For at least one night, Radko Gudas played like an elite-level NHL defenseman.
Heading into Saturday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner had zero goals, six assists, 98 shots, 98 penalty minutes, and a minus-two rating through 57 games.
Check Gudas' stat line from the tilt with the Blue Jackets:
| Time on Ice | Goals | Assists | Shots | Hits | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:56 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
As another point of reference, Gudas' single-season career high in points is 22, set in 2013-14 with Tampa Bay; in one game, he dropped 18 percent of that total.
Yes, one of his goals came from center ice, but we might not see the stat sheet filled by such an unlikely player again this season.
Perhaps the Flyers said it best:
Gud Night & Gud Luck #CBJvsPHI pic.twitter.com/Xn1X5gEMeq
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 6, 2016
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The Tampa Bay Lightning made franchise history Saturday. The club won its ninth in a row, breaking a record set in 2003-04.
The Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime.
The Bolts were paced by their future: Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov. Palat had two goals, and his first was spectacular. Johnson had a goal and an assist, and Kucherov had two helpers.
Alex Killorn, though, will be remembered in Lightning trivia. He scored in overtime, his 13th of the season, to give Tampa Bay its record.
The Lightning have used their remarkable run to leap into first place in the Atlantic Division. The Florida Panthers have two fewer points, but even if they win Saturday, the Lightning will hold first place based on wins. Tampa's got 39 (36 in regulation) while Florida has 36 (30 in regulation).
Yeah, we know: It's a good time to be a hockey fan in Florida.
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Willie Desjardins' job is safe for now.
The head coach isn't going anywhere, according to Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, who said as much to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
"Earlier this week, I had a chance to speak to Trevor Linden and one of the things he said was, 'End any speculation about Willie Desjardins' future. There's no doubt he will be back as head coach of the Canucks'," Friedman said during Saturday's edition of "Headlines."
Desjardins is 24-27-12 in his second season behind the Canucks' bench, with Vancouver entering Saturday's action 12 points out of a playoff spot.
The Canucks went 48-29-5 in his first NHL campaign last season before being eliminated in six games by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs.
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(Courtesy: NHL.com)
This won't help P.K. Subban get in head coach Michel Therrien's good graces.
The Montreal Canadiens defenseman tried one too many moves in his own zone, coughing up the puck to Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele, who buried an easy goal to open the scoring Saturday night.
Therrien singled out his Norris Trophy-winning blue-liner last month for a turnover that led to an overtime winner for the Colorado Avalanche.
Alex Galchenyuk scored his 20th goal of the season to tie the game about a minute later, so maybe Subban's off the hook for now.
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Ondrej Palat is out of his mind right now.https://t.co/fcgyfxaf41
— NHL (@NHL) March 6, 2016
Spare a thought for Ron Hainsey.
The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman was dummied by Ondrej Palat on Saturday night, as the Tampa Bay Lightning forward went from his zone to the other to score a marvelous goal.
Speed, skill, and one hell of a shot. It had it all.
Palat has two against Carolina, his ninth and 10th of the season.
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Alex Ovechkin spent five minutes in the penalty box for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller on Saturday.
Miller was forced to leave the game and appeared to be favoring his right shoulder which had been surgically repaired last February.
UPDATE: Kevan Miller (upper body) not likely to return.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 6, 2016
The nature of the injury may have played a role in the penalty call.
Per Rule 41.5, a game misconduct for boarding comes "for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent."
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) March 6, 2016
Still, the incident may be reviewed by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.
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Brooks Laich's time in Toronto won't be in vain.
The former much-loved Washington Capitals forward was traded to the Maple Leafs last week, and it was difficult for him to accept, as the first-place Caps are Stanley Cup favorites. But after Saturday, Laich's got a story to tell.
Laich assisted on the first NHL goal of William Nylander's career Saturday night, and the 32-year-old has a history with William's father, Michael Nylander, as the two played together for the Capitals.
Related: VIDEO - Nylander snipes for 1st NHL goal
In fact, Laich assisted on the final goal of Michael's career, on April 5, 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers (may they rest in peace).
"Uncle Brooks" Laich assisted on William Nylander's first NHL goal and also assisted on Michael Nylander's final NHL goal. #circleoflife
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) March 6, 2016
"Uncle Brooks" will be telling this one for a while.
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