NHL Review February 26, 2021
GAGNER SCORES FIRST HAT TRICK SINCE EIGHT-POINT GAME IN 2012
Detroit Red Wings forward Sam Gagner helped the Wings beat the Predators 5-2 when he scored the third hat trick of his NHL career and first since his eight-point game with the Oilers on Feb. 2, 2012 (4-4—8), which remains tied for the second-most points by a player in a single NHL game behind only Darryl Sittler’s iconic 6-4—10 performance from Feb. 7, 1976.
Gagner scored his first three goals since being acquired by Detroit on Feb. 24, 2020 (3-2—5 in 14 GP). He became the first player in the 94-year history of the franchise to score each of his first three goals with the Red Wings/Falcons/Cougars in the same game.
ISLANDERS ERUPT FOR SEVEN GOALS, INCLUDING FIVE IN THIRD PERIOD
Mathew Barzal (1-1—2) was one of four New York players with multiple points on Thursday as the Islanders erupted for a season-high seven goals – including five in the third period – to improve to 6-0-1 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 2020-21. It marked just the third time since the end of the 1990s in which New York scored five or more goals in a single period, following March 10, 2014 (7 in 3rd) and Feb. 9, 2018 (5 in 3rd).
SEVERAL STREAKS EXTENDED IN THE SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION
The Oilers kept their road win streak alive as Connor McDavid (1-1—2) became the first player to reach the 40-point mark this season (14-26—40 in 22 GP), while Mark Scheifele (1-1—2) and Drake Batherson (1-0—1) both extended streaks as the Jets and Senators each scored six goals in wins:
Edmonton blanked Vancouver at Rogers Arena and improved to 6-0-0 in its last six games as visitors, which marks the longest road win streak in the NHL this season. The Oilers have posted a road win streak of longer than six games on two occasions, which was from Dec. 9, 1986 to Jan. 17, 1987 (8-0-0) and Dec. 14, 1983 to Jan. 11, 1984 (7-0-0).
Scheifele pushed his point streak to 11 games (8-10—18) and established a new career high, eclipsing his previous mark of 10 set from March 22 to April 9, 2016 (6-9—15). Only one player in Jets/Thrashers franchise history has posted a longer run: Patrik Laine from Feb. 16 to March 18, 2018 (18-8—26 in 15 GP). Scheifele’s run also includes a career-high goal streak of six games (6-5—11), which trails only one player for the longest in club history: Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk from Jan. 1-13, 2006 (11-6—17 in 7 GP).
Batherson has tallied in each of Ottawa’s last four games dating to Feb. 18 (4-2—6). He became the sixth different Senators skater age 22 or younger to record a four-game goal streak – only one player has extended the run to five.
YANDLE PASSES LARMER FOR NHL’S THIRD-LONGEST “IRONMAN” STREAK
Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle skated in his 885th consecutive regular-season game dating to March 26, 2009 and passed Steve Larmer (884 GP from Oct. 6, 1982 – April 15, 1993) for sole possession of the third-longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history.
Florida scored three unanswered goals in the final 6:21 of regulation to erase a 2-0 deficit and stun Dallas, which was closing in on a second straight shutout win before the Panthers’ rally began. Florida became the fourth team this season to win a game in regulation after overcoming a multi-goal, third-period deficit.
Joe Pavelski opened the scoring for the Stars with his team-leading 10th goal of the season (10-10—20 in 15 GP). Only seven players age 36 or older in NHL history have reached the 10-goal mark in fewer games played than Pavelski.
KINGS LOOK FOR SECOND SEVEN-GAME WIN STREAK IN AS MANY SEASONS
Los Angeles owns a 6-0-0 mark in its last six games after starting the season with a 3-6-3 record and look to extend the win streak to seven contests when they visit Minnesota at Xcel Energy Center. The Kings, who closed the 2019-20 regular season with a 7-0-0 stretch, can record at least one win streak of seven or more games in consecutive seasons for the third time in franchise history (also 1990-91 – 1991-92 & 2013-14 – 2015-16).