ROOKIE NETMINDERS CONTINUE TO LEAD CLUBS UP THE STANDINGS
Twenty-year-old Carter Hart (30 saves) and 25-year-old Jordan Binnington (29 saves) each extended their win streaks to eight and five games, respectively, as the Flyers (25-23-7, 57 points) and Blues (26-22-5, 57 points) continued their pursuit of a playoff spot.

* The last campaign to feature at least two rookie goaltenders with win streaks of five or more games was 2015-16: Matt Murray (7-0-0 from March 6 - April 7, 2016), Anders Nilsson (5-0-0 from Dec. 2-11, 2015) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (5-0-0 from Dec. 15 - Jan. 19, 2016). The 2005-06 campaign featured the most such instances (8).

* Hart became the second goaltender in NHL history to record eight consecutive wins before his 21st birthday, matching Jocelyn Thibault (8-0-0 from March 6-26, 1995 w/ QUE) for the longest such streak in NHL history.

* Hart became the third rookie goaltender in Flyers history to post a personal win streak of eight or more games, joining Pelle Lindbergh (9-0-0 in 1982-83) and Bob Froese (8-0-0 in 1982-83). There have been 17 different rookie goaltenders in NHL history that have won eight or more consecutive decisions, with Martin Jones the last to do so in 2013-14 (8-0-0 w/ LAK).

* Binnington, meanwhile, recorded the seventh instance of a Blues rookie netminder posting a win streak of at least five contests. Only one St. Louis goaltender has recorded a stretch of more than five: Brent Johnson (7-0-0 from Oct. 6 - Nov. 18, 2000 and Nov. 29 - Jan. 1, 2001).

* Binnington is 9-1-1 since making the first start of his NHL career on Jan. 7 (1.54 GAA, .939 SV%, 2 SO), including wins in each of his last five appearances. His nine wins since Jan. 7 are tied for the most among all NHL goaltenders over that span with San Jose’s Martin Jones (9-2-0; 2.86 GAA, .902 SV%) and Hart (9-2-0; 2.27 GAA, .936 SV%).

DID YOU KNOW?

* The Blues and Flyers are two of three teams currently in a playoff position or within six points of one that have occupied last place in the entire League in the 2019 calendar year. Philadelphia was in last place overall on Jan. 9 and from Jan. 12-13, while St. Louis (Jan. 2) and Chicago (Jan. 17-19) also spent time as the No. 31 seed before recent hot streaks.

* In the expansion era, only six teams have made the playoffs after occupying last place in the overall NHL standings after their 20th game of the season: the 1976-77 North Stars, 1979-80 Oilers, 1982-83 Maple Leafs, 1987-88 Kings, 1987-88 Maple Leafs and 1996-97 Senators.

BERGERON, MARCHAND SCORE 20TH GOAL AS BRUINS SURVIVE KINGS RALLY
Patrice Bergeron (1-2—3, OT winner) and Brad Marchand (1-1—2) each scored their 20th goal of the season to help the Bruins survive a multi-goal, third period comeback from the Kings to win in overtime.

* Bergeron, who was honored in a pre-game ceremony for recently skating in his 1,000th career regular-season contest, became the fifth different Bruins player in the last 30 years to record his 50th point in 39 or fewer personal games (20-30—50). The others: Marc Savard (39 GP in 2006-07), Joe Thornton (38 GP in 2002-03), Adam Oates (34 GP in 1993-94 and 28 GP in 1992-93) and Joe Juneau (36 GP in 1992-93).

* Bergeron reached the 20-goal mark for the 10th time in his career, moving into a tie with Rick Middleton for the second-most in Bruins franchise history. Only Johnny Bucyk has registered more 20-goal seasons with the club (16).

* Marchand, who reached the 20-goal benchmark for the eighth time (20-43—63), netted the 24th shorthanded goal of his career. He has the most shorthanded tallies among active NHL players since entering the League in 2009-10. Only one Bruins player has tallied more shorthanded markers: Middleton (25).

* Marchand is the 20th player in NHL history, and only active skater, to score at least one shorthanded goal in nine consecutive seasons. Hockey Hall of Fame member Mark Messier paces all other players, accomplishing the feat in 17 straight seasons.

* Tuukka Rask (25 saves) improved to 9-0-2 in his last 12 appearances dating to Dec. 29, 2018 (1.83 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO). Rask has earned at least one point in 10 or more consecutive decisions on five prior occasions, most recently from Feb. 27 – March 21, 2018 (10-0-1).

