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk had at least one point, from October 28 to Wednesday. The New Rochelle native is currently second in points and goals among defensemen in the NHL.
2
Jimmy Vesey scored two goals in 29 seconds against the Boston Bruins on November 9. Days later, 2, was also the number of teeth lodged in his lip … ouch. #hockeyguy
The fastest two goals scored in NHL history was 2 seconds, a mark most recently seen in January 2016 in a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.
4
Roberto Luongo’s place in history among all-time wins by a goaltender. He surpassed Curtis Joseph after a November 10 victory.
Luongo (457) is now within striking distance of Ed Belfour at #3 (484). Patrick Roy (551) and Martin Brodeur (691) round out the top-4.
Brodeur is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018, his first year of eligibility. Patrick Roy was inducted in 2006, Belfour in 2011. There is no doubt that the Olympic Gold Medalist Luongo, even if the Stanley Cup has evaded him in his career thus far, will one day himself get the call (realistically, he should qualify for his tweets alone).