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Daily Faceoff Morning Report — 03/08/22

Nick Szeman
Nick Szeman
Mar 8, 2022, 08:22 EST
Daily Faceoff Morning Report — 03/08/22

The Daily Faceoff Morning Report will be released on weekdays, recapping the key news and events from the day before.

We will highlight injuries that will affect today’s games, hot streaks, cold streaks, and anything relevant for everyone from the casual hockey fan to the Fantasy Hockey grinder.

Matthews first to 40; Leafs win another high-scoring affair

Auston Matthews (C) had two points (1G / 1A) and became the first player to 40 goals this season as the Toronto Maples Leafs defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4. Matthews has now reached 40 or more goals in four of his six NHL seasons. Mitch Marner (RW) and Michael Bunting (LW) also had two-point games (1G / 1A). Bunting is the first rookie to hit 20 goals this season and took sole possession of the rookie point-lead with 45 (20G / 25A).

Petr Mrazek (G) made 31 saves on 35 shots as the Maple Leafs allowed four or more goals for the 13th time in their past 24 games. The Maple Leafs rank fourth-worst for total goals allowed during that span yet are the only team in the bottom 10 to have a positive goal differential (+8) and a winning record (14-8-2).

After having won nine of 11 games (9-2-0) and fought to get within striking distance of a playoff spot, the Blue Jackets have faltered and now lost five of their past six (1-3-2). Oliver Bjorkstrand (LW, RW) scored in the loss and now has a five-game point streak (4G / 1A) to go with 12 points (8G / 4A) in his last 14 games. He had only five points (3G / 2A) in his previous 15. Bjorkstrand has actually seen his ice-time decrease by over a minute in those 14 games but has increased his average shot volume from 2.0 to 2.9 shots per game.

Makar hits 20 goals

The Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders combined for seven goals in the third period in a 5-4 win for the Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov (G) allowed five goals on 49 shots for the Islanders and fell to 3-12-1 on the season. Varlamov has a 2.90 GAA on the season, the worst in the last nine years of his career, only behind a 3.38 GAA he had on a last-place Avalanche team in 2016-17.

Cale Makar (D) scored two goals and added an assist as he became the first defenseman to reach 20 goals this season. Makar leads all defensemen with 63 points (20G / 43A) in 53 games and is tied for 11th for most points among all players.

Toffoli trade paying off for Flames

Tyler Toffoli (LW, RW) scored two goals for the Calgary Flames in a 3-1 over the Edmonton Oilers and continues to look good in a Flames jersey. In his 10 games since being traded to Calgary, he has 10 points (7G / 3A).

Connor McDavid (C) played in his 56th game of the season and was held pointless for the 14th time and, despite still leading the league with 79 points (29G / 50A), has 26 fewer points than the earth-shattering 105 (33G / 72) he had in 56 games last season.

Marchment, Panthers crush Sabres 6-1

In February of 2020, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Mason Marchment (LW, RW) to the Florida Panthers for Denis Malgin (C, RW). Malgin is no longer in the NHL while Marchment recorded three assists on Monday for the Panthers and has 23 points (11G / 12A) in his last 14 games. Even more impressive is that Marchment has achieved his 1.10 point-per-game pace this season (31GP / 13G / 21A / 34A) while averaging only 13:27 time on ice. The closest point-per-game pace among players that average under 15 minutes per night is Nino Niederreiter (LW, RW) of the Carolina Hurricanes with a 0.62 point-per-game pace (50GP / 17G / 14A / 31PTS) and 14:30 time on ice.

Kings improve to 8-2-0 in last 10

Linus Ullmark (G) allowed three goals on 28 shots for the Boston Bruins in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins have lost six of their last nine games (3-4-2) when Ullmark has started whereas they are 7-0-1 in the last eight games that Jeremy Swayman (G) has started.

Trevor Moore (LW, RW) tied the game for the Kings with 24 seconds remaining and is in the midst of an incredible run with 26 points (7G / 19A) in his last 26 games. In his 155 career games prior, he had only 48 points (20G / 28A). Andreas Athanasiou (LW, RW) scored the overtime game-winner for the Kings and has four goals in his last five games.

Craig Smith (RW) has been a very streaky player over the course of his career and is currently in the middle of one of his trademark streaks. Smith recorded two points (1G / 1A) in the loss for the Bruins and has 11 points (5G / 6A) in his last 11 games after having only 14 points (6G / 8A) in his first 39 games.

Other News and Notes

Injury Report

  • Tyson Barrie (EDM) was placed on IR with an upper-body injury.
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