* Panthers host first meeting between stem cell patient and his donor
* Coyotes name Matt Shott honorary coach, set up meeting with Steve Yzerman
* Sharks have Hockey Fights Cancer captains announce starting lineups

HIGH-SCORING PANTHERS CONTINUE WINNING WAYS AT FLA LIVE ARENA. . .
The NHL-leading Panthers (13-2-3, 29 points) scored at least five goals at FLA Live Arena for the seventh time in 2021-22 en route to extending their season-opening home win streak to 10 games – one shy of the longest such run in League history.



* Florida became just the ninth team in the last 25 years (since 1996-97) to require 18 or fewer games to reach the 70-goal mark in a season (excluding shootout-deciding goals). The others: Ottawa (15 GP in 2006-06), Philadelphia (16 GP in 2005-06), NY Rangers (17 GP in 2016-17), Buffalo (17 GP in 2006-07), Colorado (17 GP in 2005-06), Washington (18 GP in 2019-20), Tampa Bay (18 GP in 2017-18) and Detroit (18 GP in 2005-06).

* Frank Vatrano recorded a game-high 2-1—3, with Joe Thornton collecting an assist on his first goal of the night. Thornton has now assisted on 120 different players’ goals – the most among all active NHL players and six more than the next closest (Zdeno Chara: 114).

. . . WHILE HURRICANES, CAPITALS KEEP PACE ATOP NHL STANDINGS
The Hurricanes (14-2-0, 28 points) and Capitals (11-2-5, 27 points), who sit second and third in the NHL’s overall standings, respectively, also defeated their opponents Saturday to collect two points.

* In a back-and-forth affair that saw the Kings score four game tying goals, 19-year-old Seth Jarvis extended his goal streak to three games and helped Carolina earn its League-leading 14th win as well as a fourth straight victory overall.



* Alex Ovechkin (2-1—3), who scored against Adin Hill for the first time in his 17-season career, tallied his 272nd career power-play goal to move within two of tying Dave Andreychuk (274) for the most in NHL history. Saturday also marked Ovechkin’s 152nd career multi-goal game – two shy of Mario Lemieux for third place on the League’s all-time list.



FLAMES TAKE DOWN ISLANDERS IN FIRST GAME AT UBS ARENA
Andrew Mangiapane (2-0—2), with 13 of his 14 goals coming on the road in 2021-22, continued his success as a visitor and helped the Flames (10-3-5, 25 points) best the Islanders (5-7-2, 12 points) in the first-ever game at UBS Arena.

McDAVID CONTINUES TO COLLECT POINTS TO START 2021-22
Connor McDavid (1-1—2) factored on two of Edmonton’s five goals to extend his season-opening point streak to 17 games (12-20—32) and help the Oilers improve to 8-1-0 at Rogers Place this season. It marked his 98th career multi-point game at home, tied with Paul Coffey for the fifth most in franchise history.

* Leon Draisaitl,who also had 1-1—2 Saturday, recorded his NHL-leading 34th and 35th points of 2021-22 (18-17—35 in 17 GP). He became the first player to reach the 35-point mark in 17 or fewer games since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (11 GP w/ PIT).

DUCHENE’S FIRST HAT TRICK IN 3,669 DAYS HEADLINES #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Matt Duchene (3-0—3) scored three times in 9:51 to record the fourth-fastest hat trick in Predators history, behind Rocco Grimaldi (2:34 on March 25), Steve Sullivan (5:56 on Dec. 14, 2006) and Filip Forsberg (8:37 on Feb. 21, 2017). Click here to read more notes like this from the Saturday edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.



QUICK CLICKS

* Islanders hold pregame ceremony in UBS Arena

* Kendall Coyne Schofield discusses role with Blackhawks in sit-down with NHL.com

* Senators return to practice after COVID-19 pause

* Canada’s 2022 Olympics roster taking shape

* Hockey Fights Cancer daily digest

FOUR MORE HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER AWARENESS NIGHTS SUNDAY

Four teams will be hosting their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night during a seven-game slate Sunday, including the Lightning, Rangers, Kraken and Kings.

* Jordan Eberle enters Seattle’s Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night Sunday with a seven-game point streak (7-3—10) and can become the sixth different player in the past 40 years to record a point streak of eight or more games in a franchise’s inaugural season.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.