Team Stats:

 

Jackets win 15th straight, stop Wild streak at 12

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their party into the new year, stretching their winning streak to 15 straight games.

This victory was one of the most impressive yet.

Cam Atkinson scored twice to help the Blue Jackets move their streak within two wins of the NHL record and stop Minnesota's 12-game run with a 4-2 victory over the Wild on Saturday night.

"We've got the right group of guys to do it with," right wing Josh Anderson said. "Everybody's positive in the room. We're all having a bunch of fun."

Never in league history had two teams taken winning streaks that long into a game.

"I'm happy for the guys," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "I'm proud of our team and the way they've handled themselves through all this."

Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves, yielding two or fewer goals for the 10th time during the run, and defencemen Jack Johnson and Seth Jones each had goals assisted by Brandon Saad in a frenetic second period sparked by consecutive fights. That cost Minnesota one of its top defencemen in Matt Dumba, and the Wild dropped into a rare three-goal hole. The Blue Jackets didn't slow their pace, either.

"They were still coming, and that's why their record is five losses in 35 games," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "John has got them playing real well."

Jason Zucker reignited the arena with his breakaway flip past Bobrovsky just 24 seconds into the third period for the Wild, but that was as close as they came. Devan Dubnyk stopped 21 shots, surrendering four goals for the second straight game after allowing three or fewer in his first 27 turns.

Mikael Granlund had the first goal for the Wild, who also had a franchise record-tying eight-game home winning streak end. This was their first loss since Dec. 2 in overtime at Calgary and their first defeat in regulation since Nov. 29 at Vancouver.

"This one stings," said Dubnyk, not fully ready to reflect on the run.

The Blue Jackets matched the second-longest winning streak in NHL history, trailing Pittsburgh's 17-game run in 1993. Their last loss was in overtime at Florida on Nov. 26, and their last defeat in regulation was Nov. 23 against Calgary. Twelve of the 15 straight wins have been in regulation.

This was the first time not only in the NHL but in any of the major North American sports leagues — including the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS and WNBA — that two teams played with winning streaks of 12 games or longer, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

"Maybe we weren't at our best tonight, but we can't win them all," Granlund said. "Let's just get ready for the next one."

With balanced scoring, strong goaltending, tight defence, good speed and accomplished coaching, there's plenty in common between these fellow expansion teams born in 2000. Each team was playing well long before December, and eight of the top nine players in plus-minus rating are scattered between the two sides.

The crowd was another overflow sellout at Xcel Energy Center, a season-high 19,307 tickets sold, and the energy and intensity on the ice matched the moment.

The Wild had the first prime scoring chance, when Zach Parise failed to cleanly connect with a one-time attempt from the right circle and Bobrovsky whirled around for a diving glove save on the doorstep of the goal line. Atkinson got loose on a breakaway after a bad bounce for the Wild in the neutral zone for a 1-0 edge.

Wild left wing Chris Stewart fought with Anderson in the second period, with Stewart flapping his arms to fire up the fans as he skated to the penalty box. Then Dumba and Blue Jackets left wing Matt Calvert dropped the gloves during the clock stoppage, each drawing a game misconduct ejection.

"I thought our bench was 10 feet tall after that," Tortorella said.

The Blue Jackets needed only 76 seconds to push their lead to 3-0, with a wrist shot by Johnson and a tip-in by Atkinson.

"Right off the bat you could tell everyone's ready to go," Blue Jackets defenceman Ryan Murray said. "The fans are going nuts. The players are loving it. You have those two fights back to back. That's what hockey is. That's exactly why you play the game."

NOTES: Atkinson has nine goals and seven assists in the last 12 games. ... Columbus has won seven of the last 10 games against Minnesota. ... Until being outscored 3-1 by the Blue Jackets, the Wild owned a 44-22 advantage in the second period this season.

UP NEXT

Columbus returns home to face Edmonton on Tuesday. After that, the Blue Jackets play 11 straight games against Eastern Conference teams.

