WILD CARD HOPEFULS BENEFIT FROM STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
The Canucks (22-21-6, 50 points) and Jets (20-17-8, 48 points) received skillful outings from Thatcher Demko (51 saves) and Blake Wheeler (2-3—5), respectively, to gain two crucial points in the Western Conference Wild Card race. The idle Ducks (23-17-9, 55 points) currently hold the final position.

* Demko, who joined Elvis Merzlikins (56 saves on Jan. 26 w/ CBJ) as the second goaltender to post a 50-plus save performance this season, became just the second Canucks netminder to make at least 50 saves in regular-season game and win (also Richard Brodeur: 51 saves on Feb. 10, 1985).



* Demko is no stranger to big performances after he made a name for himself during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs – posting 42- and 48-save performances as a rookie to help Vancouver erase a 3-1 series deficit and force a Game 7 against Vegas.

* Wheeler posted his second career five-point game (also Nov. 9, 2018) and Kyle Connor (1-1—2) eclipsed the 300-point mark as Winnipeg overcame a multi-goal deficit to win for the third time this season. Seven teams have recorded more such victories in 2021-22: Columbus (5), Minnesota (5), Colorado (4), Edmonton (4), Florida (4), Pittsburgh (4) and Vegas (4).



LAINE SETS FRANCHISE MARK WITH LATE GO-AHEAD GOAL
Patrik Laine (1-1—2) factored on both of his team’s goals, scoring the game winner with eight seconds remaining in regulation, and extended his point streak to six games (7-5—12 in 6 GP) – his longest run with the Blue Jackets.

* Laine, with multiple points in five of his past six contests, is averaging a point-per-game this season (13-14—27 in 27 GP) – which leads all Columbus players – after missing 19 games from Nov. 3 to Dec. 30 due to injury.



QUICK CLICKS

* Saturday edition of the #NHLStats: Live Updates
* Save of the Season? Thomas Greiss comes up big with scorpion save
* Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl 'all-in on' embracing new Oilers coach's changes
* Wild trade goaltender Andrew Hammond to Canadiens

NHL PODCAST WEEKLY ROUNDUP

* The Chrip (2/7): Host Daren Millard joined by Paul Coffey and Gary Lawless
* NHL @TheRink (2/9): Dan Rosen and Shawn Roarke with NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika
* Fantasy on Ice (2/10): Fantasy reaction to some big news around the NHL

BLACK HOCKEY HISTORY HIGHLIGHT: SHANDOR ALPHONSO
NHL linesman Shandor Alphonso traded his suit and tie for stripes and a whistle. After playing three years of junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League, Alphonso pursued an on-ice career which landed him in an unexpected place: as an NHL linesman. His path began while working 9-5 as a financial advisor, where he would then leave for the rink for his "other" job, sometimes officiating three games in a night. Alphonso’s hard work paid off when he became the second-ever Black Official in the NHL in 2014.



PLENTY OF AFTERNOON HOCKEY BEFORE SUPER BOWL LVI
Sunday will see four matinee games on the NHL schedule prior to kickoff of Super Bowl LVI. Ottawa visits Washington in a contest between Canadian and U.S. national capitals, while Montreal hosts Buffalo at Bell Centre.



* The Canadiens, Capitals and Sabres all rank among the top five in NHL history for wins on Super Bowl Sunday. A team has recorded a “touchdown” (7+ goals) on Super Bowl Sunday 16 times, but only four have done so over the past 30 years. The Flyers were the most recent to do so in 2021 (7-4 W vs. WSH). The Islanders (8-1 W vs. EDM on Feb. 7, 2016) have also done so, as well as the Capitals, who account for the two other instances over that span (7-4 W vs. OTT on Feb. 1, 2009 and 7-2 W vs. NYR on Jan. 26, 2003).



* Alex Ovechkin has had a history of big games on Super Bowl Sunday and ranks second all-time in goals and points (tied) in games that take place on the same day as the NFL championship. Ovechkin has recorded a point in eight of his 14 all-time appearances on Super Bowl Sunday, including four instances of three or more points. In 2021, he factored on all four Washington goals in a 7-4 loss to Philadelphia.

* Capitals teammate Nicklas Backstrom, meanwhile, has recorded 12 assists in 13 games on Super Bowl Sunday – only Phil Esposito (16 in 12 GP) and Johnny Bucyk (13 in 9 GP) have more.



* Super Bowl LVI will see the Cincinnati Bengals face the Los Angeles Rams. The Kings have never faced an Ohio-based team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but do own all-time winning records in the regular season against both the Blue Jackets (34-21-6 in 61 GP) and Barons (5-2-3 in 10 GP).

* ICYMI: The Blue Jackets arrived to Bell Centre prior to their game against the Canadiens on Saturday dressed in Bengals gear to support Cincinnati’s bid for the franchise’s first Super Bowl title (Photos: @BlueJacketsNHL).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.