* Zach Parise scored while playing in his 1,100th NHL game to spark an Islanders offense that tallied five goals in the opening frame for the first time in more than 25 years.
* Matthew Tkachuk collected three points Wednesday, including another between-the-legs goal, as the Flames inched closer to second place in the Pacific Division.
* The first episode of “NHL Bound,” an original content series that follows Duante’ Abercrombie and Nathaniel Brooks – two Black hockey coaches chasing their dream to work in the NHL – premieres today at 3 p.m. ET on YouTube.com/NHL.
ISLANDERS SCORE QUICK AND OFTEN TO EARN A WIN WEDNESDAY
Zach Parise scored on the second shift of his 1,100th NHL game to spark a string of three Islanders goals in a span of 31 seconds, part of the first five-goal opening frame by the club in more than a quarter-century. Parise, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee combined for the second-fastest three goals in a game in Islanders history (regular season or playoffs).
* Parise netted his 397th NHL goal to keep pace with Arizona’s Phil Kessel, who also scored goal No. 397 on Wednesday, in the pursuit of 400 career goals. They are tied in the race to become the 11th U.S.-born player to reach the 400-goal milestone.
* New York became the 20th team in NHL regular-season history to score three goals in a span of 31 seconds or less and just the second to do so over the past 28 years.
TKACHUK GOES BETWEEN THE LEGS TO SCORE WHILE MARKSTROM SHUTS THE DOOR
Matthew Tkachuk (1-2—3) scored a between-the-legs goal and Mikael Backlund (1-3—4) recorded a career-high four points, while Jacob Markstrom turned aside all 28 shots he faced as the Flames shut out the Golden Knights at Scotiabank Saddledome.
* Calgary (24-13-6, 54 points) defeated Pacific Division-leading Vegas (28-17-3, 59 points) to open a five-point gap on Edmonton (23-18-3, 49 points) and maintain its four-point edge on Dallas (24-18-2, 50 points), who also won Wednesday, as the clubs battle in the Western Conference playoff race. The Flames sit in the second Wild Card position but also are one point back of second place in the Pacific.
* Tkachuk has made a habit of going between the legs for goals, including one at full speed in overtime to clinch a comeback win on Halloween 2019 against the Predators. He also dazzled with the move against the Sharks later that season and busted it out again in November 2021 against the Rangers.
* Tkachuk (Scottsdale, Ariz.) recorded his 23rd career three-point outing. Only six U.S.-born skaters have more such performances since 2016-17, when he entered the NHL: Patrick Kane (40), Blake Wheeler (33), Johnny Gaudreau (31), Auston Matthews (30), Phil Kessel (25) and Kyle Connor (24).
* Markstrom’s NHL-leading eight shutouts in 2021-22 are the second most in a single season in Flames franchise history behind Miikka Kiprusoff (10) in 2005-06. In only his second season with Calgary, Markstrom is already tied for fifth place in franchise history with 11 career shutouts.
RAYMOND REINFORCES ROOKIE SCORING LEAD
Lucas Raymond (1-1—2) factored on two of six Red Wings goals to boost his lead in the NHL’s rookie scoring race (12-25—37 in 48 GP), while fellow first-season skater Moritz Seider collected two assists to eclipse the 30-point mark (4-27—31 in 48 GP).
* Click here to read more from the Wednesday edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
QUICK CLICKS
* Bruins’ Brad Marchand suspended six games for roughing and high-sticking
* Martin St. Louis hired as Canadiens coach after Dominique Ducharme fired
* Craig Berube signs three-year contract to remain Blues coach
* Tuukka Rask retires from NHL after 15 seasons with Bruins
* Michael Buble joins Jackie Redmond and Renee Paquette on NHL Now
FIRST EPISODE OF “NHL BOUND” PREMIERES TODAY AT 3 P.M. ET
The first episode of “NHL Bound,” an original content series that follows Duante’ Abercrombie and Nathaniel Brooks – two Black hockey coaches chasing their dream to work in the NHL – premieres today at 3 p.m. ET on YouTube.com/NHL. The four-episode series chronicles their participation in the Coyotes’ first-ever coaching internship program, dedicated to creating a deeper pool of diverse talent.
* Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the Coyotes’ management and coaching staff operations as well as Abercrombie’s and Brooks’ personal dedication, sacrifices, and passion to shatter stereotypes and earn their place behind an NHL bench.
* “NHL Bound” is part of the NHL and NHLPA’s Black History Month celebration of the contributions and stories of Black trailblazers in hockey with 28 days of storytelling across their social and digital platforms.
TWO OF THE NHL’S TOP TEAMS SET TO TANGLE IN DENVER
Steven Stamkos (20-32—52 in 45 GP) and the Lightning (30-10-6, 66 points) travel to Denver to square off with Nazem Kadri (19-41—60 in 41 GP) and the Western Conference-leading Avalanche (32-8-4, 68 points). Colorado (113 in 170 GP) and Tampa Bay (109 in 172 GP) sit first and second in regular-season wins, respectively, dating to 2019-20.
* Colorado, which enters the contest with a franchise-record 17-game point streak dating to Jan. 2 (15-0-2), has spent 1,205:12 with the lead overall this season – 45.1% of its playing time. Carolina (45.7%) is the only team with a higher such percentage in 2021-22.
CROSBY CLOSING IN ON MILESTONE GOAL
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (499-867—1,366) netted the game-winning goal in his last outing and enters Pittsburgh’s contest against Ottawa one tally shy of becoming the 46th player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal milestone. While Alex Ovechkin (759) is the only active player to reach the mark, franchise icon Mario Lemieux (690) is the only one to do so with the Penguins.
* Crosby, with multiple points in two of his past three games against the Senators and a goal in each of the previous two (March 3, 2020 & Jan. 20), has collected 18-31—49 in 42 career outings versus Ottawa.
MARNER EYES NINE-GAME GOAL STREAK
Mitchell Marner and the Maple Leafs (30-10-3, 63 points) will put the NHL’s longest active win streak (6-0-0 since Jan. 22) on the line against the Flames (24-13-6, 54 points), who enter with four consecutive victories of their own.
* Marner (24 years, 281 days) possesses an eight-game goal streak and can become the eighth different player since 1990-91 to score in nine straight games – Teemu Selanne (22 years, 272 in 1992-93) is the only skater among the list to do so at a younger age than the Maple Leafs forward.
