Facts and Figures: Carlson gets 45th point in 33rd game for Capitals

John Carlson continues to state his case for the Norris Trophy as best defenseman in the NHL with a succession of gaudy numbers in the offensive end.

Carlson had a goal and an assist to reach 45 points this season for the Washington Capitals in a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.
It was the 14th multipoint game in 2019-20 and third in five games for Carlson, who required the fewest games (33) by a defenseman to get to 45 points in one season since Al MacInnis (32) for the Calgary Flames in 1990-91.

Carlson (12 goals, 33 assists) scored the game-winning goal at 4:42 of the third period to lift the Capitals (23-5-5) past the Bruins (20-6-6) for first place in the NHL. His five game-winners this season are tied for the League lead with Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, St. Louis Blues forward David Perron, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Bruins forward David Pastrnak and one shy of Washington's single-season record by a defenseman set by Kevin Hatcher in 1992-93.
Tim Horton (1963-64) is the only defenseman in NHL history with more game-winners (six) after 33 games.

Canadiens goalie Primeau earns first NHL win

Defenseman Ben Chiarot scored 1:11 into overtime for the Montreal Canadiens to give 20-year-old Cayden Primeau his first win in the NHL, 3-2 against the Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre.
Ten days after Primeau was called up from Laval of the American Hockey League, he made 35 saves with his father, 15-season NHL veteran Keith Primeau, in attendance. Four goalies in Montreal history won their first NHL game at a younger age than Primeau (20 years, 122 days).

Primeau is the second goalie in as many seasons to earn his first NHL victory at age 21 or younger. Carter Hart (20 years, 127 days) became the youngest Philadelphia Flyers goalie to win his NHL debut by making 20 saves to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 at Wells Fargo Center on Dec. 18, 2018.

Rantanen's 20th point helps Avalanche to 20th win

Mikko Rantanen scored two goals to give him three in six games since returning from a lower-body injury and help the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-1 victory against the Flyers at Pepsi Center.
The 23-year-old forward is one of seven players this season to have 20 points in 15 or fewer games, joining Bruins forward Brad Marchand (11), Pastrnak (11), Oilers center Connor McDavid (11), Carlson (11), Draisaitl (12), Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (14) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (15). Rantanen (eight goals, 12 assists in 15 games) is also the second skater in Avalanche history to do so at least twice; Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic each did it three times.

The win gave Colorado (20-8-3) points in eight straight games (7-0-1), tied with the Flames (7-0-1) for the longest active streak in the NHL, and moved it past the St. Louis Blues (18-8-6) for first place in the Western Conference.