🏆 McDavid sets NHL record

Erik Johnson honored in 1,000th game, Referee stretchered off ice, Vasilevskiy gets 300th win, and more!

Slapshot News
November 19, 2024

In today’s edition:

🏆 McDavid sets NHL record
🏅 Erik Johnson honored in 1,000th game
🚑 Referee stretchered off ice
3️⃣ Vasilevskiy gets 300th win
And more!

McDavid sets NHL record

Connor McDavid picked up his 1,000th career point on Thursday night, becoming the fourth-fastest NHL player to reach that milestone.

The 2015 No. 1 overall pick did it in 659 games. Wayne Gretzky got it in 424 games, Mario Lemieux took 516 and Mike Bossy needed 656. Peter Stastny was fifth at 682. Those four players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

McDavid, 27, is also the fourth-youngest NHL player to reach 1,000 points, which has been achieved by 98 other players.

He picked up the milestone point with a goal in Thursday's home game against the Nashville Predators. McDavid added an assist on the overtime winner. He now has 341 goals and 660 assists.

Erik Johnson honored for 1,000th game

On Monday, Erik Johnson was honored in a special pregame ceremony to commemorate his 1,000th NHL game.

The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman reached the milestone on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres, but the ceremony was saved for Monday, with the added bonus of celebrating in front of his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, and sharing the moment with former teammates.

Johnson played 717 of his 1,000 games in Colorado, spanning over 13 seasons, which included a Stanley Cup championship in 2022.

With many of his former teammates sitting on the opposite bench during the ceremony, Johnson was met with cheers as he made his way out on the ice to receive his recognition. He was joined by his wife, Jackie, and his parents, Bruce and Peggy.

The Flyers played a tribute video for Johnson, which included congratulatory messages from current and former teammates, family members, and even a special message from NFL legend Peyton Manning, who played quarterback for the Denver Broncos for part of his career.

Referee stretchered off ice

NHL referee Mitch Dunning is fully communicative and can move all his extremities following a violent collision with Colorado defenseman Josh Manson in Monday night’s game at Philadelphia.

The NHL said Dunning was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons and that all neurological signs are normal.

Manson skated alone on the ice when he slammed into Dunning early in the first period. Dunning went down in a heap and lay prone on the ice for several minutes. Dunning appeared to be moving his feet and moved his right hand when Manson went to talk to him.

The game was delayed for several minutes while trainers and medical staff tended to Dunning.

Bruins booed off ice

The Boston Bruins had another brutal night, as they fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets by a 5-1 final score. With this, the Bruins have now lost three straight games and four out of their last five contests.

After another ugly loss at TD Garden, Bruins fans vented their frustrations by booing the Original Six team off the ice.

It is easy to understand why Bruins fans are unhappy with the club. They now have an 8-9-3 record when they had high expectations heading into the season. In addition, they got blown out by a rebuilding Blue Jackets team that won only one out of their previous eight games.

Things are awful in Boston right now, and the Bruins are not showing any signs of improvement.

Reilly to have heart procedures

Mike Reilly will undergo a heart procedure Tuesday and is out indefinitely, the New York Islanders announced Monday.

The 31-year-old defenseman is on injured reserve and has missed New York’s past seven games since sustaining a concussion after taking a hit from forward Jordan Greenway in the third period of a 4-3 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 1.

Reilly’s heart condition was previously undiagnosed and was discovered during concussion testing.

The Tampa Bay Lightning pulled out all the stops for the man who makes theirs.

Andrei Vasilevskiy became the 40th goalie in NHL history to win 300 games and the fastest ever to do so, playing in just 490 games. And for that, the team had a special ceremony and handed him more than a few gifts on Saturday at Amalie Arena before a game against the New Jersey Devils.

Lightning captain Victor Hedman presented the goalie with a custom engraved luxury watch. Team owner Jeff Vinik presented the two-time Stanley Cup champion with a commemorative gold goalie stick and, moments later, mascot Thunderbug brought out a mini gold stick for Vasilevskiy's son, Lukas.