ISLANDERS RALLY AGAIN TO CAPTURE 70TH POINT

Ryan Pulock scored his second goal of the game 2:23 into overtime as the Metropolitan Division-leading Islanders (32-16-6, 70 points) improved to 8-1-2 in their last 11 contests. New York earned its 70th point in their 54th game of 2018-19; the last time they accomplished the feat in fewer contests was 1981-82 (51 GP) en route to capturing their third of four Stanley Cup championships.

* The Islanders improved to 6-0-0 this season in contests in which they’ve rallied from a multi-goal deficit to tie the game. Their six victories trail only the Eastern Conference-leading Lightning (8) and Western Conference-leading Flames (7) for most wins this season after trailing by two or more goals.

LIGHTNING, MAPLE LEAFS WIN POTENTIAL PLAYOFF PREVIEWS

The Lightning (40-11-4, 84 points) and Maple Leafs (34-17-3, 71 points) earned victories against the Penguinsand Canadiens, respectively. If the playoffs started today, they would represent two of the four First Round matchups in the Eastern Conference.

* The League-leading Lightning became the first club to 40 wins in 2018-19. Tampa Bay reached the benchmark in its 55th game, marking the seventh time in NHL history a team earned their 40th victory in 55 games or fewer. The 2015-16 Capitals were the last team to accomplish the feat (53 GP).

* The Lightning and Penguins have met twice in the playoffs with both teams claiming a seven-game series win: Pittsburgh defeated Tampa Bay in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final en route to capturing the franchise’s fourth of five Stanley Cup championships and Tampa Bay defeated Pittsburgh in the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals before advancing to the Eastern Conference Final in that postseason.

* The Maple Leafs, who suffered 14 consecutive losses to the Canadiens from March 1, 2014 – Feb. 25, 2017 (0-9-5), improved to 6-0-0 in their last six games against Montreal dating to Oct. 14, 2017 (MTL: 0-3-3). John Tavares (1-1—2) scored the overtime winner to reach the 60-point mark (33-27—60 in 54 GP), two games shy of his fastest season to 60 points (52 GP in 2013-14).

* If the playoffs started today, the Original Six rivals would face off for their 16th all-time series. Their previous 15 meetings took place over a 61-year span from 1918 to 1979, with Montreal sweeping Toronto in their last postseason showdown (1979 Quarterfinals).

LABANC HAT TRICK PROPELS SHARKS TO FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORY

Kevin Labanc (3-0—3) notched his first career hat trick to help the Sharks (33-16-7, 73 points) win their fifth consecutive contest and move within one point of the Western Conference-leading Flames (34-15-6, 74 points).

* Joe Thornton (0-2—2) collected two helpers to boost his career totals to 407-1,049—1,456 and tie Gordie Howe (801-1,049—1,850) for ninth on the NHL’s all-time assists list. Thornton, who is also the Sharks all-time assists leader with 764, is now 14 career helpers shy of the eighth spot held by Steve Yzerman (692-1,063—1,755).

* Evander Kane (1-1—2) tallied his 13th goal since Jan. 1 to tie Viktor Arvidsson (13) for the most in the 2019 calendar year. Kane improved his season totals to 24-24—47 through 56 games played, his most points since setting a career high in 2011-12 (30-27—57 in 74 GP).

GETZLAF, CROSBY PASS FRANCHISE ICONS FOR MOST GAMES PLAYED

Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby each overtook Hockey Hall of Fame members and team legends en route to establishing franchise marks for games played.

* Saturday marked the 967th regular-season contest of Getzlaf’s career, eclipsing the previous franchise-high set by Teemu Selanne (966 GP). Getzlaf was already the team’s all-time leader in assists (653) and regular-season overtime goals (9).

* Crosby, the franchise leader in overtime goals (14), skated in his 916th career regular-season game in Tampa Bay to eclipse Mario Lemieux for the most in Penguins team history. Lemieux (690-1,033—1,723) is the only player in franchise history to record more points than Crosby (434-744—1,178).

QUICK CLICKS

* Rasmus Dahlin joins elite company with 30th point before 19th birthday

* Elias Pettersson reaches 50 points in 45 career games

* Black History Month spotlight: Trevor Daley becomes two-time Cup winner

* MTL acquires Dale Weise, Christian Folin from PHI for Byron Froese, David Schlemko

* Alex Tuch of Golden Knights shares bond with sled hockey player

* Sidney Crosby has created own legacy with Penguins

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION

the above information was supplied by the NHL PR department