December 29, 2024

NHL roundup: Steven Stamkos nets No. 500 as part of hat trick

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NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks © Thomson Reuters NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks

Steven Stamkos recorded a hat trick that included his 500th NHL goal, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-2 road win over the host Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

Stamkos became the 47th player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal plateau and the first player to hit the milestone in a Lightning uniform. With the three goals, Stamkos moves into a tie for 45th on the all-time goals list, joining Hall of Famer Joe Mullen with 502 career goals.

NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks © Thomson Reuters NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks

It took Stamkos just 4:40 into the first period to find his landmark tally, as the Lightning captain converted a nice pass from Alex Killorn in front of the net. Goal No. 501 for Stamkos came less than 10 minutes later, and he completed the hat trick with an empty-netter late in the third period.

NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks © Thomson Reuters NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks

The Lightning have won their last five games, matching their longest winning streak of the season. Two of the five victories came against Vancouver, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games.

Sharks 5, Stars 3

Erik Karlsson scored the game-winner midway through the third period to go with three assists as San Jose rallied from a three-goal deficit to defeat visiting Dallas. James Reimer made 33 saves to pick up his 200th career victory.

The four-point game gave Karlsson 62 points for the season. He became the just the fourth defenseman in NHL history to hit the 60-point mark in 46 or fewer games, joining Bobby Orr, who did it six times, Paul Coffey (five times) and Denis Potvin (two times).

Nick Bonino had a goal and an assist and Timo Meier, Steven Lorentz and Logan Couture also scored goals for the Sharks. Jason Robertson, Ty Dellandrea and Radek Faksa scored goals for Dallas, Miro Heiskanen added two assists and Jake Oettinger stopped 23 shots.

Bruins 4, Islanders 1

Charlie McAvoy and Derek Forbort scored the tying and go-ahead goals in a span of 3:12 in the second period as Boston pulled away to beat New York in Elmont, N.Y.

Brad Marchand and Trent Frederic added goals in the third for the Bruins, who have won three straight since a 3-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 12 — Boston’s only regulation loss in its past 18 games (14-1-3). Linus Ullmark made 25 saves for the Bruins, who have an NHL-high 74 points.

Zach Parise scored in the first for the Islanders, who are 2-5-2 this month. New York goalie Semyon Varlamov stopped 20 shots.

Senators 5, Penguins 4 (OT)

After recording three assists in regulation, Brady Tkachuk scored 25 seconds into overtime, lifting Ottawa to a win over visiting Pittsburgh.

On a rush early in OT, Tkachuk found himself open with the puck to beat Pittsburgh goalie Casey DeSmith (35 saves) to give the Senators their second win in six games. Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle each had a goal and an assist, Shane Pinto and Alex DeBrincat also scored and Thomas Chabot recorded three assists for Ottawa.

Evgeni Malkin had a goal with two assists and Sidney Crosby added three helpers for the Penguins. Jason Zucker, Mark Friedman and Rickard Rakell added goals for Pittsburgh, which has won just three of its past 12 games (3-6-3).

Avalanche 4, Flames 1

Mikko Rantanen collected two goals and one assist and Artturi Lehkonen scored twice as visiting Colorado rode a three-goal first period to a victory over Calgary.

Nathan MacKinnon, Devon Toews and J.T. Compher collected two assists apiece and Alexandar Georgiev made 34 saves for the Avalanche, who have won three straight games.

Tyler Toffoli replied for the Flames, who have dropped two consecutive games in regulation. Jacob Markstrom stopped 27 shots.

–Field Level Media

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