NHL Morning Skate – March 5, 2023

* The Senators extended their win streak to five games and moved three points back of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference – as did the Sabres, Panthers and Capitals.

* Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl established a pair of Oilers records while Josh Morrissey, Erik Karlsson and Quinn Hughes each achieved notable feats from the blueline.

* The NHL on TNT will begin Sunday’s slate with a matinee between the Lightning and Hurricanes. Later, 21-year-old Devils forward Dawson Mercer will pursue history when he aims to push his goal streak to nine games.

FOUR TEAMS TIED AT 68 POINTS, THREE BACK OF LAST WILD CARD SPOT IN EAST
Seven teams entered play separated by six points in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with four of those clubs involved in head-to-head matchups Saturday. The results now have four clubs tied at 68 points – all three back of the second Wild Card spot in the conference.

* Anders Lee scored twice to help the Islanders (32-25-8, 72 points) earn their eighth third-period comeback win of the season and leapfrog the Penguins (31-22-9, 71 points), who later lost in regulation, for the first Wild Card spot. The only teams with more third-period comeback wins than the Islanders are the Golden Knights (10) and Canucks (9).

* Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner both tallied 1-1—2 as Buffalo (32-25-4, 68 points) defeated Tampa Bay (37-20-5, 79 points) and moved one point closer to the second Wild Card position – they now trail Pittsburgh by three points with a game in hand. Thompson recorded his 18th power-play goal of the season, the most by a Sabres player since 2008-09 when Thomas Vanek potted 20.
 

* Tim Stützle (2-0—2) extended his goal streak to a career-high four games and Travis Hamonic (2-0—2) posted his first multi-goal game in the NHL (780 GP) to help the Senators (32-26-4, 68 points) claim their fifth straight win overall and extend their home point streak to six contests (5-0-1). Stützle reached the 30-goal mark for the first time and become the second-youngest Senators player to do so.

* Aleksander Barkov (0-2—2) recorded his 158th career multi-point game and surpassed Jonathan Huberdeau for sole possession of the most in franchise history as Florida (31-27-6, 68 points) defeated Pittsburgh (31-22-9, 71 points) in regulation to move within three points of them in the standings.

* Alex Ovechkin (2-1—3) overtook Stan Mikita for sole possession of 16th place on the NHL’s all-time points list as the Capitals (31-27-6, 68 points) also moved within three points of the Penguins by staging their fifth multi-goal comeback win of the season.

BRUINS KEEP ROLLING ON HOCKEY DAY IN CZECHIA, STARS RECLAIM TOP SPOT IN WEST
Conference leaders came out victorious during a matinee doubleheader on ABC, ESPN+ and Sportsnet:

* In what was the first-ever Hockey Day in Czechia, three Czech-born players found the score sheet for Boston as David Pastrnak (Havirov, CZE) and David Krejci (Sternberk, CZE) and Tomas Nosek (Pardubice, CZE) helped the Bruins (49-8-5, 103 points) extend their winning streak to 10 games (their longest since a 12-0-0 run in 2013-14). Nosek scored for the second time in four games and celebrated by waving to his wife and kids in the crowd – a tradition he began during his time in the AHL in appreciation of the sacrifices his wife, Eliska, has made to support him throughout his hockey journey.
 

* In the second half of the doubleheader, Wyatt Johnston scored one of his team’s seven goals as the Stars (34-16-13, 81 points) defeated the reigning Stanley Cup champion Avalanche (34-21-5, 73 points) and reclaimed first place in the Western Conference standings. Johnston boosted his totals to 15-14—29 in 2022-23 (63 GP), the most goals by a Stars teenager in a season since the club relocated to Dallas, eclipsing Valeri Nichushkin (14 in 2013-14).

FRANCHISE RECORDS FALL, DEFENSEMEN RE-WRITE HISTORY

Saturday’s #NHLStats: Live Updates featured a number of notable personal achievements, including:

* Josh Morrissey collected 2-1—3 during the second period – during which the Jets and Oilers combined for seven tallies, including the second-fastest five goals by two teams in 2022-23 (4:33) – to set a new franchise record for most multi-goal games in a season by a defenseman.

* Connor McDavid hit the 70-assist mark for the fifth time in his career and set the Oilers franchise record for power-play points in a single season (58), breaking a tie with Wayne Gretzky (57 in 1981-82).

* Leon Draisaitl scored his 25th and 26th power-play goals of the season to set a single-season franchise record. He also became the fifth player to notched four 40-goal seasons with the Oilers and recorded his seventh career hat trick.

* Erik Karlsson (19-61—80 in 63 GP) tallied 0-2—2 to become the fastest defenseman to 80 points in a season since Al MacInnis (62 GP in 1990-91) and the 10th blueliner in League history to record 60 assists in 63 games or fewer.

* Quinn Hughes notched two assists in Vancouver’s win against Toronto to become the fastest defenseman in NHL history to accumulate 200 career assists (263 GP), edging Brian Leetch (264 GP).

QUICK CLICKS

* Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers being treated for melanoma
* Sabres get new portraits on Kids Takeover Day
* Connor Bedard inspired by late grandfather as he approaches 2023 NHL Draft
* Sharks host ‘Women in Teal’ Night celebrating gender equality
* 1000th NHL game celebrations: Stars captain Jamie Benn and Senators forward Derick Brassard

TNT GEARS UP FOR RUSH TO THE PLAYOFFS WITH CLASH BETWEEN EASTERN POWERS
A five-game Sunday will begin with a matinee between the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (40-12-8, 88 points) and Lightning (37-20-5, 79 points) on TNT, Sportsnet 360 and TVA Sports. The reigning champion Avalanche (34-21-5, 73 points) will host the Kraken (35-21-6, 76 points) in the nightcap on Sportsnet.

* Tampa Bay is in search of its fourth consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final – which will air exclusively on TNT for the first time this year – as they look to keep pace in the Eastern Conference, where they sit among the top five and Carolina ranks No. 2.

DAWSON’S STREAK: MERCER EYES HISTORY IN ARIZONA

The longest goal streak in the NHL this season will be on the line Sunday when Dawson Mercer and the Devils (40-15-6, 86 points) pay their first visit to Mullett Arena. After scoring 11 times in 53 games through Valentine’s Day, Mercer has collected 10 goals during his run including a tally Saturday in Las Vegas when he tied the franchise record for longest goal streak.

* Prior to his streak, Mercer had scored in only two of 25 games played from Dec. 13 through Feb. 14 but now sits one game shy of tying Wayne Gretzky for the longest goal streak in NHL history by a player age 21 or younger. Gretzky had a nine-game goal streak in 1981-82 at age 20 – the longest of his entire career.

* Mercer’s eight-game run is tied for the longest by any active player. He now can become the 37th different player in League history with a goal streak of nine or more games and first since Teemu Selanne in 1997-98 (11 GP).