NHL NEWS FEB 5 – CROSBY SCORES 30TH GOAL, NEARS 1,000 CAREER POINTS IN WIN

Sidney Crosby (2-1—3) scored twice to become the first player to reach the 30-goal mark this season and lead the Penguins to their seventh win in their past nine games.

Crosby, who was playing in his 45th game of the season, reached the 30-goal mark for the eighth time in his NHL career.

Crosby ranks second in League scoring with 30-29—59 this season, one point back of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (18-42—60 in 54 GP). The Penguins captain also sits three points shy of becoming the third player in franchise history to record 1,000 career points (368-629—997 in 752 GP).

NHL NEWS AND MUSINGS

• Barry Trotz earned his 693rd career win to pass Dick Irvin (692) for sixth on the NHL’s all-time list among head coaches, as the League-leading Capitals (35-11-6, 76 points) improved to 15-2-1 in their last 18 contests
• Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek (42 saves) and Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner (37 saves) each recorded their first shutout of the season
• Taylor Hall scored twice as the Devils extended their road point streak to nine games (8-0-1), including six consecutive wins
• Ron Hainsey (2-0—2) recorded his first multi-goal game since Dec. 2, 2008 to help the Hurricanes secure their third win in a row
• Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour (6 GP) and Devils defenseman Seth Helgeson (48 GP) each scored their first NHL goal
• Drew Doughty (1-7—8 in 7 GP), Patrick Marleau (7-3—10, in 6 GP), Jamie Benn (5-3—8 in 6 GP), Anze Kopitar (2-5—7 in 5 GP), Blake Wheeler (1-6—7 in 5 GP), Patrice Bergeron (3-5—8 in 5 GP) and Brad Marchand (6-4—10 in 5 GP) also extended point streaks
• The Predators acquired forward Vernon Fiddler from the Devils in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft
• Martin Brodeur and Al MacInnis, two of the 100 Greatest NHL Players, visited the NHL Centennial Fan Arena in St. Louis on Saturday
• The Capitals will host Fatima Al Ali, a member of the United Arab Emirates’ women’s national hockey team, this week as part of Hockey is for Everyone month. The Avalanche and Islanders hosted initiatives during home games on Saturday.

SATURDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Washington 3, MONTREAL 2
Los Angeles 1, PHILADELPHIA 0 (OT)
COLORADO 5, Winnipeg 2
Toronto 6, BOSTON 5
BUFFALO 4, Ottawa 0
TAMPA BAY 3, Anaheim 2 (SO)
Carolina 5, NY ISLANDERS 4 (OT)
New Jersey 5, COLUMBUS 1
Pittsburgh 4, ST. LOUIS 1
Detroit 1, NASHVILLE 0
Chicago 5, DALLAS 3
Minnesota 6, VANCOUVER 3
Arizona 3, SAN JOSE 2 (SO)

SUNDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Los Angeles @ Washington, 12 p.m.
Edmonton @ Montreal, 1 p.m.
Calgary @ NY Rangers, 2 p.m.