NHL SET FOR FIRST 14-GAME SLATE IN NEARLY A YEAR
Two days after 13 games overlapped for approximately 24 minutes on Tuesday, the NHL is scheduled to contest 14 games in one day for the first time since Feb. 1, 2020. The 14-game slate includes 11 matchups between teams that faced each other in their most recent contest – 10 rematches from games contested on Tuesday and the Canucks hosting the Senators for the second consecutive day.



TOP PRODUCERS, STREAKING CANADIENS HIGHLIGHT SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION
Three of Thursday’s 14 games will be contested in the high-scoring Scotia North Division, which is averaging 6.80 goals per game – the highest total of any of the four divisions. Nine of the 13 players atop the scoring race are playing on Canadian teams, including Connor McDavid (5-7—12 in 8 GP) and Mitch Marner (5-7—12 in 8 GP), who are tied for the NHL scoring lead and will go head-to-head for the 11th time in their career.



* The Oilers will host the Maple Leafs in their first of consecutive games in Edmonton (also Saturday) after the teams split a pair of contests in Toronto earlier this season. Both Edmonton and Toronto continue to see strong production from their duo of star players – but are particularly successful when they both score in the same game. The Maple Leafs own a 26-2-2 record when both Marner and Auston Matthews score in the same game – most recently in Tuesday’s 4-3 W vs. CGY. The Oilers hold a 30-13-4 mark when both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl tally in the same contest.

* The Canadiens, who went 4-0-2 on a six-game road trip to start the season, return home to host the Flames on Thursday at Bell Centre. Montreal has earned at least one point in each of its first seven games in a campaign on nine occasions in franchise history, with the last two instances coming in consecutive seasons in 2015-16 (9-0-0) and 2016-17 (9-0-1).

* The Flames-Canadiens game will feature a trio of players who have recorded a point in all of their team’s contests so far this season. Nick Suzuki (2-4—6 in 6 GP) can become the first Canadiens player to post a season-opening point streak of at least seven games since Andrei Markov in 2008-09 (0-10—10 in 7 GP), while the duo of Johnny Gaudreau (4-3—7 in 5 GP) and Sean Monahan (2-5—7 in 5 GP) can become the first Flames with a season-opening point streak of six or more games since Jiri Hudler in 2013-14 (4-8—12 in 9 GP).



STARS, PANTHERS LOOK TO IMPROVE TO 4-0-0
The Stars (3-0-0) and Panthers (3-0-0), the only two teams remaining without a loss of any kind, look to push their season-opening win streaks to four games when they face the Red Wings and Blue Jackets, respectively. The Stars look to open the season with four or more consecutive wins for the fourth time in franchise history (4-0-0 in 2010-11; 5-0-0 in 2006-07 and 6-0-0 in 1996-97). The Panthers, meanwhile, have never started a season with four straight wins.



HUGHES, MAKAR IN ANOTHER SCORING RACE AFTER CANUCKS WIN
J.T. Miller (2-1—3) and Quinn Hughes (0-2—2) were among five Canucks with multi-point outings while Thatcher Demko made 42 saves as the Canucks earned a win in their second straight game against the Senators.

* Hughes, who scored in Vancouver’s 7-1 win against Ottawa on Monday, boosted his 2020-21 totals to 1-8—9 (9 GP) to overtake Colorado’s Cale Makar (0-8—8 in 7 GP) for the League lead in points among defensemen. It is a continuation of their 2019-20 campaigns, when the two blueliners battled for the rookie points lead, finishing first and second to mark the first time in the NHL’s modern era (since 1944-43) that defensemen held those ranks at season’s end. Hughes (8-45—53 in 68 GP) edged Makar (12-38—50 in 57 GP) in points, while Makar was awarded the Calder Trophy.

* The Canucks have received more production from their blueline than any other team so far in 2020-21, with 4-20—24 through nine games, while the Avalanche trail at a close second with 4-18—22 through seven contests.

* J.T. Miller, who scored his first two goals of the season, recorded his 22nd multi-point game through 75 regular-season contests in a Canucks uniform. Through 75 games with Vancouver, Alexander Mogilny is the only player to register more multi-point outings (29).



DUCHENE PROPELS PREDATORS PAST BLACKHAWKS IN 800TH GAME
Matt Duchene (0-1—1) registered an assist and scored the shootout-deciding goal while skating in his 800th career regular-season game to help the Predators sweep their back-to-back set against the Blackhawks, with both requiring extra time (also 3-2 OT W on Jan. 26). Only two other players from the 2009 NHL Draft class have skated in more contests: John Tavares (822 GP) and Ryan O’Reilly (811 GP).

QUICK CLICKS

* Jim Rutherford resigns as Penguins GM
* Canadiens will be inspired by city at home opener Thursday
* NHL Buzz: Roslovic to make Blue Jackets debut Thursday
* Zdeno Chara focused on Capitals, not facing Bruins on Saturday

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.