NHL Recap January 30 2019
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS – Home Team in Caps
PITTSBURGH 4, Tampa Bay 2
DALLAS 1, Buffalo 0
MALKIN, LETANG POST MILESTONE NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH
Evgeni Malkin (0-2—2) surpassed 600 career assists and Kris Letang (1-1—2) tied the franchise mark for most goals by a defenseman as the Penguins defeated the League-leading Lightning to improve their record to 27-17-6 (60 points). With the victory, Pittsburgh leapfrogged idle Columbus (28-18-3, 59 points) and Washington (27-17-6, 60 points) into second place in the Metropolitan Division.
* Malkin recorded two helpers to surpass the 600-assist mark, improving his career totals to 384-601—985 in 834 GP. He became the fourth player in franchise history to reach the milestone, joining Mario Lemieux (1,033), Sidney Crosby (741) and Jaromir Jagr (640).
* Malkin also became the fourth Russian-born player to reach the milestone, requiring the fewest games among his countrymen to reach the mark (previously Pavel Datsyuk: 946 GP).
* Additionally, Malkin (14-41—55) established his ninth season with 40 or more assists. Only two players in Penguins franchise history have recorded more such campaigns: Lemieux (12) and Crosby (11).
* Letang, who already holds franchise records for assists (371) and points (479) by a blueliner, notched his 108th career goal to tie Hall of Famer Paul Coffey for most goals by a defenseman in Penguins history.
BISHOP EARNS 11TH STRAIGHT WIN AGAINST SABRES
Jamie Benn scored the lone goal and Ben Bishop made 30 saves to record his 27th career shutout and extend his personal winning streak against the Sabres to 11 games (1.35 GAA, .948 SV%, 2 SO).
* Washington’s Braden Holtby is the only goaltender with a longer active win streak against any one opponent (12-0-0 vs. BOS since Nov. 10, 2014).
* Only one netminder in NHL history recorded a longer such streak against Buffalo: Bernie Parent (14-0-0 from Oct. 22, 1970 – Feb. 1, 1975).
* Benn recorded his 43rd career game-winning goal to tie Brenden Morrow for second place in franchise history behind only Mike Modano (92).
THURSDAY’S GAMES
| Philadelphia@ Boston | 7:00 PM ET |
| NY Rangers@ New Jersey | 7:00 PM ET |
| Columbus@ Winnipeg | 8:00 PM ET |
FLYERS LOOK TO EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO SIX GAMES
The Flyers (21-23-6, 48 points) put their five game winning streak on the line Thursday when they visit the Bruins (27-17-6, 60 points). Philadelphia’s five-game run is the League’s longest active winning streak.
* In 2017-18, Philadelphia posted two win streaks of at least six contests: 6-0-0 from Dec. 4-16, 2017 and 6-0-0 from Feb. 16-26, 2018. The latter was part of a 12-game point streak (10-0-2 from Feb. 3-26, 2018).
* Twenty-year-old Carter Hart, who has started four of his club’s last five games, has earned a victory in each of his last four outings (4-0-0, 2.50 GAA, .932 SV%). Thirteen goaltenders in NHL history have won at least five consecutive starts prior to their 21st birthday, with just three accomplishing the feat in the last 30 years: Carey Price (7-0-0 from March 20 – April 5, 2008), Dan Blackburn (5-0-0 from March 30 – April 8, 2002) and Jocelyn Thibault (8-0-0 from March 6-26, 1995).