News and notes from around the NHL this evening:
- Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin chases two important milestones tonight: 29th most career NHL goals and 1000 career NHL points. Ovechkin entered the game tonight against the Montreal Canadiens with 543 goals and 996 points. One more goal ties him with Canadiens’ legend Maurice Richard for 29th most goals. As of writing, Ovechkin has one assist so far in his game tonight, leaving him 3 points short of 1000.
- Florida Panthers forward Denis Malgin left tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils with an upper-body injury. Malgin sustained the injury when Devils forward Pavel Zacha hit him into the boards midway through the first period. Zacha received a 5-minute boarding major on the play. The NHL Department of Player Safety may review this play for further discipline. N.J. Record writer Andrew Gross reports that Malgin will not return to the game.
- Philadelphia Flyers prospect German Rubstov terminated his contract with the KHL’s Vityaz Podolsk to join the Chicoutimi Saugueneens of the QMJHL, reports RDS (source in French). As Tony Androckitis of Highland Park Hockey points out, Rubstov is eligible to play in AHL despite being under 20 because Rubstov played professionally in Europe before being drafted. It is the same exception to the CHL transfer rules that current Buffalo Sabres prospect Alexander Nylander uses to play for the AHL’s Rochester Americans at 18 years old. Rubstov played for Russia in the World Junior Championships this year but went pointless in five games.