* Evgeni Malkin scored twice in his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup, including his 74th career game-winning goal to climb the Penguins’ all-time list.* The Panthers (24-7-5, 53 points) and Lightning (24-9-5, 53 points) each earned wins Tuesday as the Sunshine State teams maintained first and second, respectively, in the Eastern Conference standings.
* David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand eye an NHL-first when the Bruins host an Original Six rival in the first game of a doubleheader on TNT.
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MALKIN MAKES MARK IN RETURN TO PENGUINS LINEUP WITH MULTI-GOAL OUTING
Evgeni Malkin (2-1—3) and Jeff Carter (2-0—2) each scored twice – with the former netting the game winner in his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup – as the Penguins (22-9-5, 49 points) leapfrogged the idle Capitals (20-8-9, 49 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
* Malkin recorded his 74th career game-winning goal and tied Mario Lemieux for the second most in Penguins history behind only Jaromir Jagr (78).
* Malkin, who became the fourth player in Penguins history to skate in 16 seasons with the club, recorded his 102nd career three-point outing. Only three players in franchise history have more: Lemieux (272), Sidney Crosby (153) and Jagr (129).
SUNSHINE STATE TEAMS STAND ATOP EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
The Panthers (24-7-5, 53 points) and Lightning (24-9-5, 53 points) each earned wins Tuesday to maintain their spots as first and second, respectively, in the Eastern Conference standings.
* Aaron Ekblad (1-2—3) helped lead the Panthers to victory, while boosting his season totals to 10-22—32 (35 GP), which stands as the third-most goals by all defensemen in 2021-22 and tied for fifth in points. He reached a career high for fewest games to 30 points in a season, besting 51 contests in 2014-15, and trails only Keith Yandle (32 GP in 2018-19) for the fewest to reach the mark by a Florida blueliner.
* Ekblad recorded his fourth three-point game of the season, tied with Roman Josi for the most among all defensemen in 2021-22. Only one Panthers blueliner has more such instances in a single campaign: Brian Campbell (5 in 2011-12). Ekblad, who registered the seventh three-point performance of his career, also tied Campbell (7) for the third most such outings by a defenseman in franchise history. Only Robert Svehla (9) and Yandle (8) have more.
* Nikita Kucherov (3-0—3) netted a hat trick and Steven Stamkos (1-2—3) factored on three of Tampa Bay’s six goals as the Lightning earned a win at KeyBank Center Tuesday. Kucherov’s hat trick marked the fourth of his career, tied with Tyler Johnson for the fourth most in Lightning history behind Stamkos (9), Martin St. Louis (8) and Vincent Lecavalier (6).
* Stamkos notched his 82nd career three-point outing, trailing only Sidney Crosby (153), Alex Ovechkin (122), Joe Thornton (112), Evgeni Malkin (102), Patrick Kane (94) and Nicklas Backstrom (83) for the most among all active players.
WESTERN CONFERENCE-LEADING PREDATORS EDGE AVALANCHE IN OVERTIME
Matt Duchene (2-0—2) scored the overtime winner as the Western Conference-leading Predators (24-11-2, 50 points) defeated his former team to reach the 50-point mark. Duchene scored his third overtime goal of the campaign (also Nov. 2 & Nov. 11, 2021) and established a franchise record for the most in a single season.
MAKAR ADDS TO GOAL TOTAL ON #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Tuesday featured over 40 #NHLStats: Live Updates including notable tidbits from Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews.
* Matthews matched a Maple Leafs record by scoring in his eighth straight road game, tying Daniel Marois (8 GP in 1989-90), Frank Mahovlich (8 GP in 1960-61) and Babe Dye (8 GP in 1920-21) for the longest such run in franchise history.
* Makar (16-18—34 in 29 GP) scored his 16th goal of the season in highlight-reel fashion – which ranks first among NHL blueliners.
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL announces head coaches for 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend
* NHL, olive.com announce North American partnership
* Jack Eichel skates with Golden Knights first time since disk surgery
* Nicklas Lidstrom named Red Wings vice president of hockey operations
* Logan Couture scores sixth career overtime goal for the third most in Sharks history
PASTRNAK, MARCHAND EYE NHL-FIRST IN ORIGINAL SIX SHOWDOWN ON TNT
In the first game of a doubleheader on TNT, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand look to become the first set of teammates in NHL history to simultaneously score multiple goals in three straight games when the Bruins (19-11-2, 40 points) and Canadiens (7-23-4, 18 points) meet for their 752nd regular-season matchup and second in 2021-22 (also Nov. 14, 2021).
* Boston has won each of the past four head-to-head meetings with Montreal dating to Nov. 26, 2019 and looks to capture at least five consecutive wins against its storied rival for the fifth time in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68).
