Top-5: Blues fire Craig Berube after defeat

20 teams were in action in the NHL last night.

Here are the results and highlights:

Tuesday’s 10-game slate was capped by Mikael Granlund assisting on a late go-ahead goal by the @SanJoseSharks to boost his League-leading point total since Dec. 1 to 12. #NHLStats: https://t.co/dfroABVbck pic.twitter.com/UPyCrtEmnP

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 13, 2023

1. Blues fire Craig Berube after loss

The St. Louis Blues aren’t having a great year, but it’s not a year of misery.

But most likely, it’s not where they want to be right now.

Why not?

Because they’ve just fired their head coach Craig Berube.

Craig Berube is firedhttps://t.co/E4ufdsEic7

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) December 13, 2023

Drew Bannister will take over. He was coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL.

Saint-Louis has a 13-14-1 record and is one point behind the Coyotes and the final playoff spot.

But the 6-4 loss to the Red Wings was the final straw.

In Berube’s last game behind the bench, Kevin Hayes was the best player, scoring two goals. And former Canadian Marco Scandelle put on a show.

MARCO SCANDELLA APPRECIATION POST

: @espn https://t.co/FmPv8M6v1l pic.twitter.com/O4BAYyoYwr

– NHL (@NHL) December 13, 2023

2. Auston Matthews hits the 20-goal plateau again

Since he’s been in the NHL, Auston Matthews hasn’t had a season below 20 goals. Yesterday, he reached that plateau for the eighth time.

He’s moving up the ladder in franchise history.

Eight seasons for Auston Matthews. Eight 20-goal campaigns.

For the second time in his career, Matthews is the first to 20 goals in a season.#NHLStats: https://t.co/dfroABVbck pic.twitter.com/uY8omV8pQ2

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 13, 2023

The American finally finished the game against the New York Rangers with four points.

He and Mitchell Marner (three points) had a great night in a 7-3 victory.

Talk about some Marner and Matthews magic. pic.twitter.com/hbkNt36WDo

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 13, 2023

It was a game to forget overall for the Rangers.

Talk to Ryan Lindgren…

Lindgren got BLOWN UP pic.twitter.com/n8u5FeZpex

– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 13, 2023

In its last seven games, Toronto is 5-0-2.

3. Another bizarre scene in a Senators game

I don’t know why, but every time I write about an Ottawa Senators game, a bizarre scene or scenes come up.

Yesterday, another unique scene occurred and Brady Tkachuk (obviously) was at the heart of it all.

Shortly after this sequence, the Sens captain was awarded a penalty shot.

Only a Tkachuk penalty shot could end up face to face with the tendy beaking each other pic.twitter.com/TQVEq8gUjt

– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 13, 2023

Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov challenged Tkachuk with an aggressive slide.

The forward clearly didn’t appreciate it.

Pyotr Kochetkov and Brady Tkachuk: The newest feud in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/gurxTAYVLg

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 13, 2023

Carolina, who had been on a bad streak, finally got back on track with a 4-1 win.

For those familiar with the NHL game, this Hurricanes goal will ring a bell.

Chel goal alert pic.twitter.com/JVZ4EPM4S5

– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 13, 2023

4. McDavid wins the battle of the Connors

Last night, the Oilers and Blackhawks faced off.

It was the battle of the Connors.

In the end, it was the master Connor who beat the pupil, despite the latter’s brilliance.

Bedard broke the ice in this match.

BEDARD’S SHOT IS NOT FROM THIS PLANET pic.twitter.com/rF640gNn4O

– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 13, 2023

A goal of beauty, really.

McDavid didn’t let himself be intimidated.

He finished the game with two assists, including one on this Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal.

Nugent-Hopkins ties the game on a feed from McDavid! pic.twitter.com/WFFR35fThN

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 13, 2023

Oilers win 4-1.

5. Brock Boeser hat trick

Auston Matthews scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season, but Brock Boeser scored three.

Thanks to a natural hat-trick, he scored his 19th, 20th and 21st. Now the race for Maurice-Richard is even tighter.

Brock Boeser(@BBoeser16) scores goals No. 19, 20 and 21 on the season to move into a tie for the League lead!

Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/asenE1bOcg

– NHL (@NHL) December 13, 2023

He reached the 20-goal plateau in just 29 games.

In franchise history, five players have reached this plateau faster.

Brock Boeser scored twice and became the second player to reach the 20-goal mark in 2023-24 after Auston Matthews (21) achieved the feat earlier tonight.#NHLStats: https://t.co/dfroABVbck pic.twitter.com/Pq2ozuK42u

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 13, 2023

Vancouver finally disposed of the Lightning 4-1.

There were no opposing players who could get into attacking territory on Ian Cole’s side…

“Who else wants to try me tonight?” – Ian Cole probably pic.twitter.com/TmLvA3D0Tu

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 13, 2023

Extension

– Nice defensive play.

The Trouba Train making stops too pic.twitter.com/7bV0GqwqIl

– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 13, 2023

– Lucas Raymond reaches the 50th career goal plateau.

Lucas Raymond scored his 50th career goal and then assisted on another to help give the @DetroitRedWings a third-period lead.

Watch the final frame now on @ESPN. #NHLStats: https://t.co/dfroABVbck pic.twitter.com/fMuFHVyM8Q

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 13, 2023

– Artemi Panarin’s 700th point.