EAMS JOSTLE FOR PLAYOFF POSITION AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK’S TRADE DEADLINE

With less than one week to the NHL Trade Deadline (March 21 at 3 p.m. ET) and only 46 days remaining in the 2021-22 regular season, the playoff race takes center stage during an 11-game Tuesday. The Western Conference Wild Card race includes a group of six teams separated by four points – all of whom are in action Tuesday (EDM, VGK, DAL, VAN, WPG & ANA) – while in the East, the Panthers (40-13-6, 86 points) could regain first place in the conference – a position they last held Feb. 24.

FOLIGNO IN LINE TO BECOME 10TH TO REACH 1,000 GAMES THIS SEASON

Nick Foligno is expected to skate in the 1,000th game of his NHL career Tuesday when Boston visits Chicago, a contest that could see the Bruins (36-18-5, 77 points) equal the Maple Leafs (37-17-5, 79 points) in points as the clubs jockey for position in the Atlantic Division standings.

* His father, Mike Foligno, played in 1,018 NHL games, making them the second father-son combination to each make 1,000 regular-season appearances (also Bobby and Brett Hull).

* Foligno would become the 13th player to reach the milestone in a Bruins sweater - and first since Patrice Bergeronon Feb. 5, 2019 – and the 10th NHL player to hit the mark this season, with four others able to do so in 2021-22 (Claude Giroux, Jonathan Toews, Andrew Ladd and Alex Goligoski).

* A total of 16 seasons in League history have seen 10 or more players skate in their 1,000th NHL game, including two of the past three campaigns (2018-19: 15, tied for the most ever; 2019-20: 11).

MILLER, CROSBY LOOK TO EXTEND NHL’S LONGEST ACTIVE POINT STREAKS

The longest active point streaks in the NHL are on the line when J.T. Miller (8-16—24 in 12 GP) and Sidney Crosby (6-6—12 in 9 GP) in marquee matchups: the Canucks host the Devils in another meeting between brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, while the Penguins return to the site of their 2017 Stanley Cup victory.

* Miller can become the seventh player in Canucks history to record a point streak of 13 or more games and first since Ryan Kesler extended his stretch to 13 games exactly 12 years ago (6-9—15 in 13 GP from Feb. 6 – March 14, 2010).

* Crosby has recorded a point streak of 10 or more games on nine occasions in his career, which trails only Mario Lemieux (14) for the most in franchise history.

IT’S OFFICIALLY TRADE SEASON: DEADLINE LESS THAN ONE WEEK AWAY

The League-leading Avalanche got the trade winds blowing when they acquired defenseman JoshManson from the Ducks for defenseman prospect Drew Helleson and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

* The latest #NHLStats Stats Pack includes information pertaining to deadline day deals dating back to the 1979-80 season.

GENDER EQUALITY MONTH: “WE ARE ALL KINGS”
The Kings Care Foundation’s signature inclusion platform is called “We Are All Kings,” a free hockey camp for boys and girls from several local youth hockey organizations. The platform represents the franchise’s commitment to creating a culture in which every individual feels welcome in the Kings family.

Through “We Are All Kings,” which launched in 2020, the Kings commit to investing resources to ensure every player and fan is embraced within the sport of hockey locally. This past spring and summer the Kings hosted free girls clinics and the first We Are All Kings Camp. The camp was designed for kids beginning at 5 years of age and was led by Blake Bolden, the club’s AHL Scout/Growth and Inclusion Specialist and the first Black professional women’s hockey player.

QUICK CLICKS

* 2021-22 NHL Trade Tracker

* Auston Matthews suspended two games for cross-checking

* Patrick Kane, Jacob Markstrom, Anders Lee named Stars of the Week

* Color of Hockey: Stars to host first Amerigol LATAM Spring Classic

* Claude Giroux pondering NHL Trade Deadline decision, future with Flyers

CROUSE SCORES FIRST NHL HAT TRICK AS COYOTES MARCH TO ANOTHER WIN

Lawson Crouse (3-0—3) scored each of Arizona’s first three goals to record his first career hat trick and help the Coyotes improve to 5-1-0 in March – matching the Panthers (5-0-1) and Flames (5-2-1) for the most wins among all clubs this month. Crouse capped his three-goal showing with a shorthanded marker, the first Coyotes skater to do so since Radim Vrbata on April 27, 2013.



* After his franchise record seven-point performance in the Coyotes’ last meeting against the Senators on March 5 (8-5 W), Nick Schmaltz tallied 1-1—2 on Monday to boost his March totals to 6-10—16 (6 GP) and surpass his former teammate Patrick Kane (3-12—15 in 6 GP) for the most points among all players this month.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.