AVALANCHE MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE IN NHL STANDINGS, EXTEND STREAK
Nathan MacKinnon and Andre Burakovsky each had 1-1—2 as Colorado withstood a third-period rally by Minnesota to improve to 26-8-4 (56 points) and move ahead of the idle Panthers (26-9-4, 56 points) for first place in the NHL standings. The Avalanche, who snapped the Wild’s franchise-record home win streak at 11 games, improved to 13-0-2 in their last 15 contests dating to March 10.

* MacKinnon has found the score sheet in 13 contests during Colorado’s 15-game point streak (9-14—23), which is the longest by a team this season. His 23 points since March 10 are the most in the NHL over that span.

* The Avalanche maintained their four-point edge on the second-place Golden Knights (25-10-2, 52 points) in the Honda West Division. Vegas earned a 6-1 win over St. Louis on Monday as Alex Pietrangeloreturned to Enterprise Center.

STAAL SCORES OVERTIME WINNER IN CANADIENS DEBUT
Eric Staaltallied with 57.5 seconds remaining in extra time after Montreal overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit during regulation and became the first player to score an overtime goal in his first game with the Canadiens.

* Staal, who was traded to Montreal by Buffalo on March 26 and is one of six Stanley Cup winners to dress for the Canadiens this season, became the 10th player to score an overtime goal in his first game with a team since 1983-84 (when regular-season overtime was reintroduced). He was the third member of that cohort to accomplish the feat this season.

DID YOU KNOW?
Each NHL campaign featured regular-season overtime until it was discontinued on Nov. 21, 1942 due to wartime restrictions on train scheduling. Three players scored an overtime goal in their first game with a team from the League’s inaugural season until the discontinuation: Bernie Morris with the Bruins (Jan. 10, 1925), Charlie Langlois with the New York Americans (Dec. 2, 1925) and Nick Knott with the Brooklyn Americans (Nov. 2, 1941).

BUNTING SCORES COYOTES’ SECOND HAT TRICK IN AS MANY DAYS
Michael Bunting scored the first hat trick of his NHL career as the Coyotes (19-15-5, 43 points) defeated the Kings to strengthen their grip on fourth place in the Honda West Division. Bunting became the second Arizona player to record a hat trick in as many days, following Jakob Chychrunon Sunday.

MATTHEWS, MAPLE LEAFS CONTINUE TO ROLL
Auston Matthews scored his League-leading 26th and 27th tallies of the season (27-19—46 in 36 GP) to open a five-goal lead in the 2020-21 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race and help the Scotia North Division-leading Maple Leafs (26-10-3, 55 points) extend their point streak to eight games (7-0-1).

* Matthews scored the go-ahead goal with 9:10 remaining in regulation and also paces the NHL with nine game winners in 2020-21, which are the most in a season by a Toronto player since Mats Sundin in 2003-04 (10).

GOALTENDERS GRUBAUER, CAMPBELL EXTEND STREAKS

* Avalanche netminder Philipp Grubauer (21 saves) improved to 12-0-1 in his last 13 appearances dating to March 10 (1.41 GAA, .941 SV%, 2 SO) and established a franchise record for longest point streak by an Avalanche/Nordiques goaltender.

* Maple Leafs netminder Jack Campbell (26 saves) improved to 9-0-0 through nine appearances this season (1.53 GAA, .944 SV%, 2 SO) and matched the franchise record for longest win streak by a Toronto goaltender at any point in a campaign.

QUICK CLICKS

* Mathew Barzal of Islanders, Long Island registered nurse NHL First Stars of Week
* NHL announces updates to 2020-21 regular-season schedule
* New arenas for Kraken, Islanders to embody NHL Green initiative
* Humboldt Broncos tribute center, roadside memorial plans unveiled
* Travis Sanheim scores another overtime goal in Boston

LAMORIELLO CAN TIE SATHER DURING TUESDAY’S NINE-GAME SLATE
A total of 18 teams are in action tonight, including the MassMutual East Division-leading Capitals (25-9-4, 54 points) and second-place Islanders (24-10-4, 52 points) going head-to-head at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Lou Lamoriello enters Tuesday with 1,318 career regular-season wins as an NHL general manager, one back of Glen Sather (1,319) for second place in League history – David Poile tops the all-time list with 1,435.

DIVISION-LEADING PANTHERS EYE SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN
The Discover Central Division-leading Panthers (6-0-0 since March 27) will put the NHL’s longest active win streak on the line when they visit the Hurricanes (25-9-3, 53 points), who sit just three points back of Florida (26-9-4, 56 points) and hold two games in hand. The Panthers set their sights on stringing together seven consecutive wins for the fifth time in franchise history and first since a franchise-record 12-game run in 2015-16 when they went on to clinch top spot in the Atlantic Division.

* Carter Verhaeghe leads the team in points over their six-game winning streak (5-4—9 in 6 GP). Verhaeghe (17-16—33 in 39 GP) sits third in club scoring this season behind franchise stalwarts Jonathan Huberdeau (14-28—42 in 39 GP) and Aleksander Barkov (14-26—40 in 33 GP).

FOX LOOKS TO EXTEND DOUBLE-DIGIT POINT STREAK
Adam Fox and the Rangers (17-15-5, 39 points) look to continue their chase of the fourth seed in the MassMutual East Division when they host the Penguins (24-12-2, 50 points) at Madison Square Garden.

* Fox enters Tuesday owning the NHL’s longest active point streak (2-16—18 in 10 GP) and is one of two defensemen with a 10-game run this season. The 2020-21 campaign is just the second season over the last 26 years to feature multiple blueliners with a double-digit point streak (also Nicklas Lidstrom & Keith Yandle in 2010-11).

* The second-year defenseman has collected 33 points this season (4-29—33 in 36 GP), the second most among all blueliners behind reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Victor Hedman (7-29—36 in 38 GP). Fox has registered more points during his current streak than he did through his first 26 games of the season (2-13—15).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.