* Connor McDavid became the NHL’s first 100-point player in 2025-26 and joined elite company in the process. He became the third player in League history with nine career 100-point seasons and did so after hitting the mark for the sixth straight campaign (tied for the second-longest stretch in NHL history).
* Matthew Schaefer strengthened his case for the Calder Trophy after establishing the highest goal total by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.
* Sportsnet programming carries three of Friday’s four slated games that features several teams looking to keep their playoff position after missing the postseason last year.
* Nine of 12 games Thursday were either tied or within a one-goal margin in the third period, which brought the 2025-26 total to 700 this season. The only other season in NHL history to hit the mark at this stage of a season (928 GP) is 2015-16 (727)
McDAVID JOINS ELITE COMPANY IN NHL HISTORY WITH NINTH CAREER 100-POINT SEASON
Connor McDavid (1-1—2) sparked an Oilers offense to an eight-goal showing against the Pacific Division-rival Kings and did so on a night he became the NHL’s first 100-point player in 2025-26 – a feat he accomplished in five other campaigns – when he assisted on Leon Draisaitl’s 30th goal of the season. McDavid, who reached the mark for the ninth time overall and sixth consecutive, overtook Marcel Dionne (8) for the third-most career 100-point seasons in NHL history,trailing only Wayne Gretzky (15) and Mario Lemieux (10).
* The 2025-26 campaign marks the fourth time McDavid has reached a triple-digit total in a single season in 60 games or fewer following 2020-21 (53 GP), 2022-23 (56 GP) and 2023-24 (59 GP). The only players to achieve the feat four or more times are Gretzky (13x), Lemieux (8x) and Phil Esposito (5x).
* McDavid (35-65—100 in 60 GP), who opened up a five-point cushion on Nathan MacKinnon (40-55—95 in 56 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (31-64—95) in the Art Ross Trophy race, eyes the award for the sixth time in his career which would tie Gordie Howe and Lemieux for the second most in NHL history. A sixth career Art Ross Trophy would also guarantee the Oilers captain a 15th career individual award – a mark only four other players in League history have reached: Gretzky (31), Alex Ovechkin (19), Bobby Orr (17) and Lemieux (17).
SCHAEFER EQUALS AGE WITH 18TH GOAL, BREAKS HOUSLEY’S RECORD
Matthew Schaefer matched his age by scoring twice during his first visit to Bell Centre in Montreal, netting his 17th and 18th goals to break Phil Housley’s NHL record for goals by an 18-year-old defenseman (single season or career). Schaefer’s performance – which saw him score twice in 55 seconds to erase a 2-0 deficit – came against last season’s Calder Trophy winner, Lane Hutson, and after former Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson had tallied twice in his first contest against New York. It was the first time this season that two defensemen each had multiple goals in the same contest.
* Schaefer and Dobson joined their respective teams on the same day, June 27, 2025, as Schaefer was selected first overall by the Islanders in the NHL Draft and Dobson was traded from New York to Montreal.
* Schaefer (0:55) became the first 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history to score twice in less than one minute and the first player that age of any position to do so since Sidney Crosby (0:44 on Dec. 23, 2005). Those are the only instances of any 18-year-old scoring two goals in 60 seconds or less over the past 42 years.
* Schaefer (18-23—41 in 59 GP) also became the third 18-year-old defenseman in League history to hit 40 points (single season or career), afterHousley(17-40—57 in 66 GP) and Rasmus Dahlin (9-35—44 in 82 GP).-27014256.png)
HURRICANES, BRUINS EARN PIVOTAL REGULATION WINS IN EAST SHOWDOWNS. . .
Four of the NHL’s hottest teams entering the Olympic break went head-to-head 717 miles apart, but only two concluded the night with two points and a regulation win. The Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (37-15-6, 80 points) outlasted the Eastern Conference-leading Lightning (38-15-4, 80 points) in a clash between two of the NHL’s wins leaders since 2015-16, while the Bruins (33-20-5, 71 points) withstood a third-period rally from the Blue Jackets (29-21-7, 65 points) in a battle between two clubs in the mix for a Wild Card spot.
* Nikita Kucherov (1-0—1) and Jake Guentzel (0-3—3) helped the Lightning erase 3-0 and 4-3 deficits, but Sebastian Aho (1-0—1) and Seth Jarvis (1-1—2) combined on the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Hurricanes extended their point streak to 11 games and moved into a tie, in terms of standings points, with Tampa Bay atop the Eastern Conference standings (TBL: 57 GP; CAR: 58 GP). Carolina is one of two teams to defeat Tampa Bay in regulation since Dec. 20 (also: CBJ on Jan. 24).
* The Blue Jackets brought their seven-game win streak to TD Garden with the hopes of narrowing the gap in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race but David Pastrnak (0-1—1) factored on one of four Bruins goals to reach the 50-assist mark for the fourth straight season and help the hosts extend their home win streak to 10 games – one of Boston’s seven streaks of double-digit length since 1975-76.
