NHL MORNING SKATE – JAN. 24, 2019 ALL-STAR BREAK QUICK HITS A collection of quick hit notes and statistics as the season enters the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend: * A total of 4,713 goals have been scored this season (including 43 shootout-deciding goals), the most through 770 games in a campaign since 2005-06 (4,787). That season finished with the most goals in NHL history (7,588). * Sixty-four games have featured 10 or more combined goals this season (including shootout- deciding goals), the highest such total at the All-Star break since 1995-96 (75). There have been 55 instances in 2018-19 of a team scoring seven or more goals in a game (including shootout-deciding goals); the last NHL campaign to feature more at the All-Star break was also 1995-96 (65). ^Any reference to the All-Star break includes schedule breaks for the Winter Olympics in 1997-98, 2001- 02, 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2013-14. * Four players have scored at least 30 goals this season, the highest such total at the All-Star break since 2009-10 (8). Forty skaters have hit the 20-goal mark in 2018-19, the most through 770 games in a season since 2006-07 (40). * Thirty-three players have collected at least 50 points this season. The last campaign to feature as many 50-point getters through 770 games was 1996-97, when 36 skaters had reached the plateau. * Forty-one players are averaging at least one point per game this season (min. 25 GP), including 19 age 25 or younger (46.3%). The last NHL campaign to enter the All-Star break with as many players averaging at least one point per game (min. 25 GP) was 1995-96 (41). * Sixty-one hat tricks have been scored this season, including at least one in 10 of the past 13 days dating to Jan. 11. The last campaign to feature as many three-goal performances through 770 games was 1995-96 (62). * A total of 664 players have scored at least one goal in 2018-19, by far the most-ever in an NHL season entering the All-Star break. * The 2018-19 campaign has featured 345 instances of a team overcoming a deficit of any kind to win a game, the most-ever comeback victories through 770 contests in an NHL season. There have been 96 instances of a team overcoming a multi-goal deficit to win in 2018-19; only two seasons in League history have featured more multi-goal comeback wins through 770 games – 1985-86 (112) and 1987-88 (98). * There have been 355 total lead changes this season (across 290 of the 770 GP), the most at this stage of a season since 2005-06 (369 total lead changes; across 292 of the 770 GP). The 68 third-period lead changes in 2018-19 are tied (w/ 2012-13) for the most through 770 games since 2006-07 when there were 70. * Nearly three quarters of the games that have required extra time in 2018-19 have ended in the 5:00 overtime period (73.6%; 120 of 163), by far the highest such percentage at this stage of a season in the shootout era (since 2005-06). * There have been 33,642 hits recorded this season for an average of 43.7 per game – in line with each of the past two seasons (42.9 in 2017-18 and 43.8 in 2016-17); aside from last season, every campaign since 2009-10 has averaged 43 or more hits per contest at the All-Star break. Fifty-three players have registered 100 or more hits this season. DID YOU KNOW? Four teams who were not part of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs currently hold a postseason position, including two division leaders (Eastern Conference: Islanders and Canadiens; Western Conference: Flames and Stars). Overall, 23 teams either possess or are within four points of a playoff berth. * Since 2002-03, the eventual Presidents’ Trophy winner also was in first place through 770 League games in four campaigns: 2007-08 (DET), 2010-11 (VAN), 2015-16 (WSH) and 2016- 17 (WSH). * This marks the 10th time in NHL history that multiple Canadian clubs enter the All-Star break as division leaders and just the fifth such instance since Montreal won the Stanley Cup in 1993 (the last championship by a Canadian club). The other four instances in that span: 1993-94 (CGY and TOR), 2002-03 (VAN and OTT), 2005-06 (CGY and OTT) and 2009-10 (OTT and VAN). * The Islanders enter the All-Star break as division leaders for the seventh time ever, with the last such occurrence coming in 2014-15. SNEAK PEEK AT 2019 NHL FAN FAIR PRESENTED BY SAP The 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend