NHL scores 2017: Jonathan Toews continues his hot month with a hat trick

Last season, Sidney Crosby was in quite a rut.

The future Hall of Famer had just 27 points through December, a far cry from what the superstar is capable of. After the All-Star break, he turned a corner and engaged his hyperdrive. Crosby put up 44 points in 33 games, finishing with 85 points and a Hart Trophy nomination.

A year later, his Blackhawks counterpart is doing something remarkably similar.

Jonathan Toews finished December with 18 points after an injury-plagued first half. Since the new year began, however, Toews is the best player in the league: 18 goals and 54 points in 30 games. He capped it off with a hat trick in Minnesota on Monday.

Maybe it’s time to start talking about his Hart Trophy chances, too.

Edit (2/23): Wow. I am awful at math.

A totally confused emailer prompted me to re-trace my steps to figure out what on Earth was going on when I wrote this. I found out.

I was comparing Toews and Crosby’s splits on ESPN.com. Specifically, month-by-month. And, in some sort of writing brain freeze, I must’ve included Toews’ pre-All-Star numbers in with the monthly numbers in my calculations. Okay, simple elementary school addition, but calculations nonetheless!

That accounts for the 18 goals and the 52 points I cited.

I should know better; numbers fry my brain. Tangle it in knots. The lesson, as always, is to triple-check yourself. Every time. But especially with things you know you’re prone to tripping over (like me with numbers).

I will go sit in the penalty box now.

Penguins 3, Hurricanes 1

Canadiens 3, Rangers 2 (SO)

Senators 2, Devils 1

Islanders 3, Red Wings 1

Lightning 4, Oilers 1

Maple Leafs 5, Jets 4 (OT)

Blackhawks 5, Wild 3

Flames 6, Predators 5 (OT)

Kings 2, Avalanche 1

All eyes in the hockey universe were on Toronto as rookie sensations Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine faced off for the last time this season, and both put on a show.

Matthews finished with three assists, all on Toronto’s final three goals (including the overtime winner by Jake Gardiner and the late game-tying goal by William Nylander). Laine, meanwhile, scored twice to break the Jets’ franchise rookie record for goals (30).

Few years bring us a Calder race this fun to watch.

It took a shootout, but the Montreal Canadiens got Claude Julien a win in his first game back behind the Habs’ bench. And they couldn’t pull it off without their star netminder.

Price needed to make 28 stops to get the job done, including a truly remarkable save at the end of regulation that left Madison Square Garden rubbing their eyes in disbelief. (More on that in a bit.)

More importantly, Price tied Ken Dryden for third on the Canadiens’ all-time wins list with his 258th victory.

The Flames watched a 3-1 lead implode spectacularly in the second period, as Filip Forsberg rattled off a hat trick in 20 minutes to give Nashville a 4-3 lead. Nobody would’ve blamed Calgary for turtling at that point, content to go home and think about what just happened.

Instead, they withstood: Glen Gulutzan’s young team rallied in the third, eventually winning the game in overtime. It was an important win for the Flames, who retain the final Western Conference Wild Card spot for at least another night.

Have a day, Carey Price.