December is finally upon us, and it truly is the most wonderful time of the year for NHL fans as we officially enter the thickest part of the schedule.
Here’s everything you need to see, hear and know from the past week of puck, starting with an absolute masterpiece from you know who. Let’s dive in.
Goal of the week
Connor McDavid against the Chicago Blackhawks was always going to end this way. The Blackhawks are built to do one thing, and that is lose hockey games. McDavid, on the other hand, is a hockey-playing machine, able to pick even the best teams apart with his dazzling speed and unthinkable hands. Combine the two, especially when Jack Johnson is the last man back, and all you can do is laugh at the absolute lunacy that was this end-to-end beauty.
Save of the week
At 41 years old, Craig Anderson is the oldest player in hockey this season. The grizzled Sabres veteran is in the midst of his 20th NHL season but looks as spry as he did during his prime back in Ottawa. The netminder’s .916 save percentage while splitting time with Eric Comrie has been a revelation for a Sabres team lacking many bright spots outside of their few young stars. This gorgeous stop on Dominik Kubalik last Wednesday might just be one of the slicker stops we’ll see all month.
Star of the week
With 10 points in just four games this week, Leon Draisaitl has been every bit as electric as always. On the year, the German superstar sits second in the entire NHL behind Connor McDavid in scoring and continues to be an absolute terror to go up against. At 3-on-3, there may be no player as destructive as the Oilers forward. Watch he and McDavid team up last Tuesday on this marker to punctuate a thrilling OT-winner against the Florida Panthers.
Mitts of the week
Tage Thompson has continued his ascension into stardom with the Sabres this year, building off a 38-goal, 68-point breakout last season with even more impressive numbers to begin 2022-23. The former first-round pick is living up to the hype and then some despite blooming late, making the power forward cool again and wreaking havoc on opposing defensemen with his enormous frame. He showed that size off and then some with this sensational goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning that left Erik Cernak and Brian Elliott in its wake.
Dish of the week
The New Jersey Devils…