begins Thursday with the NHL Fan Fair presented by SAP. Autograph sessions with local favorite S.J. Sharkie and Gritty will kick start the evening’s festivities, followed up by a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit showcasing the Sharks and history of hockey in Northern California. ALL-STAR INFORMATION GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE The 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game Interactive Information Guide – featuring this weekend’s schedule of events as well as a roster of participants and rules for both the 2019 SAP NHL All- Star Skills and 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game – now is available for download via the League’s Media site. The guide also includes a complete history of the NHL All-Star Game in addition to records and a register for skaters, goaltenders and head coaches. WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS Home Team in Caps TORONTO 6, Washington 3 MONTREAL 2, Arizona 1 Minnesota 5, COLORADO 2 Nashville 2, VEGAS 1 St. Louis 5, ANAHEIM 1 Carolina 5, VANCOUVER 2 KADRI (HAT TRICK) HELPS MAPLE LEAFS REACH 30-WIN MARK Nazem Kadri (3-1—4) scored the fifth hat trick of his NHL career and first since Feb. 14, 2018 (3-2—5 vs. CBJ) to lead the Maple Leafs past the Capitals. Toronto (30-17-2, 62 points), which occupies second place in the Atlantic Division standings, reached the 30-win mark in a season in 49 or fewer games for the second time in franchise history and first since 1934-35 (48 GP; 30-14-4, 64 points). * Morgan Rielly (0-2—2) ranks third among NHL defensemen with 50 points in 2018-19 (13- 37—50 in 49 GP). Only three defensemen in franchise history have required fewer personal games to reach the 50-point mark in a season: Borje Salming in 1976-77 (42 GP), Babe Pratt in 1943-44 (44 GP) and Bryan McCabe in 2005-06 (45 GP). * Rielly, who established a career high with 6-46—52 in 2017-18 (76 GP), became the fifth defenseman in franchise history to reach the 50-point mark in consecutive seasons and first since Tomas Kaberle (3 straight; 2005-06 to 2007-08). PRICE HELPS CANADIENS CLIMB ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS Carey Price turned aside 30 of 31 shots to help the Canadiens improve to 5-1-0 in their last six games. Montreal moved to 28-18-5 (61 points) overall this season and leapfrogged idle Boston (27-17-5, 59 points) for third place in the Atlantic Division standings. * Price improved to 20-13-4 this season (2.56 GAA, .915 SV%, 3 SO), including a 4-0-0 mark in his last four appearances dating to Jan. 12 (1.00 GAA, .971 SV%, 1 SO). He recorded 20 or more wins in a season for the ninth time in his NHL career (all w/ MTL) and moved into a tie with Jacques Plante and Patrick Roy for the most 20-win campaigns in franchise history. AROUND THE RINKS Other highlights from the final games before the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend: * Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (1-0—1) recorded the 1,179th regular-season point of his NHL career (644-535—1,179 in 1,053) to move into a tie with Sergei Fedorov (483-696—1,179 in 1,248 GP) for the most in League history by a Russian player. Ovechkin leads the NHL with 37 goals this season (37-20—57 in 50 GP). * Alex Nedeljkovic made 24 saves in the first start of his NHL career to help the Hurricanes earn their first road win against the Canucks since Oct. 15, 1999 (4-1 W), snapping a 10-game slide (0-7-3). Nedeljkovic became the fifth goaltender in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to earn a win in his first career NHL start, joining Kay Whitmore on March 22, 1989 (4-2 W vs. BOS), Mike Lenarduzzi on April 14, 1993 (5-4 OT W vs. NYI), Cam Ward on Oct. 7, 2005 (3-2 SO W vs. PIT) and Justin Peters on Feb. 6, 2010 (3-1 W at NYI). * Ryan O'Reilly collected an assist to become the first St. Louis player to reach the 50-point mark this season (18-32—50 in 49 GP) and help the Blues defeat the Ducks. O’Reilly, who was acquired by the Blues on July 1, 2018, became the first player to record his first 50 points with the franchise in 49 or fewer personal games (NHL debut or otherwise) since Craig Janney on Oct. 29, 1992 (9-41—50 in 36 GP). * Nick Bonino (1-0—1) became the 17th different Predators player to score at least one game- winning goal this season, tied for the highest such total among all 31 NHL teams (w/ CGY).