Minnesota starts a three-game road swing at San Jose on Thursday. The Wild don't play at home again until Jan. 12 against Montreal.

 

Quarter Final day in the World Junior Hockey Championships today:



Canada's one loss to date came at the hands of the Americans 3-1 on Saturday.

The Latvia/Finland game is simply to see who is the worst of the worst ... they are relegated and not part of the playoffs per se.

 

The USA is currently up 2-0 on Switzerland late in the 1st period.

The Swiss goaltender has stood on his head so far but this could get ugly as the game goes on ...

 

2-1 USA. The Swiss just scored after a USA powerplay that came up empty.

 

WOW, Swiss powerplay and a mad scramble in the USA crease with 8 players in the mix as the Swiss got at least 10 whacks at the puck ... 2-2

3-2 USA after a powerplay goal. Under 10 to go.

 

The USA holds on to win 3-2 and is on to the Semi's along with Sweden and Russia thus far. Canada and the Czechs play shortly to add the 4th team to that.

 

3-2 Canada with under 6 to go in the 2nd.

I missed all 5 goals since my favorite show Travelers is on right now lol.

 

So with a 5-3 Canada win over the Czechs the stage is set for the Semi's on Wednesday with the USA taking on Russia and Canada taking on the Swedes.

 

Only 3 games in the NHL today:

 

NHL

Leafs score OT winner to capture Centennial Classic

At BMO Field, usually known as the shared home of Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, an outdoor NHL game steeped in nostalgia was brought to life Sunday.

The league has been staging outdoor games on a yearly basis since 2008. The series landed in the hockey hotbed of Toronto to help launch a unique year for hockey in the city. And on a day loaded with hockey greats and national personalities, the Leafs added to the drama with a 5-4 overtime win.

“What better way to start the New Year than with a great outdoor event here in Toronto and begin an historic moment for the National Hockey League,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said before the game. “2017 represents the league’s centennial – 100 years of NHL hockey – and we think that’s a really big deal. It’s also a hundred years for the Leafs, 125 years for the Stanley Cup, and 150 years for the Confederation of Canada. So, 2017 is special in all those ways.”

There is also a pretty cool video about Timelapse: BMO Field transformed for three sports over 36 days in this link or you could YT it.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...s-capture-centennial-classic/article33465773/

 

These games should be interesting as both the USA and Sweden have "home ice advantage" meaning last change on faceoffs ... a distinct advantage in most cases.

The USA should take theirs but Canada is in tough with Sweden although are peaking at the right time and have 2 killer goalies to choose from.

 

2-2 Russia/USA with under 7 to go in the second period. The Americans just tied it with a great breakout pass from their goalie.

Edit: 3-2 USA with 3 to go

 

3-3 with 7 to go.

Just a note: The Americans have never beaten the Russians in the medal rounds in the WJHC, they are 0-7.

If the game ends tied after regulation there will be one 10 minute overtime before a shootout.

 

Overtime solves nothing so here we go with the shootout as the USA will go first even though the Russians won the coin toss and deferred (as it were).

Fuck me, the Russian goalie stopped the first 3 USA shots.

Still tied 2-2 after 10 shots. Change ends and flip the order.

The USA comes back to score on their last 3 shots and will play for gold against either Canada or Sweden.

 

I have to give full marks to the USA scout that pointed out that the only way to beat the Russian goalie was through the 5 hole which they did after a slow start.

Canada and Sweden play in just over 90 minutes.

 

Canada and Sweden are tied 2-2 early in the 2nd period.

 

3-2 Canada after 2 periods.

 

Other than the current score another great thing about this game is that both goalies are standing on their heads making incredible saves and both goalies are the property of my Philadelpia Flyers.

Edit: 4-2 Canada on a 4on4

 

With an empty net goal with under 2 minutes Canada takes the game 5-2 and will play the USA for the Gold Medal.

Sweden and Russia will play for the Bronze.

Excuse me for a couple minutes while I stand for the Canadian National Anthem.