NHL NEWS FEB 9 MILESTONES IN SIGHT, STREAKS AT STAKE ON 11-GAME NIGHT

Several significant milestones and streaks look to be reached and extended as 22 teams are in action on Thursday.

Sidney Crosby (368-630—998 in 753 GP) resumes his hunt to become the third player in Penguins history – and the 86th player in NHL history – to record 1,000 career points when Pittsburgh (33-13-6, 72 points) visits Colorado (15-33-2, 32 points). Crosby (30-30—60) leads the League in goals and sits tied with Connor McDavid (18-42—60) in the Art Ross Trophy race. The Penguins have earned a point in each of their last four games (3-0-1) and sit one point back of the Blue Jackets (34-13-5, 73 points) for the second-most points in the Eastern Conference.

The League-leading Capitals (37-11-6, 80 points) aim for their 11th consecutive home win when they face the Red Wings (22-21-10, 54 points) at Verizon Center. The Capitals have recorded shutouts in each of their past two home games and a total of five during their home win streak, outscoring opponents 50-12 in the 10 contests. Washington has won more than 10 consecutive home games twice before: from Jan. 5 – March 6, 2010 (13-0-0) and Nov. 21, 2015 – Jan. 17, 2016 (12-0-0).

Brent Burns, who leads all defensemen and ranks third in NHL scoring with 22-35—57, looks to extend his road point streak to 15 games (10-13—23 in 14 GP) when the Sharks (33-17-4, 70 points) visit the Bruins (26-23-6, 58 points), who will play their first game under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy. Only two defensemen in NHL history have posted longer such runs: Ray Bourque (Nov. 7, 1993 – Jan. 25, 1994: 7-18—25 in 16 GP) and Paul Coffey (March 6 – April 27, 1995: 8-13—21 in 15 GP).

NHL NEWS AND MUSINGS

• Wild forward Charlie Coyle (0-1—1) played in his 284th consecutive regular-season game to surpass Antti Laaksonen for the longest such streak in franchise history
• The Capitals welcomed Fatima Al Ali of the United Arab Emirates women’s national team to practice, while the Avalanche and Bruins each held community initiatives as part of Hockey Is For Everyone month.

WEDNESDAY’S NHL RESULT
Home Team in Caps
Chicago 4, MINNESOTA 3 (OT)

THURSDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
San Jose @ Boston, 7 p.m.
Anaheim @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Nashville @ NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
NY Islanders @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Detroit @ Washington, 7 p.m.
Vancouver @ Columbus, 7 p.m.
St. Louis @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles @ Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh @ Colorado, 9 p.m.
Montreal @ Arizona, 9 p.m.