JOSI, FORSBERG PROPEL PREDATORS IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR
Filip Forsberg (2-0—2) scored one of the contest’s five game-tying goals and Roman Josi (0-2—2) eclipsed the 50-point mark as the Predators (24-19-7, 55 points) outlasted the Devils in a back-and-forth, 11-goal affair.



* Forsberg, who leads the Predators with 18 goals this season, scored his 162nd and 163rd career tallies (all w/ NSH) to move within two of a franchise-best sixth 20-goal campaign. In the process, he tied Martin Erat (163-318—481 in 723 GP) for the third-most in Predators history, behind David Legwand (210-356—566 in 956 GP) and Shea Weber (166-277—443 in 763 GP).

* Conversely, Josi leads the team with 14-37—51 through 50 games in 2019-20 and joined Washington’s John Carlson (13-47—60) as the second defenseman to reach the 50-point mark this season. The Predators captain became the first blueliner, and third player, in franchise history, to record 50 points through their first 50 games of a season. The others: Steve Sullivan (20-35—55 in 50 GP) and Paul Kariya (16-37—53 in 50 GP) in 2006-07.

* Thursday night’s contest between the Predators and Devils was the fifth of 2019-20 to feature five or more game-tying goals and second to include New Jersey. The others: Oct. 5, 2019 (LAK at EDM), Oct. 30, 2019 (TBL at NJD), Nov. 10, 2019 (FLA at NYR) and Dec. 21, 2019 (ANA at NYI).

* Only three seasons in the last 25 years have featured more such contests in a single campaign: 2018-19 (6), 2010-11 (7) and 1995-96 (6).

IAFALLO COMPLETES FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK WITH OT GOAL
Alex Iafallo scored 24 seconds into overtime to complete his first career hat trick and help the Kings (19-28-5, 43 points) halt a five-game winless skid.



* Iafallo netted his second overtime goal of 2019-20, with the first also coming within the opening 25 seconds of the extra frame (0:23 on Nov. 14, 2019 vs. DET). He joined Seth Jones (Dec. 6, 2018 and Jan. 5, 2019) and Jeff Petry (Dec. 31, 2018 and Jan. 14, 2019) as just the third player in NHL history to score within the opening 25 seconds of an overtime period multiple times in a single season.

* Additionally, only two players in NHL history have found the back of the net within the opening 25 seconds of an overtime period more than twice in their career: Jaromir Jagr (Nov. 22, 1997, April 7, 2000 and Jan. 12, 2006) and Brent Burns (Nov. 29, 2016, Dec. 7, 2017 and March 30, 2019).

36-YEAR-OLD KOVALCHUK, 20-YEAR-OLD SUZKUKI LEAD CANADIENS COMEBACK
After Jack Eichel’s 30th goal gave the Sabres an early lead, 36-year-old Ilya Kovalchuk (1-0—1) and 20-year-old Nick Suzuki (0-2—2) propelled the Canadiens (23-22-7, 53 points) to their 10th comeback win of the season.



* Kovalchuk has collected 5-4—9 through his first 10 contests with Montreal since signing a one-year contract with the Canadiens on Jan. 3. Only three players in the last 30 years have scored more goals through their first 10 career games with the franchise: Alex Tanguay (6-5—11 from Oct. 10 – Nov. 1, 2008), Pierre Turgeon (10-7—17 from April 5-22, 1995) and Brian Bellows (6-1—7 from Oct. 6-24, 1992).

* Suzuki, who found the score sheet for the second time in as many games, boosted his season totals to 9-21—30 in 52 games and became the fifth rookie to reach the 30-point mark in 2019-20. Only two Canadiens rookies in the last 25 years have reached the benchmark in fewer games than the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft: Michael Ryder (43 GP in 2003-04) and Saku Koivu (49 GP in 1995-96).

* Montreal joined Nashville in collecting its 10th comeback win of 2019-20. The duo are among 21 teams to register 10-plus victories after overcoming a deficit of any kind this season.

EICHEL’S CAREER SEASON CONTINUES WITH 30TH GOAL. . .
Jack Eichel (30-34—64 in 50 GP) opened the scoring Thursday to register the first 30-goal campaign of his five-season career. Only four different players in franchise history have tallied 30 goals and 30 assists in season in fewer games than Eichel.



* The Sabres captain is on pace to finish 2019-20 with 49-55—104 in 81 contests – the highest single-season goal and point totals since Pat LaFontaine (53-95—148) and Alexander Mogliny (76-51—127) in 1992-93.

* Eichel is also one of nine players on pace to reach the 100-point mark in 2019-20 – the most in a single season since 1995-96, when Mario Lemieuxled the pack with 69-92—161 (70 GP).

. . . WHILE TEAMMATE DAHLIN PASSES ORR ON ELITE LIST
Rasmus Dahlin collected a primary assist on Jack Eichel’s goal to boost his career totals to 12-61—73 and overtake Bobby Orr for the fourth-most points by a teenage defenseman in NHL history.


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PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION



OVECHKIN’S PURSUIT OF GOAL NO. 700 CONTINUES
Alex Ovechkin, who has scored in each of his last four appearances, is set to continue his pursuit to become the eighth member of the 700-goal club when the Capitals travel to Ottawa to face off against the Senators.

* Among all nine players in NHL history to score at least 693 regular-season goals, Ovechkin’s power-play goals (258) and game-tying goals (124) are the most at the time of the player’s 693rd career tally. Meanwhile, 238 of his 693 regular-season markers have given the Capitals the lead, which trails only Brett Hull (247) for the most by any player at the time of goal No. 693.

* Should Ovechkin find the back of the net Friday, he would not only tie Mark Messier for eighth on the NHL’s all-time goals list, but he would be the third player 35 or older in as many seasons to score in five consecutive appearances – joining Justin Williams (5 GP from Jan. 6-13, 2019) and Daniel Sedin (Feb. 23 – March 2, 2018).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.