SHARKS TAKE TOP SPOT IN WEST, SPOIL DIPIETRO’S DEBUT

Timo Meier (20th goal) and Evander Kane (2-0—2) each scored within the opening four minutes of the game and Joe Pavelski (1-1—2) later added his 30th goal of the season as San Jose spoiled the League debut of 19-year-old Canucks netminder Michael DiPietro. With their fifth straight road victory and sixth straight win overall, the Sharks (34-16-7, 75 points) leapfrogged the idle Flames (34-15-6, 74 points) into first place in the Western Conference.

* Pavelski became the sixth player drafted in the seventh round or later to record five or more seasons with at least 30 goals, a list led by: Luc Robitaille (12). He also collected his 400th career assist, the third most in franchise history behind Joe Thornton (765) and Patrick Marleau (574).

* Fourteen of 18 skaters registered at least one point for San Jose as they improved to 13-0-1 in their past 14 games in Vancouver dating to March 5, 2013 (VAN: 1-11-2). The Sharks also improved to 11-0-1 overall against the Canucks dating to Feb. 2, 2017 (VAN: 1-10-1).

19-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL DIPIETRO JUMPS FROM JUNIOR TO NHL

Canucks goaltender Michael DiPietro made his League debut at age 19 years, 247 days to become the second-youngest goaltender in franchise history. Since DiPietro was born on June 9, 1999, only four other netminders have made their first NHL start before age 20: Rick DiPietro (Jan. 27, 2001), Dan Blackburn (Oct. 10, 2001), Marc-Andre Fleury (Oct. 10, 2003) and Jonathan Bernier (Sept. 29, 2007).

* A third-round selection (64th overall) by the Canucks in the 2017 NHL Draft, DiPietro played for Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and has guarded the crease for 30 OHL games so far this season (21 GP for Windsor Spitfires and 9 GP for Ottawa 67’s).

* DiPietro became the seventh goaltender since 1995-96 to play in the Canadian Hockey League and start an NHL game in the same season. Each of the others in that span made the leap from the QMJHL: Bernier (2007-08 w/ LAK), Fleury (2003-04 w/ PIT), Maxime Ouellet (2000-01 w/ PHI), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (1996-97 w/ HFD), Marc Denis (1996-97 w/ COL) and Martin Biron (1995-96 w/ BUF).

^Four other goaltenders in that span played a game in both the CHL and NHL within the same season, but did not start (Dylan Ferguson: 2017-18 w/ VGK; Alexander Pechurskiy: 2009-10 w/ PIT; Olivier Michaud: 2001-02 w/ MTL; and Jose Theodore: 1995-96 w/ MTL).

* Prior to DiPietro, the last goaltender to make the jump from the OHL to start in the NHL in the same season was Jamie Storr in 1994-95. Like DiPietro, Storr played for the Spitfires (4 GP) that season and also skated for the Owen Sound Platers (17 GP; now Owen Sound Attack) before joining the Kings for his first five NHL starts.

THORNTON, OVECHKIN, CROSBY CLIMB ALL-TIME NHL LISTS

The League’s three highest-scoring active players each found the score sheet Monday to move up all-time NHL lists:

* Joe Thornton (407-1,050—1,457 in 1,541 GP) notched one helper to surpass Gordie Howe (1,049) into ninth place on the NHL’s all-time assistslist and tie Teemu Selanne (684-773—1,457 in 1,451 GP) for 15th in all-time points, all while climbing the League’s career games played list.

* Alex Ovechkin (645-541—1,186 in 1,058) eclipsed Rod Brind'Amour (452-732—1,184 in 1,484 GP) into 48th place on the League's all-time points list. The outright leader in goals since Dec. 8, Ovechkin now sits two tallies shy of becoming the fourth player in League history to score at least 40 goals in 10 or more seasons.

* Sidney Crosby (435-746—1,181 in 917 GP) surpassed Sergei Fedorov (483-696—1,179 in 1,248 GP) for sole possession of 50th place on the NHL's all-time points list.

