NHL NEWS FEBRUARY 22, 2023 – RED WINGS PLAYOFF PUSH CONTINUES, DYLAN LARKIN FINED

Pius Suter (2-0—2) scored two of Detroit’s three goals – including one on the penalty kill – to help the Red Wings (27-21-8, 62 points) top the Capitals (28-25-6, 62 points) and surpass Washington in a tightly-contested Eastern Conference Wild Card race. The Detroit Red Wings moved within two points of idle Florida (29-25-6, 64 points) for the second Wild Card spot while still holding four games in hand over both Wild Card teams (NYI & FLA, both 60 GP).

• Suter recorded his third career multi-goal outing and his fifth goal in his last five games after posting just six tallies through his first 48 contests of 2022-23.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie during NHL Game No. 909 in Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 21, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today. The incident occurred at 12:37 of the first period. Larkin was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

McDAVID, DRAISAITL POWER OILERS TO VICTORY WITH MILESTONE MOMENTS

Connor McDavid (2-1—3) and Leon Draisaitl (1-2—3) hit the 800- and 700-point milestones, respectively, on the same goal to power the Oilers to a third-period comeback win and extend the team’s home point streak to nine contests (5-0-4 since Jan. 5). McDavid (26 years, 39 days) became the fifth-youngest and fifth-fastest (545 GP) player in NHL history to record 800 career points as well as the fastest active skater to reach the mark.

• McDavid recorded his 19th career three-point period in the final frame after being held off the score sheet through 40 minutes; Sidney Crosby (24), Alex Ovechkin (21), and Patrick Kane (20) are the only active skaters with more. The Oilers captain capped off his performance with his 61st game-winning goal to tie Wayne Gretzky for the second most in franchise history behind only Glenn Anderson (72).
• McDavid, who reached the 700-point mark with a season-opening hat trick on Oct. 12, 2022, became the sixth player in NHL history to reach both the 700- and 800-point milestones within the same season, following Doug Gilmour (1992-93), Pat LaFontaine (1992-93), Steve Yzerman (1990-91), Mike Bossy (1983-84) and Guy Lafleur (1978-79).
• McDavid (58 GP) also became the eighth player in League history to require 60 games or fewer to go from 700 to 800 career points – and just the sixth to do so in 58 contests or less.
• McDavid and Draisaitl – who recorded his fifth consecutive 50-assist season – are no strangers to reaching century milestones simultaneously after the duo each recorded their 100th career point on Jan. 18, 2017 (vs. FLA).
• McDavid added another highlight-reel play to his ever-growing resume. This time, he spun around two Flyers skaters at the blueline just 54 seconds before his milestone.

O’REILLY, MARNER, TAVARES PROPEL MAPLE LEAFS WITH FOUR-GOAL FIRST PERIOD

Mitchell Marner (0-5—5), Ryan O’Reilly (3-1—4) and John Tavares (1-3—4) each factored on three of four first-period goals in the opening 12:09 of their contest to power the Toronto Maple Leafs (35-15-8, 78 points) to victory and maintain their three-point lead over Tampa Bay (36-17-3, 75 points) – who also won Tuesday – for second place in the Atlantic Division.

• Marner (20-51—71), who tied the franchise record for most assists as a visitor, became the first Maple Leafs player with at least five helpers in a game since Doug Gilmour (5 on Jan. 22, 1997). His performance propelled him to his fourth career 50-assist campaign – the third most in franchise history behind Darryl Sittler (6x) and Borje Salming (5x).
• O’Reilly’s first two goals as a member of the Maple Leafs came 37 seconds apart – the third-shortest span separating a player’s first and second career goals with Toronto behind only Mark Arcobello (0:17 on Feb. 13, 2016) and Jiri Tlusty (0:35 on Oct. 25, 2007).

LEAFS UPDATE ON DEFENCEMAN JAKE MUZZIN

The Maple Leafs have announced that after follow-up consultation this month with various specialists, our medical staff have determined that defenceman Jake Muzzin has been ruled out for the rest of the 2022-23 regular season and playoffs as he recovers from a cervical spine injury. The club will provide a further update as to his status at training camp in September 2023. Muzzin skated in four games with the Maple Leafs this season and recorded one assist.

ANOTHER THREE-POINT GAME SURGES HURRICANES TO ANOTHER WIN

Andrei Svechnikov (2-1—3) factored on three of four Hurricanes goals to propel Carolina (38-10-8, 84 points) to a 13-1-1 mark in its past 15 contests and within seven points of first-place Boston (43-8-5, 91 points) in the NHL’s overall standings.

• Svechnikov’s performance, which included his fourth 20-goal campaign, was the third consecutive game in which a Hurricanes skater collected three points following Feb. 16 and the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 18. It marks the longest such stretch since a three-game span from Jan. 10-14, 2017 and one shy of the longest in team history (4 GP: Dec. 8-15, 2015, Feb. 9 – March 2, 2010 & Oct. 12-22, 2005).

TRIO OF NATIONAL BROADCASTS ON TAP WEDNESDAY

A national broadcast on TNT in the United States will feature two U.S.-born players going head-to-head as Jason Robertson and the Stars host Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks, in addition to a pair of national broadcasts in Canada that will see the Jets visit the Islanders on Sportsnet and the Flames face off against the Coyotes on SN1 and TVA Sports.

• Robertson enters Wednesday with 22 multi-point games this season – the third most by a U.S.-born player behind Matthew Tkachuk (26) and Jack Hughes (25) – including his 2-0—2 effort against the Blackhawks on Nov. 23. Overall, Robertson’s 58 career multi-point outings are the most among all Stars players since he entered the NHL in 2019-20 – the next closest skater is Roope Hintz with 53.
• Kane, who has collected a point in eight of his past 10 visits to American Airlines Center (2-10—12), has 30-43—73 in 63 career games against the Stars – the most goals, assists and points against Dallas among active players. He enters Wednesday just three points shy of matching his highest total against a single opponent (24-52—76 in 58 GP vs. CBJ).