Best and Worst of the Week: Panarin, weird goals and an old-school scrap
(Life’s busy — it’s not always easy to stay on top of everything happening around the NHL. So in case you missed it, here are some of the best and worst highlights of the week.)
Best Performance
Artemi Panarin did something on Friday that hasn’t been done in 22 years, so yeah pretty easy choice for performance of the week.
With five primary assists against the Devils, Panarin became the first player since Brian Leetch in 1995 to accomplish the feat and also tied the Blue Jackets’ franchise record for assists and points in a game.
And it’s not just the big number or the records — the passes themselves were all super impressive. From best to good, they’d probably rank: 4, 1, 5, 3, 2.
What a player.
Nicest Individual Goal
This one’s a little unconventional, but due to a lack of awe-inspiring solo rushes this week, we’re going to throw it to Shea Weber for his curveball blast against the Blues. It’s not as nasty as Mark Giordano’s hook shot from a few years back, but it’s close.
Best Squad Goal
This was a truly incredible goal by the Capitals. Evgeny Kuznetsov’s one-handed pass while falling down, Alex Ovechkin’s through-the-legs move and Brett Connolly’s finish, all beautiful. Thankfully this wasn’t taken from us by video review.
Tastiest Dish
OK, so it’s definitely Panarin’s fourth assist against the Devils — not only was the final dish a thing of beauty, he also made a cheeky pass through Brian Gibbons’ legs to start the play.
But, to keep things fresh we’re also going to shout out Mark Scheifele. Scheifele is a very good hockey player. And being such, he has the ability to make highly-difficult and impressive plays like the one below, where he takes a quick glance to find Blake Wheeler and feeds him a perfect pass through four Senators.
Honorable mention: Corey Perry’s bank-pass while lying on his back.
Best Save
Not a bad save right here by John Gibson. One of the best you’ll see this year, perhaps.
Softest Goal
The book is out on Laurent Brossoit. Just head straight towards the bottom of the faceoff circle, fling the puck on net and boom, goal. It’s one thing to allow a soft goal from time to time, but two from the same bad angle in a span of 10 minutes, yikes.
Worst Giveaway
It was a tight race this week. Darren Helm scored on a breakaway after Wheeler coughed up the puck at center ice, but this is more unfortunate mishandling than unforgivable brain cramp. Alex Kerfoot also could have earned this dishonor with an atrocious giveaway that led to a Brett Ritchie goal. But he was narrowly edged out by Mark Pysyk, who tossed a soft backhand up the boards and then comically fell down to allow Jeff Skinner to break in and score a nifty goal.
Best Shootout Goal
Mike Smith bit hard on this one from William Nylander, who got his first career shootout goal on his fifth attempt.
Firsts
It took 12 games, but Dylan Strome finally scored his first goal in the NHL this week against the Devils. The No. 3 pick from 2015 now has two points in 14 career games.
Strangest Play
Through the blade holder, off a leg and in. What are the odds we’ll see something like this again anytime soon?
Most Reckless Play
The NHL has curbed slashing significantly this year, but it’s still a workplace hazard. Tyler Motte learned that the hard way when he was rapped on the hand by teammate Boone Jenner as the two were heading to the bench. Funny stuff. Motte’s disapproving head shake after the fact really says it all.
Biggest Hit
Tom Wilson is usually on the other end of these, so it’s nice to see the script flipped for once.
Here is the gif version of Jones' hit on Tom Wilson for those that missed it. #CBJ
cc: @307x pic.twitter.com/x1TIna3m5s
— SB (@Sam_Blazer) December 3, 2017
Best Scrap
This tilt between Chris Stewart and Kurtis MacDermid was a throwback — you just don’t see too many scraps like this any more. It’s always cool to see the two combatants show respect for each other after the fight, too.
Whipping Boy
Nothing like getting thrown under the bus by your former coach for a bad playoff series — that they won — eight months after it’s over. Here’s what Barry Trotz had to say this week about Kevin Shattenkirk, which “didn’t sit well” with the Rangers blueliner.
“We play a little different than some teams. It worked in areas that we wanted. He helped our power play. He made it more dangerous in that. I think everybody thought of him as a 1-2, and he really wasn’t. He was a little lower. I think it worked out OK. I think he had a patch during the one series where he wasn’t really good. I think he regained it and scored a big goal for us in Pitt. I just think, yeah, the first playoff series wasn’t … that’s what you remember, it sticks out. But I think overall, he was fine.”
Monkey off the Back
Jacob Markstrom was on the brink of history, but not the good kind. Markstrom had gone 129 games to start his career without recording a shutout, only three back of Pokey Reddick’s all-time mark of 132. After coming close to ending the drought Saturday against Toronto, Markstrom finally earned his first goose egg with a 30-save performance against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Streaking
So much for Patrik Laine’s sophomore slump. After putting up only six points in his first 11 games of the season, the second-year forward had a bounce-back November and is off to an even better start in December with eight points and goals in four straight games.
Adam Henrique has also been red-hot since joining the Ducks, with points in five straight games.
Best Quote
This a good piece of fun from Mike Babcock.
Babcock had a little fun this morning starting his media scrum:
“It’s getting a little quiet around here, I’m a little disappointed. Let’s get some rumours going right now. Get some shit that really doesn’t matter. What do you want to go with?”— Shawn McKenzie (@ShawnMcKenzieSN) December 5, 2017
Snapshot
Honorable mention: This amazing shot of Sean Monahan