Shoot all you want, Sergei Bobrovsky is not about to let you pile up goals.
The Columbus Blue Jackets netminder made that abundantly clear during his club's 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, turning aside 41 shots to earn the victory.
Columbus' win marked the fourth straight game in which Bobrovsky has registered 35 or more saves. He's allowed no more than one goal in any of those appearances:
Game
Shots Against
Saves
vs. Devils (Mar. 19th)
36
35
vs. Capitals (Mar. 23rd)
45
44
vs. Flyers (Mar. 25th)
36
36
vs. Sabres (Mar. 28th)
42
41
Bobrovsky entered the Tuesday night tilt as the league leader in save percentage, goals against average, and wins, while ranking second in shutouts - his seven blank sheets are just one fewer than Braden Holtby's eight.
The Russian backstopper has now won nine of his past 10 appearances, further increasing his already strong chances at a second career Vezina Trophy win.
The Winnipeg Jets forward scored a brilliant goal Tuesday, going end to end, fighting off one Devils forward, dangling past another two New Jersey players, before roofing the puck past Cory Schneider.
Oh, and it was a shorthanded marker, if it wasn't already ridiculous enough. There's more: The goal tied the game at 3-3, and the Jets took the extra point in the shootout.
No. 9 on the season for Armia, but definitely No. 1 in his heart.
The Detroit Red Wings netminder sprawled to make a dazzling glove stop, keeping the score at 3-0 for Carolina and leaving Rask searching for his first goal in two weeks.
Reimer covered up a loose puck at the side of the net, and Boyle caught him on the head - accidentally, by the looks of it - as he skated around the cage.
The netminder was ruled out of the remainder of the game with an upper-body injury. He's had issue with concussions in the past. Reto Berra replaced him.
Reimer was actually unable to finish Monday's game in Buffalo, after he was collided with, again taking a shot to the head.
The Panthers are still alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but need every win they can get their hands on - and some help.
Midway through the first period, Parise took a stick to the face from Tom Wilson near center ice, before colliding with Jay Beagle as he fell.
The winger was in considerable pain before he eventually left the ice and headed down the tunnel. Wilson was handed a double-minor penalty for the incident.
USA Hockey and the U.S. women's national team have reached a four-year agreement "that will result in groundbreaking support" for the program, USA Hockey announced Tuesday.
The deal ensures the national team will compete at this year's women's world championship, which begins Friday in Plymouth, Mich.
Major increases in compensation, travel and insurance benefits and a committee to give women more of a voice in USA Hockey.
"Today reflects everyone coming together and compromising in order to reach a resolution for the betterment of the sport," USA Hockey president Jim Smith said. "We'll now move forward together knowing we'll look back on this day as one of the most positive in the history of USA Hockey."
The team planned to boycott the world championship unless a deal was struck, citing unfair wages and a lack of support for the players. While negotiations and dialogue between the two parties were ongoing, time was fast running out for an agreement to be reached, especially with the U.S. hosting the tournament.
The team will practice Thursday, and will host Canada on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The women's team will now earn performance-related bonuses for the first time, and players could see their incomes reach six figures with world championship and Olympic titles.
A gold medal is worth $20,000 to the team, and a silver $15,000.
Each national team member will receive a $2,000 monthly stipend, regardless of experience. Before this agreement, newer team members were earning between $750 and $2,000, based on experience.
Travel, insurance, and per diem amounts will now be the same for the women as they are for the men's team.
Committees will be established for marketing, scheduling, and public relations recommendations, and a foundation position will be created to focus on fundraising, which pales in comparison to the U.S. boys' developmental team and the USHL.
"Our sport is a big winner today. We stood up for what we thought was right and USA Hockey's leadership listened," captain Meghan Duggan said. "I'm proud of my teammates and can't thank everyone who supported us enough."
The dispute became a major story in hockey circles, with NHLers chiming in, and support for the team coming in droves on social media.
"I'm glad we could come together and reach and arrangement that will have a positive and lasting impact," forward Hilary Knight said.
It's been a banner rookie season for the kid from Arizona for a number of reasons, but at 19 years old he's already proven he can score in the NHL, and will do so for a long time.
Auston Matthews is only the 11th player since 1990 to score 35 goals in his first 75 games in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/MqZ92gdYm0
Clark scored 34 in his rookie season of 1985-86, but the two players were already linked in Maple Leafs history, as they're the only two first overall picks Toronto has made in the draft.
Matthews leads Toronto with 62 points on the season, and is trailed by fellow rookies William Nylander - who extended his Maple Leafs rookie-record points streak to 12 games with an assist on Matthews' goal - and Mitch Marner.
In fact, Matthews' goal moves him into a tie for fourth in the league with Vladimir Tarasenko, and pushes him one ahead of Patrik Laine for the rookie NHL lead. Laine, though, has played seven fewer games than Matthews.
And all these goals are great for Matthews' wallet.
He's in line for a $2-million bonus - one the Maple Leafs will gladly pay - should he finish in the top 10 in the league, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.
The kids are the future for the Maple Leafs, and it appears the future has arrived a lot earlier than anyone imagined it would.