NHL Daily Recap 1/4/16: Ducks win, Kings' Quick named "Three Star" of the Week

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DUCKS OUST JETS IN FIRST MEETING SINCE PLAYOFFS, 4-1

John Gibson made 19 saves to lead the Ducks past the Jets in their first meeting since the opening round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a four-game sweep by Anaheim.

The Ducks (16-15-7, 39 points), who have collected points in six consecutive games (4-0-2), leapfrogged three idle teams – the Canucks (15-15-9, 39 points), Sharks (18-17-2, 38 points) and Flames (18-18-2, 38 points) – to move into third place in the Pacific Division.

Gibson picked up his fourth consecutive win, but saw his shutout streak end at 184:30 – the third-longest such streak in Ducks history as well as the longest by any rookie in club history.

Gibson, who also earned his first NHL point with an assist on Corey Perry’s goal, improved to 8-4-2 in 15 games this season (1.63 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO). He leads the NHL in goals-against average and ranks fourth in save percentage.

Defenseman Kevin Bieksa (1-1—2) scored his first goal in a Ducks uniform (38 GP).

JAGR POWERS PANTHERS TO NINTH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY

Jaromir Jagr scored twice to help the Panthers extend a pair of franchise records with their ninth consecutive win overall as well as their seventh straight victory at home.

At 23-12-4 (50 points), the Panthers opened a three-point lead atop the Atlantic Division, where the top six clubs are separated by eight points.

With 735 career goals, Jagr moved within six of tying Brett Hull (741) for third place in NHL history. Jagr also extended his League record with his 132nd career game-winning goal, scored at 8:52 of the third period.

Jagr registered his 125th career multi-goal performance (1,586 GP). Elias says that is tied for 10th place in NHL history (w/ Dino Ciccarelli: 1,232 GP).

Jagr paces the Panthers in goals (13) and points (28) this season (36 GP). His three game-winning goals also share the club lead (w/ Aleksander Barkov).

CRAWFORD LIFTS BLACKHAWKS WITH SIXTH SHUTOUT

Corey Crawford stopped all 26 shots he faced, including 11 in the third period, to earn his League-leading sixth shutout of the season and backstop the Blackhawks to their third straight win.

At 23-13-4 (50 points), the Blackhawks leapfrogged the idle Blues (23-14-4, 50 points) for second place in the Central Division.

Crawford, who totaled seven shutouts over the past four seasons (203 GP), improved to 20-10-2 in 32 appearances in 2015-16 (2.24 GAA, .925 SV%, 6 SO). His 20 wins rank third in the NHL, behind Braden Holtby (24) and Jonathan Quick (22).

Crawford posted his sixth shutout in the club’s 40th game of the season. Via Elias, he became the fastest Blackhawks goaltender to record six shutouts – in terms of team games played – since 1969-70, when rookie Tony Esposito collected 10 in Chicago’s opening 40 games and finished the season with a franchise-record 15 shutouts.

The Blackhawks improved to 10-2-2 in 14 all-time home games vs. OTT, including seven consecutive victories.

OKPOSO, CLUTTERBUCK LEAD ISLANDERS PAST STARS

Kyle Okposo (2-1—3) and Cal Clutterbuck (2-0—2) both scored twice to power the Islanders to their third win in their past four games.

Okposo registered his sixth multi-point game of the season (38 GP), including four three-point performances. He leads the Islanders in assists (21) and points (31) in 2015-16.

Clutterbuck posted his third career multi-goal game and first since Feb. 11, 2011 at STL (2-0—2 w/ MIN).

The Islanders improve to 12-4-1 against Western Conference opponents this season, including a 6-2-1 record versus the Central Division.

KINGS AIM FOR 6TH STRAIGHT WIN

The Kings (25-11-2, 52 points), who have won five straight games, look to extend that run when they visit the Avalanche (18-18-3, 39 points) at Pepsi Center.

Los Angeles already has posted a pair of six-game winning streaks this season: Oct. 16-31 (7-0-0) and Nov. 28 – Dec. 11 (6-0-0). Jonathan Quick, who ranks second in the NHL with 22 victories in 2015-16, has been the goaltender of record for all five games during the team’s current run, compiling a 1.40 goals-against average, .956 save percentage and one shutout in that span.

