HINOSTROZA MATCHES CAREER HIGH, SABRES LEAVE “THE HAMMER” WITH WIN

Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 26,119 fans at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, VinnieHinostroza (2-1—3) factored on each of Buffalo’s first three goals to help the club claim its first outdoor win in its third appearance. After being held off the score sheet in his first two outdoor appearances (23:26 TOI, -3), Hinostroza came within one point of equaling the single-game outdoor record.

* The Sabres became the 21st different club to win an outdoor game and claimed consecutive victories against the Maple Leafs for the first time in nearly five years (last time: Feb. 11 and March 25, 2017).

* Hinostroza wasn’t the only Sabres player with multiple goals Sunday as Peyton Krebs became the third rookie to score twice in an NHL outdoor game. Prior to Krebs, the only rookies to score multiple goals outdoors were Auston Matthews and Anthony Mantha during the 2017 Centennial Classic in Toronto.

* More than half (18 of 35; 51%) of all outdoor games have featured a team securing a comeback to win, with Buffalo erasing both a 1-0 and 2-1 deficit.

* The first three goals of the game came during a 2:17 span and included the third-career outdoor goal for Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (2 GP) – his League-leading 45th of the season.

ANDERSON BECOMES OLDEST GOALTENDER TO WIN OUTDOORS

After claiming his 300th NHL win Thursday in Buffalo, 40-year-old Craig Anderson made 34 saves in the Heritage Classic to improve to 3-0-0 in his outdoor NHL career. Anderson followed MartinBrodeur as the second goaltender to play outdoors at age 40 or older – but became the oldest to win – and joined Henrik Lundqvist (4-0-0) as the second netminder to claim at least three outdoor victories.

CHOLACH DROPS CEREMONIAL PUCK AHEAD OF HERITAGE CLASSIC
Ukrainian hockey player and Barrie Colts defenseman Arthur Cholach joined Wayne Gretzky for the ceremonial puck drop before the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic. Nine kids, ages 6 to 18, representing hockey in Hamilton and the surrounding area also took part.

WOMEN ALSO WOW AT TIM HORTONS FIELD

* After superstar pop-punk songstress and TikTok heavy-hitter Willowstarted the pre-game festivities, GRAMMY and Juno Award-winning artist Alessia Cara took to the stage during the first intermission to bring the sold-out crowd to its feet.

* Members of the Team Canada Women’s Hockey Team, including Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner and Brianne Jenner, were on location at Tim Hortons Field with their gold medals to sign autographs for fans, power Lindsay Ell through the Canadian national anthem and be honored on-field during the second intermission.

FINAL SCORES FROM SUNDAY’S 10-GAME SLATE

SILLINGER SIZZLES FOR COLUMBUS WITH FIRST CAREER NHL HAT TRICK
Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger (18 years, 301 days) scored the first hat trick of his NHL career and became the second-youngest player in franchise history with three goals in a game, behind only Nikita Filatov (18 years, 230 days on Jan. 10, 2009). Sillinger, Filatov and current Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine account for five of the last six instances of an NHL player scoring a hat trick before age 19.

* Sillinger’s father, Mike, had one hat trick over the course of his 17-season NHL career. The elder Sillinger scored three goals for St. Louis in its 4-1 win against San Jose in Game 3 of the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals.

PREDATORS PREVAIL IN PIVOTAL MATCHUP AFTER WILD RETIRE KOIVU’S No. 9
Minnesota retired the No. 9 of former captain Mikko Koivu in a pre-game ceremony ahead of its pivotal contest against Nashville, with Koivu’s family and friends (including his brother, Saku) all in attendance at Xcel Energy Center. Mikko (206-505—711 in 1,035 GP) and Saku (255-577—832 in 1,124 GP), who served as Canadiens captain for 10 seasons, combined for 1,543 career points in the NHL.

* Filip Forsberg (2-1—3) and Roman Josi (2-2—4) had two goals apiece as the Predators (34-21-4, 72 points) matched the point total of the Wild (34-20-4, 72 points), who occupy third place in the Central Division by virtue of holding a game in hand. Nashville and Minnesota are set to meet two more times this season (April 5 & April 24).

* Forsberg (31-23—54 in 46 GP) reached 30 markers in a season for the third time in his NHL career and eclipsed Viktor Arvidsson (2x) for the most 30-goal campaigns in franchise history. Josi (17-49—66 in 57 GP) recorded his fourth four-point game of the season and moved past Colorado’s Cale Makar (21-44—65 in 56 GP) for sole possession of the League scoring lead among defensemen.

GIROUX GETTING 900TH POINT, CANADIENS’ COMEBACK FEATURED IN LIVE UPDATES
Sunday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates features several more notes from the 10-game slate, including Flyers captain Claude Giroux (291-609—900 in 999 GP) reaching the 900-point milestone before the Canadiens scored a game-tying shorthanded goal during the final minute of regulation for the second time in franchise history (since 1933-34 when goals by type were officially tracked).

QUICK CLICKS

* Wayne Gretzky, Artur Cholach share puck-drop ceremony at Heritage Classic
* Kyle Okposo keeps tradition alive, wears goggles to Sabres outdoor game
* NHL PreGame fest a hit with Heritage Classic fans
* Make-A-Wish recipient Jackson Lewis-Rodriguez gets surprise of a lifetime Saturday night

SCHMALTZ WILL LOOK TO RELIVE 7-POINT MAGIC IN REMATCH WITH SENATORS

After netting seven points against the Senators nine days ago, Nick Schmaltz will look for a follow up performance when the Coyotes play the fourth game of a five-game road trip Monday in Ottawa. Schmaltz (2-5—7 in 1 GP) can equal the franchise benchmark for most points against one opponent in a single season when facing the club fewer than three times - Alexei Zhamnov had 2-6—8 for the original Jets in two contests against the Quebec Nordiques in 1993-94.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.