David Ayres has been enshrined in hockey history forever.
The 42-year-old netminder, who became the first emergency backup goaltender in NHL history to record a win, had his game stick placed into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday.
"To think of all the hard work and time that some of the greatest players have put in and to have their accomplishments here, for me to have a small little piece of something I've done in here is unbelievable to me," Ayres said, according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy.
On Feb. 22, Ayres starred for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Ontario native entered the game in the second period after both Hurricanes netminders went down with injuries. He stopped eight of 10 shots he faced to earn the monumental victory.
"The reception from everybody on just how positive a story this has become is fantastic," Ayres said. "I had four or five people stop me in the mall when I was in Carolina and just tell me how amazing they thought the story was. That was a highlight for me, where it's clear it's reached people and everyone is happy about it and it's a positive story for them."
Ayres regularly fills in at Maple Leafs practices when the team's in need of an extra goalie, and he also drives the Zamboni for the Toronto Marlies as well as at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leafs Gardens).
The city of Raleigh proclaimed Feb. 25 as "David Ayres Day" in honor of his heroics. Ayres was also recognized by Upper Deck with his own hockey trading card.
David Ayres now has his own official trading card.
The 42-year-old Zamboni driver turned emergency goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes is featured in the latest pack of Upper Deck's 2019-20 Game Dated Moments cards, available through the company's e-Pack platform.
Since Ayres isn't a member of the NHL Players' Association, a special deal was reached between him and Upper Deck to produce the card, according to Ryan Cracknell of Beckett. Upper Deck is also creating a rookie card for him.
Ayres, a Zamboni driver with the Toronto Marlies, entered Saturday's game for the Hurricanes against the Maple Leafs after goalies James Reimer and Petr Mrazek both suffered injuries. Carolina won the game 6-3.
The New York Islanders reassigned forward Josh Ho-Sang from their AHL affiliate to the San Antonio Rampage, the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate, the team announced Friday.
Ho-Sang, 24, asked for a trade after failing to crack the Islanders' opening day roster. The 6-foot winger missed the first 10 weeks of the AHL season after being told not to report while New York general manager Lou Lamoriello attempted to meet his request.
The Ontario native has contributed three goals and 10 points in 16 AHL contests this season.
The Islanders drafted Ho-Sang 28th overall in 2014, and he's failed to carve out a permanent role with the club. He's recorded seven goals and 17 assists over 53 career games.
Feb. 28, 2010, is a date many Canadians will never forget.
With Olympic gold up for grabs on home soil against the United States, a 22-year-old Sidney Crosby stepped up in overtime to deliver one of the biggest goals in Canadian hockey history.
“I remember the stories I was told,” Crosby said, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe. “In terms of goals that I’ve scored or moments that I’ve had, yeah, it was the biggest one. The reaction around Vancouver and around Canada, it’s something I’ll never forget.
Crosby's tally sealed Canada's first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey on home turf, and just its second gold in the event since the 1952 Olympics in Norway.
"What I remember most is all these stories from buddies of mine, friends of mine, people in the community ... so many people have told me where they were when they were watching and when the goal went in. It was so cool at the moment it happened, to be a part of it, and to experience it."
Crosby took a pass from winger Jarome Iginla and slid the puck past American netminder Ryan Miller at the 7:40 mark of the first overtime period:
In reflecting on his golden goal, Crosby admitted that shooting immediately wasn't his original plan, but he credited his split-second decision to keep things simple.
“For a second, I actually thought about taking the puck to the net and going to the backhand, Crosby said, per Yohe. "That was my first thought.”
“At that point, I had to tell myself that it was overtime,” Crosby said. “In that situation, you really don’t want to pass up an opportunity. And I figured that, since I didn’t really have a great angle there, my best chance was probably to get the puck away as quickly as I could. Honestly, it was pretty much a reaction."
Crosby captained Canada to its second consecutive Olympic gold in men's hockey four years later at the 2014 Games in Sochi.
In the fifth edition of theScore's 2019-20 Hart Trophy Power Rankings, we finally see some separation from the league's top duo and welcome a newcomer from The Big Apple:
5. Connor McDavid
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
58
31
87
22:03
58.55
56.25
Normally, missing six games wouldn't hurt a player's chances of winning the Hart. That is, unless your teammate is the one you're competing with for the honor.
After his six-game absence, McDavid picked up right where he left off - recording one goal and five assists in three games. On an 82-game pace, he'd be on track to record an impressive 123 points this season.
McDavid has shown he can play and produce with just about anybody on the Oilers. On Tuesday, he appeared on a line with two new teammates in Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Ennis, and the trio recorded two out of the team's three goals. He's been a top contender for the Hart all year long, but his mini absence may ultimately be what separates him from the pack. Still, McDavid has the ability to propel himself back to the top with 18 games remaining.
