RANTANEN, MACKINNON JOIN ELITE COMPANY; LANDESKOG NETS 20TH GOAL

The trio of Nathan MacKinnon (1-3—4), Mikko Rantanen (2-1—3) and Gabriel Landeskog (2-0—2) continued its offensive surge to help theAvalanche outlast the Stars, who scored twice in a span of 2:10 in the third period to tie the game. Rantanen extended his career-best point streak to 14 games, tied with MacKinnon and Joe Sakic for the third-longest since the club relocated to Denver in 1995-96.

* MacKinnon (21-31—52) posted his second four-point outing of the season to join Rantanen (15-41—56) as the only 50-point players so far in 2018-19. Since 1981-82, only four other pairs of teammates have been the first NHL players to hit 50 points in a season: Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby (2008-09); Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr (1995-96); Wayne Gretzky and Glenn Anderson (1985-86); and Gretzky and Jari Kurri(1983-84).

* Rantanen’s 56 points are the most ever by an Avalanche player through 33 team games (one more than Peter Forsberg in 1995-96), and tied for the third-most ever at this stage in franchise history behind Marian Stastny (26-32—58) and Peter Stastny (25-32—57) in 1982-83.

* Entering 2018-19, the last three instances of an NHL player recording at least 56 points through 33 team games all were achieved by Penguins: Malkin in 2008-09 (15-43—58), Lemieux in 2002-03 (16-40—56) and Jagr in 1999-00 (25-31—56).

* Since 1987-88, only five other sets of teammates (for six instances) have recorded at least 52 points apiece through 33 teams games of a season: Lemieux, Jagr and Ron Francis in 1995-96 (w/ PIT); Lemieux and Kevin Stevens in 1991-92 (w/ PIT); Gretzky and Bernie Nicholls in both 1988-89 and 1989-90 (w/ LAK); Lemieux and Rob Brown in 1988-89 (w/ PIT); and Peter Stastny and Michel Goulet in 1987-88 (w/ QUE).

* Landeskog (21-19—40), who scored the winning goal just 76 seconds after Dallas tied the game, reached the 20-goal mark for the sixth time. He now sits just five goals shy of matching his career high set over 81 games in 2013-14 (26-39—65).

DID YOU KNOW?

* There are 11 players with 20 or more goals. Only five other seasons have seen as many such performances through games of Dec. 15: 1981-82 (14), 1992-93 (14), 1983-84 (13), 1988-89 (13) and 1989-90 (11).

* There are 14 players with 40 or more points. Only six other seasons have seen as many such performances through games of Dec. 15: 1992-93 (29), 1983-84 (20), 1988-89 (17), 1984-85 (15), 1981-82 (14) and 1989-90 (14).

33-YEAR-OLD OVECHKIN CONTINUES BEST RUN OF HIS CAREER…

Coming off his second consecutive three-goal performance, Alex Ovechkin scored a tying goal in Washington’s fifth straight win to extend his point streak to a career-best 14 contests (17-6—23).

* The Capitals captain now needs one goal to join longtime Washington forward Mike Gartner (15) as the only players in NHL history to begin their career with 14 consecutive 30-goal seasons. He has been the first NHL player to 30 goals on four occasions - all in the last six seasons.

* Ovechkin, 33, became the eighth player in NHL history to post a point streak of at least 14 games at age 33 or older and first since Luc Robitaillehad a 15-game run at age 34 in 1999-00.

* Washington’s all-time leading scorer now sits three games shy of matching the franchise record for longest point streak by any player, trailing only Gartner (17 GP in 1980-81 and 1984-85), Robert Lang (16 GP in 2003-04) and Geoff Courtnall (15 GP in 1988-89).

* The reigning Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner also extended his goal streak to six contests, one shy of equaling the best such run of his career (Feb. 10 - March 8, 2006: 7 GP). Alan Haworth (1985-86) and Gartner (1986-87) share the franchise record of nine games.

…. 18-YEAR-OLD DAHLIN JOINS COACH, TEAMMATE WITH THREE-POINT SHOWING
Rasmus Dahlin (1-2—3) factored on all three Sabres goals to become the 11th different rookie to collect at least three points in a game this season. He became the ninth rookie defenseman in Sabres franchise history to have posted a performance of three or more points, a list topped by the team’s current head coach Phil Housley(4x).

* Dahlin (18 years, 246 days) became the fifth-youngest defenseman in NHL history to record at least three points in a game. Teammate Zach Bogosian and coach Housley - one of two 18-year-old blueliners to record four points in a game (also King Clancy: Feb. 4, 1922) - sit just ahead of him on that list.

PETTERSSON TIES ONE RECORD, APPROACHES ANOTHER

Elias Pettersson extended his assist/point streak to six games (3-9—12), both the longest runs by any rookie this season. In doing so, he matched the Canucks record for longest assist streak by a rookie (also J.J. Daigneault in 1984-85: 0-7—7) and moved within two of equaling Pavel Bure’s franchise record for longest rookie point streak.

* The only rookie forward to post an assist streak longer than six games since 2008-09 is Connor McDavid (7 GP in 2015-16) - Pettersson’s opponent Sunday. Only two other rookies, regardless of position, have achieved the feat in this span: ShayneGostisbehere (9 GP in 2015-16) and Neal Pionk (7 GP in 2017-18).

JULIEN BECOMES FIFTH-FASTEST TO 600 WINS

Claude Julien (1,136 GP) recorded the 600th win of his coaching career to become the fifth-fastest coach in NHL history to achieve the feat, trailing only Scotty Bowman (1,002 GP), Alain Vigneault (1,105 GP), Joel Quenneville (1,114 GP) and Mike Babcock (1,119 GP). Julien became the 18th coach to reach the milestone and the fifth active.

PANTHERS, DUCKS AMONG SEVEN TEAMS TO EMERGE WITH ONE-GOAL WINS

Seven of Saturday’s contests were decided by one goal, with one more ending as a two-goal decision following an empty-net tally. Highlights from two of the six that required extra time:

* Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov recorded his first career hat trick - the first ever completed in overtime by a Florida player - to help his club fend off a late rally by the Maple Leafs. Barkov (114-166—280 in 362 GP) surpassed Radek Dvorak into sixth place on the all-time franchise goals list and now needs 20 points to join Olli Jokinen, Stephen Weiss, Scott Mellanby and Jonathan Huberdeau as the only Panthers to hit 300 points with the club.

* Ducks forward Daniel Sprong, acquired by the club on Dec. 3, scored both goals as the Ducks improved to 10-2-2 in 14 games since Nov. 16. Playing the first of six straight games on the road, Anaheim extended its road winning streak to five games (tied for the longest active such run in the NHL). The Ducks have won at least six consecutive road games in a season five times, with the last such run coming in 2015-16 (6-0-0) and the longest in 2006-07 (7-0-0).

* Did You Know? 41.5% of games this season have been decided by one goal (209 of 504 GP), with another 72 contests that were one-goal contests prior to an empty net goal (55.8%; 281 of 504 GP).

QUICK CLICKS

* Alex Chiasson not taking playing opportunity with Connor McDavid, Oilers for granted

* Seattle NHL expansion team will grow with hockey community

* Mitchell Marner's mother flosses at game during Maple Leafs mom's trip

* World Junior selection camp starts for U.S.

* Ten-year-old Senators fan's 'Dzingel Bells' a holiday hit

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION

The information above was provided by the NHL PR department.