RINNE DOES THE IMPROBABLE AND SCORES INTO EMPTY NET

After Predators captain Roman Josiextended his point streak to 12 games earlier in the contest,Pekka Rinne (29 saves, 1-0—1) went the length of the ice and became the 12th goaltender in NHL history to score a regular-season goal. Martin Brodeur is the only netminder to do so multiple times.



* Additionally, Brodeur (Game 1 of the 1997 CQF) and Ron Hextall (Game 5 of the 1989 DSF) are the only netminders to score a goal in the Stanely Cup Playoffs.

DeANGELO’S FIVE-POINT NIGHT PROPELS RANGERS AT THE GARDEN
Tony DeAngelo (3-2—5) collected a career-high five points and his first NHL hat trick, while Artemi Panarin (1-2—3) eclipsed the 60-point mark as the Rangers doubled up their Metropolitan Division rivals at Madison Square Garden.

* DeAngelo, who registered the NHL’s 10th five-point game of 2019-20 and first by a defenseman, matched a Rangers franchise record for points by a blueliner in a regular-season game (also Brian Leetch: April. 18, 1995 and Feb. 17, 1989).

* The 24-year-old joined Columbus’ Zach Werenski (Dec. 31, 2019) as the NHL’s second blueliner of the season – and in a span of 10 days – to pot a three-goal performance. Meanwhile, he became the seventh different defenseman in Rangers history to score a hat trick and the first since Reijo Ruotsalainen (March 17, 1982 vs. PHI).

* DeAngelo leads all Rangers defensemen with 11-25—36 through 43 games this season. In fact, New York’s 124 combined points (34-90—124) by its blueliners pace all clubs in 2019-20 – eight more than the next closest clubs (TBL, NSH, WSH: all w/ 116).

* Panarin (24-37—61), with three points in each of his last three home games, became the sixth player to eclipse the 60-point mark in 2019-20. Panarin's 60 points through his first 43 games with the club are the most by any player in their first season with the franchise, besting Wayne Gretzky’s previous mark in 1996-97 (16-43—59).

* The 29-year-old forward is the NHL’s second player in as many seasons to have three or more points in at least three consecutive home games, after Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi accomplished the feat from March 29 - April 2, 2019 (3-6—9 in 3 GP). The last player with a longer such streak was over 10 years ago: Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (6-10—16 in 5 GP from Jan. 21 – Feb. 10, 2008).

* Rookie Igor Shesterkin (46 saves) earned his second career win in as many games after backstopping the Rangers in his NHL debut Tuesday. He became the second goaltender in franchise history to win his first two career starts at home, joining Dan Cloutier (Jan. 6 vs. CAR and Jan. 12, 1998 vs. TOR).

PASTRNAK NETS THIRD HAT TRICK OF 2019-20

With his mom in attendance, Bruins forward David Pastrnak scored three game-tying goals to register his League-leading third hat trick of the season and help the Bruins (26-8-11, 63 points) outlast the Jets (24-17-4, 52 points) at TD Garden.

* Pastrnak, who also netted three hat tricks in 2018-19 (Oct. 13, 2018, Nov. 10, 2018 and March 27, 2019), registered the 32nd instance in NHL history of a player scoring three or more such performances in consecutive seasons. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is the only other active player to accomplish the feat (3 in 2007-08 and 2008-09, 2017-18 and 2018-19).

* The 23-year-old forward has collected eight outings with three or more goals over his six-season career (including the postseason) - the most by any player in Bruins history prior to their 24th birthday.

* After posting a 13-game run earlier this season (Oct. 8 – Nov. 5, 2019), Pastrnak extended his current stretch to 12 contests. The Havirov, Czech Republic native became the first Boston player to register multiple point streaks of 12 or more games in a single season since Phil Esposito (15 GP, 13 GP and 13 GP) and Bobby Orr (15 GP and 12 GP) in 1973-74.

STAMKOS POSTS MILESTONE NIGHT AS LIGHTNING EXTEND WIN STREAK
Nikita Kucherov (2-0—2) and Steven Stamkos (0-2—2) were two of four Tampa Bay skaters with a multi-point outing as the Lightning (26-13-4, 56 points) extended the League’s longest active win streak to nine games dating to Dec. 23. Their streak sits one contest shy of the Islanders (10-0-0 from Oct. 12 – Nov. 5, 2019) for the NHL’s longest such run of 2019-20.

* After establishing a franchise-record 10-game win streak in 2018-19 (Feb. 9-27, 2019), Tampa Bay recorded the 16th instance in NHL history of a team winning nine or more straight games in consecutive seasons. Columbus (16-0-0 in 2016-17 and 10-0-0 in 2017-18) was the last club to accomplish the feat.

* Stamkos (410-400—810 in 786 GP), who became the third player in Lightning history to collect at least 400 assists with the franchise, accomplished the feat after reaching the 400-goal milestone earlier this season (Nov. 16, 2019 vs. WPG), The Lightning captain is one of eight active NHL players to collect both 400 goals and 400 assists.

McDAVID LEADS OILERS RALLY WITH LEAGUE-LEADING 70TH POINT

With the Oilers trailing 2-0 in the second period, Connor McDavid assisted on one of four unanswered Edmonton goals to record his League-leading 70th point of the season (24-46—70 in 46 GP). The Oilers (24-17-5, 53 points), with their second multi-goal comeback win of the season, moved within one point of the Coyotes (25-17-4, 54 points) and Golden Knights (24-16-6, 54 points) for the Pacific Division lead.

* McDavid reached the 70-point mark in 46 games or fewer for the second time in as many seasons (also 46 GP in 2018-19) and became the first player since Jaromir Jagr (w/ PIT) in 1998-99 (46 GP) and 1999-00 (38 GP) to accomplish the feat in consecutive campaigns.

AROUND THE RINKS

* Anze Kopitar (328-600—928 in 1,049 GP) became just the second player in Kings history to record each of his first 600 NHL assists with the club, joining Dave Taylor (431-638—1,069 in 1,111 GP). The Los Angeles captain is also just the NHL’s eighth active player with 600-plus helpers.

* Ben Bishop stopped all 27 shots he faced to record his 33rd career regular-season shutout as the Stars (26-14-4, 56 points) earned their sixth straight win and moved two points ahead of the Avalanche (25-15-4, 54 points) for second in the Central Division. Dallas has allowed a League-low 105 goals (including shootout-deciding goals) - three fewer than the next closest club (NYI: 108)

* Four different players scored and Jordan Binnington turned aside 18 shots as the Western Conference-leading Blues (28-10-7, 63 points) extended their home win streak to seven games. Binnington, with wins in each of his last six games at Enterprise Center, became the first goaltender in Blues history to post three home win streaks of six games (also 7-0-0 from Jan. 10 – Feb. 26, 2019 and March 19 – April 6, 2019).

QUICK CLICKS

* NHL Black Hockey History Tour returns

* NHL, Molson Coors announce multi-year extension of partnership

* Rasmus Andersson signs six-year contract with Flames

* Canucks goalie meets 'Mini Markstrom' before practice

* Montreal Symphony Orchestra performs masterful rendition of 'O Canada'

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION

the information above was supplied by the NHL PR department