DUCKS' GIBSON NAMED ROOKIE OF MONTH

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, who went 5-3-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and three shutouts in 10 appearances, has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for December.

Gibson edged Chicago Blackhawks left wing Artemi Panarin (4-7—11 in 15 GP), Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (3-8—11 in 14 GP), Tampa Bay Lightning center Jonathan Marchessault (5-4—9 in 13 GP), and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (3-6—9 in 12 GP) for the honor.

Gibson, a second-round selection (39th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, shared the League lead in shutouts with Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (13 GP). He recorded two of his three blank sheets with consecutive 1-0 victories to close the month, snapping the Calgary Flames’ franchise-record 11-game home winning streak with a 14-save performance Dec. 29 and ending the calendar year with a 21-save game against the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 31.

Gibson, who has appeared in 41 career NHL games, owns an 8-4-2 record with a 1.63 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and four shutouts in 15 outings this season. He paces all goaltenders in goals-against average, ranks fourth in save percentage and is tied for third in shutouts.

QUICK, DOAN, AND LETANG NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Los Angeles Kings star goaltender Jonathan Quick, Arizona Coyotes right wing Shane Doan, and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang are the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 3.

FIRST STAR – JONATHAN QUICK, G, LOS ANGELES KINGS

Quick went 4-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .968 save percentage and one shutout to help the Pacific Division-leading Kings (25-11-2, 52 points) extend their winning streak to five games. He stopped all 27 shots he faced to record his 40th career shutout (and third this season) in a 5-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 28. In doing so, Quick tied John Vanbiesbrouck (Detroit, Mich.) and Frank Brimsek (Eveleth, Minn.) for the most shutouts by a U.S.-born goaltender in NHL history.

Quick, 29, followed that performance with 42 saves in a 5-2 triumph over the Edmonton Oilers Dec. 29. Quick then closed the week by allowing one goal in a pair of wins, making 23 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames Dec. 31 and a 29 saves in a 2-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers Jan. 2. Quick ranks second in the NHL with 22 wins in 32 appearances this season (2.12 GAA, .923 SV%, 3 SO), including five straight victories and a 12-2-0 record in his past 14 outings.

SECOND STAR – SHANE DOAN, RW, ARIZONA COYOTES

Doan led the NHL with five goals in three games to power the Coyotes (18-16-4, 40 points) to three of a possible six standings points. He opened the week with his second career hat trick – and first since Jan. 7, 2012 vs. NYI – in a 7-5 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Dec. 29. Doan then scored twice in a 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Dec. 31. In doing so, Doan – who has spent his entire NHL career with the Coyotes/Jets – moved past Dale Hawerchuk (379) and into sole possession of first place for the most goals in franchise history (381).

He finished the week without a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers Jan. 2. The 39-year-old Halkirk, Alta., native paces the Coyotes with 13 goals in 29 games this season (13-6—19) and also leads the club with six power-play goals.

THIRD STAR – KRIS LETANG, D, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Letang led all defensemen with 2-4—6 in three games to propel the Penguins (19-15-4, 42 points) to five out of a possible six standings points. After being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 30, he posted a pair of three-point performances: 2-1—3 in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 31 and 0-3—3 in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders Jan. 2. In doing so, Letang collected consecutive three-point games for the second time in his career and first time since Feb. 11-12, 2012 (3-3—6). The 28-year-old Montreal native shares third on the Penguins and paces the club’s defensemen with 3-19—22 in 29 games this season. His average of 0.76 points per game ranks eighth among NHL blueliners in 2015-16.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS (Home Team in Caps)

NY ISLANDERS 6, Dallas 5
FLORIDA 2, Minnesota 1
CHICAGO 3, Ottawa 0
ANAHEIM 4, Winnipeg 1

MONDAY’S ACTION (All Times Eastern)

Detroit @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., TVAS, FS-D, MSG+
Ottawa @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., TSN5, RDS, FS-MW
Los Angeles @ Colorado, 9:00 p.m., NBCSN
Carolina @ Edmonton, 9:00 p.m., FS-CR, SNW
Arizona @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., FS-A, SNP

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services