NHL Morning Skate for December 24
* For just over 31 years, two legendary names stood as the top two scorers in NHL history: Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe. . . that changed on Friday.
* Connor McDavid was the first player in 2022-23 to score 30 goals and has joined Elite Company for the past 25 years by reaching the mark in 35 games or fewer.
* Like the rest of the league, the Morning Skate is taking a vacation break. Their daily morning update, featuring all the stats and storylines from each night’s games, will return on Wednesday morning, December 28th, summarizing Tuesday’s busy 12-game roster.
HAVE YOURSELF A “OVI” LITTLE CHRISTMAS
After hitting David Rittich with 1:38 in the first third for goal no. 801, Alex Ovechkin No. 802 shot into an empty goal with 60 seconds left to overtake Gordie Howe (801 in 1,767 GP), the second-most goals in NHL history. It’s only fitting that the Captain of the Capitals pulled off the feat against the Jets/Thrashers franchise – an opponent he’s scored more against than anyone (53 in 71 GP).
* After a celebration on the ice with his teammates, players from both sides and all the 18,573 fans in attendance at Capital One Arena turned their attention to the Jumbotron as the son of Mr. Hockey himself – Mark Howe – congratulated Ovechkin on his monumental milestone.
* In his very first match against Rittich, Ovechkin has now scored against 166 different goalkeepers. Thursday marked the 90th of 192 opportunities the Capitals captain has scored against a goaltender he faced for the first time (regular season and playoffs) and fifth in the 2022-23 season Spencer Martin (2-0-2 on Nov 29), Felix Sandstrom (1-1-2 on November 23), Stuart Skinner (1-1-2 on November 7th) and Vitek Vanecek (1-0-1 on October 24).
ICYMI: Each member of the Jets stayed behind after the final horn to individually congratulate Alex Ovechkin, who, when asked how he would celebrate No. 802, replied: “I’m going to a bar now, hot dog, nachos, you know. Why not?”
ONTO THE BIG
For just over 31 years, two legendary names stood as the top two scorers in NHL history: Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe. But now Alex Ovechkin (802) is within 92 goals to tie Gretzky (894) for the most in league history.
* Ovechkin is the first person other than Gretzky or Howe to have a top-two spot on this list since December 21, 1991 — the day Gretzky scored his 732nd career goal, topping Marcel Dionne (731) for second place in league history.
* The Capitals captain has averaged 0.61 goals per game this season, consistent with his pace over the last 10 seasons of 2013-14. Should Ovechkin continue at this pace, it would take The Great Eight about 153 regular season games to overtake The Great One – somewhere midway through the 2024-25 season.
* The latest Alex Ovechkin #NHLStats Pack is available now, with eight questions looking to the future of The Great Eight. Click here for everything you need to know.
McDAVID SCORES 30 GOALS AND MORE IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
While Alex Ovechkin was making NHL history, Connor McDavid became the first player to reach the 30-goal mark this season. This note and more made it into the final #NHLStats: Live updates leading up to the holidays:
* David Pastrnak (2-0-2) posted his 263rd and 264th career tally during a four-goal second half for Boston to put Bobby Orr 10th on the Bruins’ all-time list. Boston improved to 27-4-2 (56 points) and became only the seventh diverse team in NHL history to score at least 56 points before Christmas, with two of those clubs winning the Stanley Cup (ANA 2006-07 & MTL 1976 -77).
* Jason Roberston assisted Dallas on two of four unanswered goals to become the fourth player to reach the 50-point mark this season (24-26-50 in 35 GP). Only two players in Stars/North Stars history have also made it in 35 competitions or fewer: Dino Ciccarelli (28 GP 1986-87 & 35 GP 1987-88) and Bobby Smith (30 GP 1981-82 & 34 GP in 1979). -80).
* The Hurricanes managed to hold off a three-goal rally in the third period to earn their eighth straight win — their longest active winning streak in the NHL — and set a franchise record for longest scoring streak in 14 games (12- 0-2).
* Connor McDavid became the first player this season to score 30 goals as he extended a points streak to 15 or more games for the third time in his career (also 17 GP & 15 GP in 2021-22). The only active player with that many is Patrick Kane (26 GP 2015-16, 20 GP 2018-19 & 15 GP 2019-20).
NHL PODCASTS: WEEKLY REVIEW
* NHL Fantasy (Dec. 19): Fantasy Forgoes Cable Pickups: Week 11
* NHL Fantasy (Dec. 19): Action Network Collab: Week 12
* NHL @ The Rink (Dec. 21): Brian Dumoline, Join Mike Morreale; speak Makar, World Juniors
* Draft Class (Dec. 21): Preview of the 2023 World Junior Championship
* The Chirp with Daren Millard (Dec. 22): Joining Jim Montgomery; Conversation Season, Winter Classic
* La Tasse de café LNH (Dec. 21): Special Championnat Mondial de Hockey Junior
* NHL Fantasy (Dec. 22): Week 11 Fantasy Mailbag; MVPs, holiday surprises
FAST CLICKS
* Video: Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly sits with Rob Simpson from Seattlehockeyinsider.com
* Mark Howe congratulates Alex Ovechkin on 802nd NHL goal
* Yegor Sharangovich disguises himself as Santa Claus, gives gifts to the Devils teammates
* Max Pacioretty brings ice cream to a young fan who dropped his cone
NHL COMES BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY BREAK ON TUESDAY
The NHL returns from a three-day Christmas break on Tuesday, December 27 with a 12-game roster that includes two American goalscorers going head-to-head exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu Johnny Gaudreau (10-24-34 in 32 GP) and the Blue Jackets host Days Thompson (26-24-50 in 32 GP) and the Sabers.
