* Roman Josi recorded his fourth-consecutive game with three or more points – a feat only one other defenseman in NHL history has achieved: Bobby Orr (6 GP in 1970-71).
* Sidney Crosby recorded his 87th career multi-goal game as the Coyotes became the 29th franchise he has recorded a multi-goal outing against – tied for the most among all players in NHL history.
* Saturday featured several trades ahead of Monday’s deadline, highlighted by a blockbuster deal that saw Claude Giroux acquired by the Panthers.
* Eve Gascon became the third woman to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Saturday after starting for the Gatineau Olympiques.
* Sunday’s six-game slate is highlighted by Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin needing one tally to tie the NHL record for most 40-goal seasons, a mark currently held by Wayne Gretzky.
JOSI TALLIES FOURTH STRAIGHT THREE-POINT OUTING
Roman Josi (0-3—3) factored on Filip Forsberg’s franchise record-setting goal before adding two more assists to record his fourth straight game with three or more points as the Predators (36-22-4, 76 points) moved into a tie with the Wild (36-20-4, 76 points), who sit third in the Central Division, in terms of points.
* Josi (17-58—75 in 60 GP) became the sixth different defenseman in NHL history to reach 75 points through 60 games and the first since 1990-91 when Paul Coffey (21-56—77)and Al MacInnis (22-53—75) both did so.
* The Predators captain is on pace for exactly 100 points. Only five different defensemen in NHL history have recorded 100 points in a single season, with Rangers blueliner Brian Leetch (22-80—102 in 80 GP) in 1991-92 the last to do so.
* Josi, who paces all Nashville skaters and NHL defensemen in points this season, can become the fourth defenseman in League history to lead their team in scoring in at least three consecutive seasons. Should he conclude the season atop the Predators in point production, he would join Erik Karlsson (5; 2013-14 to 2017-18 w/ OTT), Denis Potvin (4; 1973-74 to 1976-77 w/ NYI) and Brent Burns (3; 2016-17 to 2018-19 w/ SJS).
CROSBY LEADS PENGUINS WITH 87TH CAREER MULTI-GOAL GAME
Sidney Crosby (2-0—2) propelled the Penguins (38-16-9, 85 points) to their eighth straight victory against the Coyotes – Pittsburgh’s longest active run against any opponent – with his 87th career multi-goal game. The Penguins moved within three points of the idle Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (41-14-6, 88 points).
* Crosby scored two goals in a game against the Coyotes for the first time in his career. The only franchises the Penguins captain has never recorded a multi-goal outing against are Vegas, Seattle and Pittsburgh.
* Crosby improved his 2021-22 totals to 22-39—61 (51 GP) and became the fourth active player to record 14 or more 60-point seasons, joining Joe Thornton (15), Alex Ovechkin (15) and Patrick Kane (14).
RANGERS, WILD, OILERS INCH CLOSER TO SECOND SEED IN RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS
The Rangers (39-18-5, 83 points), Wild (36-20-4, 76 points) and Oilers (35-23-4, 74 points), who all sit third in their respective divisions, earned wins Saturday to each inch closer to the second seed.
* Mika Zibanejad scored the game winner with 16 seconds remaining in regulation and Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves as the Rangers earned their 21st comeback win of 2021-22, tied with the Blue Jackets for the most among all teams. Shesterkin (30-8-3 in 41 GP) established a franchise mark for fewest appearances to 30 wins in a campaign, besting Henrik Lundqvist (46 GP) in 2014-15 – Lundqvist went on to lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final (vs. TBL) that campaign.
* Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov (32-44—76 in 59 GP) assisted on Ryan Hartman’s go-ahead goal with 3:13 remaining in regulation to reach 76 points on the season. Only two players in franchise history have recorded more in a campaign: Marian Gaborik in 2007-08 (42-41—83 in 77 GP) and Brian Rolston in 2005-06 (34-45—79 in 82 GP).
* Leon Draisaitl (41-45—86 in 62 GP) scored his team-leading 41st goal of the season and Connor McDavid (35-55—90 in 61 GP) had 1-2—3 to become the first player with 90 points in 2021-22 as Edmonton extended its win streak to five games. Draisaitl guaranteed that he will average at least 0.50 goals per game for a fourth consecutive campaign.
KRAKEN COMPLETES COMEBACK, NELSON NETS HAT TRICK ON LIVE UPDATES
Saturday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates features more notes from the 11-game slate, including a third-period, multi-goal comeback win from the Kraken and Islanders forward Brock Nelson scoring a hat trick on Nickelodeon Day at UBS Arena.
* Adam Larsson (1-0—1), Jaden Schwartz (1-0—1) and Yanni Gourde (2-0—2) accounted for four straight Seattle goals as the Kraken became the fourth expansion team in the past 40 years to record a third-period, multi-goal comeback win in their inaugural season, joining the Thrashers (April 2, 2000), Lightning (Dec. 16, 1992) and Sharks (March 21, 1992).
* Nickelodeon Day also marked the first game for Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara since he celebrated his 45th birthday Friday. Chara had already played 84 career NHL games when SpongeBob SquarePants officially premiered on July 17, 1999.
* Claude Giroux was acquired by the Panthers in exchange for Owen Tippett, a first-round pick in the 2024 or 2025 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Florida also received forward prospects Connor Bunnaman and German Rubtsov from Philadelphia, as well as a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft.
* Giroux is the only player in NHL history to play exactly 1,000 games with a single franchise, after reaching the milestone with the Flyers on Thursday.
* Hampus Lindholm was traded to the Bruins by the Ducks for defensemen John Moore and Urho Vaakanainen,as well as three NHL Draft picks
* Nicolas Deslauriers was acquired by Minnesota from Anaheim in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
QUICK CLICKS
* Islanders paid tribute to Jean Potvin with moment of silence
* Nino Niederreiter suspended one game for slashing in Hurricanes game
* Cole Caufield extends goal streak to four games – the longest by a rookie in 2021-22
* Blue Jackets hang on, defeat Blues despite David Perron hat trick
* Eve Gascon becomes third female to play in QMJHL
OVECHKIN CAN MATCH NHL RECORD FOR MOST 40-GOAL SEASONS SUNDAY
Alex Ovechkin (39-36—75 in 61 GP) can reach the 40-goal mark for the 12th time in his NHL career as the Capitals (35-18-10, 80 points) host the Stars (33-24-3, 69 points) during a six-game slate Sunday.
