* Nikita Kucherov (2-2—4) propelled the Lightning to their second seven-goal outing in as many road games and did so after the Leagueunveiled its plans for the construction of the rink at Raymond James Stadium ahead of the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 1 (6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, SN, TVAS).
* Marat Khusnutdinov, Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak all had single-game career highs as Boston became the first team to score 10 goals in a contest this season.
* Sunday’s five-game slate is highlighted by a Sportsnet 360 showdown between Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos, who will become the third set of 600-goal scorers to go head-to-head over the last 10 years.
LIGHTNING STRIKE SEVEN TIMES IN BACK-TO-BACK ROAD GAMES, WIN NINTH STRAIGHT
Nikita Kucherov (2-2—4) continued to be a catalyst for the Lightning offense, collecting multiple points for the eighth straight game and four-plus points for the second time in as many road games as the Lightning (27-13-3, 57 points) extended the NHL’s longest active win streak to nine games. Tampa Bay, which scored seven goals in consecutive road games for the first time in franchise history, is 21 days away from hosting Boston at Raymond James Stadium for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 1.
* Kucherov, the third active player and 10th overall since 1992-93 with multiple points in eight straight games, registered his 36th career four-point game – the third most among active players behind Connor McDavid (45) and Sidney Crosby (43). Saturday also marked the 22nd time the Lightning forward has collected four points in a road game – a total he also reached in Tampa Bay’s last outing as a visitor (1-4—5 on Jan. 3).
* Kucherov will look to bring his point producing ways to his second career outdoor game, following a 1-1—2 performance at the 2022 Stadium Series. He can join Stadium Series opponent David Pastrnak (2019 WC & 2021 LT) as well as Rangers teammates Alexis Lafrenière and Vincent Trocheck (both 2024 SS & 2026 WC) as the fourth player with multiple points in each of his first two career outdoor games.
* Jon Cooper’s club earned their 15th road win of the season (15-4-3 in 22 GP) – tied with the Rangers (15-9-2) for the most among all teams – and required the second-fewest games in a campaign to hit the mark behind 2018-19 (20 GP). Cooper (Team Canada) is one of two coaches to register a win streak of nine or more games during the same year they served as a head coach of an Olympic team, alongside Team USA’s Peter Laviolette (9 GP; 2x in 2005-06 w/ CAR).
* In Episode 2 of the “Road to the NHL Stadium Series presented by Fastenal” docuseries chronicling the event, the League previewed the climate-controlled tent at the center of its most complex and ambitious outdoor game to date.Click here to watch.
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. . . WHILE OTHER STADIUM SERIES PARTICIPANT SCORES 10 ON ABC HOCKEY SATURday
Marat Khusnutdinov (4-1—5) and Pavel Zacha (3-0—3) scored their first career hat tricks while David Pastrnak (0-6—6) had a career-high six points as the Bruins buried 10 tallies in a game for the first time since Oct. 16, 1988. Of note, Pastrnak also had six points in Game 2 of the 2018 First Round.
* Khusnutdinov became the eighth player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to score four tallies in a contest while never having a multi-goal game entering play. He joined Auston Matthews (Oct. 12, 2016), Sam Bennett (Jan. 13, 2016), Jiri Dopita (Jan. 8, 2002), Jaroslav Svejkovsky (April 13, 1997), Tony Granato (Oct. 30, 1988), Brian MacLellan (Nov. 3, 1983) and Dennis Maruk (Nov. 18, 1975).
* Khusnutdinov and Zacha became the first set of Bruins teammates during the expansion era to each score a hat trick in the same game and sixth overall. They joined Andy Hebenton and Dean Prentice (Jan. 18, 1964), Bill Cowley and Ken Smith (Jan. 21, 1945), Cowley and Busher Jackson (March 16, 1944), Marty Barry and Joe Lamb (Nov. 23, 1933) as well as Hago Harrington and Jimmy Herberts (Feb. 13, 1926).
CELEBRINI HELPS SHARKS SURGE BACK TO WIN IN OT WITH THREE-POINT GAME
Macklin Celebrini (0-3—3) factored on two goals to help his team rally back from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits before setting up Tyler Toffoli in overtime to lift San Jose (23-18-3, 49 points) to victory and third place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks overcame a multi-goal deficit multiple times in a game for the second time in franchise history (also 5-4 W at HFD on March 21, 1992).
* Celebrini extended his point streak to 13 games dating to Dec. 11 (9-18—27) and tied Nathan MacKinnon (13 GP in 2013-14) for the second longest by a teenager in NHL history behind only Patrik Laine (15 GP in 2017-18). He also tied Mikael Granlund (13 GP in 2023-24) for the second-longest run in Sharks history, trailing only Erik Karlsson (14 GP in 2022-23).
