BY THE NUMBERS: CLOSE GAMES HIGHLIGHT BUSIEST NIGHT OF 2020-21 SO FAR
The busiest night of the season to date saw 12 of 13 games decided by a one-goal margin or two goals following an empty-netter, 10 contests tied or within one goal for more than two-thirds of playing time (including six from start to finish) and five overtime periods.



PANTHERS, CAPITALS EXTEND STREAKS WITH SOME FINAL-MINUTE MAGIC
Florida and Washington each tallied timely goals in the final minute of regulation to extend season-opening streaks:

* Patric Hornqvistbatted the puck out of midair with 2.5 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game and then scored the decisive goal in the fifth round of the shootout as the Panthers rallied past the Blue Jackets to improve to 3-0-0 for the first time.

* Hornqvist scored the second-latest game-tying goal in franchise history, behind only Ivan Novoseltsev’s marker at 19:58 of the third period on Dec. 21, 2002. Hornqvist has at least one goal in each of his first three games with Florida (4-1—5), while fellow offseason acquisition and Stanley Cup winner Carter Verhaeghe (3-2—5) has also found the score sheet in every contest so far.



* Justin Schultz (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to help Washington improve to 4-0-3 to begin 2020-21, tying the longest season-opening point streak in franchise history (also 7-0-0 in 2011-12).

* After he recorded 45 saves in his previous outing, Vitek Vanecek turned aside 32 of 34 shots Tuesday to improve to 3-0-2 to begin his career. Vanecek became the second goaltender in Capitals history to collect at least one point through his first five career games, joining Jim Carey (6-0-1 in 1994-95).



RANTANEN, EHLERS EXTEND GOAL STREAKS IN HIGH-SCORING WINS
Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (1-0—1) and Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (1-3—4) extended their goal streaks to six and five games, respectively, in Tuesday’s highest-scoring games.

* Rantanen (6-2—8 in 7 GP), who owns the League’s longest active goal streak, became the fifth different Colorado player to score at least once in six-plus consecutive games within a regular season since the franchise began play in Denver.


* The Avalanche scored at least seven goals in a game for the second time this season (also 8-0 W on Jan. 15). Colorado recorded seven-plus goals multiple times through seven games in a campaign for the third time in franchise history (also 1983-84 & 2005-06).

* Ehlers (5-5—10 in 5 GP) established a new career high for longest goal streak, eclipsing his previous mark of four games last achieved from Dec. 7-14, 2017 (4-0—4). Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Laine are the only Jets/Thrashers players with goal streaks longer than five games.

KLINGBERG, PAVELSKI HELP STANLEY CUP FINALISTS MOVE TO 3-0-0 IN 2020-21
John Klingberg (1-1—2) factored on both Dallas goals, including the overtime winner, and Joe Pavelski (0-1—1) collected his 800th career regular-season point as the Stars improved to 3-0-0.

* The 2020-21 season is the third in NHL history to see the previous Stanley Cup winner and finalist each begin with three straight wins – 2020-21: TBL (3-0-0), DAL (3-0-0); 1975-76: PHI (4-0-0), BUF (8-0-0); and 1965-66: MTL (3-0-0), CHI (4-0-0). Dallas’ streak is still active.

* With eight points through his first three games to start 2020-21, Pavelski (3-5—8) became the ninth player to collect at least 800 career points after being selected in the seventh round of the NHL Draft or later.



ST. LOUIS EDGES VEGAS IN FIRST OF TWO STRAIGHT MEETINGS
Max Pacioretty scored the seventh hat trick of his NHL career as the Golden Knights rallied from a 4-2 third-period deficit to force overtime, but Brayden Schenn (0-1—1) potted the game-deciding goal in the shootout to lift the Blues to victory.

* Each of the past four games between St. Louis and Vegas, which go head-to-head again Thursday (9 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ATTSN-RM, FS-MW), have featured the Golden Knights overcoming a multi-goal deficit to tie the contest (also Aug. 6, 2020, Feb. 13, 2020 & Jan. 4, 2020). The clubs have combined for 39 goals in those games (including shootout-deciding goals).

* Pacioretty passed Cam Atkinson, Dustin Brown, Patrick Kane and Phil Kessel (all w/ 6) for the most regular-season hat tricks among active U.S.-born players. The all-time list is topped by Pat LaFontaine with 13.



QUICK CLICKS

* 'The Chirp with Daren Millard' added to slate of NHL podcasts
* Montreal’s Tyler Toffoli congratulated fellow First Star of the Week Virginie Hébert
* Seattle Kraken name John Forslund first television play-by-play broadcaster
* Maple Leafs don special patch in honor of George Armstrong
* Wayne Gretzky memories discussed on 60th birthday by NHL.com

WEDNESDAY GAMES SET FOR NATIONAL TELECASTS ON NBCSN, SN & TVAS
Two contests take national spotlights tonight on either NBCSN, SN or TVAS as the dust settles on Tuesday’s 13-game night – only to be riled up again for a 14-game lineup Thursday.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.