The Flames franchise has drafted five Calder Memorial Trophy winners as top rookies to lead the NHL. Two were selected when the club resided in Atlanta (Eric Vail 1975 and Willi Plett 1977). Three were chosen since the 1980 transfer to Calgary (Gary Suter 1986, Joe Nieuwendyk 1988 and Sergei Makarov 1990).
MANPOWER DISADVANTAGE
Los Angeles right winger Glen Murray scored his 15th and third short-handed goal of the season Wednesday in a 5-1 triumph over San Jose. The goal gave the Kings a share of the league lead in short-handed goals with the Vancouver Canucks at 10. Montreal, New Jersey and Washington were next with five each while the New York Rangers were the only team yet to score a goal while playing a man short. Joe Sakic’s four short-handed goals for the Avalanche made him the individual leader followed by Murray, Florida’s Radek Dvorak and New Jersey’s Brian Rolston with three apiece.
GIFT-WRAPPED
Montreal Canadiens right winger Mark Recchi had a rather unusual shift Tuesday in Edmonton to end a career-worst 18-game scoring slump. Recchi was accessed a delayed penalty for tripping while Edmonton maintained possession. As play continued with Oilers netminder Mikhail Shtalenkov on the bench, teammate Janne Niinimaa inadvertently banked a pass off the boards and into his empty Edmonton net. Recchi was credited with the goal as the last Montreal player to touch the puck. After a brief celebration Recchi served his tripping penalty.
ROAD WARRIORS
New Jersey defeated the Capitals (3-2) in Washington on Wednesday to record its league-leading 12th road victory this season. Projecting their .735 road winning percentage over the entire season would give the Devils 30 victories and smash a 22-year-old NHL record. During the 1976-77 season, the Montreal Canadiens established the record for road victories with 27, which they matched a year later. Below are the teams which have compiled the most single-season road victories:
Team Season Games Victories
Detroit Red Wings 1995 – 96 41 26
Montreal Canadiens 1976 – 77 40 27
Montreal Canadiens 1977 – 78 40 27
Montreal Canadiens 1975 – 76 40 26
Edmonton Oilers 1983 – 84 40 26
Boston Bruins 1971 – 72 39 26
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