GOLDEN KNIGHTS RALLY FROM THREE DOWN TO RECORD FRANCHISE FIRST. . .
After Reilly Smith capped a run of four consecutive goals to help the Golden Knights erase a 3-0 deficit and Blues forward David Perron (1-2—3) tied the game three minutes later, Chandler Stephenson scored the overtime winner to help Vegas overcome a three-goal deficit to win for the first time in their three-year history.



* The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights (24-15-6, 54 points), who recorded the NHL’s 15th three-goal comeback win of 2019-20, sit five points behind the Blues (26-10-7, 59 points) for first place in the Western Conference standings.

* Stephenson’s first career overtime goal pushed the Golden Knights’ win streak to four games, with the team scoring five goals in each of their last three. Vegas has scored at least five goals in three straight contests for the second time since 2017-18 (including shootout-deciding goals). The other: March 17-21, 2019 (3 GP).

. . . WHILE LIGHTNING ALSO SURVIVE BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR
In a contest that featured three game-tying goals, Victor Hedman (0-2—2) collected a primary assist on Tyler Johnson’s game-winning goal to help the Lightning (23-13-4, 50 points) extend their win streak to six games.



* Hedman (9-30—39 in 38 GP) ranks third in points by a defenseman in 2019-20 and is one of three blueliners averaging 1.00 P/GP or more this season, joining Washington’s John Carlson (1.21) and Nashville’s Roman Josi (1.07).

* A Tampa Bay defenseman has never finished a season averaging 1.00 P/GP or more (min. 20 GP). The last time three blueliners, regardless of team, finished a season averaging 1.00 P/GP (min. 20 GP) was 1995-96: Brian Leetch (1.03), Sergei Zubov (1.03) and Ray Bourque (1.00).

* The 29-year-old defenseman joined Carlson (13-28—51 in 42 GP) as the NHL’s second blueliner to collect 30 assists in 2019-20. In fact, Hedman required the fewest games by a Lightning defenseman to hit the mark in a single season – doing so in three fewer contests than his previous low (42 GP in 2016-17).

* Tampa Bay will conclude its four-game road trip Sunday in Carolina. With previous wins in Buffalo (Dec. 31), Montreal (Jan. 2) and Ottawa (Jan. 4), the Lightning can sweep a road trip of at least four games for the second time in franchise history (also 4-0-0 from Feb. 26 – March 3, 2016).

MATTHEWS NETS ANOTHER HOME GOAL AS MAPLE LEAFS EXTEND STREAK
Auston Matthews (1-1—2) scored his 21st home goal of season and Michael Hutchinson made 33 saves to earn his fifth career shutout as the Maple Leafs extended the League’s longest active point streak to 10 games (9-0-1) - their longest since an equal run in 2005-06 (8-0-2 from March 26 – April 15, 2006).

* Matthews, who has scored in each of his last five contests at Scotiabank Arena (8-4—12), became the seventh different player in the last 35 years to score at least 21 goals through his first 20 home games of a season.



* Charlie Conacher (27 in 1933-34) is the only Maple Leafs player with more goals through his first 20 home games of a season. Meanwhile, Darryl Sittler (34 in 1977-78) holds the single-season franchise mark.

PASTRNAK, JOSI AND DOMI CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THE POINTS
Bruins forward David Pastrnak (5-10—15 in 10 GP), Predators defenseman Roman Josi (7-10—17 in 9 GP) and Canadiens forward Max Domi (6-6—12 in 9 GP) all continued to find the score sheet to extend three of the League’s active point streaks.

* With a 13-game point streak earlier in 2019-20 from Oct. 8 - Nov. 5, Pastrnak became the third player in as many seasons to register multiple point streaks of 10 or more games prior to his team’s 45th contest. Only three other Bruins players have also accomplished the feat: Phil Esposito (15 GP and 13 GP in 1973-74), Bobby Orr (16 GP and 16 GP in 1970-71) and Cooney Weiland (14 GP and 14 GP in 1929-30).



* Josi, who matched the longest point streak by a defenseman in Predators history, has collected multiple points in five of his last six games - including two assists in the 2020 Bridgestone Winter Classic. His 43 points are the most by a Predators player through their first 40 games of a season, besting Steve Sullivan’s totals in 2006-07 (14-28—42).

* Domi became the first Canadiens player to record a point streak of nine or more games in consecutive seasons since Vincent Damphousse in 1992-93 (7-12—19 in 12 GP) and 1993-94 (8-11—19 in 10 GP).

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

* Tyler Myers scored the go-ahead goal with 1:29 remaining in regulation to help the Canucks extend the League’s longest active win streak to seven games dating to Dec. 19. Vancouver has posted longer runs on only two occasions: 10-0-0 from Nov. 9 - 30, 2002 and 8-0-0 from Dec. 23 - Jan. 7, 2011.



* Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (3-0—3) scored his second career hat trick (also Feb. 7, 2017) and Colorado’s third hat trick of the season, joining Joonas Donskoi (3-0—3 on Nov. 11, 2019) and Tyson Jost (3-0—3 on Oct. 19, 2019). Only the Oilers (4) have registered such performances in 2019-20.

* Twenty-two-year-old Zach Werenski (2-0—2) found the back of the net twice, including his 50th NHL goal, after netting his first career hat trick on New Year’s Eve against the Panthers. Werenski is the first defenseman in Blue Jackets history to score at least five goals in a three-game span and just the NHL’s third blueliner in the last decade. The others: Brent Burns (Feb.12-18, 2017 w/ SJS) and Lubomir Visnovsky (March 4-9, 2011 w/ ANA).

* Nineteen-year-old Rasmus Dahlin (2-20—22 in 35 GP) assisted on Sam Reinhart’s game-winning goal and is on pace to register 4-42—46 in 2019-20. Among players to debut with the Sabres, only one defenseman has collected at least 40 points in each of his first two or more NHL seasons: Phil Housley (eight straight from 1982-83 to 1989-90).

QUICK CLICKS

* Michael Peca fires up Buffalo crowd with Bills jersey on 90s day
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* 5 things to watch in final of World Junior Championship
* Ilya Kovalchuk targets next game for Canadiens debut
* Marc-Andre Fleury of Golden Knights withdraws from All-Star Game

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION

rhe above information was supplied by the NHL PR department