Daily Faceoff Morning Report — 03/31/22
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.
Jets win third straight
Connor Hellebuyck (G) made 35 saves on 37 shots for the Winnipeg Jets in a 3-2 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres, their third consecutive game to go beyond 60 minutes (3-0-0). Hellebuyck has been terrific of late, going 6-2-0 in his last eight games with a .931 SV% after having gone 2-5-2 with a .887 SV% in his previous nine games. It was the first time Hellebuyck has allowed fewer than three goals in consecutive games in his last 19 starts. With the win, the Jets moved to 76 points, two points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the second Wild Card spot with one game in hand. Winnipeg was without Kyle Connor (LW) and Nate Schmidt (D), who were placed on the COVID-19 protocol list earlier in the day.
Copp continues strong play for Rangers
Andrew Copp (C, LW, RW) scored the overtime game-winner to give the New York Rangers a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Copp has been terrific as a Rangers and has points in each of the five games since joining the team at the trade deadline (2G / 5A / 7PTS). Artemi Panarin (LW) had three points (1G / 2A) for the Rangers and has a five-game point streak of his own (2G / 6A / 8PTS). Alexander Georgiev (G) allowed four goals on 26 shots in the victory and only has one quality start in his last eight games (4-4-0).
The @NYRangers Copp their fourth straight win off of Andrew's @TwistedTea OT winner. 🗽 pic.twitter.com/Ci6uvkbhJ1
— NHL (@NHL) March 31, 2022Oilers top Kings 4-3 as McDavid hits 100pts
In a battle between the second and third place teams in the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers were the victors in a 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings. Connor McDavid (C) had two points (1G / 1A) to become the first player in the NHL to reach 100 points (37G / 63A) on the season, a feat he has now reached in five of his seven NHL seasons. Leon Draisaitl (C, LW) scored his 49th goal of the season to tie him for the goal-scoring lead with Auston Matthews (C). Mikko Koskinen (G) made 38 saves on 41 shots in the win for the Oilers and improved to 6-1-0 in his last eight appearances.
Thompson records first career shutout
Robin Lehner (G)’s return to action seems imminent as he served as the backup on Wednesday night, but Logan Thompson (G) got his seventh consecutive start (5-2-0) for the Vegas Golden Knights and made 22 saves in a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken for his first career shutout. Shea Theodore (D) scored his first goal in 28 games, a span where he has only 10 points (1G / 9A). The Golden Knights continued their rotation with the Dallas Stars, and now have a one-point lead over them for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Straight outta the box and onto the score sheet for Shea Theodore (@stheodore17). 💨
📺: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/LaJpv7c3yx #NHLonTNT pic.twitter.com/bAz2b1DVPu
Blues sweep home and home series with Canucks
The St. Louis Blues defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3, their second win in consecutive games between the two teams. David Perron (LW, RW) continued his torrid pace of late, scoring two assists to give him 21 points (14G / 7A) in his last 14 games. Robert Thomas (C, RW) scored a shorthanded goal for the Blues to give him 11 points (5G / 6A) in his past seven games.
Robert Thomas (@RThomas_27) nets his second shorthanded goal of the season! 🏎 pic.twitter.com/MImZaDnWDU
— NHL (@NHL) March 31, 2022Elias Pettersson (C) scored two goals in the loss for the Canucks and now has six points (4G / 2A) in his last five games. The Canucks are five points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the final Wild Card spot with only 13 games remaining.
Keller injured in 5-2 win for the Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Wednesday but the victory was just a footnote as Clayton Keller (LW, RW) fell awkwardly into the boards late in the third period and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Coyotes forward Clayton Keller was taken off the ice on a stretcher after a scary fall late in the Sharks' loss pic.twitter.com/3spu7h0BbI
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) March 31, 2022Karel Vejmelka (G) made 39 saves on 41 shots in the victory and improved to 4-3-1 in games where he has faced at least 40 shots, all quality starts.