CROSBY LEADS PENS PAST FLYERS IN LAST MEETING BEFORE STADIUM SERIES

Sidney Crosby (1-2—3) opened the scoring with his 40th career regular-season goal against the Flyers and Matt Murray made 50 saves as the Penguins ended Philadelphia's point streak at 10 games (9-0-1). The teams now have split their opening two head-to-head matchups this season, with their next contest slated for Saturday, Feb. 23 in the 2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, which will be played outdoors at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

* Crosby extended his regular-season point streak against Philadelphia to six games (4-9—13) and improved his regular-season career totals versus the Flyers to 40-57—97 in 65 games, his second highest total against any team (36-77—113 in 66 GP vs. NYI). Only four players in NHL history have recorded at least 100 regular-season points against the Flyers: Mario Lemieux (51-73—124 in 71 GP), Jaromir Jagr (47-73—120 in 101 GP),Bryan Trottier (44-73—117 in 110 GP) and Wayne Gretzky (34-66—100 in 58 GP).

* With his goal, Crosby became the seventh player in NHL history with at least 40 goals against the Flyers, his highest total against any team. Only two other active players have at least that many goals against one club: Alex Ovechkin (43 vs. TBL) and Patrick Marleau (41 vs. LAK).

QUICK CLICKS

* Black History Month Spotlight: Grant Fuhr gets call to Hockey Hall of Fame

* Jordan Binnington, Patrice Bergeron and Dylan Strome named Three Stars of the Week

* Stadium Series ice-making truck arrives in Philadelphia

* Rivalry Series continues important month for women's hockey

* Jared McCann, Nick Bjugstad eager to play outdoors with Penguins at Stadium Series

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION

STREAKING BLACKHAWKS, BLUES AIM TO STAY HOT ON TUESDAY

A pair of clubs that have surged from last place in the NHL standings into the Western Conference playoff picture are in action during Tuesday’s 12-game slate:

* Chicago takes a seven-game winning streak into Boston with forward Patrick Kane looking to extend his point and assist streaks to 15 and 14 games, respectively. Kane (11-20—31 in 14 GP) can become the second player to post a point streak of at least 15 games in 2018-19 (Mike Hoffman: 10-10—20 in 17 GP) and the first NHL player with an assist streak of 14 or more games since 2000-01 (Jaromir Jagr: 16-game assist streak from Jan. 9 - Feb. 16, 2001). With an assist, Kane also would match the longest assist streak in franchise history (Stan Mikita: 14-game assist streak from Nov. 26 – Dec. 25, 1967).

* Meanwhile, Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask owns a 9-0-2 mark in his last 12 appearances dating to Dec. 29, the second-longest personal point streak of his career. Last season, the winningest goaltender in Bruins history went 21 consecutive decisions with at least a point from Nov. 29 - Feb. 6, 2018.

* Jordan Binnington aims to become the second rookie goaltender in Blues history to record a winning streak of six or more games, a feat achieved only by Brent Johnson, who had separate 7-0-0 runs from Oct. 6 - Nov. 18, 2000 and Nov. 29 - Jan. 1, 2001. Binnington, who is 9-1-1 through 11 career starts, can become the 12th goaltender in NHL history to win at least 10 of his first 12 career starts and first since Andrew Hammond in 2014-15 (11-0-1).

* The Blues aim to win at least seven straight games for the 12th time in franchise history and first time since 2014-15 when they had two such runs (7-0-0 from Oct. 25 - Nov. 6, 2014 and Jan. 17 - Feb. 5, 2015). St. Louis has had three winning streaks longer than seven games: 10-0-0 in 2001-02, 9-0-0 in 2002-03 and 8-0-0 in 2000-01.

LIGHTNING, FLAMES SET FOR TOP-THREE SHOWDOWN IN TAMPA

A head-to-head matchup in Tampa between the League-leading Lightning (41-11-4, 86 points) and the No. 3-ranked Flames (34-15-6, 74 points) is one of three contests Tuesday that features a division leader. Calgary entered Monday’s games as the top seed in the Pacific Division but dropped to second place with San Jose’s victory. Meanwhile, the Islanders (33-16-6, 72 points) take their three-point lead in the Metropolitan to Buffalo and the Jets (35-18-3, 73 points) look to create separation atop the Central when they host the Rangers.