* Macklin Celebrini became the sixth teenager in NHL history to record a 100-point season and just the third Sharks player to reach that plateau in franchise history.
* Sidney Crosby became the eighth player in League history to collect 1,100 career assists in one of two contests on Monday that combined for 11 goals.
* A 10-game Tuesday will mark the final day of March – it will feature 20 teams in action with 16 either in a playoff spot or within five points of one.
CELEBRINI JOINS RAREFIED AIR WITH 100-POINT SEASON
Macklin Celebrini (2-1—3) eclipsed the century mark in 2025-26 and achieved several notable feats in the process, becoming the sixth teenager in NHL history to record 100-plus points in a season as well as the third player in Sharks history to reach the milestone. San Jose (34-31-7, 75 points) inched within two points of Nashville (34-31-9, 77 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the West.
* Celebrini recorded his 43rd career multi-point game to pass Steve Yzerman and tie Ron Francis for the fifth most by a teenager in NHL history. He trails Sidney Crosby (67), Wayne Gretzky (66), Dale Hawerchuk (54) and Jimmy Carson (51).
* Celebrini’s 63rd assist also tied Crosby (63 in 2005-06) and Bryan Trottier (63 in 1975-76) for the third most in a campaign by a teenager. The list is led by Gretzky (86 in 1979-80) and Crosby (84 in 2006-07).
CROSBY HITS 1,100 ASSISTS AS PENGUINS BENEFIT FROM SECOND-PERIOD FRENZY
The Penguins scored five goals in a middle frame that featured eight total tallies before Sidney Crosby (0-2—2) became the eighth player in NHL history to reach the 1,100-assist milestone and just the second to do so with one franchise, following Ray Bourque (1,111 w/ BOS). Pittsburgh (37-21-16, 90 points) earned a crucial win against the NY Islanders (42-27-5, 89 points) and overtook them for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
* The Penguins and Islanders combined for eight goals in the second period, marking the second time that two teams have scored as many in a frame this season. The Devils and Avalanche combined for eight in the second period on Oct. 28.
KADRI SCORES TWO QUICK POWER-PLAY GOALS, AVALANCHE NET NINE
Eight players found the back of the net – including Nazem Kadri, who scored two power-play goals in the span of 1:06 against his former team – and nine skaters recorded a multi-point outing to help the Avalanche (49-14-10, 108 points) strengthen their lead atop the League standings. They also moved within one win of requiring their second-fewest games to 50 wins in a season.
* Kadri’s two tallies in 1:06 marked the fifth-fastest two power-play goals by a player in Avalanche/Nordiques history, trailing Mike Ricci (0:18 on April 4, 1994), Milan Hejduk (0:34 on Jan. 17, 2006), Joe Sakic (0:46 on March 23, 2000) and Real Cloutier (1:04 on Oct. 10, 1979).
* Colorado became the first team this season with multiple nine-goal outings (also 9 on Nov. 8 at EDM) in a contest that featured 11 combined goals – the second game Monday with as many (also PIT-NYI). The Avalanche had eight players find the back of the net, their most in a contest since March 17, 1996 (8), and nine players record multiple points for the fifth time in franchise history. The other instances: Feb. 1, 1983 (11), Dec. 5, 1995 (9), March 18, 1989 (9) and Oct. 20, 1984 (9).
TORTORELLA COACHES GOLDEN KNIGHTS TO VICTORY IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
John Tortorella led Vegas to victory in his first game as head coach and helped the Golden Knights (33-26-16, 82 points) move within one point of the idle Oilers (37-28-9, 83 points) for second place in the Pacific Division. Notes on the rest of last night’s five-game slate can be found in Monday’s #NHLStats: Live Updates.
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QUICK CLICKS
* Vegas had gotten ‘a little stale’ ahead of John Tortorella hiring, Mark Stone says
* Paralympian Jack Wallace participates in ceremonial puck drop with Devils
*Bill Riley remembered as ‘an iconic figure’ for leadership on, off ice
*Porter Martone ‘matured’ after leaving college, poised to help Flyers on playoff push
* Jakub Dobes, Pavel Zacha, John Carlson named “Three Stars of the Week”
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS LOOM LARGE ON TUESDAY
The 2025-26 season reaches the final day of March on Tuesday, with just two of 16 playoff spots spoken for and the playoffs just 18 days away (set to begin Saturday, April 18th). Of the 20 teams in action on Tuesday, 16 either own a playoff spot or sit within five points of the playoff line.
* The Senators (38-25-10, 86 points; at FLA), Red Wings (39-26-8, 86 points; at PIT) and Flyers (37-24-12, 86 points; at WSH) all sit exactly two points behind the Blue Jackets (38-24-12, 88 points; vs. CAR on ESPN+) in the race for the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. All four teams are in action Tuesday.
* The playoff line in the Eastern Conference (difference between Wild Card 2 & first team outside) has been three points or fewer for every day through March. Five different teams have held the final Wild Card position in the East at various points throughout the month (CBJ, NYI, OTT, DET & BOS).
* The Flyers enter Tuesday on a three-game win streak and an 8-1-1 record across their last 10 games. Philadelphia, which entered the month six points back of the Wild Card race, is 10-3-1 (21 points) in the month of March and now just two points back of the playoff line with a game in hand on Columbus.
* The Kraken (32-29-11, 75 points; at EDM) and Jets (31-30-12, 74 points; at CHI) are chasing down the idle Predators (34-31-9, 77 points) for the final Wild Card position in the West. Seattle and Winnipeg are among a cluster of five teams within four points of Nashville with less than three weeks remaining on the schedule.
* There is an intriguing race for top seed in both the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division with the Lightning (46-21-6, 98 points), Hurricanes (46-21-6, 98 points) and Sabres (45-21-8, 98 points) all tied in terms of standings points, while Tampa Bay owns top spot in both the East and the Atlantic via tiebreakers. Not to be forgotten, the Lightning face the Canadiens (42-21-10, 94 points) on Tuesday with Montreal four points back of the group while riding a five-game win streak with all those victories coming versus teams currently in the playoffs (including a pair of wins over Carolina).
WOMEN IN HOCKEY PRESENTED BY CANADIAN TIRE: MYRNA KHAN
Myrna Khan is the executive director of the Oilers Community Foundation and the most recent feature in the Women in Hockey presented by Canadian Tire spotlight. Khan leads all foundation programming and conceived ‘Every Kid Deserves a Shot,’ which aims to inspire and impact 100,000 kids through hockey. Khan is also part of the NHL and NHLPA Women’s Hockey Advancement Committee.
