NHL MORNING SKATE – FEB. 13, 2019

TUESDAY’S RESULTS Home Team in Caps 6, Chicago 3 BUFFALO 3, NY Islanders 1 Dallas 3, FLORIDA 0 COLUMBUS 3, Washington 0 Carolina 4, OTTAWA 1 TAMPA BAY 6, Calgary 3 ST. LOUIS 8, New Jersey 3 Detroit 3, NASHVILLE 2 Philadelphia 5, MINNESOTA 4 WINNIPEG 4, NY Rangers 3 5, COLORADO 2 Arizona 5, VEGAS 2

TARASENKO, BINNINGTON EXTEND STREAKS AS SURGING BLUES SCORE EIGHT assisted on two of the Blues’ season-high eight goals as St. Louis extended its win streak to seven games, the longest active run in the NHL. The surging Blues improved to 28-22-5 (61 points) this season and occupy the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference standings.

* Tarasenko has collected at least one in each of St. Louis’ last nine games (7-7—14). He established a career high for longest point streak, eclipsing his previous mark of eight games set from Dec. 12-26, 2015 (6-6—12) and equaled from March 25 – April 9, 2016 (6-5—11).

* Jordan Binnington (20 saves) improved to 10-1-1 since making the first start of his NHL career on Jan. 7 (1.66 GAA, .934 SV%, 2 SO), including wins in each of his last six appearances. He became the second different rookie in franchise history to record a personal win streak of at least six games; he joined Brent Johnson, who went 7-0-0 from Oct. 6 – Nov. 18, 2000 and again from Nov. 29, 2000 – Jan. 1, 2001.

* St. Louis improved to 10-0-0 in its last 10 games against New Jersey dating to Jan. 28, 2014 (NJD: 0-9-1). The Blues’ longest regular-season win streak versus one opponent is 12 games, a mark set against the Canucks from Jan. 23, 1997 – Feb. 3, 2000 and Coyotes from Jan. 14, 2014 – Nov. 9, 2017.

DID YOU KNOW? Jordan Binnington is two games shy of matching the longest win streak by a rookie goaltender this season, a mark set by Flyers netminder Carter Hart from Jan. 14 – Feb. 9 (8-0-0).

* The 2018-19 campaign would mark just the fifth season in NHL history to feature multiple rookie each with win streaks of seven or more games. The only such campaigns: 1950-51 (Al Rollins and ), 1964-65 (Denis DeJordy and Roger Crozier), 1982-83 (Bob Froese and Pelle Lindbergh) and 2009-10 (Jimmy Howard and ).

MARCHAND, RASK HELP BRUINS SNAP BLACKHAWKS’ SEVEN-GAME RUN Brad Marchand (1-3—4) matched a season high with four points (also 0-4—4 on Oct. 4, 2018 at BUF) and Tuukka Rask made 23 saves as the Bruins snapped the Blackhawks’ win streak at seven games. Boston, which extended his point streak to eight games (5-0-3), improved to 32- 17-8 (72 points) overall this season and occupies third place in the Atlantic Division standings.

* Marchand (3-9—12 in 5 GP) became the second Bruins player to collect multiple points in five or more consecutive team games this season, joining from Oct. 4-17, 2018 (6-7—13 in 5 GP). The 2018-19 season is the first to feature at least two Bruins players each with multiple points in five or more consecutive games since 1992-93, when (3x), and Joe Juneau combined for the feat.

* Rask, meanwhile, improved to 10-0-2 in his last 13 appearances dating to Dec. 29, 2018 (1.93 GAA, .934 SV%, 2 SO), including four consecutive wins. He has earned at least one point in 12 or more consecutive decisions on one prior occasion, doing so last season from Nov. 29, 2017 – Feb. 6, 2018 (19-0-2).

* Bruce Cassidy earned his 100th regular-season win since officially beginning his tenure as of the Bruins on Feb. 7, 2017 (100-45-21). He required the second-fewest games among Bruins head coaches to record his first 100 wins with the franchise (166 GP); he trailed only Tom Johnson, who earned win No. 100 in his 138th game with Boston on Feb. 20, 1972 (3-1 W at CHI).

KUCHEROV AND POINT LEAD LIGHTNING PAST FLAMES (1-3—4) and (1-2—3) combined for 2-5—7 to lead the League-leading Lightning (42-11-4, 88 points) past the Flames (34-16-6, 74 points), who occupied third place in the NHL standings entering Tuesday. Tampa Bay extended its point streak to seven games (5-0-2), including three consecutive wins.

