MCDAVID NETS FOUR GOALS, FIVE POINTS IN OILERS VICTORY
Facing the League-leading Lightning, Connor McDavid (4-1—5) netted his third career hat trick and first career four-goal game to power the Oilers to victory in the finale of a five-game homestand (3-1-1). McDavid became the 11th different player to register five points in a game this season (Mathew Barzal has two such outings) and just the third to score four goals in one contest in 2017-18.

* McDavid, who also recorded five points on Feb. 11, 2016 vs. TOR (2-3—5), is the only Oilers player since the start of 1990-91 to record multiple games of 5+ points.

* Elias notes that only one player younger than McDavid (21 years, 23 days) has scored at least four goals in a game for the Oilers: Wayne Gretzky achieved the feat six times before reaching McDavid’s current age, including his first such effort on Feb. 18, 1981 vs. STL at 20 years, 23 days.

* McDavid (21-40—61) eclipsed both the 20-goal and 60-point marks to move into a share of third in the League in points, trailing only Nikita Kucherov (27-39—66) and Phil Kessel (23-40—63) in pursuit of a second straight Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top point-getter.

* McDavid, who scored three goals on opening night in October, tallied the 45th hat trick of the season and became the fifth player to post multiple games of 3+ goals in 2017-18. He is the first Oilers player to record multiple hat tricks in one season since 2000-01, when Ryan Smyth had two.

* Elias adds that prior to Tuesday’s contest, McDavid had at least one point against 29 of 30 opposing NHL clubs – the lone exception being Tampa Bay (now 4-1—5 in 3 GP). There are now only four clubs (aside from EDM) against whom McDavid has yet to score a goal: BOS (0-7—7 in 3 GP), NJD (0-8—8 in 5 GP), OTT (0-6—6 in 5 GP) and WPG (0-8—8 in 8 GP)

MAPLE LEAFS, PREDATORS SURVIVE HIGH-SCORING AFFAIRS

The Maple Leafs (31-19-5, 67 points) and Predators (32-12-7, 71 points) each survived high-scoring, back-and-forth thrillers to pick up a victory:

* Auston Matthews (2-1—3), William Nylander (2-1—3) and Jake Gardiner (0-3—3) collected three points apiece as Toronto won a game that featured four tying goals. The Maple Leafs, who have won five of their past six outings, scored at least seven goals in a game for the fifth time this season – tops in the League. Matthews has scored six goals in his past eight games and is one of 10 players with at least 25 goals in 2017-18.

* Ryan Johansen tied the contest with 43 seconds left in regulation and Roman Josi scored in overtime to help the Predators rally from deficits of 1-0 and 4-2 to pick up their third straight win. With the win, the Predators moved into a tie, in terms of points, with the idle Jets (31-13-9, 71 points) for first place in the Central Division. Johansen’s tally marked the 21st tying goal in the final 60 seconds of regulation this season – and fourth since Feb. 1. Nashville has scored a tying goal in the final five minutes of regulation on three occasions this season, winning each time (also Oct. 10 vs. PHI and Jan. 18 vs. ARI)

RINNE EXTENDS WIN STREAK TO EIGHT CONTESTS
Pekka Rinne made 24 saves to extend his win streak to eight games dating to Jan. 6 (1.85 GAA, .932 SV%, 2 SO). Only two goaltenders have posted longer winning streaks this season: Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Colorado’s Jonathan Bernier both had nine-game runs.

HAMHUIS HONORED FOR 1,000TH NHL GAME; STARS WIN

Stars defenseman Dan Hamhuis was honored during a pre-game ceremony for recently playing in his 1,000th career regular-season game.

QUICK CLICKS

· Evgeni Malkin, Harri Sateri, Reilly Smith named 3 Stars of Week

· Johnny Gaudreau flying high after Eagles win in Super Bowl

· Matt Murray happy to see Marc-Andre Fleury shining with Golden Knights
· Ryan O'Reilly excited to represent Sabres during Hockey Is For Everyone month

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION

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FLEURY SET FOR HOMECOMING AS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VISIT PENGUINS

Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to play his first game in Pittsburgh as a visiting goaltender when the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights (35-13-4, 74 points) face the Penguins (29-22-3, 61 points). A fan-favorite with the Penguins for 13 seasons, Fleury was selected first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft and won the Stanley Cup three times with Pittsburgh – including back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 – before joining Vegas in the expansion draft last June. Fleury, who owns a 15-4-2 record in his first 21 games with the Golden Knights (including a 2-1 win vs. PIT on Dec. 14), compiled a 223-105-33 record in 374 regular-season home games with the Penguins – including a 136-52-14 mark at PPG Paints Arena.

CLUBS JOCKEY FOR POSITION ON BOTH SIDES OF PLAYOFF PICTURE

Ten of 11 contests on tonight's slate feature at least one club that currently holds a playoff spot or sits within two points of one:

* In the Eastern Conference, 11 teams either sit in a playoff position or are within three points of one, including a pack of five teams – all from the Metropolitan Division – separated by only three points. Overall, only 10 points separate the eight teams in the Metropolitan Division, six of whom are in action tonight: WSH, NJD, PIT, CBJ, PHI and CAR.

* In the Western Conference, 12 teams either hold a playoff spot or are within five points of one, including a group of seven teams separated by only eight points. Nine of those 12 teams are in action tonight: VGK, WPG, STL, SJS, MIN, COL, CGY, ANA and CHI.

Thanks to the PR department of the NHL for the information.