* Celebrini, who is Olympic-bound (Team Canada), became the third player to hit 70 points in 2025-26 (24-46—70 in 44 GP). In the process, he also became the third-fastest teenager in NHL history to reach the mark in a season, following Wayne Gretzky (40 GP in 1980-81) and Sidney Crosby (43 GP in 2006-07).
AVALANCHE, MAPLE LEAFS, SABRES EXTEND LENGTHY STREAKS
The League-leading Avalanche (33-4-7, 73 points), Maple Leafs (22-15-7, 51 points) and Sabres (24-15-4, 52 points) each skated to victory Saturday and extended lengthy team streaks in the process:
* Brent Burns (40 years, 307 days) led the Avalanche to their 17th straight win at Ball Arena with a pair of tallies and became the fourth-oldest defenseman in NHL history to record a multi-goal game, following Tim Horton (41 years, 277 days on Oct. 16, 1971), Zdeno Chara (41 years, 221 days on Oct. 25, 2018) and Nicklas Lidstrom (41 years, 191 days on Nov. 5, 2011). Colorado improved to 19-0-2 on home ice and became the 11th team in NHL history to register a point in each of their first 21 home games of a season. 
* William Nylander (1-2—3) made an impact in his return to the Toronto lineup, factoring on three of five Maple Leafs goals as they extended their home winning streak to seven games and overall point streak to nine contests (7-0-2) – their lengthiest since they posted a nine-game stretch in 2023-24 (6-0-3). Nylander recorded his 45th career three-point game and tied fellow countryman Borje Salming for the ninth most in franchise history.
* Jack Quinn netted a pair of goals and helped the Sabres (24-15-4, 52 points) jump into the first Wild Card spot in the East. Buffalo collected its sixth straight home win and 13th overall victory in its last 14 outings – the first time the Sabres have recorded 13 wins in a 14-game span. Jarmo Kekäläinen, who was named Sabres GM on Dec. 15, matched Bryan Murray (11 GP w/ OTT) and Pierre Lacroix (11 GP w/ QUE) for the fewest games by a general manager in NHL history to reach 10 wins with a single franchise.
OLYMPICS-BOUND STARS SHINE IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Stats and storylines were aplenty during a 14-game Saturday, including standout performances from Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner (Team Canada) in his 700th career game and Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (Team USA) – who notched his sixth three-assist outing of the season and third in a Wild uniform in only his 14th game with the franchise. More from the night’s action can be found in the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
* Marner (1-1—2) factored on two of his team’s four goals to boost his career totals to 231-556—787. His 556 career assists rank 13th in NHL history through 700 career games and the third most among active players behind Team Canada teammates Connor McDavid (701) and Sidney Crosby (597).
* Hughes, one of eight defensemen since 1992-93 to record six three-assist outings in a single season (also 9 in 2023-24), recorded his 29th career three-assist game and tied Borje Salming and Larry Murphy for the ninth most by a blueliner in NHL history.
QUICK CLICKS
* Rogers unveils ‘The Great Canadian Jersey’ campaign
* Red Wings James van Riemsdyk dresses up as Batman for son’s fourth birthday
* NBA analyst Steve Nash was inspired by Wayne Gretzky, shows off hockey skills
* Philip Broberg signs six-year contract with Blues
* Mikko Rantanen bats puck in midair for impressive goal
Ovechkin can reach 20-goal mark against Stamkos on Sportsnet 360 Sunday
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals (23-16-6, 52 points) square off with Steven Stamkos and the Predators (20-20-4, 44 points) on Sportsnet 360 in one of five games Sunday. Ovechkin needs one goal to record his 21st career 20-goal season and pass Ron Francis (20) for the second most in NHL history behind Gordie Howe (22).
* Ovechkin, who has reached the mark in each campaign since making his League debut, would also climb within one of Howe (22 from 1949-50 – 1970-71) for the most consecutive 20-goal seasons in NHL history. Ovechkin would be the League’s third player age 40 or older with 20 goals in 46 games or fewer, following Howe (43 GP in 1968-69 & 46 GP in 1970-71) and Johnny Bucyk (42 GP in 1975-76).
* Stamkos is set to skate in his 55th career game against Ovechkin and first since becoming a 600-goal scorer on Dec. 31, 2025. Ovechkin (33-33—66 in 54 GP) has 66 career points in games against Stamkos (18-22—40 in 54 GP), tied for Ovechkin’s seventh most versus any skater behind Eric Staal (94), Martin St. Louis (73), Jordan Staal (72), Sidney Crosby (70), Vincent Lecavalier (68) and Jim Slater (67).
