"I think 16's a fluke, 17 would have been the streak," defenseman John Carlson said - likely tongue-in-cheek - after his team's 5-0 win, in which he scored and registered an assist, according to the Washington Times' Tommy Chalk.
Columbus finished one victory short of tying the all-time record for most wins in a row, set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Andre Burakovsky, who said before the game his team would have fun ending the Jackets' run, put his money where his mouth was, scoring his fifth of the season.
"I wanted to stop the streak," he said. "Who wouldn't want to stop a streak? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it, for sure. And we did, pretty good game."
Or at least that is the goal in mind as NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly gets set for a business trip to the Asian nation.
With China boasting the largest population in the world and a hockey market that remains largely untapped - though the KHL did expand to China in 2016 - the NHL is hoping to enter the region with the hopes of hosting preseason and eventually regular-season games in the country.
"I think it’s fair to say we hope to be in a position to stage NHL games there, probably initially preseason games and then potentially on a longer-term basis, regular-season games," Daly said, according to Puck Daddy's Josh Cooper. "We’re working on that possibility potentially as early as next year and with this visit, we’ll know a lot more about whether we can pull that off or not."
Daly plans to visit the country and set the ground work before NHL commissioner Gary Bettman pays a visit in the spring. All things considered Daly admits nothing is set in stone at this time.
"I think the hope is certainly we’d like to do it for next year, but I’m not in a position as I sit here right now that it’s definitely going to happen for next year and again part of what we’ll be doing when we’re over there is seeing whether it can happen as early as next year," Daly said. "That’s where I’ll leave it. We have a certain scenario in mind with respect to what can be done, we just have to make sure it can be done before we make any announcements."
To add to the allure of hockey in China is the fact that the country will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, which will take place in the capital of Beijing.
"I think (the Winter Olympics) has created an emphasis on building winter sport in China and obviously we’re a primary winter sport," Daly said. "I think there’s interest and appetite within kind of the governmental circles to make efforts at building hockey infrastructure and we want to be helpful, as the premier professional hockey league in the world, we want to be helpful in building that infrastructure."
It will be interesting to see if such a deal has any pull on the Pyeongchang games with South Korea and China separated by just a short two-hour flight. A decision on whether NHLers will participate at the 2018 Olympics has still not been made.
Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher will be out for a minimum of eight weeks with a fractured left hand after having surgery Thursday night in Montreal, the club announced Friday.
Gallagher was struck by teammate Shea Weber's shot in a win over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. He returned to Montreal to be evaluated after the game.
The winger missed six weeks last season after breaking two fingers in the same hand.
Gallagher's injury is obviously devastating for the Canadiens, and the announcement of his diagnosis comes one day after the club revealed both Alex Galchenyuk and Andrei Markov are nearing returns from their respective significant ailments.
Patrick Kane didn't follow Joel Quenneville's instructions, but it all worked out in the end.
The Chicago Blackhawks head coach wanted his star to come off the ice just before Kane scored the overtime winner to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Thursday night.
"As I was backchecking some of the boys were telling me 'Q' was yelling at me to change," Kane said postgame, according to The Chicago Tribune's Chris Hine. "I don't know if I kind of blew him off but I figured we had a chance there and decided to take it."
Quenneville wasn't upset about it afterward.
"The time I wanted him to come off was the right time, then it was too late and he had to stay," the coach said. "Give him credit. He knows the game and opportunities. It was a great play."
The Blackhawks won for only the second time in their last seven games, and for the first time in their last four contests at United Center in Chicago.
"That could be (a) huge win for us here, especially when you look at halfway point of the season," Kane said. "You lose that one, maybe you start losing a little confidence."
The Hart Trophy winner certainly isn't lacking in that category, and thankfully for Kane, Quenneville gets it.
The United States beat Canada in what's being called one of the greatest gold-medal games ever played at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Thursday, coming out on top 5-4 in a shootout. The U.S. finished the tournament a perfect 7-0.
