McDAVID SNAPS THREE-GAME POINT DROUGHT TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Connor McDavid (1-2—3) factored on three of four Edmonton goals – including assisting on the overtime winner by Leon Draisaitl (2-1—3) – as the Oilers rallied from a 3-1 third-period deficit to improve to 8-2-1 (17 points) this season. McDavid snapped a three-game point drought, which was tied for the longest of his NHL career (also 3 GP from Dec. 29, 2017 – Jan. 2, 2018).
* McDavid (298 GP) will become the eighth player in League history to have never experienced a point drought of more than three games through his first 300 career regular-season contests. Every player who has achieved the feat – other than Sidney Crosby, who is not yet eligible – has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
CARLSON EXTENDS POINT STREAK, BOOSTS NHL-LEADING TOTALS TO 5-16—21 . . .
Capitals defensemen John Carlson assisted on one of two goals by Alex Ovechkin to extend his point streak to nine games (5-13—18) and boost his NHL-leading totals to 5-16—21 (12 GP). Only one defenseman in League history has recorded more points in a single month of October.
* Carlson, who owns a one-point edge over the next-closest player (Connor McDavid: 6-14—20 in 11 GP), is the second defenseman in NHL history to lead the League outright in points through the first 23 days in a season – joining Boston’s Bobby Orr in 1969-70 (2-16—18 in 10 GP). Orr led all players through games played Nov. 2, 1969 that season, owning a three-point lead over St. Louis’ Ab McDonald (6-9—15 in 10 GP).
* Ovechkin has scored nine goals this season (9-5—14 in 12 GP), including eight in road games (8-1—9 in 7 GP). Ovechkin’s second marker Thursday was his 125th career power-play goal on the road in the regular season, passing Brett Hull (124) for the highest such total since 1933-34 when goals by type were officially tracked.
. . . DEFENSEMAN HAMILTON SCORES SIXTH GOAL OF 2019-20
Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored his sixth goal of the season (6-5—11 in 10 GP) – tops among all blueliners. He became the second defenseman in franchise history to score six or more goals in a single month of October, joining Hartford’s Al Sims in 1980-81 (8-3—11 in 11 GP).
ISLANDERS, BLUE JACKETS EXTEND STREAKS; RANGERS HALT SLIDE
The Islanders (6-3-0, 12 points) and Blue Jackets (5-3-2, 12 points) both extended streaks Thursday, while the Rangers (3-4-1, 7 points) halted a slide:
* Josh Bailey (1-1—2) and Brock Nelson (0-2—2) each collected two points as the Islanders extended their win streak to five games on the heels of a 1-3-0 start to the season. New York became the first team to score more than two goals in regulation against Arizona this season and improved to 22-9-9 (53 points) in 40 all-time home games against the Coyotes/Jets franchise; their highest all-time regular-season home point percentage versus one opponent is .923, set against the now-defunct California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons (11-0-2, 24 points).
* The Blue Jackets rallied from a 3-1 deficit and Cam Atkinson scored at 3:28 of overtime as Columbus extended its point streak to six games (4-0-2). The Blue Jackets contested their eighth consecutive game decided by a one-goal margin dating to Oct. 7, one shy of the longest such run in franchise history (9 GP from Feb. 18 – March 7, 2013).
* Tony DeAngelo recorded 1-1—2 while celebrating his 24th birthday to help the Rangers snap a five-game slide (0-4-1). DeAngelo, one of four New York players with two points Thursday, became the first Rangers player to find the score sheet multiple times while celebrating a birthday since Marian Gaborik on Feb. 14, 2013 (1-1—2 vs. NYI).
SHARKS EXTEND WIN STREAK AGAINST CANADIENS TO NINE GAMES
Evander Kane (2-1—3) and Tomas Hertl (0-3—3) each registered three points as the Sharks improved to 9-0-0 in their last nine games against the Canadiens dating to Dec. 15, 2015 (MTL: 0-9-0), allowing two goals or fewer in each contest. San Jose’s nine-game run versus Montreal with two goals against or less is three shy of the longest such win streak by a team against one opponent in NHL history.
* The Sharks became the seventh team in NHL history to record a regular-season win streak of nine or more games against the Canadiens. Only two clubs have recorded a longer such run versus Montreal: Ottawa from Feb. 28, 1925 – Feb. 22, 1927 (12-0-0) and Toronto from Dec. 9, 1939 – Jan. 23, 1941 (12-0-0).
DID YOU KNOW?
Forty-year-old Sharks teammates Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau both assisted on a third-period goal by Melker Karlsson. They became the first players age 40 or older to factor on a goal since Ray Whitney (40) and Jaromir Jagr (41) on March 29, 2013 (w/ DAL).
QUICK CLICKS
* Mark Giordano, Flames pleased by 'pretty warm' forecast for Heritage Classic
* Pekka Rinne extends season-opening point streak to seven games
* Josh Morrissey relishing increased responsibility among Jets defensemen
* Carter Hart working on mental skills to improve his play on ice for Flyers
* Blackhawks to give out triumphant Eddie Olczyk Hockey Fights Cancer bobblehead
PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION
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