Artemi Panarin tied for most rookie game-winning goals

Game-winning goals can be a fickle stat. After all, it's not like Artemi Panarin was being clutch when he put the Chicago Blackhawks up 2-0 in the first period of their 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche: he was simply doing his job, scoring goals.

His goal did end up being the game winner, though, and with that Panarin now has five on the season: tied with Dylan Larkin for the most of any rookies this year. He still leads all rookies with 18 total goals.

While a game-winning goal isn't really different from a normal goal in any way (with the possible exception of an overtime winner, of which Panarin has just one so far this season), they're still a recorded stat. So it is possible Panarin's game winners could end up playing into his overall narrative and, with that, Calder Trophy voting.

He should still be a favorite to win the rookie of the year award - his 47 points are 13 ahead of the next closest rookie, Jack Eichel - but leading in game winners could always provide a little more ammunition, so they certainly don't hurt.

Also, it means the Blackhawks win a lot of games! And that, of course, is good.