NHL Daily Power Play Recap 1/9/16: Ducks defeat Blues

For the latest NHL news, check out The DSH's Daily Power Play Recap below:

DUCKS RALLY PAST BLUES

The Ducks rallied from a 3-1 deficit in regulation and Ryan Getzlaf (0-1—1) scored the decisive goal in the shootout to help Anaheim improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven outings.

Ryan Kesler (2-0—2) posted his first multi-goal performance of the season (40 GP) and John Gibson made 25 saves and turned aside three of four shooters in the shootout to pick up his fifth win in his last six outings.

DANAULT LEADS BLACKHAWKS TO 6TH STRAIGHT WIN

Phillip Danault scored the game-winning goal at 15:01 of the third period – the first goal of his NHL career – to lift the Blackhawks over Buffalo for their sixth consecutive victory.

Corey Crawford (28 saves) picked up his fourth consecutive victory and improved to 22-10-2 this season (2.19 GAA, .927 SV%, 6 SO). Crawford also improved to 7-0-0 in seven career appearances vs. BUF.

NEWS AND NOTES

The Rangers traded right wing Emerson Etem to the Canucks for right wing Nicklas Jensen and a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2022-23 season.

CAPITALS SURGE TO TOP OF NHL STANDINGS

The League-leading Capitals (30-7-3, 63 points) are having their best start to a season – in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 41-year history. That includes an 18-2-2 record in their last 22 games dating to Nov. 21.

The Capitals reached the 30-win mark in their 40th game of the season. Only five other teams in NHL history have recorded 30 or more victories through their opening 40 games of a campaign: the 1929-30 Bruins, 1944-45 Canadiens, 2008-09 Sharks, 2012-13 Blackhawks and 2012-13 Penguins.

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby leads the NHL with 26 wins in 2015-16, including a 18-0-2 record in his last 20 decisions – the longest point streak by a goaltender since 2010-11 (Roberto Luongo: 16-0-5 w/ VAN).

DYNAMIC SCORING DUO POWERS STARS

At 29-10-4 (62 points), the Stars also are off to their best start to a season – in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 49-year history. They are tied for the League lead 17 wins (17-4-0) at American Airlines Center – that equals their home win total from all of last season (17-16-8).

Stars teammates Jamie Benn (24-28—52) and Tyler Seguin (24-27—51) share the League lead with 24 goals apiece (with Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko). They also rank second and third, respectively, in points.

Playing in just his second NHL season, Stars defenseman John Klingberg ranks second among blueliners – and tied for ninth overall – with 6-32—38.

PANTHERS HIT MIDPOINT IN RECORD FORM

The Panthers (25-12-4, 54 points) enter the midway point of the season riding a franchise-record 11-game winning streak. They also have won a franchise-record seven straight games at home and have equaled another club record with five consecutive victories on the road.

Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo has won a career-high and franchise-record nine straight games (1.31 GAA, .954 SV%, 2 SO) – the longest such run by any goaltender this season. He also is three victories shy of tying Tony Esposito (423) for seventh place in NHL history.

JAGR PASSES DIONNE, NARROWS IN ON HULL

With his 732nd career goal on Dec. 20 vs. VAN, 43-year-old Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr moved past Kings' great Marcel Dionne (731) and into sole possession of fourth place on the NHL’s all-time goals list. Jagr, who now sits at 736 career goals, trails Brett Hull (741) by five for a share of third place.

LEAGUE LEADERS
A look at some of the top individual performances thus far in 2015-16:

Goals
1. Vladimir Tarasenko (STL): 24
2. Tyler Seguin (DAL): 24
3. Jamie Benn (DAL): 24
4. Patrick Kane (CHI): 23
5. Alex Ovechkin (WSH): 22

Assists
1. Patrick Kane (CHI): 37
2. Erik Karlsson (OTT): 34
3. John Klingberg (DAL): 32
4. Blake Wheeler (WPG): 30
5. Jamie Benn (DAL): 28

Points
1. Patrick Kane (CHI): 23-37—60
2. Jamie Benn (DAL): 24-28—52
3. Tyler Seguin (DAL): 24-27—51
4. Vladimir Tarasenko (STL): 24-19—43
5. Erik Karlsson (OTT): 9-34—43

Wins
1. Braden Holtby (WSH): 26
2. Jonathan Quick (LAK): 23
3. Corey Crawford (CHI): 22
4. Roberto Luongo (FLA): 19
t-5. Jake Allen (STL): 18
t-5. Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): 18

Goals-Against Average (Minimum: 14 GP)
1. John Gibson (ANA): 1.82
2. Connor Hellebuyck (WPG): 1.85
3. Braden Holtby (WSH): 1.90
4. James Reimer (TOR): 1.97
5. Roberto Luongo (FLA): 2.06
6. Ben Bishop (TBL): 2.06

Save Percentage (Minimum: 14 GP)
1. James Reimer (TOR): .937
2. Connor Hellebuyck (WPG): .937
3. Michal Neuvirth (PHI): .934
4. Braden Holtby (WSH): .933
5. Roberto Luongo (FLA): .931

FRIDAY’S RESULTS (Home Team in Caps)

Boston 4, NEW JERSEY 1
CAROLINA 4, Columbus 1
CHICAGO 3, Buffalo 1
COLORADO 5, Nashville 3
Tampa Bay 3, EDMONTON 2
ANAHEIM 4, St. Louis 3 (SO)

SATURDAY’S ACTION (All Times Eastern)

Washington @ NY Rangers, 1:00 p.m., SNE, SNO, SNP, CSN-DC, MSG
NY Islanders @ Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m., MSG+, CSN-PH
Pittsburgh @ Montreal, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, TVAS, SN, ROOT
Boston @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m., CITY, TVAS2, NESN
Carolina @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., FS-CR, FS-O
Toronto @ San Jose, 7:00 p.m., CBC, CSN-CA
Minnesota @ Dallas, 8:00 p.m., FS-N, FS-WI, FS-SW
Nashville @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., FS-TN, FS-A
Tampa Bay @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., CBC, SN, SUN
St. Louis @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., FS-MW, FS-W

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services