U.S.-BORN PLAYERS KREIDER, GAUDREAU REACH NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
Rangers forward Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) scored his 50th goal of the season Tuesday, while Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) got two assists to eclipse the 100-point mark:

* Kreider (50-21—71 in 74 GP) became the fourth player in franchise history to score 50 goals in a season with New York as the Rangers fell to the Hurricanes in a battle between the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division. He became the second U.S.-born player to reach the 50-goal mark this season, joining Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (58-41—99 in 68 GP).

* Kreider, who recorded his first career 50-goal NHL season at age 30, became the eighth player in the past 30 years to reach the mark without having 30 or more in a previous campaign. He joined Teemu Selanne (1992-93 w/ WIN), John LeClair (1995-96 w/ PHI), Paul Kariya (1995-96 w/ ANA), Alex Ovechkin (2005-06 w/ WSH), Jonathan Cheechoo (2005-06 w/ SJS), Steven Stamkos (2009-10 w/ TBL) and Leon Draisaitl (2018-19 w/ EDM).

* Gaudreau (34-67—101 in 73 GP) assisted on two of Matthew Tkachuk’s three goals to record a triple-digit point total in a season for the first time in his NHL career, doing so with his parents in attendance at Scotiabank Saddledome. He became the ninth different player in Flames franchise history to hit the century mark and required the third-fewest games among that cohort to achieve the feat, behind only Calgary’s Kent Nilsson (64 GP in 1980-81) and Atlanta’s Bob MacMillan (68 GP in 1978-79).

* Gaudreau became the 11th different U.S.-born player in NHL history to record 100-plus points in a single campaign and just the second in the last 25 years, following Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane who did so twice in that span (110 in 2018-19 & 106 in 2015-16). Gaudreau (104th overall in 2011) also became the first skater taken in the fourth round of an NHL Draft or later to reach the mark in a season since sixth-rounder Daniel Alfredsson posted 43-60—103 with Ottawa in 2005-06.

FLORIDA, ST. LOUIS EXTEND LENGTHY WINNING STREAKS
The Eastern Conference-leading Panthers (52-15-6, 110 points) improved to 8-0-0 in their last eight games and moved into a tie with the idle Avalanche (52-14-6, 110 points) for the most points in the NHL standings, while the Blues (43-20-10, 96 points) extended their winning streak to a season-high six contests:

* Anthony Duclair (30-24—54 in 65 GP) tallied twice to reach the 30-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career and Jonathan Huberdeau netted Florida’s 11th overtime goal of the season as the Panthers rallied past the Ducks for another home victory and comeback win. Huberdeau (9-12—21 in 12 GP) extended his career-high point streak to 12 games, which marks the longest active run in the NHL.

* Vladimir Tarasenko (2-0—2) recorded his 37th career multi-goal game to surpass Brendan Shanahan (36) for sole possession of the fifth most in franchise history, while birthday boy Torey Krug (1-1—2) scored in his return to TD Garden after playing his first nine NHL seasons with the Bruins and departing as the club’s fifth-highest scoring blueliner. Tarasenko and Krug helped St. Louis keep pace with Minnesota (45-21-6, 96 points), which sits second in the Central Division and also earned a win Tuesday.

TRIO OF TEAMS IN WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD RACE PICK UP VICTORIES

* Juuse Saros turned aside all 25 shots he faced to record his NHL-leading 36th win of the season as the Predators (42-26-5, 89 points) maintained their hold on the Western Conference’s first Wild Card position with an overtime win against the Sharks. The only goaltender in franchise history who posted more victories in a single season was Pekka Rinne (3x: 43 in 2011-12, 42 in 2017-18 & 41 in 2014-15).

* Roope Hintz scored the game-winning goal with 4:50 remaining in regulation and new Stars goaltender Scott Wedgewood (25 saves) recorded his first shutout with the team as Dallas blanked the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and prevented Tampa Bay from clinching a postseason berth. The Stars (42-27-4, 88 points), who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, kept pace with the Predators.

* Quinn Hughes (1-1—2) scored the overtime winner after the Golden Knights rallied from a two-goal third-period deficit as the Canucks (36-28-10, 82 points) remained six points back of the Stars. Hughes (6-49—55 in 68 GP) is now one assist away from becoming the fourth defenseman in franchise history to reach 50 in a campaign – he would join David Kearns (55 in 1976-77), Doug Lidster (51 in 1986-87) and Paul Reinhart (50 in 1988-89).

NHL DEBUTS, CAPITALS’ NINE GOALS FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES

The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured the first- and second-overall picks from the 2021 NHL Draft, Owen Power and Matty Beniers, making their League debuts with the Sabres and Kraken, respectively, as well as the Capitals erupting for nine goals in a game for the first time since March 3, 2008 (10-2 W vs. BOS).

* Tuesday marked the 13th instance of the top two picks in an NHL Draft making their League debut on the same day and the first such occurrence outside the month of October.

QUICK CLICKS

* Wednesday’s Seattle at Winnipeg game postponed

* Owen Power’s family attends his NHL debut in Toronto

* Frederik Andersen flashes stick-handling skills on way to Hurricanes bench

* Brandon Tanev answers hard-hitting questions from school kids

* CHEL Intel – April 12, 2022

WEDNESDAY’S THREE-GAME SLATE BOOKENDED BY NHL ON TNT CONTESTS

Wednesday’s schedule features a pair of NHL on TNT games, with the Rangers (47-21-6, 100 points) facing the Flyers (23-39-11, 57 points) at Wells Fargo Center and the League-leading Avalanche (52-14-6, 110 points) hosting the Kings (39-26-10, 88 points) at Ball Arena. Colorado can establish a franchise record for most wins in a season, eclipsing the previous high of 52 from 2000-01 and 2013-14.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.