It's the Americans' third gold in eight tries at the event this decade, tops among all participating nations. Finland's won twice, and Canada, Russia, and Sweden once.
It's the fourth gold medal for the U.S. at the world juniors overall, and the Americans improved to 3-1 against Canada with everything on the line - including 2-0 on Canadian soil.
Here are three reasons why the U.S. got it done Thursday:
Parsons was better than Hart
Joseph Woll was in goal - and played very well - when the Americans beat Canada on New Year's Eve. On Thursday, it was Tyler Parson's turn.
The U.S. went into the final with a marked advantage in goal, and Parsons outplaying Hart is the most critical reason why the Americans woke up smiling Friday morning, while the Canadians got no sleep.
Parsons was brilliant, especially late in the game and in overtime. He finished with 46 saves on 50 shots - good for a .958 save percentage - including 17 in the extra 20 minutes.
Hart stopped 31-of-36 shots, an .861 save percentage, and finished the tournament at a disappointing .9057, sixth among goalies who played at least four games. Parson's final line of .9167 ranked third.
Up 2-0 and 4-2, Hart wasn't able to make the big save when his team needed it most. And while the Canadian 'tender was strong in the shootout, stopping four of five shots, Parsons was better, perfect in fact, stopping all five Canadian shooters.
Gold medal on the line, and Parsons stepped up and grabbed it.
USA: The comeback kids
Canada blew a pair of two-goal leads. That fact makes what the U.S. accomplished - on Canadian ice, no less - that much more impressive.
And as Charlie McAvoy, the U.S.' player of the game, noted, not once did the U.S. think or display any signs that it was going to lose. Not when it was down 2-0, the U.S. coming out determined to start the second period, and not when it was down 4-2, after Canada scored two in just over two minutes less than five minutes into the third period.
And the U.S. came back fast. Down 2-0, its first two goals were scored in six-and-a-half minutes in the second period, and it struck for two in the third period in just over two minutes when facing a 4-2 hole.
It's cliche, but, backs against the wall, the U.S. responded. Twice. On the road. In what was for many of the kids the biggest game of their lives.
No panic, no quit. Full marks to the U.S. for getting to overtime, staying alive, and doing what it needed to do - scoring one goal to Canada's none in the shootout - to get the job done.
Canada faltered when it mattered most
You can't blow a two-goal lead in a gold-medal game. And you really can't blow two of them.
And yet, after watching its 4-2 lead evaporate in the third period only three minutes after again going up by two, Canada still had many chances to win it.
U.S. defenseman Casey Fitzgerald gifted the Canadians a power play with a delay of game penalty with less than nine minutes to play, but Canada was unable to convert. Looking at you, third overall pick in 2016, Pierre-Luc Dubois:
That one, which would have been the tournament winner, is going to haunt him for a long, long time.
While Canada did score one goal on the power play - Nicolas Roy's filthy snipe to make it 3-2 - it finished the game 1-for-6, and couldn't convert at the most opportune time.
Canada had a power play in overtime, too, after the U.S. was hit with a too many men call at the 6:44 mark.
There were chances. In the third period, overtime, and the shootout, in which Canada failed to score once. The Canadians came up empty when it mattered most.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, Jan. 6 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Goalie Breakdown
TARGET - Thomas Greiss (81K), Islanders (at Avalanche): Greiss' salary is absurdly low, as he faces an Avalanche team with the lowest expected goals for per 60 minutes. Colorado's scoring rate actually dips on home ice, offering even more reason to not fear the Islanders' backstop. He has allowed just five goals on his past 113 shots faced.
BARGAIN - Frederick Andersen (75K), Maple Leafs (at Devils): Andersen was torched for six goals on 29 shots by the Washington Capitals in his most recent road start, but he had allowed a total of just three goals in his previous three road games. The Devils are expected to score just 2.17 goals per 60 minutes of 5v5 at home, the fourth-worst rate in the league.
