* Chris Kreider scored his NHL-leading 18th power-play goal of the season – the most by a Rangers skater since Jaromir Jagr (24) in 2005-06.* The Sabres scored five or more goals in Toronto for the first time since March 15, 2008 (6-2 W) to earn a win in their final faceoff against the Maple Leafs before the two clubs clash outdoors at the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic.
* Thursday’s nine-game slate will feature four of the top five teams in action with several streaks on the line, including ones from Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.
KREIDER POWERS RANGERS TO COMEBACK WIN WITH 35TH GOAL OF 2021-22
Chris Kreider scored his 35th goal of the season as the Rangers answered the Blues’ three-goal flurry – which came in just over two minutes – with three tallies of their own in the final frame. The victory pulled New York (34-15-5, 73 points) within one point of idle Pittsburgh (33-14-8, 74 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division, while holding a game in hand.
* Kreider, who trails Auston Matthews (37) and Leon Draisaitl (37) in the Maurice “Rocket Richard” Trophy race, recorded his 18th power-play goal of the season – the most by a Rangers skater since Jaromir Jagr (24) in 2005-06.
SABRES BEST LEAFS IN HERITAGE CLASSIC PREVIEW
Five different goal scorers found the back of the net for the Sabres and Craig Anderson (298-259-69) made 29 saves to move within two of his 300th career win as Buffalo earned its first victory in Toronto since March 26, 2018 in their final meeting ahead of the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic set for March 13, 2022 (4:00 p.m. ET on TNT, SN, TVAS).
* Should Anderson get the nod at Tim Hortons Field, it would mark his third NHL outdoor game appearance. He won both the 2014 Heritage Classic at BC Place (29 saves w/ OTT) and NHL100 Classic at Lansdowne Park (28 saves w/ OTT), trailing only Henrik Lundqvist (4-0-0) for the most career outdoor wins.
* A comprehensive #NHLStats Pack leading up to the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic was released Wednesday.
STARS CLAIM WILD CARD SPOT ON NOCHE MEXICANA IN DALLAS
Alexander Radulov scored the game-winning goal while skating in his 500th career contest as Dallas (30-20-3, 63 points) leapfrogged idle Edmonton (30-21-3, 63 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* The victory came on Noche Mexicana, or Mexican Night, a celebration that former NHL netminder and current director of community outreach for the Stars, Al Montoya, brought back to the organization. Montoya joined Dallas in September 2021 in a position that was created by club president and CEO Brad Alberts to help grow the game of hockey among underrepresented fans, including Spanish-speakers and Latino communities.
JOSI’S 500TH CAREER POINT FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Predators captain Roman Josi highlighted the Wednesday edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates as he boosted his career totals to 131-370—501 (732 GP) and became the second-fastest active defenseman to reach the 500-point milestone behind only Erik Karlsson (613 GP).
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL Heritage Classic against Maple Leafs will be special for Sabres GM
* Oilers welcome Duncan Keith back to United Center with stick tunnel
* Seattle mayor declares March 2 local holiday for Kraken
* Patrick Kane hopes to be with Blackhawks after NHL Trade Deadline
* On Campus: Matty Beniers, Devon Levi among Hobey Baker favorites by conference
ESPN ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN BRUINS, GOLDEN KNIGHTS FEATURED THURSDAY
Thursday’s nine-game NHL slate is set to be highlighted by Boston visiting Vegas at T-Mobile Arena on ESPN.
* Bruins forward David Pastrnak (29-25—54 in 54 GP) is one goal shy of reaching 30 for the fifth time in his NHL career (also 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20). He can become the eighth player in franchise history to record five or more 30-goal seasons, joining Phil Esposito (8), Rick Middleton (8), Johnny Bucyk (7), Peter McNab (6), Cam Neely (6), Patrice Bergeron (6) and Bobby Orr (5).
* Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson (14-27—41 in 51 GP) leads the club in scoring this season with 41 points. Stephenson joined the team in 2019-20 after being selected by the Capitals in the 2012 NHL Draft – when Vegas executive George McPhee was Washington’s general manager – and helped them defeat the Golden Knights in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
SEVERAL SKATERS SET TO PUT SIGNIFICANT STREAKS ON THE LINE
Four of the top five teams in the NHL are in action Thursday with several players’ streaks on the line, including ones by Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.
* Huberdeau will look to extend his 10-game point streak (2-15—17 in 10 GP) when Florida (35-13-5, 75 points) welcomes Ottawa to FLA Live Arena. Huberdeau can become the fourth different player in franchise history to record a point in 11 consecutive games, joining Mike Hoffman (17 GP in 2018-19), Pavel Bure (13 GP in 1999-00, 11 GP in 2000-01 & 1999-00) and Evgenii Dadonov (12 GP in 2018-19).
* Stamkos will aim to extend his goal streak to six games (6-2—8 in 5 GP) when the Lightning (35-11-6, 76 points) face off against the Penguins (33-14-8, 74 points). Should Stamkos score Thursday, he would move within one of the longest run in his career (7 GP in 2009-10) and within two of the franchise record set by Brian Bradley (8 GP) in 1992-93.
* Makar can extend his point streak to double digits (0-14—14 in 9 GP) when NHL-leading Colorado (40-10-4, 84 points) visits Arizona. Only two defensemen in Avalanche/Nordiques history have recorded a longer run: Steve Duchesne (15 GP) in 1992-93 and Tyson Barrie (11 GP) in 2017-18.
