MATTHEWS OUTDUELS McDAVID ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
After Connor McDavid (0-2—2) helped Edmonton build a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes, Auston Matthews (1-1—2) scored 54 seconds into overtime to cap Toronto’s multi-goal, third-period comeback and retake sole possession of first place in the 2020-21 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race from the Oilers captain.

* Matthews scored his NHL-best eighth game-winning goal of the season and 31st of his career. The only player with more since Matthews entered the League in 2016-17 is McDavid (34).



* McDavid’s multi-point outing extended his point streak to 10 games (7-15—22) – his second double-digit run this season – and improved his League-leading totals to 21-41—62 (35 GP). He required the fewest games by an Oilers player to reach the 40-assist mark in a single season since Mark Messier in 1990-91 (34 GP).



* McDavid also became just the sixth active player to collect 40 assists in a season in 35 games or fewer. He joined Sidney Crosby (34 GP in 2006-07 & 35 GP in 2012-13), Mikko Rantanen (32 GP in 2018-19), Evgeni Malkin (32 GP in 2008-09), Blake Wheeler (35 GP in 2018-19) and Jason Spezza (35 GP in 2005-06).

CROSBY CONTINUES HIS SUCCESS AGAINST ISLANDERS
Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) recorded his third consecutive multi-point game and Bryan Rust (3-0—3) scored his fourth career hat trick as the Penguins (22-11-2, 46 points) moved within two points of the Capitals (22-7-4, 48 points) for first place in the MassMutual East Division.

* Crosby improved his career point totals against the Islanders to 39-82—121 in 74 regular-season games – his highest against any franchise. He eclipsed Hockey Hall of Fame member Mark Recchi for the third-most points versus the Islanders by one player in NHL history.



PACIORETTY SCORES ANOTHER OT GOAL AS VEGAS EDGES COLORADO
In a back-and-forth affair that saw Vegas erase 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, Max Pacioretty (1-1—2) scored his NHL-leading fourth overtime goal of the season as the Golden Knights (23-8-1, 47 points) edged the Avalanche (21-8-4, 46 points) in a battle between the top two clubs in the Honda West Division.



* The Golden Knights, whose eight comeback wins trail only the Blues (12) for the most in the division, rallied from a deficit to defeat the Avalanche for just the second time. They first did so on Dec. 27, 2018.

* Pacioretty’s 16 career overtime goals trail only Alex Ovechkin (24) and Sidney Crosby (18) for the most among active players.

MARLEAU TIES MESSIER ON ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED LIST
Sharks forward Patrick Marleau skated the 1,756th game of his NHL career and tied Mark Messier (1,756 GP) for second place on the League’s all-time list. Marleau now needs 12 to pass Gordie Howe (1,767 GP) for the most in NHL history.



HAMILTON EXTENDS POINT STREAK, HELPS HURRICANES EARN WIN
In a showdown between the top two teams in the Discover Central Division, Dougie Hamilton assisted on the game winner and Martin Necas (2-2—4) factored on all four Hurricanes goals as Carolina (23-7-3, 49 points) moved within one point of Tampa Bay (24-8-2, 50 points) for first place in the NHL’s overall standings.

* Hamilton extended his point streak to 14 games (2-14—16) and eclipsed Auston Matthews (16-8—24 in 13 GP) for the longest run by any player this season.



* Should Hamilton’s point streak stand as the longest by any player this season, 2020-21 would mark the eighth campaign in NHL history in which a defenseman recorded the season’s longest point streak (outright or tied).

* Since he entered the League in 2012-13, Hamilton has factored on 58 game-winning goals (21-37—58). Only three defensemen have factored on more over that span: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (29-53—82), Brent Burns (25-47—72) and John Carlson (22-41—63).

OTHER #NHLSTATS FROM SATURDAY

* Juuse Saros turned aside 29 shots as the Predators earned their fourth straight win, with three of those coming since captain Roman Josi returned to the lineup. Saturday’s contest marked the seventh straight decision in which Saros surrendered one goal or fewer.



* Carter Verhaeghe (3-1—4) scored his second career hat trick and collected a career-high four points as the Panthers improved to 21-9-4 (46 points) in 2020-21. Verhaeghe became the third player in franchise history to score a hat trick that included an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal. The others: Colton Sceviour (Oct 30, 2016 at DET) and Nathan Horton (Dec 14, 2009 at NYI).

* Boston erased two separate deficits and 23-year-old Dan Vladar made 25 saves to earn his second NHL win in as many appearances. Among goaltenders to debut with the Bruins, Vladar became the ninth to win each of his first two appearances with the franchise.

* Phil Kessel (385-502—887 in 1,101 GP) scored his seventh career hat trick and surpassed Joe Pavelski (384) for sole possession of 11th place on the NHL's all-time goals list among U.S.-born players. Arizona (16-14-5, 37 points) moved into a tie with St. Louis (16-13-5, 37 points), in terms of standings points, for fourth in the Honda West Division.

QUICK CLICKS

* Nick Schmaltz fined for actions in Coyotes game
* Flames win in Johnny Gaudreau’s 500th career game
* Cole Caufield signs contract with Canadiens after Wisconsin season ends
* Hurricanes do Storm Surge celebration for local frontline worker
* Kirby Dach makes season debut for Blackhawks returning from wrist injury

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION
Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are set to compete in the first of six games on Sunday’s slate, with a tripleheader on NBCSN set to follow later in the afternoon.

* Ovechkin’s scoring pace has benefited from the turn of the calendar month, tallying 9-2—11 through his past eight games after accumulating just 8-10—18 through his first 21 contests of the season. The Capitals captain now sits five goals shy of Auston Matthews for the lead in the NHL’s 2020-21 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.