SABRES ERUPT FOR NINE GOALS TO SPLIT HOME-AND-HOME SET WITH SENATORS

Jason Pominville (2-1—3) scored two of Buffalo’s nine goals to help the Sabres split their home-and-home set with the Senators. Buffalo scored at least nine goals in a regular-season game for the first time since Jan. 27, 2009 (10-2 W at EDM).

* Pominville, who was honored in a pre-game ceremony for recently reaching the 1,000-game milestone, extended his point streak to seven contests (7-6—13). His career high for longest point streak is 10 games, a mark set from Feb. 17 – March 5, 2008 (6-6—12).

* Jeff Skinner (2-1—3), who was acquired by the club on Aug. 2, lead the Sabres with nine goals this season (9-7—16 in 14 GP). Only three players have scored more goals through their first 14 career games with the franchise: Rick Vaive in 1988-89 (12), Richard Martin in 1971-72 (10) and Wilf Paiement in 1986-87 (10).

GOALS GALORE

* Twenty-one contests have featured at least 10 combined goals in 2018-19 (206 GP), the highest such total through the first 206 games in a season since 1995-96 (30).

* There have been seven instances of a team scoring at least eight goals in a game in 2018-19, the highest such total through the first 206 contests of a season since 2006-07 (7x).

MAPLE LEAFS BLANK PENGUINS, IMPROVE TO 6-0-0 ON THE ROAD

Morgan Rielly (2-0—2) recorded the second multi-goal game of his NHL career and Frederik Andersen turned aside all 31 shots he faced as theMaple Leafs blanked the Penguins and improved to 6-0-0 on the road this season.

* Toronto won each of its first six or more road games in a season for the second time in franchise history (also 7-0-0 in 1940-41). The NHL record for longest road win streak to begin a season is 10 games, a mark set by the Sabres in 2006-07.

* Rielly leads all defensemen in goals and points this season (6-12—18 in 14 GP). He became the fourth different defenseman in franchise history to record at least 18 points through the first 14 teams games in a season, joining Harry Cameron in 1917-18 (13-6—19), Borje Salming in 1977-78 (4-14—18) and 1980-81 (4-16—20), and Tomas Kaberle in 2009-10 (2-16—18).

LIGHTNING, ISLANDERS REMAIN UNDEFEATED AGAINST CONFERENCE, DIVISION
The Lightning and Islanders each secured wins on Saturday to remain undefeated against Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division opponents, respectively.

* Steven Stamkos (2-0—2) recorded his first multi-goal game of the season to help the Lightning defeat the Canadiens and improve to 9-3-1 (19 points) this season, including a 6-0-0 mark against Eastern Conference opponents. The Lightning won each of their first six games against conference opponents in a season for the first time in franchise history; the longest such win streak to begin a season is 12 games, a mark set by the Capitals in 1991-92.
^ Since 1974-75 when teams realigned into two conferences

* Thomas Greiss turned aside all 35 shots he faced to backstop the Islanders past the Devils and to their fifth consecutive win. New York, which improved to 6-0-0 against Metropolitan Division opponents in 2018-19, won each of its first six games against divisional opponents to start a season for the second time in franchise history (also 6-0-0 in 1982-83).

STAAL REACHES 400-GOAL MILESTONE IN WILD WIN . . .
Eric Staal scored the 400th goal of his NHL career to help the Wild improve to 8-3-2 (18 points) this season. He became the sixth active NHL player to reach the 400-goal milestone, joining Alex Ovechkin (617), Patrick Marleau (538), Ilya Kovalchuk (421), Sidney Crosby (417) and Marian Gaborik (407).

* Nick Seeler (1-2—3), meanwhile, scored the first goal of his NHL career (35 GP). Seeler (Eden Prairie, Minn.) became the fourth Minnesota-born player to score his first career NHL goal as a member of the Wild, joining Jarod Palmer (Fridley, Minn.) on Dec. 29, 2011 vs. EDM, Chad Rau (Eden Prairie, Minn.) on Jan. 21, 2012 vs. DAL and Nate Prosser (Elk River, Minn.) on Feb. 7, 2012 at CBJ. Thirteen players accomplished the feat with the Minnesota North Stars.

. . . TOEWS SCORES 300TH CAREER NHL GOAL

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews scored the 300th goal of his NHL career (all w/ CHI). He became the sixth player in franchise history to reach the 300-goal milestone and the second member of the 2006 NHL Draft class to do so, joining Phil Kessel (337).

FLAMES RALLY TO EXTEND WIN STREAK

The Flames scored four unanswered goals – including three in the third period – to overcome a 3-1 deficit and extend their win streak to four games. Calgary improved to 9-5-1 (19 points) this season and moved into first place in the Pacific Division standings.

* The Flames have outscored opponents 28-11 in the third period this season. Their 28 third-period goals pace the NHL, seven more than the next-closest clubs (COL and WPG: 20).

RINNE BLANKS BRUINS ON 36TH BIRTHDAY

Pekka Rinne turned aside all 26 shots he faced to backstop the League-leading Predators past the Bruins and to a 11-3-0 (22 points) record this season. Rinne, who turned 36 on Saturday and signed a two-year contract extension with the Predators, recorded his second career shutout while celebrating a birthday (also Nov. 3, 2011 at PHX).

SURGING PLAYERS CONTINUE TO ROLL

* Oilers captain Connor McDavid (0-2—2) extended his point streak to seven games (5-5—10) and boosted his totals to 9-12—21 this season (13 GP). He became the first Oilers player to require 13 or fewer team games to reach the 20-point mark in a season since Mark Messier (13 GP) andJari Kurri (13 GP) in 1989-90.

* Sharks forward Timo Meier (2-0—2) potted the overtime winner 13 seconds into the extra frame and became the eighth player to score at least 10 goals this season (11-5—16 in 14 GP). Only one player in franchise history has required fewer team games to reach the 10-goal mark in a season:Patrick Marleau in 2012-13 (12 GP) and 2009-10 (13 GP).

* Wild forward Mikael Granlund (0-1—1) extended his point streak to 10 games, the longest active run in the NHL (6-7—13). The club benchmark for longest point streak is 12 games, a mark he set from Jan. 12 – Feb. 4, 2017 (5-12—17).

* Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (23 saves) improved to 3-0-0 this season (2.01 GAA, .935 SV%, 1 SO). Koskinen, who made his team debut on Oct. 27, became the fourth goaltender to earn wins in each of his first three appearances with the franchise, joining Kari Takko (3-0-0 in 1990-91),Curtis Joseph (3-0-0 in 1995-96) and Martin Gerber (3-0-0 in 2010-11).

* Stars captain Jamie Benn (1-0—1) has collected at least one point in each of his last 12 games against the Capitals dating to Nov. 8, 2011 (7-8—15). Only one player has a longer active regular-season point streak versus a single NHL opponent: Jets captain Blake Wheeler against theLightning (5-14—19 in 13 GP).

QUICK CLICKS

· Antti Raanta growing into dependable starter with Coyotes (via Tracey Myers)

· Logan Pyett glad to have role in Hockey Fights Cancer month (via Tom Gulitti)

· Facts and Figures: Elias Pettersson setting rookie records for Canucks

· Brendan Lemieux to have hearing for actions in Jets game against Panthers

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.