Report: NHL to review Krug hit on Shaw

The talk after the Bruins' 2-1 overtime win over the Canadiens focused on a hit in the first period.

Boston defender Torey Krug caught Montreal forward Andrew Shaw up high near center ice in the first period, and the NHL's Department of Player Safety will review the hit, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

"Personally, I just grabbed the puck and thought (Shaw) was going to hit me so I lowered my shoulder and that was that," Krug said after the game, according to TSN 690's Amanda Stein.

"I was looking at the puck ... I saw him, I knew who it was and I just assumed he was going to play the body because he is a physical player," Krug added. "I lowered my shoulder and I don't know what happened."

Shaw left the game after the hit, presumably to be evaluated for a concussion, and returned shortly after the second period began.

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Coyotes’ Tippett cuts scrum short after embarrassing loss to Penguins

Dave Tippett was not in a conversational mood Monday night.

The Arizona Coyotes head coach ended his postgame media session after providing just one answer following a 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"We're struggling with execution. There's a standard you have to play to in the NHL, whether you're a young guy or a veteran," Tippett said. "We didn't play or compete at an NHL level tonight, and that's the score you get. That's where we're at today."

The Coyotes mustered 32 shots to the Penguins' 34, but Arizona goaltender Mike Smith was pulled after allowing four goals on the 22 he faced. Louis Domingue didn't fare much better, allowing three on 12.

Many expected the Coyotes to take a step forward this season - considering their impressive crop of young talent - but Arizona has been the NHL's worst team with a record of 9-14-5 through 28 games.

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Coyotes’ Tippett cuts scrum short after embarrassing loss to Penguins

Dave Tippett was not in a conversational mood Monday night.

The Arizona Coyotes head coach ended his postgame media session after providing just one answer following a 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"We're struggling with execution. There's a standard you have to play to in the NHL, whether you're a young guy or a veteran," Tippett said. "We didn't play or compete at an NHL level tonight, and that's the score you get. That's where we're at today."

The Coyotes mustered 32 shots to the Penguins' 34, but Arizona goaltender Mike Smith was pulled after allowing four goals on the 22 he faced. Louis Domingue didn't fare much better, allowing three on 12.

Many expected the Coyotes to take a step forward this season - considering their impressive crop of young talent - but Arizona has been the NHL's worst team with a record of 9-14-5 through 28 games.

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Watch: Bruins’ Spooner squeaks OT winner past Price

It took a pair of reviews, but the persistent Boston Bruins got their overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Ryan Spooner finished off a give-and-go with Torey Krug, trickling the puck past Carey Price to hand the Bruins a 2-1 win Monday night.

The goal came not long after David Krejci's apparent winner was waved off due to goaltender interference.

Spooner's marker was also reviewed - for a possible offside infraction - before being upheld.

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Going Streaking: Metro Division’s top 5 have won 28 in a row

The Metropolitan Division is the best in hockey - and it isn't even close.

The Pittsburgh Penguins extended their win streak to six games Monday, and they're simply doing what everyone else in the division is.

Team Win Streak
Philadelphia Flyers 9
Penguins 6
Columbus Blue Jackets 6
Washington Capitals 4
New York Rangers 3

The five clubs are a ridiculous 18-1 over the past eight days, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

"Win them all if you can," Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said, writes the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. "You have a bad day, you could fall like three or four spots. You could go from being a wild-card team to not being in the playoffs to being second in your division if you win."

Washington's 37 points would be good for first in the Pacific Division, and second in the Central Division and Atlantic Division. Instead, the Capitals are fifth in the Metro, and a wild-card team - along with the Blue Jackets.

The New York Islanders are in the basement in the Metro, 10 points behind the Capitals, and they're 6-3-1 in their past 10 games. Tough sledding.

"There's no room," Rangers center Derek Stepan said. "We're in our playoff push."

In December.