4. Artemi Panarin
Jared Silber / National Hockey League / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
61
32
85
20:22
58.82
57.13
Panarin's debut season in New York has gone nearly as good as possible. The Rangers didn't necessarily see themselves as contenders coming into the campaign, but with a few weeks left to go they're in the thick of the playoff race, and much of that is thanks to Panarin.
With 87 points, Panarin ranks third in the league's overall point race. He also has the league's third-highest points-per-game total. When he's on the ice at five-on-five, he has an expected goals for percentage of 52.69 and a Corsi For percentage of 50.13. Without him, the Rangers have an xGF% of 44.08 and a CF% of 44.46.
His value to the Rangers is unmatched. He's recorded two or more points in a game on 26 different occasions this season. It's not always the most indicative stat, but Panarin's team-leading plus-37 rating also can't be completely ignored. Many questioned the impact the winger could have with a cap hit of $11.6 million per year, but he's quickly vaulted himself into the discussion for league MVP.
3. Brad Marchand
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
65
26
81
19:38
60.53
59.56
Linemate David Pastrnak continues to get much of the recognition in Boston thanks to his jaw-dropping goals, but Marchand's underlying numbers have impressed.
It's a small sample size, but in the 97 minutes Marchand has spent without Pastrnak at five-on-five this season, his xGF% is 63.62 while his CF% is 59.56. In the 174 minutes Pastrnak has spent without Marchand, his xGF% is a meager 45.44 and his CF% is 49.08. These numbers suggest that Marchand's ability to create scoring chances is a big reason the Bruins' top line clicks so well.
He ranks sixth in the league in points, but the numbers beyond the stat sheets are compelling. He leads the league in penalties drawn (43) and is fourth in primary assists (34). He's one of Boston's biggest penalty killers, and has helped create three shorthanded goals this season while giving up 10 power-play markers. Marchand is a swiss-army knife for Boston. If irritating your opponents was a measurable stat, Marchand would probably find himself higher in the rankings.
2. Leon Draisaitl
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
64
37
99
22:43
55.12
53.32
When McDavid went down, it opened the door for Draisaitl to separate himself in the Hart race from his teammate. Despite McDavid only missing six games, it looks like it was enough to give Draisaitl the ultimate edge.
In McDavid's six-game absence, the Oilers went 3-2-1 against top teams including the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Draisaitl mustered up a sublime four goals and eight assists in those contests. Draisaitl's xGF% at five-on-five is 51.06 in the 498 minutes of ice time he's spent without McDavid this season, an uptick from the 46.82 they possess in the 541 minutes they've spent together on the ice. Draisaitl has proven he can get things done without his superstar partner by his side, producing 27 goals for and 24 goals against when he's on the ice without him.
There's not much to hold against Draisaitl at this point. His case for the Hart Trophy was often brought down due to the fact he shares the spotlight with McDavid, but he's proven he can carry the Oilers without him.
1. Nathan MacKinnon
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
CF%
62
33
85
21:17
62.76
60.15
Injuries have piled up all season long in Colorado, but MacKinnon has kept the team trucking through it all. With key injuries to virtually every player surrounding him, he's managed to keep the Avalanche afloat and in a playoff spot.
MacKinnon's linemate Mikko Rantanen, who has been playing at a point-per-game pace while in the lineup, has missed a total of 20 games this season. Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, and Rantanen have missed a combined 55 games, with the latter two missing more time ahead. MacKinnon is just one of three players on the Avalanche to appear in all 62games this season.
MacKinnon's 85 points put him 40 ahead of the Avalanche's second-best scorer. In the 13 games he's failed to record at least one point this season, the Avalanche have gone below .500 with a 5-7-1 record. He ranks eighth among all forwards in time on ice (21:17), fifth in points (85), and second in shots on goal (287).
The Avalanche seem like they will go as far as MacKinnon can take them. Without him, Colorado evidently wouldn't be sitting in second place in the Central Division as the season winds down.
Winnipeg Jets star Patrik Laine suffered a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in the first period of Thursday's tilt versus the Washington Capitals and didn't return.
There's no immediate update on his condition, but he will travel with the team for Saturday's game in Edmonton, according to the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck. His availability will be based on how he feels Friday.
Laine has been a vital piece of Winnipeg's attack this season, entering Thursday's contest with 26 goals and 33 assists in 63 games.
Winnipeg ultimately blanked the Caps 3-0. After Thursday's action, the Jets are tied with the Nashville Predators - who own the West's second wild-card spot - at 72 points, but have played three extra games.
