SCHEIFELE’S HAT TRICK LEADS JETS TO THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
Mark Scheifele netted the second hat trick of his NHL career (also March 5, 2016 vs. MTL) to help the Jetsimprove to 7-1-2 in their past 10 contests, including three straight wins and points in their last six games (4-0-2).

* Scheifele became the third Winnipeg player to record a hat trick this season, joiningNikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler. The Jets lead the League with three hat tricks in 2017-18.

* Scheifele’s three-goal performance, which came in the 193rd game of the season, was the 15th hat trick by any player in 2017-18 (197 GP). This marks the ninth time in the past 30 years that there have been at least 15 hat tricks scored in the first 200 games of the season.

* Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves to improve to 7-0-1 this season (1.92 GAA, .938 SV%). Elias notes that he became the first goaltender in Jets/Thrashers franchise history to earn at least one point in eight consecutive decisions to begin a season.

VARLAMOV MAKES 57 SAVES IN AVALANCHE VICTORY
Semyon Varlamov made a career-high 57 saves to help the Avalanche improve to 16-0-4 in their last 20 home games against the Hurricanes franchise dating to March 17, 1994, when the clubs were based in Quebec and Hartford, respectively.

* Elias notes that Varlamov became the second goaltender in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history to register at least 57 saves in a regular-season game – Ron Tugnutt made 70 saves on March 21, 1991 vs. BOS, the most in one game by a goaltender since the statistic was officially recorded in 1955-56.

KINGS, BLUE JACKETS CONTINUE STRONG STARTS
The Kings (10-2-1, 21 points) and Blue Jackets (9-4-0, 18 points) each earned wins to match and establish franchise-best starts through 13 games, respectively:

* The Kings built a 5-0 lead and held off a three-goal Maple Leafs rally to equal their franchise record for fewest games to register 10 wins in a season (13 GP), a mark set in 1980-81 (10-2-1) and matched in 2010-11 (10-3-0).

* The Blue Jackets erupted for seven goals to win nine of their first 13 games in a season for the first time in franchise history. Columbus has scored at least seven goals in a game eight times since the beginning of the 2014-15 season, the second-highest such total by a team in that span behind the Penguins (10).

MATTHEWS BECOMES FOURTH PLAYER TO ATTEMPT TWO PENALTY SHOTS IN A GAME
Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (1-1—2) was awarded two penalty shots on Thursday, scoring his 10th goal of the season on his first attempt. Matthews became the fourth player in NHL history to register two penalty shot attempts in one game, joining Mud Bruneteau (0-for-2 on Nov. 24, 1938), Erik Cole (1-for-2 on Nov. 9, 2005) and Max Pacioretty (0-for-2 on Feb. 6, 2014).

QUICK CLICKS

· 50 goals in 39 games still most special to Gretzky

· Potvin recalls Islanders dynasty (via Tom Gulitti)

· USA Hockey invites children to try hockey for free

· Vote Now: Round 3 underway at NHL.com/GreatestMoments

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION

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DEVILS LOOK TO REMAIN UNBEATEN ON THE ROAD
The Devils, the only team without a road loss of any kind this season (5-0-0), look to remain unbeaten as visitors when they travel to Edmonton to face the Oilers, who are hosting their Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Rogers Place. New Jersey (9-2-0, 18 points) has earned nine wins through its first 11 overall games of a season for the first time in franchise history.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.