CAPITALS OVERCOME 5-1 DEFICIT TO STUN CANUCKS
Trailing 5-1 late in the second period, the Capitals scored four unanswered goals in regulation and Nicklas Backstrom notched the shootout winner as Washington stunned Vancouver and extended its point streak to six games (5-0-1). The Capitals overcame a deficit of four goals to win a game for the fifth time in franchise history, following Dec. 15, 1979 (5-4 W vs. NYR), Feb. 2, 1986 (5-4 W at HFD), Oct. 23, 1991 (6-5 W at EDM) and Dec. 23, 2008 (5-4 OT W at NYR).

ISLANDERS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO SIX GAMES

Nick Leddy (2-1—3) scored two first-period goals in a span of 4:19 – including converting on a penalty shot attempt – to help the Islanders improve to 6-0-0 in their last six games, the longest win streak by any team this season.

* New York has recorded a six-game win streak in three of its last four seasons, going 6-0-0 from March 31 – April 9, 2017 and again from Dec. 23, 2018 – Jan. 5, 2019. The last time the Islanders registered a win streak of longer than six games was from Dec. 31, 1989 – Jan. 19, 1990 (9-0-0).

* Leddy recorded the second multi-goal game of his NHL career, following a 2-1—3 outing on Nov. 5, 2017 (6-4 W vs. COL). He became the first defenseman in franchise history to score a penalty-shot goal and the second on any team to do so this season, joining Montreal’s Jeff Petry on Oct. 5 (6-5 SO W at TOR).

AVALANCHE DEFEAT GOLDEN KNIGHTS TO IMPROVE TO 8-1-1
Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists – including factoring on the first career regular-season goal by Cale Makar – to help the Avalanche defeat the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena as Nevada Day was observed in the Silver State. Colorado earned its eighth win of 2019-20 (8-1-1, 17 points), one shy of the franchise record for most through the first 10 games in a season set in 1994-95 (9-1-0, 18 points) and matched in 2013-14 (9-1-0, 18 points).

* MacKinnon extended his season-opening point streak to 10 games (5-9—14) and has recorded multiple points in four of those contests. He became the sixth player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to record a season-opening point streak of 10 or more games and first since the franchise began play in Denver.

* Makar leads all rookie defensemen with nine points this season (1-8—9 in 10 GP). His nine points are seven shy of the most by a blueliner through their first 10 career regular-season games, a mark set by Toronto Arenas defenseman Harry Cameron in 1917-18 (10-6—16).

MARLEAU RETURNS TO TORONTO, SKATES IN 1,500TH CAREER GAME WITH SHARKS
Patrick Marleau, who was signed by San Jose on Oct. 9 following a two-season stint with Toronto, skated in his 1,500th career regular-season game with the Sharks. The franchise icon, who played his first 19 seasons with San Jose from 1997-98 to 2016-17, became the seventh player in NHL history to appear in 1,500 games with one franchise.

* Marleau has appeared in 69.5% of the all-time regular-season games contested by the Sharks (1,500 of 2,159), the highest such percentage by a player with an NHL franchise (min. 1,000 GP contested by club). The second-highest belongs to Mikko Koivu, who has skated in 67.7% of all games contested by the Wild (983 of 1,452).

* Marleau, who was honored in a video tribute, became the ninth former Maple Leafs player age 40 or older to appear in a game against Toronto (regular season or playoffs) – joining Tim Horton (27 GP), Gary Roberts (9 GP), Dave Keon (8 GP), Dave Andreychuk (6 GP), Allan Stanley (6 GP), Ron Stewart (2 GP), Joe Nieuwendyk (1 GP) and Steve Thomas (1 GP).

MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM FRIDAY

* Linus Ullmark turned aside all 41 shots he faced as the Sabres blanked the Red Wings to improve to 9-2-1 (19 points) this season. Ullmark established a career high for most saves in a shutout, eclipsing his previous mark of 40 set on Dec. 22, 2018 (3-0 W vs. ANA).

* Michael Grabner (1-0—1) was one of five Coyotes players to find the back of the net Friday as Arizona improved to 6-1-1 in its last eight contests on the heels of a 0-2-0 start to the season. Grabner scored his 22nd career shorthanded goal in the regular season, the second-most among active NHL players behind Boston’s Brad Marchand (26).

* Jack Hughes (1-2—3), who scored the first goal of his NHL career in the Devils’ last outing (1-0—1 vs. VAN), reached another milestone with his first three-point game. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft became the fifth different 18-year-old in Devils/Rockies/Scouts franchise history to score at least one goal in consecutive team games.

QUICK CLICKS

* NHL, Flames and Jets unveil new scholarship
* Heritage Classic Diary: Mikael Backlund
* Dale Hawerchuk on minds during NHL Legacy Luncheon
* Blues, Bruins Cup Final rematch will be 'emotional game,' Craig Berube says
* Blackhawks welcome boy who battled leukemia to practice

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION

JETS HOST FLAMES IN 2019 TIM HORTONS NHL HERITAGE CLASSIC
The Jets (5-6-0, 10 points) are set to host the Flames (6-5-1, 13 points) in the 2019 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the NHL’s 28th all-time regular-season outdoor game and fifth in the Heritage Classic series. Saturday also will mark the seventh regular-season NHL game played in the province of Saskatchewan (indoors or outdoors).

* The Jets will contest their second regular-season outdoor game and second straight in the Heritage Classic series (3-0 L vs. EDM in 2016). Patrik Laine, who leads Winnipeg in assists this season (3-9—12 in 11 GP), is no stranger to shining at NHL events; although he was held of the score sheet as a rookie at the 2016 Heritage Classic, he scored four goals across two games in his native Finland at the 2018 NHL Global Series – including a hat trick in the opener of the two-game international series.

p * The Flames, who are led by Matthew Tkachuk in 2019-20 (4-6—10 in 12 GP), also will be contesting their second regular-season outdoor game and second in the Heritage Classic series (4-0 W vs. MTL in 2011). Two of the six previous regular-season games in Saskatchewan have featured a member of the Tkachuk family; Matthew’s father, Keith Tkachuk, played in the second and third such contests as a rookie with the original Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93, scoring in each (2-1—3 in 2 GP).

BLUES, BRUINS SET TO SQUARE OFF IN FIRST MEETING SINCE STANLEY CUP FINAL
The Blues (5-2-3, 13 points) and Bruins (6-1-2, 14 points) are set to square off at TD Garden in their first head-to-head meeting since Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, a 4-1 triumph by St. Louis. There will be a lot of familiarity between the two teams as of 30 of 40 players who dressed for Game 7 also suited up in each club’s previous contest: 14 of 20 for the Bruins (Oct. 22 vs. TOR: 4-2 W) and 16 of 20 for the Blues (Oct. 24 vs. LAK: 5-2 W).

* The Cup champion holds a record of 51-31-6 in the first regular-season meeting between Stanley Cup finalists since 1927-28 (runner-up: 32-48-8), including a 5-1-0 mark since 2013-14 when the schedule matrix was changed to include head-to-head matchups between all teams.

* The reigning champion has won each of the past four rematches. Defending champions have won five straight rematches just once in NHL history, going 5-0-0 from 1940-41 to 1944-45.