That's because 22-year-old netminder Ken Appleby was lights out after being thrust into action in relief of starter Keith Kinkaid. Appleby stopped all 24 shots he faced after entering the game midway through the first period when Kinkaid was injured and did not return.
Appleby was recalled on an emergency basis from the Devils' AHL affiliate in Binghamton on Friday due to a sickness to starter Cory Schneider.
In 14 games for the Binghamton Devils this season, Appleby has registered a 5-8-1 record, a 3.21 goals-against average, and an .888 save percentage.
The two hottest teams in the NHL will look to extend impressive runs Saturday.
Few expected the Colorado Avalanche to be this good after last season's atrocious finish, but they've been one of the best stories in the league so far and have squeezed into the second Western Conference wild-card spot with eight straight victories.
The Calgary Flames have been on a torrid stretch of their own, too, with seven straight wins propelling them to third in the Pacific Division.
Here's a quick look at how both teams have done it:
Avalanche
Date
Opponent
Score
12/29/17
TOR
4-3(OT)
12/31/17
NYI
6-1
1/2/18
WPG
3-2(OT)
1/4/18
CBJ
2-0
1/6/18
MIN
7-2
1/13/18
@DAL
4-1
1/15/18
ANA
3-1
1/18/18
SJ
5-3
Flames
Date
Opponent
Score
12/31/17
CHI
4-3(OT)
1/4/18
LA
4-3
1/6/18
ANA
3-2
1/9/18
@MIN
3-2(OT)
1/11/18
@TB
5-1
1/12/18
@FLA
4-2
1/14/18
@CAR
4-1
The Avalanche run has been longer, but Colorado has had to play only once on the road during its eight-game streak, while four of the Flames' seven wins have been accomplished away from home.
Here's how the two clubs stack up statistically over this stretch:
Category
COL
CGY
Goals/G
4.25
3.86
Goals Allowed/G
1.62
2.00
Goal Differential
+2.63
+1.86
Power Play
32.1% (9-for-28)
25% (5-for-20)
Penalty Kill
93.1% (27-for-29)
91.6 (22-for-24)
Both teams have been great at limiting opposing power-play goals and have had plenty of success with their own man advantages.
The Avalanche have the edge in everything here, but not by much. Both teams deserve credit for their play on special teams and overall.
Jonathan Bernier's stellar play in goal has been a major reason for Colorado's sub-two GAA during their streak, and Nathan MacKinnon has amassed seven goals and 10 assists over the eight-game span.
Johnny Gaudreau has 13 points for the Flames during the seven-game stretch, and Sean Monahan scored four goals in six games before missing Calgary's most recent victory with the flu.
The Avalanche will try to extend their streak to nine Saturday in a matinee against the New York Rangers, while the Flames host the Winnipeg Jets in another afternoon affair.
Not Patrik Laine. Not Tyler Seguin. Not even Vladimir Tarasenko. None of those All-Star-caliber players were first in the Western Conference to hit the 25-goal mark this season.
That honor goes to the criminally underrated Vegas Golden Knights pivot William Karlsson, as the relatively unknown 25-year-old has quietly grown into one of the NHL's hottest goal-scorers.
Karlsson is currently on a steal of a deal at one year for only $1 million, becoming a restricted free agent on July 1.
Given general manager George McPhee's propensity to hand out extensions recently and Karlsson's tendency to tickle twine, now is the perfect time to project what the talented forward could make come summer.
The numbers
One thing should be made clear off the jump: Karlsson's body of work isn't exactly expansive in terms of point production. But, that doesn't change the fact that he has lit the lamp more than any other Western Conference forward this season. That, on its own, should see his $1-million price tag increase exponentially.
Take a look at his numbers through 45 games this season:
Goals
Assists
Points
GWG
CF%
S%
25
14
39
5
55.2
26
Of course, Karlsson's gaudy shooting percentage is bound to come down at some point. But the smooth-skating Swede still owns impressive possession numbers and plays a responsible two-way game with poise in all three zones.
The 2011 second-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks didn't exactly enter the show and take the league by storm, as Karlsson only managed 18 goals and two assists over 183 regular-season games for the Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets. But he's elevated his play this season to a level that has begun to turn heads.
Karlsson isn't going to become a top-10 paid player off of only one exceptional season, but he has already done more than enough to secure himself a pretty payday once the season ends.
And it's only January.
The comparables
Given Karlsson's relative lack of track record, determining his exact annual-average value and term is a bit tricky. But given his age, solid season (on pace for 46 goals), and ability to play responsible hockey at both ends of the ice, don't be surprised if his contract falls into the four-to-five year range at roughly $5 million per season.
