Alumni Report – 12/27/16
Every week we take you around the hockey world to bring updates on Winterhawks alumni in the news. Here is this week’s edition:
Former Hawks Help Blue Jackets Roll
No team in the National Hockey League entered the Christmas break on a higher note than the Columbus Blue Jackets. John Tortorella’s men have rattled off twelve wins in a row heading into the break, and possess a league best +45 goal differential. They’ve lost just five games in regulation all season, and a major part of their success has been the play of some Winterhawks Alumni.
Seth Jones has been a breakout star for the Blue Jackets this season. He leads the team averaging just over 23 minutes of ice-time per game, while also rifling home two overtime winners, including this one against Vancouver last week:
ESPN’s Scott Burnside sat down with Seth, as well as his brother and current Winterhawk Caleb, for this piece on his emergence in Columbus.
Meanwhile, Brandon Dubinsky has been a stalwart on the Blue Jackets’ roster and a key checking forward for John Tortorella. He finished strong offensively to the pre-Christmas schedule, recording five assists in the last four games before the break.
Niederreiter, Dumba Propel Wild
The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t the only team on a winning streak as the NHL returns to action tonight. The Minnesota Wild have climbed to within three points of Chicago for tops in the Central Division with their ten-game winning streak.
The Wild fired home seven goals in Madison Square Garden, including five goals in the second period, en route to their tenth consecutive win last Friday. Former Winterhawk Nino Niederreiter scored his ninth of the year:
Matt Dumba added his fifth of the season later that period:
Dumba is already halfway to his career high of ten goals, set last season. Meanwhile, Niederreiter is on pace for his third consecutive 20-goal season, and is fourth on the Wild in scoring with 22 points thus far.
Taylor Leier Notches First NHL Goal
Though the Philadelphia Flyers saw their winning streak snapped at ten games, former Winterhawk Taylor Leier will remember the December 17th game in Dallas for the rest of his life. Leier opened the scoring with his first career NHL goal late in the opening period:
For Leier, the captain of the Winterhawks’ in their 2012-13 WHL Championship season, the goal has come during the longest stretch he’s had as an NHL player in his career. Leier played the final 8 games before the Christmas Break, and has two points in those eight games. The magic of the moment wasn’t lost on Leier, who spoke with Flyers tv postgame:
Johansen Records Two Points in Preds’ Win over Devils
Ryan Johansen scored the third shorthanded goal of his NHL career, and added an assist, last Tuesday in the Predators’ 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. His shorthanded goal featured an excellent burst of speed and cool finish of a beautiful pass by Viktor Arvidsson:
Hansen and Baertschi Fire Canucks Past Jets
Jannik Hansen scored twice in a 4-1 Canucks win over the Winnipeg Jets last Tuesday. The first goal tied the game and began a run of four straight goals for Vancouver:
His second goal would prove to be the game-winner:
Former Winterhawk Sven Baertschi would do it on his own, blocking a shot and finishing an unassisted goal to provide the Canucks some insurance:
