CROSBY 6-0-0 IN HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETINGS VERSUS McDAVID

Sidney Crosby (0-1—1) faced off against Connor McDavid (0-1—1) in the sixth all-time meeting between the two stars. With the Penguins victory, Crosby remains perfect in the head-to-head series with a 6-0-0 record (McDavid: 0-3-3). McDavid improved his point totals to 3-7—10 in those matchups, besting Crosby’s 2-2—4.

* The Penguins improved to 7-0-1 against the Oilers in their last eight meetings at PPG Paints Arena and have now earned at least a point in 17 consecutive games against Edmonton dating to Dec. 5, 2007 (14-0-3), the longest active point streak by any team against one opponent. Pittsburgh, which last suffered a regulation loss to the Oilers on Jan. 10, 2006, matched the longest point streak against any one team in franchise history (also 17 GP vs. ATL from Jan. 27, 2000 - Dec. 1, 2003).

* McDavid extended his point streak to eight games (2-10—12) and improved his season totals to 31-51—82 in 55 GP to move into a tie with Patrick Kane (33-49—82) for second in League scoring, behind only Nikita Kucherov (25-63—88).

* McDavid has only been held off the scoresheet seven times in 2018-19. He became the third player since 1989-90 to be held without a point in seven or fewer contests through 55 appearances in a season. The others: Mario Lemieux (3 in 1989-90, 5 in 1992-93, 5 in 1995-96) and Wayne Gretzky (5 in 1990-91).

ICYMI: Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, who made 38 saves in the victory, stopped McDavid on a penalty shot with a glove save in the second period while protecting a one-goal lead.

BOYLE EARNS SHUTOUT IN FIRST CAREER START

Ducks netminder Kevin Boyle stopped all 35 shots he faced to post a shutout in his first career NHL start. Boyle, who was called up from the San Diego Gulls on Feb. 9, has appeared in 30 games with Anaheim’s affiliate this season (19-7-1, 2.72 GAA, .909 SV%) and ranks tied for second among AHL goaltenders with 19 wins. Before joining the Ducks, Boyle had won 14 of his previous 17 starts.

* Boyle, who has been called up to the Ducks to fill in for John Gibson while he is on the injury reserve list, became only the second goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout while making his first career NHL start. The other was the aforementioned Gibson, who also did so against Vancouver on Apr. 7, 2014.

* Boyle is the fifth netminder since 2009-10 to post a shutout in his first career NHL start and the second to do so this season. The other four to accomplish the feat since 2009-10: Jordan Binnington (Jan 7, 2019 w/ STL), Garret Sparks (Nov. 30, 2015 w/ TOR), Troy Grosenick (Nov. 16, 2014 w/ SJS) and Gibson.

QUICK CLICKS

* VIDEO: Alex Ovechkin reflects on career

* Maple Leaf Gardens remains special place 20 years after final NHL game

* Chris Kunitz of Blackhawks reflective entering 1,000th NHL game

* Black History Month Spotlight: Mike Grier reaches 1,000 NHL games

* Glenn Healy joins 'Executive Suite' podcast

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION

REVISITING THE SUBBAN-WEBER TRADE

The Canadiens (31-18-7, 69 points) visit the Predators (33-21-5, 71 points) at Bridgestone Arena with both clubs in the thick of postseason races. The two teams were involved in one of the most memorable trades in recent history on June 29, 2016 when they swapped a pair of Norris Trophy-winning defensemen with Nashville acquiring P.K. Subban and Montreal adding Shea Weber.

* At the time of the trade, Weber was coming off his sixth season as Predators captain and held franchise marks for goals, assists and points by a defenseman (166-277—443 in 763 GP). Subban, meanwhile, had just finished his third consecutive 50-point campaign joining Hall of Famers Larry Robinson (7 consecutive) and Guy Lapointe (5 consecutive) as the only other blueliners in Canadiens history with as many consecutive 50-point seasons.

* Both have become important members of their franchise in the three years since the trade, with Weber named Montreal’s captain prior to the 2018-19 season and Subban a key contributor to Nashville’s run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. The Canadiens are 75-47-14 with Weber in the lineup while the Predators are 110-54-24 when Subban plays.

* Weber and Subban are both expected to be in the lineup for a head-to-head matchup for the third time since the trade and for the first time in Nashville: The Canadiens spoiled Subban’s first return to Montreal with a 2-1 W on Mar. 2, 2017 (Subban: 0-1—1) and the Predators earned a 4-1 W in Montreal on Jan. 5, 2019 with Subban recording a pair of helpers to reach the 300-assist milestone (Weber: 1-0—1).

MORE STORYLINES TO WATCH ON THURSDAY

* The Blues (28-22-5, 61 points) look to extend the NHL’s longest active winning streak to eight games when they visit the Coyotes. St. Louis, who holds the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference after ranking last in the overall League standings as recently as Jan. 2, can win eight consecutive games for the first time since a nine-game run from Oct. 15 - Nov. 5, 2002.

* The Sharks (34-16-7, 75 points), who overtook the Flames for first place in the Pacific Division on Monday, aim to extend their winning streak to seven games for the 13th time in franchise history and second time in the 2019 calendar year (7-0-0 from Jan. 2-15, 2019).

* The Lightning (42-11-4, 88 points) can become the eighth team in NHL history to reach 90 points in 58 games or fewer and just the fourth to do so in the last 30 years, joining the 2015-16 Capitals (57 GP), 2008-09 Sharks (58 GP) and 1995-96 Red Wings (58 GP).

* Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (25-63—88 in 57 GP) can become the first player to record 90 points in 58 appearances or fewer since Alex Ovechkin in 2009-10 (42-48—90 in 56 GP). Sidney Crosby in 2006-07 (26-64—90 in 54 GP) and Joe Thornton in 2005-06 (20-72—92 in 57 GP) are the only other players to do so since 2000-01. The fastest player in NHL history to reach 90 points in a season was Wayne Gretzky in 1984-85 (34-57—91 in 31 GP).

* Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane looks to extend the NHL’s longest active point streak to 16 games (11-21—32 in 15 GP). He sits two games shy of matching the longest point streak recorded by any player this season: Florida’s Mike Hoffman (10-10—20 in 17 GP). Kane can also extend his assist streak to 15 games, which would be the longest ever recorded by a Blackhawks player.

* Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (38-26—64 in 56 GP) sits two tallies shy of his 10th career 40-goal season. Only three players in NHL history have recorded 10 or more 40-goal seasons: Gretzky (12), Marcel Dionne (10) and Mario Lemieux (10).

the information above was supplied by the NHL PR department