GEORGIEV SECURES FRANCHISE FEAT WITH 44-SAVE SHUTOUT
Alexandar Georgiev made 44 saves for his seventh career shutout and his first of the season, while Chris Kreider and Frank Vatrano accounted for the game’s only goals as the Rangers (40-18-5, 85 points) leapfrogged the idle Penguins (38-16-9, 85 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The club is now just three points back from the division-leading Hurricanes (41-15-6, 88 points).

* Georgiev became the fourth different Rangers goaltender to record 40-plus saves in a shutout (since 1955-56 when shots on goal began being tracked) and the first since Henrik Lundqvist on Feb. 14, 2012.



* Vatrano scored his first goal in a Rangers uniform Sunday with his teammate Jacob Trouba (0-1—1) also finding the score sheet. Vatrano and Trouba played together on the U.S. National Team Development Program more than a decade ago (2010-11 & 2011-12) which led to Trouba unearthing pictures from high school via a retweet to welcome the newest Rangers player last Wednesday.

VETERANS HIGHLIGHT SUNDAY
NHL veterans Joe Pavelski (37 years, 252 days) and Alex Ovechkin (36 years, 184 days) each had notable performances Sunday when the pair faced off against one another for the 22nd time in their careers, with Pavelski improving to 15-5-2 in those contests (Ovechkin: 7-10-5).

* Pavelski (0-2—2) improved his season totals to a team-leading 23-39—62 (61 GP) to help the Stars (34-24-3, 71 points) move within one point of the idle Golden Knights (34-26-4, 72 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the tight Western Conference playoff race. Pavelski recorded his 30th career multi-point game since joining Dallas in 2019-20, which trails only Roope Hintz (32 GP) for the most by a Stars player over that span.

* Alex Ovechkin (40-36—76 in 62 GP) scored to secure his 12th career 40-goal season and tied Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history in the process. Ovechkin, who is on pace for 51 goals in 2021-22, became the the fourth player this season to reach the 40-goal mark as he joined Auston Matthews (46), Chris Kreider (41) and Leon Draisaitl (41).

CONNOR TALLIES FOUR POINTS ON #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Sunday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates saw Winnipeg’s leading scorer Kyle Connor (39-38—77 in 63 GP) record his first four-point game of the season as the Jets (29-24-10, 68 points) moved within four points of the idle Golden Knights (34-26-4, 72 points), who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell were traded by the Kraken to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a second-round pick in 2022, a second-round pick in 2023 and a third-round pick in 2024.

* Robert Hagg was traded by the Sabres to the Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

* Troy Stecher was traded by the Red Wings to the Kings in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

* Travis Dermott was traded by the Maple Leafs to the Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

* Travis Hamonic was traded by the Canucks to the Senators in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

* Nick Paul was traded by the Senators to the Lightning in exchange for Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

* Jeremy Lauzon was traded by the Kraken to the Predators in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

* Scott Wedgewood was traded by the Coyotes to the Stars in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

* Mason Appleton was traded by the Kraken to the Jets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

DID YOU KNOW?
Mark Giordano and Maple Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie skated 580 games together with the Flames from 2010-11 to 2019-20 (561 regular season, 19 playoffs). They both factored on 45 regular-season goals and two playoff tallies in that span.

* Giordano, who won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2018-19, became the fourth defenseman to win the award and later join the Maple Leafs. He follows Brian Leetch (1991-1992 & 1996-97), Pierre Pilote (1962-63, 1963-64 & 1964-65) and Red Kelly (1953-54).

* Giordano is the latest player to join Toronto after playing for a professional team based in Seattle. Another notable player to do so was Pat Quinn, who helped the Seattle Totems win the Lester Patrick Cup as WHL champions in 1966-67 before playing with the Maple Leafs from 1968-69 to 1969-70 – Quinn later served several seasons as Toronto’s head coach (1998-99–2005-06) and general manager (1999-00–2002-03).



GENDER EQUALITY MONTH: AVALANCHE SUPPORT OF GIRLS HOCKEY
Over the last five years, the Avalanche have placed an increased focus on providing access and driving awareness for the girls’ game. While the Avalanche supports the growth of girls’ hockey year-round with programs such as girls only ‘Learn to Play’ sessions, girls only ‘Try Hockey for Free’ sessions, and more, a platform that takes place every fall has become a pillar of the Avalanche brand: Girls Hockey Night. The goal of this platform is to proudly show support of girls’ hockey, provide visibility to the girls that play and are fans of the game, and lower barriers to entry for young women interested in joining the hockey community.



QUICK CLICKS

* Hampus Lindholm agrees to eight-year contract with Bruins one day after trade
* Aaron Ekblad out week to week for Panthers with lower-body injury
* Claude Giroux, Ben Chiarot trades send message Panthers 'all in' for Stanley Cup
* William Nylander endorses Auston Matthews for Hart Trophy in sit-down with NHL.com

NHL ENTERS FINAL 40 DAYS OF 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON
The NHL enters its final 40 days of the regular season with eight teams in action Monday, including three currently occupying a Wild Card spot in the League standings.

* The Bruins (38-19-5, 81 points) visit the Canadiens (17-36-9, 43 points) at Centre Bell in the 930th all-time meeting between the franchises (753 regular season, 177 playoffs). Boston occupies the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference and sits two points back of Toronto (39-18-5, 83 points), which holds the third seed in the Atlantic Division.

* The Predators (36-22-4, 76 points), who play the Ducks (27-26-11, 65 points) at Honda Center, occupy the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Nashville has the same amount of standings points as Minnesota (36-20-4, 76 points), which sits third in the Central Division by virtue of holding two games in hand.

* The Golden Knights (34-26-4, 72 points) go head-to-head with the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in the third and final game of their season series (VGK: 2-0-0; MIN: 0-2-0). Vegas, which occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, faces Winnipeg (29-24-10, 68 points) Tuesday and Nashville Thursday.

* The Oilers (35-23-4, 74 points) will look to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games when they take on the League-leading Avalanche (44-13-5, 93 points) at Ball Arena. Edmonton has jumped from ninth place in the Western Conference to third in the Pacific Division since its run began on March 9.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.