DAHLIN DAZZLES IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR WITH RECORD-TYING PERFORMANCE

In a contest that featured three lead changes, 22-year-old Rasmus Dahlin (2-3—5) tied the game for the Sabres with 2:24 remaining in regulation and collected an assist on Victor Olofsson’s goal with 19 seconds left in overtime to match the franchise record for points in a game by a defenseman.

* Dahlin became the eighth active defenseman and fourth in as many years to register a five-point game following Matt Grzelcyk (1-4—5 on Jan. 10, 2022), Adam Fox (0-5—5 on March 25, 2021) and Tony DeAngelo (3-2—5 on Jan. 9, 2020).

* Dahlin (43-161—204 in 313 GP) is a Sabres nominee within the 2023 NHL All-Star Fan Vote – an additional initiative that allow fans to vote for two All-Star skaters and one goaltender from each Division. He required the second fewest-games by a defenseman in franchise history to reach the 200-point mark behind only icon Phil Housley (212 GP).

* Buffalo (20-15-2, 42 points), which improved to 8-2-0 in its past 10 games, moved within four points of idle NY Islanders (22-17-2, 46 points) for the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and hold four games in hand.

KRAKEN STRIKE EIGHT TIMES TO OVERCOME STÜTZLE, SENATORS
While Tim Stützle (3-1—4) netted his second career hat trick, his 20-year-old counterpart Matty Beniers (1-1—2) scored one of eight Kraken goals as Seattle (22-12-4, 48 points) captured its third consecutive win to begin its seven-game road trip and fourth straight overall.

* The Kraken, with at least eight tallies in a game for the third time this season (the most by any team), benefited from another offensive outburst following five-goal performances against the Oilers (Jan. 3) and Maple Leafs (Jan. 5). Their three consecutive games with five or more goals are one shy of the longest by any team this season (BOS: 4 GP from Oct. 12-18, 2022)

* Beniers, with goals in three straight games, became the first rookie to reach the 30-point mark in 2022-23 (14-16—30 in 38 GP). Should he score again in Montreal on Jan. 9, he would become just the fourth player age 20 or younger in the past 10 years to have a four-game goal streak with each game taking place on the road; Patrik Laine (5 GP in 2017-18 & 4 GP in 2018-19), Sean Monahan (4 GP in 2014-15) and Filip Forsberg (4 GP in 2014-15) have done so.

HUGHES SPARKS DEVILS COMEBACK, SEVERSON ENDS IT IN OT
Jack Hughes (2-1—3) factored on all three of New Jersey’s tallies in regulation to help his club rally from a multi-goal deficit in the third period before defenseman Damon Severson scored his first career overtime goal (605 GP) to cap the Devils' comeback in the latest rendition of the Hudson River Rivalry. With the victory, the Devils (25-12-3, 53 points) were able to extend their hold on second place in the Metropolitan Division to two points, with the Rangers (22-12-7, 51 points) sitting in third position.

* The Devils have rallied from a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win twice in 2022-23 (also a 4-3 W at EDM on Nov. 3, 2022), marking the first time since 2018-19 (3x) that they have done so multiple times in a single campaign.

* Hughes, who was named to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend roster Thursday, extended his goal and point streaks to five games (8-2—10 in 5 GP) while improving his overall season totals to 26-23—49 in 40 GP. His 26 goals in 2022-23 already matches his career high, set last season (49 GP).

OTHER PLAYERS AGE 26 OR YOUNGER TAKE OVER #NHLSTATS: LIVE UDPATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured the likes of Mitchell Marner (1-1—2), Cole Caufield (1-0—1), Kirill Marchenko (3-0—3) and Kevin Fiala (3-0—3) as part of other notable performances from a nine-game Saturday in the NHL:

* Marner (153-348—501 in 467 GP) became the second Maple Leafs skater this season to reach the 500-point milestone after teammate Auston Matthews (278-225—503 in 447 GP) did so against the Blues on Jan. 3. The pair became just second set of active teammates to each attain the mark prior to their 475th career outing; Sidney Crosby (369 GP) and Evgeni Malkin (413 GP) are the only other duo to do so.

* Caufield (50-30—80 in 117 GP) scored his 50th career goal. Among players to debut with the Canadiens since 1942-43, only Maurice Richard (76 GP), Jean Beliveau (105 GP) and Bernie Geoffrion (114 GP) achieved the milestone in fewer contests.

* Marchenko (3-0—3) scored all three Columbus goals in regulation to become the first rookie in 2022-23 to net a hat trick, and then added another in the shootout, to lift the Blue Jackets to a victory over the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes.

* Fiala – named to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend roster earlier this week – netted his second career hat trick (also 3-1—4 on April 7, 2021), the first by a Kings player this season and the third by a player Saturday joining Tim Stützle (3-1—4 w/ OTT) and Marchenko (3-0—3 w/ CBJ). Saturday is the third day this season to feature three hat tricks joining Dec. 29, 2022 (Aleksander Barkov, Mark Scheifele & Kyle Okposo) and Dec. 13, 2022 (Scheifele, Zach Hyman & Alex Ovechkin).

QUICK CLICKS

* Nicklas Backstrom's return from hip surgery for Capitals familiar to Ed Jovanovski

* Auston Matthews fakes out Mitch Marner, pretends to toss milestone puck in crowd

* Zizing 'Em Up: Sabres coach Don Granato can relate to Hamlin-Bills situation

* Paris Hilton's hockey past surprised Hall of Fame member Angela Ruggiero

* Maple Leafs host Indigenous Celebration game, sport custom warmup jerseys

BACKSTROM, WILSON TO MAKE SEASON DEBUT FOR CAPITALS

The eight-game slate Sunday will see Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson return to the Capitals lineup when they host Johnny Gaudreau and the Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, longtime teammate Alex Ovechkin sits one home goal shy of joining Wayne Gretzky as the just the second player in NHL history with 400 career goals on home ice and 400 on the road.

* Backstrom, skating in his first contest with the Capitals since Game 6 of the 2022 First Round, collected an assist on nine of Ovechkin’s goals in 2021-22 and has done so 278 times in his career – highlighted by a single-season best of 33 in 2014-15. He begins his 2022-23 campaign just two helpers shy of tying Henrik Sedin (280 w/ Daniel Sedin) for the third most by a teammate in NHL history.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.