NHL RETURNS TO ESPN STARTING IN 2021-22
The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the National Hockey League announced a seven-year television, streaming and media rights deal, taking the new partnership from the beginning of the 2021-22 season through the 2027-28 campaign.

* Click here for full details on the new partnership.



DRAISAITL JOINS RARE COMPANY WITH ANOTHER FIVE-POINT OUTING
Leon Draisaitl (3-2—5) scored his third regular-season hat trick and fourth career outing with five or more points as the Oilers improved to 6-0-0 against the Senators this season, their longest active win streak against an opponent.

* Draisaitl, who became the fourth different Oilers player to record six assists in a game after posting 0-6—6 against the Senators on Jan. 31, matched the NHL’s single-season mark for most outings with five-plus points against one opponent. Only six other players in the last 30 years also achieved the feat.



* Only two players in NHL history have recorded more performances of at least five points against an opponent in a single campaign (regular season and playoffs combined): Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky (4 GP vs. LAK in 1986-87) and Boston’s Phil Esposito (3 GP vs. TOR in 1968-69).

* Draisaitl has 6-9—15 in six games against the Senators in 2020-21 and now sits two points shy of the most by an active player against one opponent in a single season.



KAHKONEN FENDS OFF COGHLAN’S FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK TO EXTEND STREAK
Kaapo Kahkonen (24 saves) extended his win streak to eight games and fellow rookie Kirill Kaprizov (1-0—1) recorded his 20th point of the season to help the Wild improve to 8-2-2 in 12 all-time regular-season games against the Golden Knights. Minnesota’s eight such victories against Vegas since 2017-18 are tied with Los Angeles (8-6-1) for the most among all clubs.

* Kahkonen has now beaten Fleury, who sits fifth on the League’s all-time wins list, twice in a span of three days and improved to 8-0-0 in his last eight outings (1.62 GAA, .940 SV% and 1 SO).



* After capturing the AHL’s Baz Bastien Memorial Award in 2019-20 as the League’s best goaltender, Kahkonen (11-4-0) now sits one win shy of matching the Wild franchise record for most by a rookie in a single season (Darcy Kuemper: 12 in 2013-14).

* Kaprizov’s goal boosted his 2020-21 totals to 7-13—20 in 24 contests and required the fewest games by a rookie to collect 20 career regular-season points with the franchise. Additionally, a Wild player is the first rookie to reach the 20-point mark in a season for the first time in their history.

* Golden Knights blueliner Dylan Coghlan completed his first career hat trick with 2:10 remaining in regulation and nearly helped Vegas erase a 4-1 deficit in the third period. In the process, he became just the third defenseman in NHL history to score each of his first three career goals in same game. The others: Uli Hiemer (Oct. 31, 1984 w/ NJD) and Joe Hall (Jan. 21, 1918 w/ MTL).

* Playing in his 12th career game (all w/ VGK), Coghlan also became the 11th player in the past 30 years – and second in 2020-21 – to accomplish the feat.



CANADIENS BENEFIT FROM ANOTHER OFFENSIVE OUTBURST VS. CANUCKS
The Canadiens scored at least five goals against the Canucks for the sixth time in 2020-21 and extended their point streak over Vancouver to 16 games dating to Nov.16, 2015 (13-0-3), including a 5-0-2 mark this season.

* Montreal’s six outings with at least five goals are the most against one opponent in a single season since 1992-93, when four teams accomplished the feat: Vancouver (6 GP vs. SJS & LAK), Quebec (6 GP vs. OTT), Montreal (6 GP vs. HFD) and Calgary (6 GP vs. SJS).

* Additionally, the Canadiens’ 34 goals against the Canucks in 2020-21 are the most by any team versus one opponent in a single season since Boston in 2011-12 (36 GF vs. TOR, 6 GP).



GROSENICK EARNS FIRST NHL WIN IN OVER SIX YEARS
In his first NHL appearance since Nov. 18, 2014 (w/ SJS), Troy Grosenick made 33 saves to earn the win in his Kings debut and help Los Angeles defeat Anaheim. Grosenick recorded just his second NHL win and first since Nov. 16, 2014 (2-0 W at CAR). The six years and 112 days between regular-season wins was the seventh-longest such gap by a goaltender in NHL history.



QUICK LINKS

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* Justin Bieber's latest music video 'love letter' to Maple Leafs
* Jonathan Toews, Dominik Hasek among well-wishers for Patrick Kane's 1,000th game

ISLANDERS, HURRICANES PUT WIN STREAKS ON THE LINE
The Islanders (16-6-4, 36 points) and Hurricanes (18-6-1, 37 points) will each put their six-game win streaks on the line tonight when they face the Devils and Predators, respectively. No team has recorded a win streak of seven contests this season.



* The Islanders also enter tonight’s contest having won five consecutive games on home ice, one shy of the longest home winning streak by any team this season (TBL: 6 GP from Jan. 13 – Feb. 5).

* Dougie Hamilton has been among the Hurricanes’ top producers during their current stretch and enters tonight’s contest on a six-game assist streak (0-7—7 in 6 GP), which stands as the League’s longest active run. He can become the first Hurricanes/Whalers defenseman to record an assist streak of seven games or longer since Zarley Zalapski (7 GP in 1992-93).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.