FLYERS EARN 10TH WIN OF THE MONTH, INCH CLOSER TO DIVISION LEAD

Jakub Voracek (0-4—4) factored on four of Philadelphia’s five goals as the Flyers (37-20-7, 81 points) snapped the Rangers' road win streak and improved to 23-5-4 at Wells Fargo Center this season. With the win and Pittsburgh’s loss Friday (37-20-6, 80 points), Philadelphia leapfrogged the former into second place in the Metropolitan Division standings.

* The Flyers, three points shy of the Capitals (39-19-6, 84 points) for the Metropolitan Division lead, set their sights on finishing atop the division for the first time since the NHL realigned ahead of the 2013-14 campaign. Additionally, Philadelphia aims to finish first in their respective cohort for the first time since it led the Atlantic Division in 2010-11 (47-23-12, 106 points).

* Philadelphia, set to square off with New York again Sunday, plays Washington and Pittsburgh once more this season: March 4 (at WSH) and March 29 (vs. PIT).

* The Flyers collected their second 10-win month of the season (also 10 in Nov.) and trail only the Rangers (11) for the most victories since Feb. 1. Additionally, the 2019-20 campaign marked the third in franchise history in which Philadelphia has produced multiple such months in a single season. The others: 2001-02 (Dec. and Jan.) and 1974-75 (Dec. and March).

FIALA CONCLUDES PRODUCTIVE MONTH AS WILD SCORE EARLY AND OFTEN
Kevin Fiala (1-1—2) recorded his 11th multi-point game of the season and third in as many games as the Wild (32-25-7, 71 points) scored at least five goals for the second time in as many days. Minnesota moved within one point of idle Nashville (32-23-8, 72 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* The Wild, who last occupied a playoff position through games played on Dec. 6, 2019, will host the Predators on March 3. Nashville holds one game in hand, while Minnesota has collected 28 regulation wins to the former’s 25.

* Coming off a 7-1 win against the Red Wings Thursday and a 5-4 victory against the Blue Jackets on Feb. 25, the Wild matched the franchise’s highest goal total over a three-game span (excluding shootout-deciding goals): also 17 from April 7-11, 2009.

* Twenty-three-year-old Fiala boosted his monthly totals to 10-9—19 in 14 games, trailing only New York’s Mika Zibanejad (11-9—20 in 15 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (8-12—20 in 13 GP) for most among all players since Feb. 1. In fact, only two players have collected more points in a single month for the franchise: Eric Staal (13-8—21 in Feb. 2018) and Brian Rolston (8-13—21 in Dec. 2005).

GOLDEN KNIGHTS EXTEND LEAGUE’S LONGEST ACTIVE WIN STREAK

Reilly Smith (2-0—2) scored two of four straight Vegas goals and Robin Lehner made 32 saves in his first appearance with the club as the Golden Knights (36-22-8, 80 points) extended the League’s longest active win streak to eight games.

* Vegas, which also matched the franchise’s lengthiest win streak, moved six points ahead of Vancouver (34-23-6, 74 points) and Edmonton (33-23-8, 74 points), who sit second and third in the Pacific Division standings.

* The Golden Knights trail only the Lightning (11-0-0 and 10-0-0) and Islanders (10-0-0) for the longest win streaks of the season and became the first team in NHL history to post multiple such runs of at least eight games through their first three seasons of existence. The Sabres (8-0-0 in 1972-73) and 1917 Senators (9-0-0 in 1919-20) are the only other clubs to register at least one.

AVALANCHE MATCH FRANCHISE MARK WITH SEVENTH STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
Colorado surrendered a 2-0 third-period lead, but Samuel Girard (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 2:37 remaining in regulation as the Avalanche (38-18-7, 83 points) won their seventh consecutive road game. They trail only the Blues (38-17-10, 86 points) in the Central Division and Western Conference lead.

* Colorado improved to 21-9-2 as the visitor this season and are tied with Washington (21-10-1) for most among all clubs in 2019-20. The Avalanche’s seven-game run is the second longest by any club this season and sits two contests behind the Rangers (9-0-0 from Jan. 16 – Feb. 28).