* Kucherov (25-63—88 in 57 GP) recorded his League-leading fifth game with at least four points this season to open a six-point lead in the Art Ross Trophy race. He can become the second player in franchise history to win the Art Ross Trophy; he would join Martin St. Louis, who did so in 2003-04 (38-56—94 in 82 GP) and again in 2012-13 (17-43—60 in 48 GP).

* Point (33-39—72 in 56 GP) scored his League-leading 16th power-play of the season and eclipsed the 70-point mark for the first time in his NHL career. He can become the third player in franchise history to conclude a season leading the League in power-play goals; he would join in 2009-10 (24 PPG) and Kucherov in 2016-17 (17 PPG).

* The Lightning featured multiple 70-point getters within their first 57 games of a season for the second time in franchise history and first since 2006-07, when St. Louis and combined for the feat.

YOUTH CONTINUING TO SCORE AT SIGNIFICANT PACE . . . Brayden Point (22 years old) became the seventh player to reach the 70-point mark this season and sixth age 25 or younger. The last season to feature six or more 70-point getters age 25 or younger through games played Feb. 12 was 1992-93, when 11 players had reached the plateau (Alexander Mogilny, Mark Recchi, , Pavel Bure, Teemu Selanne, Craig Janney, , Vincent Damphousse, Stephan Lebeau, Joe Juneau and Mats Sundin).

* Jets forward Mark Scheifele (25 years old) scored twice to boost his season totals to 30-38— 68 in 57 GP and become the 12th player to reach the 30-goal mark this season; fifth aged 25 or younger. The last campaign to feature five or more 30-goal scorers age 25 or younger at this stage of the season was 2005-06, when seven players had reached the plateau (Simon Gagne, , Eric Staal, Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Cheechoo, and Marek Svatos).

. . . WHILE 35-YEAR-OLD GIORDANO REACHES 55-POINT MARK Flames scored to become the third defenseman to reach the 55-point mark this season (12-43—55 in 53 GP). He became the 10th different blueliner in NHL history age 35 or older to record at least 55 points in a season and first since Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom in 2010-11, who accomplished the feat at age 40 (16-46—62 in 82 GP).

* Giordano is one point shy of matching his single-season career high, a mark set in 2015-16 (21-35—56 in 82 GP). Only 36 players in League history have set a career high in points at age 35 or older – that includes only 12 who have done so by recording at least 50 points in season, with four such instances since 1975-76: Brian Rafalski in 2008-09, Lidstrom in 2005-06, Mathieu Schneider in 2005-06 and Vaclav Nedomansky in 1979-80.

KANE EXTENDS POINT, ASSIST STREAKS Blackhawks forward (0-1—1) extended his point streak to 15 games (11-21—32), the longest active run in the NHL. He also matched the franchise record for longest assist streak (10-21—31 in 14 GP), a mark set by Stan Mikita from Nov. 26 – Dec. 25, 1967 (9-18—27 in 14 GP).

QUICK CLICKS

* Black History Month Spotlight: Dirk Graham becomes the first black captain in the NHL * Ducks spend off day at Disneyland, meet fans, go on rides * suspended one game for high sticking in Flyers game * Maple Leafs score three power-play goals in a span of 109 seconds

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

CROSBY AND McDAVID SET TO FACEOFF IN PITTSBURGH Wednesday is expected to be the sixth all-time meeting between Penguins captain and Oilers captain Connor McDavid, with Pittsburgh holding a 5-0-0 edge in the previous five contests (EDM: 0-2-3). McDavid has 3-6—9 in those games compared to 2-1—3 for Crosby.

* McDavid is on pace to finish second in League scoring (on pace for 46-75—122) – one point back of Nikita Kucherov (on pace for 36-91—127) – while Crosby also is on track to finish among a projected group of 22 players with at least 90 points (on pace for 36-61—97).

* Only four different players have recorded at least 120 points in a season since McDavid was born (for a total of six instances since 1996-97). Crosby was the last to do so, posting a career- high 36-84—120 during his second NHL season in 2006-07 (79 GP).

* The 2006-07 campaign was one of five times that Crosby has recorded at least 90 points in a season, finishing with three-figure point totals each time. His last such season came in 2013-14 when he totaled 36-68—104 (80 GP).

* McDavid, meanwhile, is nine points shy of becoming the seventh player in NHL history to record at least three consecutive 90-point seasons before age 23. The only players to do so: (4x), Dale Hawerchuk (4x), (4x), Joe Sakic (3x), Alex Ovechkin (3x) and Steven Stamkos (3x). ^Age based on final day of season