Here are some long-term deals signed since the start of September that can be used as measuring sticks:
Player (Team)
Age
Length
Value
AAV
Jonathan Marchessault (Knights)
27
6 years
$30M
$5M
Bryan Little (Jets)
30
6 years
$31.75M
$5.2M
Kyle Turris (Predators)
28
6 years
$36M
$6M
Alexander Wennberg (Blue Jackets)
22
6 years
$29.4M
$4.9M
Karlsson falls in the middle of the above players' age range, but their annual-average values and term could line up very closely with what he should receive.
Naturally, the aforementioned four players have more distinguished NHL credentials. But considering Karlsson's individual success along with that of the team as a group, expect McPhee to ink his underappreciated sniper to a significant contract, sooner than later.
Future in Vegas
The last thing to consider when it comes to projecting how long and how much Vegas is willing to offer Karlsson, is how well he fits into the Golden Knights' future plans.
As of now, Karlsson is meshing with his linemates like spaghetti and meatballs, as Vegas' top line of Marchessault, Karlsson, and James Neal has arguably been one the best in the business of late. Those three players account for just over 40 percent of the Knights' goal output, and has been one of the club's most lethal offensive combinations.
With a goal from James Neal, the @GoldenKnights now have two 20-goal men as he joins teammate William Karlsson on this list of rapid pace expansion team scorers pic.twitter.com/xsjIt6f1Z7
Entering Saturday, the Knights sit fourth in league scoring with 150 total goals while also holding down second overall in the league standings - just one-point shy of the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.
A lot of that has to do with the chemistry of Gerard Gallant's top-six group.
McPhee has already shown his commitment to winning with the long-term signing of Marchessault. With that and his stellar season in mind, Karlsson's big payday could be just around the corner.
Neal was drafted 33rd overall by the Dallas Stars in 2005 and scored 24 goals as a rookie in 2008-09. His lowest single-season total is 21, recorded in 2012-13 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he appeared in only 40 games that season.
He hit his high the season prior, scoring 40 goals for the Penguins.
With 20 goals through 45 games, Neal is on pace for 36 over a full 82-game season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
It's been a well-traveled year for Niemi, who began the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, only to be placed on waivers just one month into his start with the defending Stanley Cup champions after some early struggles.
Though the veteran goaltender was claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers, Niemi was once again released - having played just two games. The Canadiens came calling this time around, in need of a goalie with then backup Al Montoya on the mend.
Team
Games
Record
SV%
GAA
Penguins
3
0-3-0
.797
7.49
Panthers
2
0-1-0
.872
5.11
Canadiens
5
1-1-1
.919
2.59
Three teams, 10 games, and too many goals allowed. And while it's been a hectic season for Niemi, he was a calming presence Friday, as he turned aside 24 shots in the Canadiens' win.
Prior to Friday, his most recent victory came last April as a member of the Dallas Stars.
With the Vegas Golden Knights visiting the BB&T Center, it was the perfect opportunity for the Panthers to recognize former coach and current Golden Knights bench Gerard Gallant, who was making his first return to Sunrise.
Gallant posted a 96-65-25 record over part of three years in Florida before being unceremoniously dumped last season.
Owning a 11-10-1 record at the time of his dismissal, Gallant was only months removed from the best season in Panthers' franchise history, when the team put together a 47-win campaign. He remains the third-winningest coach in franchise history, trailing only Jacques Martin (110) and Peter Deboer (103).
Following his Florida firing, Gallant was hired as the first coach of the expansion Golden Knights. The results have been impressive, as Vegas sits atop the Western Conference with a 30-11-3 showing through 44 games, while Gallant could be a shoo-in for Coach of the Year honors.
Gallant was a Jack Adams finalist with the Panthers in 2015-16.
"Andersen doesn't say much, but when he says something, people listen up," Matthews said Friday after practice, per Chris Stevenson of NHL.com. "He's absolutely within his right to be upset because we've left him out to dry too many times over this course of games. He's absolutely right. We have his back. We need to be better for one another, and we need to be better for him."
A visibly frustrated Andersen said the Leafs need to examine both their attitude and overall effort level after Thursday's overtime loss in Philadelphia, adding the team simply can't coast through the regular season despite sitting comfortably in a playoff spot.
Again, Matthews agreed.
"You can't have any complacency," said the young star center. "A lot can change. So you can go on a tough stretch, you can go on a hot stretch. Next thing you know, you're in another battle. We just want to stay focused, stay focused the whole season, doesn't matter what position we're in, we want to win every night."
The Maple Leafs are 12 points up on Detroit for third in the Atlantic Division heading into Saturday's game in Ottawa.
