January 4, 2022

*  New York secured top spot in the NHL standings for the first time since Dec. 3, 2016 as the Rangers became the 10th team this season to hold first place in the League for at least one day. 
 
* Adam Fox (5-30—35 in 34 GP) recorded a multi-assist outing and tied Brad Park for the fifth-fewest games to reach 30 assists in a season by a Rangers defenseman.

*  Sixteen teams are scheduled to hit the ice Tuesday as part of the NHL’s eight-game slate, including Nathan MacKinnon who will aim to extend the League’s longest active point streak to 11 games. 

 
FOX, KREIDER, STROME LEAD RANGERS ATOP NHL STANDINGS 

Adam Fox (0-2—2) reached the 30-assist mark on the season, Chris Kreider (1-0—1) recorded his 20th goal via yet another power-play conversion and Ryan Strome (1-2—3) tallied the 11th three-point outing of his career to lead the Rangers (22-8-4, 48 points) atop the NHL standings. New York holds top spot in the NHL standings for the first time since Dec. 3, 2016 as the Rangers became the 10th team this season to sit in first place in the League for at least one day. 
 
* Fox improved his totals to 5-30—35 in 34 games to surpass Victor Hedman (7-27—34 in 34 GP) for the most points among defensemen in 2021-22 and tie Brad Park for the fifth-fewest contests to 30 assists in a season by a Rangers blueliner.



* Kreider scored his 12th power-play marker and 20th goal of the season, which trails only Leon Draisaitl (25) and Alex Ovechkin (24) for the most by any player in 2021-22. Only four different Rangers players have recorded more power-play goals through their first 20 tallies of a campaign: Camille Henry (16 in 1953-54 & 13 in 1957-58), Brian Leetch (15 in 1993-94), Marcel Dionne (15 in 1987-88) and Ulf Dahlen (13 in 1989-90). 

 
*  The Rangers became the 10th team to hold first overall in the League standings for at least a day so far this season as the 2021-22 campaign became the fifth in NHL history to feature 10 or more teams sit in top spot in the standings through the 510 game mark. The others: 2010-11 (13), 2003-04 (11), 2011-12 (10) and 1981-82 (10). 

QUICK CLICKS  

* Jordan Kyrou, Jack Hughes, Jonathan Huberdeau named Stars of the Week 

* NHL postpones Ottawa-Seattle game on Jan. 6 

* NHL, NHLPA, SAP team up with EVERFI to recognize Most Valuable Teachers 

* Current top vote-getters in 2022 NHL All-Star Fan Vote 

* Fantasy hockey top 100 forward rankings 

 
AVALANCHE VISIT BLACKHAWKS AS PART OF EIGHT-GAME SLATE 

Sixteen teams are scheduled to hit the ice Tuesday as part of the NHL’s eight-game slate, including a Central Division matchup between the Avalanche (18-8-2, 38 points) and Blackhawks (11-17-4, 26 points) at United Center on ESPN+, Hulu and TVA Sports.   

 
* The Avalanche boast a 7-2-1 record since Nathan MacKinnon returned to the lineup on Dec. 1 (.750 P%), with MacKinnon hitting the score sheet in each of those contests. He can record a point streak of at least 11 games for the fifth time in his career and third consecutive season (15 GP in 2020-21 & 13 GP in 2019-20).

* Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat (18-6—24 in 32 GP) enters Tuesday’s action tied for seventh in the NHL with 18 goals. DeBrincat, who sits two goals shy of his fourth 20-goal campaign, can require the fewest games by a Blackhawks skater to 20 goals in a season since Martin Havlat in 2006-07 (32 GP) should he record a multi-goal outing. 

COURTESY NHLmedia.com