CANADIENS STAGE THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK ON HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA . . .
In the 750th contest between the two Original Six franchises, Tyler Toffoli (1-1—2) scored his 10th goal of the season and Brendan Gallagher (1-1—2) tallied the go-ahead goal with 3:07 remaining in regulation, as Montreal completed a third-period comeback to halt Toronto’s point streak at nine games (8-0-1). The Canadiens extended their season-opening road point streak to eight games (6-0-2) and improved their overall record to 9-4-2 (20 points).

* Toffoli (10-5—15 in 15 GP), who currently sits tied with Jeff Petry (6-9—15 in 15 GP) for the team lead in points, became the fourth player in the last 35 years to score 10 goals through his first 15 games as a member of the Canadiens.



* Saturday marked Montreal’s 34th third-period comeback win against Toronto – the third most by one franchise against a single opponent behind Boston’s 38 versus NY Rangers and Montreal’s 35 over Boston. The Canadiens also collected their 125th all-time comeback win against the Maple Leafs franchise – the most in NHL history by one franchise over another.

. . . WHILE CANUCKS, SENATORS ALSO WIN TIGHTLY-CONTESTED AFFAIRS
The Canucks and Senators each benefited from late goals in the third period to edge the Flames and Jets on Hockey Day in Canada:

* Tyler Myers scored a go-ahead goal with 5:11 remaining in the third period to help the Canucks end a six-game losing streak. Vancouver, which had its blueliners account for two of three goals Saturday, leads all teams in points by defensemen in 2020-21 (6-33—39).

* Brady Tkachuk deflected the game-winning goal past Connor Hellebuyck with nine seconds remaining in regulation (59:51) to help the Senators edge the Jets. Only four players in franchise history have scored a later game winner in regulation for the Senators: Nick Foligno (59:56, Oct. 27, 2011), Milan Michalek (59:55, Oct. 22, 2011), Mark Stone (59:53, Nov. 11, 2016) and Daniel Alfredsson (59:53, March 14, 2006).



LIGHTNING PUT UP SIX AGAINST PANTHERS, REACH 10 WINS
Tyler Johnson (2-0—2), Mathieu Joseph (1-1—2), Ondrej Palat (1-1—2) and Gemel Smith (0-2—2) all posted multiple points as the Lightning defeated the Panthers to earn a split in the first two contests of a three-game set between the state rivals.

* Tampa Bay’s offense put up six goals for the second time in three games (also 6-1 W at NSH on Feb. 9) and rank first in the NHL with an average of 3.85 goals per game. The Lightning led the NHL in goals per game in each of the last three seasons (3.47 G/GP in 2019-20, 3.89 G/GP in 2018-19 and 3.54 G/GP in 2017-18).

* With the win, the Lightning improved to 10-2-1 (21 points) and sit among the fastest defending Stanley Cup champions to earn 10 wins in the season following their triumph.



ISLANDERS SNAP BRUINS' STREAK IN LAMORIELLO’S 1,300TH WIN
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2-0—2) scored twice and Mathew Barzal (1-0—1) netted the game winner to record a point in his eighth straight game as the Islanders snapped the Bruins' point streak at 10 contests. New York extended its season-opening home point streak to five games (4-0-1) dating to Jan. 18.

* Lou Lamoriello earned his 1,300th career regular-season win and became just the third general manager in NHL history to reach the milestone, joining David Poile (1,421) and Glen Sather (1,319).



2016 NHL DRAFT CLASS LEAVES ITS MARK ON SATURDAY’S ACTION
Members of the 2016 NHL Draft class – Auston Matthews (No. 1 overall w/ TOR), Patrik Laine (No. 2 overall w/ WPG), Jordan Kyrou (35th overall w/ STL) and Alex DeBrincat (39th overall w/ CHI) – all left their mark on Saturday’s 10-game slate:

* Matthews assisted on Toronto’s only goal of the game to extend his official NHL point streak to nine games (9-3—12) – the longest active run in the NHL. He has also recorded a point in 12 consecutive appearances (he missed Jan. 22 vs. EDM) and sits six games shy of the longest such run in franchise history.



* Patrik Laine (4-1—5 in 6 GP) recorded his fourth goal and fifth point since debuting with the Blue Jackets on Feb. 2. Only three players have more goals over that span: DeBrincat, Matthews and Josh Anderson (all w/ 5).

* Kyrou (1-0—1) scored one of the game’s four game-tying goals, and second by St. Louis, as the Blues rallied to collect their fifth consecutive road win. His six goals in 2020-21 (6-8—14) are one back of the most by any player in the Honda West Division, behind Arizona’s Christian Dvorak, Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen and teammate Brayden Schenn (all w/ 7).

* Patrick Kane (0-2—2) assisted on DeBrincat’s overtime goal to extend his home point streak to eight games (5-12—17 in 8 GP) as the Blackhawks improved to 5-2-1 at United Center in 2020-21. DeBrincat (6-2—8 in 5 GP) has six goals in his past five games and joined Penguins captain Sidney Crosby as the NHL’s second player with multiple overtime goals in 2020-21.

QUICK CLICKS

* Statement from the NHL on the passing of Frank Orr
* Senators trade Cedric Paquette and Alex Galchenyuk to the Hurricanes for Ryan Dzingel
* Johan Larsson suspended two games for actions in Coyotes game
* Jonathan Marchessault whacks home backhand rebound from midair

CROSBY, OVECHKIN SET FOR THIRD MEETING OF 2020-21
A pair of contests are set to be broadcast nationally in the U.S. and Canada when Sidney Crosby and the Penguins (6-5-1, 13 points) host Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals (6-3-3, 15 points), while the Golden Knights (9-2-1, 19 points) welcome the Avalanche (7-3-1, 15 points).



* Pittsburgh, which has collected two of its six victories in 2020-21 against Washington, has rallied from a deficit to win each of its first six games this season. Should the Penguins do so again Sunday, they would become the fourth team in NHL history to erase a deficit in their first seven-plus victories of a season. The only clubs to do so: Buffalo (10 in 2013-14), Detroit (7 in 1988-89) and Vancouver (7 in 1980-81).

MAKAR EYES CAREER HIGH AGAINST GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Cale Makar has found the score sheet in each of his last five games (1-6—7 in 5 GP from Jan. 26 - Feb. 2) and can establish the longest point streak of his career when the Avalanche battle the Golden Knights.

* Makar is also within one of reaching 50 career NHL assists. Among defensemen to debut with the franchise, the 22-year-old (68 GP) is set to shatter the Avalanche/Nordiques record for fewest games to reach the milestone. The franchise’s previous mark was held by Quebec’s Jeff Brown (23-50—73 in 108 GP).

* Additionally, Makar can join an elite list of NHL defensemen to reach 50 career assists prior to their 70th contest. The only ones to do so: Larry Murphy (62 GP; 1980-81 w/ LAK), Mark Howe (65 GP; 1979-80 w/ HFD), Stefan Persson (66 GP; 1977-78 w/ NYI) and Brian Leetch (69 GP; 1987-89 w/ NYR).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.