FADE - Cory Schneider (108K), Devils (vs. Maple Leafs): Schneider is the most expensive goalie on Friday's slate; a dangerous proposition when facing the team with the second-highest goals for per 60 projection. Toronto hasn't been held to fewer than three goals in any of their past six games, dating back to Dec. 19.
CONTRARIAN - Scott Darling (100K), Blackhawks (vs. Hurricanes): The Hurricanes and Blackhawks are both on the second half of a back-to-back. While Chicago has the advantage at home, Carolina is only making the short trek from St. Louis. Darling allowed seven goals in his past two starts, but he should rebound against a tired opponent.
Bargain Plays
C Jayson Megna (26K), Canucks (vs. Flames): Listed as a center, Megna is skating on the right side of the Sedin twins at 5v5 and sees time with C Bo Horvat on the second power-play unit. He has just three goals and no assists on the season, but he registered four shots on goal in 14:56 of ice time in his most recent game. He has a favorable role and matchup.
LW Kevin Fiala (29K), Predators (at Panthers): RW James Neal (upper body) was scratched from Thursday's game. Should he remain out of the lineup, Fiala will stay in a first-line role with C Ryan Johansen and LW Filip Forsberg. He has points in consecutive games for the first time all season.
RW Connor Brown (25K), Maple Leafs (at Devils): The oft-forgotten Maple Leafs' rookie, Brown has two goals and two assists in his past two games, while playing on the team's second line with C Auston Matthews. He has played no fewer than 18:29 in each of his past six games, topping out at 21:05 in a game that went to a shootout. He has totaled four goals and four assists in his past six games.
Top Fades
RW Corey Perry (62K), Ducks (vs. Coyotes): The potential return of C Ryan Getzlaf from a brief absence may help, but Perry has gone two games without a point, totaling just two shots on goal. He hasn't hit the 20 minute threshold in any of his past seven games and hasn't scored since Dec. 13.
C Nathan MacKinnon (68K), Avalanche (vs. Islanders): MacKinnon is point-less in his past four games, totaling a meager seven shots on goal. He's routinely among Colorado's TOI leaders, but he's also its priciest option. Owners can find better for less.
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (44K), Coyotes (at Ducks): While Ekman-Larsson tallied four SOG in his second-to-last game, he totaled just three shots in his other four most recent games. The Coyotes have scored as many as three goals just once in their past eight games.
Contrarian Options
D Roman Josi (50K), Predators (at Panthers): Josi played just 23:11 in his most recent game, his lowest TOI total in his past 12 games. The Predators handily beat the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 6-1 Thursday, allowing their workhorse defenseman some extra rest. Don't shy away due to one bad game, his usage will remain high.
RW Kyle Palmieri (63K), Devils (vs. Maple Leafs): Palmieri picked up a goal and an assist in his most recent game, but registered just a single SOG and played just 14:21. His shot count should improve with a matchup against the high pace of the Maple Leafs.
LW Anders Lee (43K), Islanders (at Avalanche): Colorado has the league's fifth-worst Corsi For team on home ice, as they total just 48.56 percent of all shot attempts. Lee had nine goals in December but lucked out from a blistering 24.3 shooting percentage. With more shots available against the Avalanche, he could have success with less luck.
One of Kingston, Ontario's own will be recognized by the city's junior hockey club later this month.
The Kingston Frontenacs will wear jerseys that pay tribute to Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip when the OHL team plays the Mississauga Steelheads on Jan. 28.
(Courtesy: Kingston Frontenacs)
The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game, with net proceeds going to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research through Sunnybrook Hospital.
The Hip's lead singer revealed in May that he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, and the band gave its final performance in Kingston back in August.
"Gord's diagnosis touched our entire organization and everyone we spoke with, from hockey fans to music fans, across Kingston, and Canada," Frontenacs executive director of business operations Justin Chenier said.
"As a team, we've talked about honoring The Tragically Hip and when the reality of Gord's diagnosis set in, we knew we could do something special to honor the band and help raise funds to help with the research for brain cancer."