* The Avalanche (10-3-1, 21 points), who also trail the Rangers (11-4-0, 22 points) for the most standings points since Feb. 1, are set to play their next five out of six contests on the road. Should the club secure two points tonight in Nashville, Colorado can match the franchise mark for most wins in a calendar month (11-1-2 in 2006-07 and 11-1-4 in 2003-04).

QUICK CLICKS

* Ducks edge Penguins to capture second win in as many games
* Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association drop ceremonial puck in Philadelphia

* Hurricanes emergency backup goalie's stick added to Hockey Hall of Fame

* Blake Bolden honored by Haddish, L.A. city council at Black History Month event

* Make-A-Wish recipient leads Flyers out for warmups, takes solo rookie lap

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION

SATURDAY SET TO MARK NHL’S 20TH LEAP YEAR DAY

The 2019-20 NHL season will mark the 20th to feature games taking place on Feb. 29. Every fourth season since 1935-36 has featured at least one game on Feb. 29 except for 1951-52 and 1959-60.

* The first instance of games being contested on a leap year day occurred on Feb. 29, 1936; the Maroons earned a 4-2 win over the Canadiens at Montreal Forum, while the Maple Leafs skated to a 4-2 victory versus the Black Hawks at Maple Leaf Gardens.

DRAISAITL EYES 100TH POINT. . .
Leon Draisaitl (37-62—99 in 64 GP) owns a nine-point lead in the Art Ross Trophy race and can become the first player to reach the 100-point mark this season when the Oilers (33-23-8, 74 points) host the Jets (33-27-6, 72 points).

* Draisaitl (Cologne, Germany), who made history in 2018-19 as the first NHL player of German
nationality to reach the 100-point mark in a season (50-55—105 in 82 GP), can become the seventh skater to record multiple triple-digit campaigns with Edmonton – joining Wayne Gretzky (9x), Jari Kurri (6x), Mark Messier (5x), Glenn Anderson (3x), Paul Coffey (3x) and teammate Connor McDavid (3x).

* Draisaitl can become the first Oilers skater to reach the 100-point mark in 65 games or fewer since Messier in 1989-90 (34-66—100 in 62 GP) and the first on any team since Nikita Kucherov last season (30-70—100 in 62 GP).

. . . WHILE MATTHEWS CONTINUES CHASE FOR 50-GOAL SEASON
Auston Matthews (44-32—76) and the Maple Leafs (34-23-8, 76 points) return to Scotiabank Arena to face off against Tyler Toffoli and the Canucks (34-23-6, 74 points).

* Matthews, 22, has scored a career-high 44 goals this season (65 GP) and ranks second in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race behind 23-year-old David Pastrnak (46 G in 65 GP). Only four seasons in NHL history have ended with players age 23 or younger finishing with at least the two highest goal totals: 2009-10 (Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos), 2003-04 (Ilya Kovalchuk and Rick Nash), 1987-88 (Mario Lemieux, Craig Simpson and Jimmy Carson) and 1983-84 (Wayne Gretzky, Michel Goulet and Glenn Anderson).

* It has been 74 years since a Maple Leafs player has concluded a season leading the NHL in goals, last achieved by Gaye Stewart in 1945-46 (37-15—52 in 50 GP). Matthews is on pace to conclude the campaign with 56 goals, which would be a franchise record for most in a single season – Rick Vaive set the current mark with 54 in 1981-82 (77 GP).

* Meanwhile, Toffoli (Scarborough, Ont.) has found the score sheet in all four games since being acquired by the Canucks on Feb. 17 (4-2—6). He can become the first player to record at least one point in each of his first five or more games with the franchise – a feat last achieved by teammate Elias Pettersson.

* Toffoli has scored eight goals dating to his penultimate game with the Kings on Feb. 12 (8-2—10 in 6 GP), tied for the most among all players over that span with Pastrnak (8-4—12 in 8 GP) and Mikael Backlund (8-5—13 in 8 GP).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.