Top 4: Mika Zibanejad sets Winter Classic points record

Mathis Therrien
Top 4: Mika Zibanejad sets Winter Classic points record
Credit: Twitter screenshot

While all eyes were on Team Canada Junior, who easily won their quarter-final match against Slovakia, there was plenty of action in the NHL.

There were four games on the National Hockey League schedule yesterday, including a Winter Classic.

Here's what caught the eye across the league.

1. Winter Classic points record for Zibanejad

Last night, the Florida Panthers faced the New York Rangers in a Winter Classic, a game played on an outdoor rink.

The game took place in Miami, which raised a lot of questions, but in the end, everything seemed to go smoothly.

And for the occasion, the Rangers players had fun, especially Mika Zibanejad.

Indeed, the Rangers forward had a superb game with five points, including a hat trick, which represents a record for points in a Winter Classic.

Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière also had fun in this game with three points each, as the Rangers won 5-1.

The Rangers thus remain unbeaten (6-0-0) in a Winter Classic.

2. Four assists for Quinn Hughes

I'm one of those who still doesn't realize that elite defenseman Quinn Hughes has changed his address and is no longer playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

I'm going to have to get used to it, and what might help is that Hughes already set a franchise record for the Wild last night with four assists in the same game.

Indeed, Hughes had a huge first night of work with the Minnesota Wild, as he recorded four assists in a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Hughes now has 34 points in 36 games this season, including 11 with the Wild in 10 games.

3. Cale Fleury scores first NHL goal in six years

Remember defenseman Cale Fleury with the Canadiens?

He played 41 games in 2019-2020, scoring just one goal and posting a differential of -4.

Well, since that season, Fleury has played just 45 more NHL games, and that was with the Seattle Kraken, who brought him back in the 2021 expansion draft.

Fleury had only scored one career NHL goal, and that was with the Habs, but last night he scored his first NHL goal in six years.

Now 27, it's his first goal in 2,239 days, which also represents his fifth career point.

In short, it was the first goal of the game in the Seattle Kraken's 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

4. Blues surprise Golden Knights

St. Louis won 4-3 over Vegas last night, which surprised many fans, given that the Golden Knights are in a much better position in the standings.

Captain Brayden Schenn gave the Blues the win, scoring the winning goal with less than two minutes left in the game.


Extra time

– Here are yesterday's results.

– Here are yesterday's top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Today's NHL schedule: 13 games.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
(Credit: Google/NHL)
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