STAMKOS JOINS 500-GOAL CLUB AND POSTS HAT TRICK PERFORMANCE
Steven Stamkos joined the 500-goal club in style, scoring his 11th career hat trick while joining Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby as just the third active skater to reach the prestigious milestone. The captain’s three-goal performance helped the Lightning (29-13-1, 59 points) earn their fifth straight win to pull within two points of the idle Maple Leafs (27-11-7, 61 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division.

* Stamkos became the eighth player in NHL history to score a hat trick and reach the 500-goal mark in the same game, joining Mats Sundin (Oct. 14, 2006 w/ TOR), Jaromir Jagr (Feb. 4, 2003 w/ WSH), Brett Hull (Dec. 22, 1996 w/ STL), Mark Messier (Nov. 6, 1995 w/ NYR), Mario Lemieux (Oct. 26, 1995 w/ PIT), Wayne Gretzky (Nov. 22, 1986 w/ EDM) and Jean Beliveau (Feb. 11, 1971 w/ MTL).

* Jon Cooper recorded his 21st win streak of at least five games with the Lightning. He became the 20th head coach in NHL history to achieve at least 21 win streaks of five-plus contests and just the third to do so with one franchise. The others: Glen Sather (23x w/ EDM) and Toe Blake (21x w/ MTL).

SHARKS BITE BACK WITH THREE-GOAL COMEBACK AGAINST CONFERENCE LEADER
The Sharks staged their first three-goal comeback win in the regular season since Dec. 7, 2017 to stun the Stars, who entered the contest as the No. 1-ranked team in the Western Conference. San Jose recorded the 12th three-goal comeback win of the season and became the 11th club to do so (EDM has 2).

* It marked the first time since Feb.1, 2011 that San Jose won in regulation after trailing by three or more goals – and just the fourth time ever that they’ve done so.

* Erik Karlsson (1-3—4) posted his ninth career four-point game – the most among active defensemen and his fifth with San Jose. He accounts for five of the 11 four-point games by defensemen in Sharks history – four of which have come in 2022-23.

* Karlsson (15-47—62 in 46 GP) became the fourth blueliner in NHL history to hit 60 points in 46 games or fewer in a season, following Bobby Orr (6x; fastest: 32 GP in 1974-75), Paul Coffey (5x; fastest: 39 GP in 1988-89 & 1985-86) and Denis Potvin (2x; fastest: 44 GP in 1975-76).

TKACHUK, McAVOY LEAD TEAMS TO VICTORY IN FRONT OF SPECIAL FANS
A captain with a Boston connection (Brady Tkachuk; Boston University) and a Bruins defenseman playing not far from his hometown (Charlie McAvoy) each had memorable nights on national TV on Wednesday:

* It was a special night in more ways than one for Tkachuk (1-3—4), who scored the overtime winner and tallied a career-high four points on Sportsnet while being cheered on by Make-A-Wish recipient Daniel Maloney. Tkachuk, who Maloney cited as his favorite player, factored on each of Ottawa’s final four goals in a back-and-forth affair that featured four game-tying tallies. The Senators captain finished the scoring 25 seconds into the extra frame – his six career overtime winners trail only Mike Fisher (7) for the most in franchise history.

* McAvoy (1-1—2) recorded his second straight multi-point outing to help Boston (35-5-4, 74 points) once again boost its lead atop the NHL standings. With his family in attendance, the Long Beach, N.Y., native, improved his career point totals against the Islanders to 2-13—15 (21 GP) – tied with the Sabres (1-14—15 in 21 GP) for his highest against any opponent. McAvoy grew up roughly 30 minutes from where UBS Arena is now located and played minor hockey for the Long Island Gulls with Adam Fox, who he’ll face off against Thursday when the Bruins visit the Rangers. McAvoy and Fox spent a decade of their youth hockey careers together.

RANTANEN, ROBERTSON HIT 30-GOAL MARK ON #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Stars forward Jason Robertson hit the 30-goal mark in San Jose to follow Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen who had done so earlier in the night in Calgary, with both milestones featured in #NHLStats: Live Updates.

* At this point in 2021-22 (through 713 GP) – which ended as the highest-scoring season in 26 years (6.3 G/GP) – there were three 30-goal scorers (ChrisKreider: 33; LeonDraisaitl: 32; AustonMatthews: 31).

QUICK CLICKS

* Start Time Update: Blackhawks-Sharks game on Feb. 25 set for 7 p.m. PT
* Predators’ Michael McCarron reinstated by NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program
* Coyotes unveil “Desert Night” as official third jersey, designed by Rhuigi Villaseñor
* Canucks unveil “The Skate” as official third jersey, honor fan favorite Gino Odjick

* Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award accepting nominations for 2023

THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTED BY McDAVID, OILERS CLASHING WITH LIGHTNING ON ESPN

A total of 26 teams are in action Thursday, including League scoring leader Connor McDavid (38-46—84 in 46 GP) and the Oilers (25-18-3, 53 points) hosting Nikita Kucherov (18-46—64 in 43 GP) and the Lightning (29-13-1, 59 points) on ESPN.

* McDavid is one point shy of 85 on the season and would be the fastest NHL player to reach the mark since Penguins teammates Mario Lemieux (34-52—86 in 32 GP) and Jaromir Jagr (36-51—87 in 42 GP) in 1995-96. Kucherov (25-63—88 in 57 GP) required 57 contests to hit 85 during his franchise-record 128-point campaign in 2018-19 (the point totals listed for Lemieux, Jagr & Kucherov are through the game where they reached the 85-point mark).

* McDavid needs two tallies to reach the 40-goal mark for the second time in as many seasons and fourth time in his NHL career. He would become the fourth player in franchise history to record four or more 40-goal campaigns, following Wayne Gretzky (9), Jari Kurri (7) and Glenn Anderson (4). Leon Draisaitl (26-44—70 in 44 GP) is also on pace to record his fourth career 40-goal season.

BUFFALO SET TO RAISE MILLER’S No. 30 TO KEYBANK CENTER RAFTERS
Ryan Miller, the winningest goaltender in franchise history, will become the eighth player to have his number retired by the Sabres and first since fellow netminder Dominik Hasek (No. 39) on Jan. 13, 2015. The others are Tim Horton (No. 2), Rick Martin (No. 7), Gilbert Perreault (No. 11), Rene Robert (No. 14), Pat LaFontaine (No. 16) and Danny Gare (No. 18).

* Miller amassed a career-high 41 wins in 2009-10 to establish a new single-season franchise record, eclipsing the previous mark of 40 he set in 2006-07. Miller won the Vezina Trophy in 2009-10 and became the fifth goaltender in franchise history to capture the award, following Hasek (2000-01, 1998-99, 1997-98, 1996-97, 1994-95 & 1993-94), Tom Barrasso (1983-84), Don Edwards (1979-80) and Bob Sauve (1979-80).
* Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) played for St. Louis, Vancouver and Anaheim following his 11 seasons with Buffalo and concluded his NHL career with 391 wins, the most by a U.S.-born goaltender in League history. Miller represented his country at two Winter Olympics (2014 & 2010) and three World Championships (2003, 2002 & 2001).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.