What Some NHLers Need For Christmas

Good morning and happy Friday, December 23rd. Thanks for reading this morning's Hockey Recap! 🙏

With the NHL off tomorrow until Tuesday evening, our team is taking off Monday, December 26th.

But thanks to the 2023 World Junior Championship starting Monday, we'll back on Tuesday the 27th with a special WJC edition of the Hockey Recap. 🤙

Enjoy your weekend and holiday! 🎉

Here are gifts NHL folks need under their Christmas tree:

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson: A trade to a contender: The dynamic Swede uncorked his third four-point game of the season to lead the Sharks to a 5-2 win against the Minnesota Wild Thursday. Karlsson leads all NHL defensemen with 13 goals and 46. He needs to play for a team that can get him to the playoffs.

Arizona Coyotes: A favorable vote on a new arena: This desert messiness has gone on long enough. Let’s get an arena in a desirable area and make this team viable.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin: A goal: Since reaching 800 career goals, Ovi has gone four games without a goal. He needs one goal to tie Gordie Howe for second on the all-time list. He needs to pass Howe to begin his quest to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894.

Colorado Avalanche: A No. 2 center: A trade for Bo Horvat? How about Jonathan Toews? The defending champion Avalanche haven’t replaced Nazem Kadri who left through free agency last summer.

Anaheim Ducks fans: A bushel of patience: It’s clear general manager Pat Verbeek will slow cook the team’s rebuild like his friend Steve Yzerman is doing in Detroit.

Florida Panthers: A devoted fan base: The Panthers boast an entertaining, competitive team and yet still have too many empty seats.

Toronto Maple Leafs: A trip to the second round of NHL playoffs: The Maple Leafs have been eliminated in the first round in each of the past six seasons. They haven’t played in the second round since 2004.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin: A new contract: Larkin grew up in the Detroit area and played college hockey at Michigan. He was born to be a Red Wing. But he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer if Larkin and Yzerman can’t agree on a new deal. Fans in Detroit are concerned.

TRIVIA: How many World Junior Championship gold medals has Team Canada won? If that's too easy, how many for Team USA?

🥇 Alex Ovechkin breaks NHL's all-time shots on goal record. Ovi's shot with 11 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the third period in Ottawa last night gave him 6,210 shots on goal in 1,309 games. Ovi passed Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, who had 6,209 in his 1,612-game NHL career. Ovi finished the game with 6,211 career shots.

📜 Boston Bruins announce new player-vetting policy in wake of Miller signing. An independent review of the Bruins’ player-vetting process found no misconduct by team employees but identified failures in the system that led to the signing of Mitchell Miller. The Bruins will “establish clear written policies for vetting off-ice conduct, including identifying red flags requiring detailed vetting and documented resolution.”

• Slavin scores in OT to beat Penguins, Hurricanes win seventh straight

• Kempe goal in OT lifts Kings past Flames for 4th straight victory

• Pettersson nets SO winner, nets four points as Canucks top Kraken

• Nylander, Maple Leafs hold off Flyers, extend home point streak

• Foligno breaks third-period tie, Bruins beat Jets

• Halifax artist teams up with Brad Marchand to help paralyzed hockey player

• Mark Messier talks drinking mushroom tea at 19-years-old and its profound effect on his player career

• NHL trade tiers: Way-too-early edition for 2022-23

• 🚨 Rust goes end-to-end for outstanding solo goal vs. Hurricanes

• 💀 Seider goes on a killing spree, sends 2 Bolts to the bench before a scrum ensues

• 💨 Scheifele flashes quick hands & snipes Swayman in tight

• ⏱ Kraken's Bjorkstrand & Sprong score two goals in 10 seconds

• 🥊 Matt Dumba lays a hit and drops the gloves

• 💥 Dmitry Orlov drops Parker Kelly

• 🦵 Mason Shaw earns 5 min major & game misconduct for kneeing E. Svechnikov

• Great 1v1 battle drill that includes picking a puck up off the half wall

• 8 Off Ice Stickhandling Drills for Better Control

• Two exercises to challenge your core hip stability and strengthen your stride

TRIVIA ANSWER:

Team Canada has won 19 World Junior Championship gold medals. Team USA has won 5.