. . . WHILE WILD CONTINUE STRING OF SUCCESS, DEFEAT DIVISION-LEADING AVALANCHE
Matt Boldy (2-2—4) factored on four of Minnesota’s five goals and Quinn Hughes (0-1—1) extended his point/assist streaks to 11 games as the Wild (35-14-10, 80 points) defeated the League-leading Avalanche (38-10-9, 85 points) and leapfrogged the idle Stars (35-14-9, 79 points) for second place in the Central Division. Minnesota, with an active six-game win streak and eight-game point streak, was averaging 2.81 goals per game (25th) before Hughes arrived to the ‘State of Hockey’ but the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner has since helped the team produce an an NHL-leading (tied) 3.96 goals per game during his tenure.
* Boldy recorded his fifth career four-point game and tied Mats Zuccarello for the second most in franchise history behind Marian Gaborik (7 GP). The 24-year-old, the first player in Wild history to record consecutive four-point games (also 3-1—4 on Feb. 4 at NSH), can become the sixth player in NHL history with three straight four-point outings on the road when Minnesota completes its back-to-back with a contest against Utah on Friday night.
* Hughes tied Mark Howe (11 GP in 1979-80 w/ HFD) for the second-longest point streak by a defenseman in his first campaign with a franchise behind Steve Duchesne (15 GP in1992-93 w/ QUE), and also tied Dino Ciccarelli (11 GP in 1992-93 w/ DET) for the second-longest assist streak by any player in his first season with a franchise behind Jude Drouin (14 GP In 1970-71 w/ MNS).
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CLOSE GAMES TOOK CENTER STAGE DURING 12-GAME SLATE
‘Close games’ was Thursday’s theme as nine of 12 contests were within a goal in the third period, which brought the total to 700 in 2025-26. The only campaign to feature more through this stage of a season (928 GP) is 2015-16 (727).
* Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (1-0—1) put his team up 1-0 but Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (2-0—2) scored to pull his team even in the second period and then set a franchise record with his overtime goal as the Red Wings earned their ninth overtime victory of the season – tied with the Canadiens, Sharks and Wild for the most among all teams. In the process, Detroit (34-19-6, 74 points) leapfrogged the Canadiens (32-17-9, 73 points) and idle Sabres (33-19-6, 72 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division.
* Entering the third period tied 1-1, the Penguins (30-15-12, 72 points) scored three straight goals to secure the victory and maintain second place in the Metropolitan Division as Evgeni Malkin (0-2—2) passed Brett Hull (1,391) for 25th place on the NHL’s all-time points list. Malkin has totaled 77-124—201 in 149 games when Sidney Crosby is out of the lineup (1.35 P/GP) – an uptick from his career points-per-game rate of 1.11.
* After Filip Forsberg (1-0—1) opened the scoring for the Predators, Steven Stamkos (1-0—1) tallied one of the team’s three third-period goals as Nashville battled back from a 2-1 deficit in the final frame en route to its 17th comeback win of the season, which is the second most in the NHL behind Montreal (19). Forsberg hit the 25-goal mark for the ninth time in his career and passed Markus Naslund as well as Daniel Alfredsson (both w/ 8) for the second most by a Swedish-born player in NHL history (most, Mats Sundin: 15), while Stamkos netted his 611th career tally and surpassed Bobby Hull (610) for sole possession of 19th place on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
* The Rangers went up 2-0 but Matvei Michkov (2-0—2) scored to cut the deficit in half in the second period and found the back of the net in overtime to lift Philadelphia to its fifth multi-goal comeback win of the season – tied with Edmonton and Dallas for the second most among all teams behind Anaheim (8). Michkov recorded his 10th career multi-goal game and surpassed Peter Zezel (9 GP) for the second most by a Flyers player at age 21 or younger, behind only Eric Lindros (17 GP).
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL in ASL: Episode 3 (Stadium Series; Nakia Smith interview about BASL; milestone moments)
* NCAA notebook: Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone among Hobey Baker Award candidates
* Charlie McAvoy says wife, son, whole family played big part in him winning gold medal with U.S.
* Second Annual “Hockey Day in Sweden” runs Feb. 27-28 in Gothenburg
* Ian “Scotty” Morrison, former Hockey Hall of Fame president, dies at 95
NEW PLAYOFF TEAMS LOOK TO STRENGTHEN POSITION
Friday’s four-game slate will see NHL action broadcast on NHL Network, across Sportsnet channels and on TVA Sports with three teams in action who currently hold a playoff spot after missing last season: Buffalo, Anaheim and Utah.
* The Sabres visit the Panthers riding an active seven-game road point streak (6-0-1 since Jan. 20). Should the Sabres extend the run to eight games, it would mark their longest road point streak since a franchise record-tying 10-game run in 2006-07. Buffalo, which currently sit in the first Wildcard spot, is trending toward its first playoff appearance since 2010-11.
* The Ducks welcomed Leo Carlsson back to the lineup Wednesday for the first time since Jan. 10, and the high-scoring forward recorded three points (1-2—3) to help propel Anaheim to a third straight victory. The Ducks, who sit third in the Pacific Division, are aiming to earn their first postseason appearance since 2017-18.
* The Mammoth welcomed a star forward of their own back to the lineup Wednesday, Logan Cooley, who recorded an assist while skating in his first game since Dec. 5. Utah is looking to qualify for the postseason for the first time after missing in 2024-25, in which they would join the other two most recent NHL franchises by participating in the playoffs within their first two seasons: Golden Knights (2017-18; 1st season) and Kraken (2022-23; 2nd season).
