MALKIN POWERS PITTSBURGH’S SEVEN-GOAL OUTBURST

The Penguins erupted for a season-high seven goals – powered by a four-point performance from Evgeni Malkin (2-2—4) – to sweep their four-game homestand and pick up their seventh consecutive win at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh swept a homestand of at least four games for the seventh time in franchise history and first since Jan. 21 – Feb. 2, 2016 (4-0-0).

* Malkin has recorded multiple goals and at least three points in each of his last three games (7-3—10). Malkin leads the League with 14 goals since Jan. 1 (13 GP) and is second in the NHL with 28 overall this season, trailing only Alex Ovechkin – who also found the back of the net twice on Friday.

* Malkin posted multiple goals in three consecutive team games for the first time in his NHL career and became the third Penguins player in the past 25 years to do so, joining Jaromir Jagr from Feb. 23-27, 1996 (6-2—8 in 3 GP) and Sidney Crosby from Nov. 28 – Dec. 3, 2009 (7-4—11 in 3 GP).

* Crosby, meanwhile, collected two helpers to extend his assist/point streak to 11 games (3-19—22), the longest active runs in the NHL. His pointstreak trails only David Pastrnak’s 12-game run from Nov. 22 – Dec. 18 (5-9—14) for the longest by a player this season.

* Phil Kessel posted 2-1—3 to boost his totals to 23-39—62 this season (53 GP), the second-most points in the NHL behind only Nikita Kucherov (27-37—64 in 51 GP).

WILD MATCH FRANCHISE RECORD FOR LONGEST HOME POINT STREAK

Eric Staal (2-1—3) and Jonas Brodin (0-3—3) each posted three points to help the Wild defeat the Western Conference-leading Golden Knightsand extend their point streak at Xcel Energy Center to 10 games (8-0-2). Minnesota equaled its franchise record for longest home point streak, a mark set from Feb. 19 – March 10, 2009 (6-0-4) and matched from Jan. 2 – March 10, 2014 (9-0-1).

* Devan Dubnyk (22 saves) improved to 20-10-3 this season (2.63 GAA, .917 SV%, 3 SO) and reached the 20-win mark for the fourth consecutive campaign. Dubnyk owns a 10-0-2 mark in his last 12 home decisions dating to Nov. 14 (1.94 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO).

MRAZEK EXTENDS STREAK, ZETTERBERG CLIMBS RED WINGS ASSISTS LIST

Petr Mrazek made 36 saves to backstop the Red Wings to their third consecutive road win. Mrazek improved to 4-0-1 in his last five decisionsdating to Jan. 14 (1.02 GAA, .967 SV%, 2 SO), allowing just six goals in that span.

* Henrik Zetterberg collected the 605th assist of his NHL career (all w/ DET) to pass former teammate Pavel Datsyuk for sole possession of fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list.

LABANC, COUTURE HELP SHARKS SNAP SLIDE

Kevin Labanc and Logan Couture each registered 1-1—2 to help the Sharks snap a four-game slide (0-2-2). Couture has scored five goals in his last five games (5-1—6).

HAULA REACHES 20-GOAL MARK

Erik Haula (1-1—2) became the third Golden Knights player to reach the 20-goal mark this season, joining William Karlsson (27) and James Neal (22). Vegas became the first team with at least three 20-goal scorers in its inaugural NHL season since 1979-80, when the Edmonton Oilers (6), Hartford Whalers (4), Quebec Nordiques (4) and Winnipeg Jets (4) all had at least four players hit the mark.

NHL ALL-STAR ALL ACCESS SPECIAL DEBUTS ON TV; HEADED ONLINE

2018 NHL ALL-STAR ALL ACCESS debuted Friday on Sportsnet and NBCSN and will be available today starting at noon ET on NHL.com and YouTube.com/NHL. The 30-minute behind-the-scenes special also will debut on NHL Network today at 12:30 p.m. ET and on TVA Sports on Thursday at 11 p.m. ET.

Click here to watch the trailer and view additional air dates.

QUICK CLICKS

· NHL has grown stronger in Gary Bettman's 25 years as Commissioner (via Dave Stubbs)

· Bruins will be pulling for Patriots in Super Bowl (via Amalie Benjamin)

· Sabres' Johan Larsson Suspended Two Games for Cross-Checking

· Hockey Is For Everyone daily digest

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

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RARE STREAKS ON LINE AS BRUINS, MAPLE LEAFS RENEW RIVALRY

Several streaks could be at stake when the Bruins (30-11-8, 68 points) and Maple Leafs (30-18-5, 65 points) – the second and third-place teams in the Atlantic Division – square off at TD Garden:

* Boston’s Tuukka Rask (17-0-2 since Nov. 29) could become the 13th different goaltender in NHL history to record at least one point in 20 or more consecutive decisions (two netminders achieved the feat twice).

* Toronto’s Justin Holl aims to become the first defenseman in League history to begin his career with a goal in each of his first three NHL games; only 22 forwards have achieved the feat.

* The Maple Leafs have outscored opponents 9-0 over their past two games. They have posted three consecutive shutouts only once in franchise history – a five-game run from Nov. 13-22, 1930.

JETS, PREDATORS LOOK TO GAIN GROUND ON GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Jets (30-13-9, 69 points) and Predators (30-12-7, 67 points), who sit in second and third place, respectively, in the Western Conference each look to inch closer to the conference-leading Golden Knights (34-13-4, 72 points) with home games on Saturday:

* Winnipeg had its seven-game home win streak snapped against Vegas on Thursday, but extended its overall point streak to six games (4-0-2). With 18 wins at Bell MTS Place this season and 18 home contests remaining, the Jets are six victories shy of matching the single-season franchise record of 24 home wins (set in 2005-06 when the team was based in Atlanta).

* Nashville owns a 7-1-2 mark in 10 games since opening 2018 with a 3-0 loss to Vegas on Jan. 2, allowing only 18 goals against in that span – five fewer than the next-closest club. Pekka Rinne has recorded a shutout in each of his past two outings; no Predators goaltender has recorded a shutout in three straight appearances.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.