Chenier explained that the club, along with Ontario-based jersey manufacturer Catstitch, designed the sweaters in the mold of the 1964 Boston Bruins home jerseys to reflect Downie's favorite team and the year he was born.
There's also this terrific deal:
"In the background of the jersey is the name of every album and song recorded and released by the band, from their self-titled 1987 debut to 2016's 'Man Machine Poem,'" Chenier said. "We wanted to include the lyrics of every song they've recorded, but typed in 11-point Arial, the 30,333 words, or 128,380 characters was 45 pages long.”
Kudos to the Frontenacs for this heartfelt and well-thought-out homage.
The San Jose Sharks' bearded star continues to pace all NHL defenseman with 15 goals and 37 points, but Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman - who's been filling some big shoes of late - is nipping at his heels.
Ever since the Lightning were delivered the news that - once again - they'd be without captain Steven Stamkos for the foreseeable future, Hedman has answered the bell.
With a helper in a miserable 6-1 shelling at the hands of the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, Hedman now sits at 36 points amid a torrid streak.
The 26-year-old has posted 23 points in 23 games without Stamkos, but his offensive numbers have quietly flown under the radar - likely in part to the Lightning's lackluster record, coupled with the fact that the majority of Hedman's points have come in the form of assists.
In fact, with 29 helpers on the season Hedman now ranks second in the league, just two shy of Connor McDavid.
So, it should be no surprise that Hedman is on pace to shatter his previous career highs. His seven goals are just six short of the 13 he posted in 2014, while his projected 73 points would eclipse his previous career high - also set in 2014 - by 18 points.
The Lightning will certainly need to elevate their collective play if they hope to vault themselves back into a playoff spot. Everyone sans Hedman, that is, as he's already doing his part.
The U.S. defender won a gold medal Thursday, scoring a goal and an assist in his country's come-from-behind 5-4 shootout win over Canada in enemy territory. He was named the U.S.' player of the game, but what he'll remember most is the noise - and lack thereof at the end.
"We're booed for 80 minutes, in a place that doesn't want us," McAvoy said, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "To come out on top, it's that much sweeter.
"We all grew up idolizing that 2010 (gold-medal winning) team, so to come up here, have the fans all over us, it feels special," he added, according to TSN's Mark Masters.
With the U.S. down 2-0 after 20 minutes, McAvoy got his team back in the game, beating Carter Hart glove side from the slot just over three minutes into the second period.
The U.S. would erase a pair of two-goal deficits before winning in extras.
"No point in this game where we thought that losing was an option," McAvoy added. "We battled. We're (expletive) world champions.
"This is one of the most resilient groups I've ever been a part of. I can't even believe it. We get down 2-0, no panic."
A first-round pick of the Boston Bruins last year, McAvoy's taking a little vacation:
I'll be on cloud 9 if anyone needs me.... World Champions #USA 🇺🇸
Dylan Strome's time with the Canadian junior squad officially came to an end Thursday night, and the 19-year-old leaves with what he didn't want: a silver medal.
Canada's leading scorer heading into Thursday's final was held scoreless by the Americans in the gold-medal game, a 5-4 U.S. decision in a shootout. Instead of lamenting the fact a skills competition decided the winner, Strome gave the U.S. the respect it deserves after an impressive comeback.
"(Tyler Parsons) stops five guys in a row in a shootout, they deserve to win," Strome said, according to TSN's Mark Masters.
Tears flowed freely in Canada's dressing room, Strome admitted, but Canada's captain is proud of what his team accomplished.
Proud to be Canadian. Made 21 new brothers, love all of you.
He finished his world juniors career with seven goals and nine assists in 12 games. While gold was elusive, he's leaving with hardware this year, and that means something after Canada's sixth-place showing in 2016.
Mathew Barzal's world juniors career is over, too. And he took the loss extremely hard.
"I gave it everything I had," he said. "I don't think I've ever wanted to win something so bad and played so hard."
