NHL MORNING SKATE – FEB. 8, 2021

THREE HARD LAPS

* became the third Flyers player to score a hat trick through the team’s first 13 games of the season.

* Alex DeBrincat scored the overtime winner to cap another multi- performance as Chicago extended its point streak.

* Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello can continue climbing the NHL’s all-time lists when the Islanders visit the Rangers in another ‘Battle of New York’ showdown.

LAUGHTON’S HAT TRICK HELPS FLYERS SCORE TOUCHDOWN (PLUS EXTRA POINT) Scott Laughton accounted for three of Philadelphia’s seven goals on Super Bowl Sunday to record the first hat trick of his NHL career and help the Flyers improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Laughton scored the third hat trick by a Philadelphia player this season, following Travis Konecny (Jan. 15) and Joel Farabee (Jan. 31) – no other NHL team has more than one in 2020-21.

Photo via @NHLFlyers

WASHINGTON TEAMMATES OVECHKIN, CHARA CLIMB ALL-TIME LISTS Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (2-2—4) had a season-high four points, which included scoring his 779th and 780th NHL goals (regular season and playoffs). He surpassed Phil Esposito (778) for sole possession of the sixth-highest combined total in League history.

* Ovechkin (711-579—1,290 in 1,160 GP), who moved within 10 regular-season points of 1,300, now has 12-6—18 in 14 career games taking place on Super Bowl Sunday. His 12 goals and 18 points trail only Esposito (16-16—32 in 12 GP) for the highest such totals in League history.

* Teammate Zdeno Chara skated the 1,565th regular-season game of his NHL career and moved ahead of Nicklas Lidstrom (1,564) for sole possession of 13th place on the League’s all-time list (and fifth among defensemen).

MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM SUNDAY’S GAMES

* Alex DeBrincat capped a second straight two-goal outing with the overtime winner as the Blackhawks improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games on the heels of a 2-4-3 start to the season. DeBrincat scored multiple goals in consecutive games for the second time in his NHL career (also Oct. 11-13, 2018).

* Givani Smith (1-1—2) and Troy Stecher (0-2—2) each had two points and Thomas Greiss turned aside 36 of 37 shots as the Red Wings handed the Panthers their first regulation loss of the season. Smith recorded the first multi-point game of his NHL career, while Greiss earned his first win since a shutout in Game 7 of the 2020 Second Round (w/ NYI).

* Chandler Stephenson scored twice, including the game-winning goal at 1:38 of the third period, as the Golden Knights improved to 7-1-1 on the season including a 3-0-1 mark in their last four contests. Stephenson recorded the second multi-goal game of his NHL career (also Jan. 31, 2018 w/ WSH).

QUICK CLICKS

* Coach's Challenge clarification from Hurricanes-Blue Jackets game * NBCSN posts most-watched non-opening night game in almost two years (BOS-PHI, Feb. 3) * Radim Simek fined for actions in Sharks game against Ducks * Pierre-Luc Dubois practices with Jets for first time since trade, will debut Tuesday * Alex Ovechkin puts puck between legs for highlight-reel assist to Tom Wilson

‘BATTLE OF NEW YORK’ ON NBCSN, SN1 HIGHLIGHTS SIX-GAME SLATE A dozen teams are in action Monday, including a nationally-televised contest between the Islanders and Rangers in the third of eight ‘Battle of New York’ games slated for the 2020-21 regular season (7 p.m. ET on MSG+, NBCSN, MSG, SNE, SN1). The clubs contested dueling shutouts in their first two meetings (NYI 4, NYR 0 on Jan. 14; NYR 5, NYI 0 on Jan. 16).

* Barry Trotz needs one regular-season win for 850 as an NHL head coach, in which he would pass Ken Hitchcock (849) for sole possession of third place on the League’s all-time list. Lou Lamoriello is two regular-season victories shy of 1,300 as an NHL general manager – he would become the third in League history to reach the milestone, joining David Poile (1,420) and longtime Rangers executive Glen Sather (1,319).

McDAVID, DRAISAITL PUT SIMULTANEOUS NINE-GAME POINT STREAKS ON THE LINE League scoring leaders Connor McDavid (6-15—21 in 9 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (7-11—18 in 9 GP) look to extend their point streaks to double digits when the Oilers visit the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre (7 p.m. ET on RDS, SNW, TSN5). The pair have had simultaneous point streaks of 10-plus games on one prior occasion – in 2016-17, McDavid (7-18—25 in 14 GP) and Draisaitl (5-14—19 in 11 GP) had runs which overlapped for 11 contests.

MARNER, MATTHEWS, MAPLE LEAFS EYE CONTINUED SUCCESS OVER CANUCKS Mitchell Marner (1-5—6 in 2 GP) and Auston Matthews (4-0—4 in 2 GP), who have combined for 5-5—10 through the first two of ’s three straight games versus Vancouver, look to sustain their success when the clubs go head-to-head once more at Scotiabank Arena (7 p.m. ET on TVAS, SNO, SNP). The Maple Leafs are 9-0-0 in their last nine home games against the Canucks – Toronto can record a double-digit home win streak versus one opponent for the fifth time in franchise history.

* Matthews has scored at least one goal in each of his last seven games played (9-1—10) and carries an official six-game goal streak into Monday (7-1—8), tied for the longest of his NHL career (also Oct. 3-13, 2018). Only one active player has scored at least one goal in eight consecutive games played within a regular season: Matthews’ current teammate Jason Spezza with the Senators from Dec. 12, 2009 to Feb. 4, 2010 (9-1—10 in 8 GP).

* Marner (1-2—3 on Feb. 4 & 0-3—3 on Feb. 6) became the first Maple Leafs player to record consecutive three-point games with each contest taking place against the same opponent since 1992-93, when Doug Gilmour did so versus the Minnesota North Stars (0-6—6 on Feb. 13, 1993 & 1-2—3 on Feb. 14, 1993).

* Matthews (2 G on Feb. 4 & 2 G on Feb. 6) became the third Toronto player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to record back-to-back two-goal games under that same criteria, following Phil Kessel against the Rangers (2 G on April 8, 2013 & 2 G on April 10, 2013) and Mikhail Grabovski versus the Hurricanes (2 G on Nov. 2, 2008 & 2 G on Nov. 4, 2008).