The NHL really has no mercy on Thanksgiving weekend. It must be a Canadian thing.
NHL scores 2015: The NHL does not respect your Thanksgiving weekend plans
It demands more hockey. Less stuffing.
Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Twenty-four NHL teams played Friday night, less than 24 hours after most Americans devoured large birds, assorted vegetables and copious amounts of alcohol. If that wasn't exhausting enough, the Bruins and Rangers threw in a little controversy to shake fans out of their turkey hangovers. Oh, and the NHL tied a record for the most games decided in overtime on a single night.
Surely the league’s schedule elves would give fans and players one night of rest over the holiday weekend after that, right? Wrong. Eighteen of the teams that played Friday turned right around and skated Saturday night in a back-to-back.
And it was great! Maybe the NHL is onto something. Maybe ... maybe we should get rid of Thanksgiving.
It’s for the sake of hockey. It’s what the pilgrims would have wanted.
Scores
Philadelphia Flyers 3, New York Rangers 0
New Jersey Devils 3, Montreal Canadiens 2 (OT)
Edmonton Oilers 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (SO)
St. Louis Blues 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Dallas Stars 4, Minnesota Wild 3 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)
3 things we learned
1. Something is seriously wrong with the Penguins
The Penguins' struggles have been apparent all season. It could be their system under coach Mike Johnston. It could be their luck. Whatever the reason, nothing is clicking even two months into the season, and off-ice cracks are starting to show on the ice. The plight of Sidney Crosby and company has gone from mildly interesting, to concerning, to downright sad to watch.
2. Never, never let Dallas shoot the puck indiscriminately
Especially not for two whole periods. Minnesota’s early 3-0 lead was bound to fall at the rate it was letting the Stars dictate the game’s pace. When Dallas struck, it kept coming until it secured a 4-3 comeback win in overtime. The Stars are just too talented to let off the leash for too long.
3. Hockey referees forget things, too
I swear hockey refs have more of these bloopers than any other sport pic.twitter.com/HV2B5s6tRU
— christmas pun TBD (@Pat_Iversen) November 29, 2015 Impact Moment
Patrick Kane registered a point in a 19th straight game, breaking an NHL record for American-born players. A bald eagle cried a single tear of joy.
Patrick Kane's 19-game point streak sets a new NHL record for American-born players. https://t.co/6UjzZzf1Vp
— NHL (@NHL) November 29, 2015 Rookie of the Night
Obviously it was this guy:
Tonight Oilers rookie Jujhar Khaira became the 3rd ever Punjabi player to play in the NHL. (per@HNICpunjabiOMNI)
— SB Nation NHL (@SBNationNHL) November 29, 2015 Stat of the Night
At 19-5-0 (38 points), @DallasStars are off to their best 24-game start to a season – by wins & points – in their 48-year franchise history.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 29, 2015 See More:
