SCOTIABANK HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA RETURNS WITH TRIPLE-HEADER
The 21st annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada will feature three matchups from the Scotia North Division as well as in-depth features exploring stories of inclusion and diversity in hockey.

* The marathon broadcast will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet with Hockey 24: A film by Canada and will continue with the three All-Canadian matchups surrounded by features on athletes who continue the fight for inclusion including Willie O’Ree, Angela James, Matt Dumba and Trevor Daley among others. Click here for more details.

* The Jets and Senators are set to square off again at Bell MTS Place on the heels of a 5-1 Winnipeg win Thursday, in which Nikolaj Ehlers (1-1—2), Paul Stastny (1-1—2) and Mark Scheifele (0-2—2) had two points apiece for the hosts. The Jets are 6-0-0 in their last six games against the Senators dating to a 5-2 victory on Feb. 8, 2020 (OTT: 0-5-1), which took place during the 20th annual Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada.

* The Canadiens and Maple Leafs will meet again after Toronto earned a 4-2 win at Montreal Wednesday to extend its point streak to nine games (8-0-1), with tonight’s tangle taking place at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs are led by the League’s goal-scoring leader Auston Matthews (11-5—16 in 13 GP), who has at least one point in each of his last 11 games played (11-4—15) and carries an official eight-game point streak into the 750th all-time head-to-head meeting during the regular season between the Original Six rivals.

* Vancouver vies for a victory against Calgary after falling to the Flames Thursday by a 3-1 margin. Johnny Gaudreau was named the game’s First Star after scoring a goal on former Boston College teammate Thatcher Demko – he manned the Canucks crease across from Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who made 33 saves in his return to Rogers Arena.

* A total of 350 players born in Canada have dressed at least one game this season, including 71 with the six teams scheduled to skate on Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada (MTL: 16; TOR: 16; CGY: 11; OTT: 11; WPG: 9; VAN: 8). Edmonton tops all Scotia North Division teams with 19.

BRUINS BLANK RANGERS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TO EXTEND WIN STREAK
Jaroslav Halak made 21 saves and Nick Ritchiescored the only goal of the contest as Boston blanked New York and extended its win streak to five games, with each contest taking place on the road. The Bruins visit the Islanders tonight (7 p.m. ET on MSG+, NESN) and can match the longest such runs in franchise history.

* Halak became the ninth different Boston goaltender in the NHL’s modern era – and first in nearly 13 years – to record a road shutout against the Rangers. There were six such instances before 1943-44.

BLUES DEFEAT COYOTES, LEAPFROG IDLE VEGAS FOR MOST POINTS IN WEST
Justin Faulk (2-1—3) factored on three of four St. Louis goals as the Blues improved to 8-4-2 (18 points) on the season and moved past the Golden Knights (8-2-1, 17 points) for the most points in the Honda West Division standings.

* Faulk has scored five goals this season (5-3—8 in 14 GP) and matched his 69-game total from 2019-20 (5-11—16). He moved within one of the League lead among NHL defensemen in 2020-21.

QUICK CLICKS

* NHL Lake Tahoe outdoor games could lead to others like it
* Top NHL players from each Canadian province include Connor McDavid, Patrice Bergeron
* Goalies in North Division challenged by nightly offensive barrage
* NHL teams combine for 59 goals across four time zones Thursday
* Black History Month essay: Tony McKegney