Player of the Night: Miles Wood
The 22-year-old generated a hat trick and an assist (we need a term for this ... maybe “Help Trick?”), giving the Devils a needed edge in a zany 7-5 win against the Blackhawks. You can read more about his strong night here.
Since Wood got the post treatment, it feels fair to spotlight some other players while we’re at it.
In that same game, Nico Hischier was excellent in his own right, generating a goal and two assists. Maybe the top pick of the 2017 NHL Draft hasn’t been as bombastic as others at times - Clayton Keller continues to spellbind in Arizona, seemingly like a mirage in the desert - but Hischier has 14 points in 17 games.
If he had more goals (three so far), we’d have to nickname him “The Swiss Can’t-Miss.”
.@NJDevils rookie sensation Nico Hischier had 2 assists (on top of a goal) tonight vs CHI- puts him 4th on this list of teenage playmakers getting off to fine starts in their career pic.twitter.com/hF4Jub51Jl
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 13, 2017
Two goalies deserve a quick mention, too. John Gibson continues to hold things together for the ridiculously injured Ducks. He lost, but Gibson made 35 saves; in a way, this highlight feels like the story of his night.
Braden Holtby was excellent, too, making 29 saves as the Capitals managed a 2-1 shootout win against the Oilers.
Highlight of the Night: Paul Kariya, Scott Stevens reunited.
How cool is this? OK, and how awkward is this?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbaNUuJhDUA/
Quite a moment. Maybe they’ll be best buds some day.
Today Paul Kariya will play w/Scott Stevens. Kariya was concussed by infamous Stevens hit in '03 https://t.co/8TQZ3qXduh pic.twitter.com/bWyjrn1eCT
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) November 12, 2017
Or at least they might make amends?
Paul Kariya and Scott Stevens together on the ice at the ACC. Look like Kariya was back playing defense with Stevens and they're sitting next to each on the bench. Maybe time does heal.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) November 12, 2017
If that bends the rules of “highlight” too much for you (Sheesh, you get into such semantic arguments that you must be ... a person on the Internet), then Wood’s hat trick should suffice.
Factoid of the Night: Introduce yourself, 2017-18 Lightning:
The @TBLightning beat the #Ducks 2-1, match the best opening 18 game record by any team in a season (14-2-2) since the 2012-13 Blackhawks began 15-0-3
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 13, 2017
That’s one of several interesting marks set by this red-hot team to begin the season.
Scores and more