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Flyers’ Del Zotto, Manning don amazingly hideous Christmas sweaters

It's not unusual to be loved by anyone, nor is it peculiar to wear eye-popping clothing to an ugly Christmas sweater party.

Still, that doesn't quite excuse Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto or his teammate, blue-liner Brandon Manning, for the attire they chose Monday night.

Fly guys Xmas sweater party. #austin @mandog90 @nhl @philadelphiaflyers @therealalfonsoribeiro

A photo posted by Michael Del Zotto (@mdzofficial) on

The only way to redeem these sweaters would be if the defensive duo posted video of them doing the "Carlton dance."

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Happy Anniversary: Good times keep rolling for Penguins under Sullivan

What a year.

The Pittsburgh Penguins celebrated the one-year anniversary of Mike Sullivan becoming head coach by doing what they've done a lot of over the past 365 days - winning.

Pittsburgh dusted Arizona 7-0 on Monday to make it six wins in a row, an expected result considering the Coyotes' last-place standing in the NHL, making for a combined score of 13-0 for the Penguins over Arizona in 2016.

Related: Watch: Crosby bats puck out of mid-air to score NHL-leading 21st

Sullivan was hired on Dec. 12, 2015, replacing Mike Johnston, and Pittsburgh has been a force ever since.

Monday night was regular-season game No. 83 for Sullivan behind the black and gold bench, and his record is stellar:

Season GP W L OTL WIN%
2015-16 54 33 16 5 .657
2016-17 29 19 7 3 .706

Once Sullivan took over, the Penguins became what they are today: one of the league's fastest outfits, which can score goals in bunches. It helps when you have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel - each player went into Monday's game with over 30 points, while Crosby is averaging almost an absurd goal per game.

Kris Letang anchors the defense, and Patric Hornqvist and Conor Sheary are producing as well. When controversy hit the crease after Marc-Andre Fleury was hurt last season, Matt Murray stepped up admirably, and he's undoubtedly the new No. 1 in goal.

There are 16 wins not accounted for in the table above. They came in 24 games during the 2016 playoffs, as the Penguins marched to their fourth Stanley Cup.

It's fair to say that the honeymoon stage between Sullivan and Pittsburgh is far from over.

Isn't love beautiful?

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Watch: Crosby bats puck out of mid-air to score NHL-leading 21st

Sidney Crosby: Still ridiculous.

The NHL's top goal-scorer was at it again Monday. After Evgeni Malkin's shot hit the post, Crosby waited for the puck to drop below the crossbar before batting it in past helpless Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue.

The slow-motion replay really shows Crosby's brilliance. He's tracking the puck the entire way after it hit the post, knowing he must wait before he swings. Offspeed pitch? No problem.

The goal is Crosby's 21st in 23 games.

Even more remarkable is the fact the goal came after Crosby was rudely introduced to Martin Hanzal's stick late in the first period.

There's no stopping No. 87.

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Emelin, Krug ignite Canadiens-Bruins tilt with huge hits

Montreal Canadiens. Boston Bruins. Old time hockey.

Things got physical relatively early Monday between the two longtime rivals.

Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin crunched Bruins forward David Pastrnak along the boards, and Boston blueliner Torey Krug leveled Montreal's Andrew Shaw within minutes late in the first period.

Brendan Gallagher then challenged Krug in a short-lived bout.

Never a dull moment when these two clubs meet.

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Flyers lose Streit to injury for 2 weeks

The Philadelphia Flyers announced Monday they'll be without defenseman Mark Streit for two weeks due to an upper-body injury.

Streit's had a productive season, as his 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) are good for fifth on the club in scoring (he's tied with Shayne Gostisbehere). Streit'saveraging just under 20 minutes of ice time per game, and has a 51.33 Corsi For rating, according to Corsica Hockey.

The Swiss defender turned 39 on Sunday, and is only seven points shy of the 23 he had last season in 62 games.

Philly has won nine in a row and will try and make it 10 on Wednesday.

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Remember, we are all Canucks!