NHL Review February 7, 2021

MATTHEWS EXTENDS STREAK, MARNER HAS THREE POINTS AGAIN

Auston Matthews scored a highlight-reel marker and added a second tally to extend his streak of consecutive games played with at least one goal to seven (9-1—10) and Mitchell Marner (0-3—3) posted a second straight three-point performance as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated Vancouver 5-1 at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs (9-2-1, 19 points), who own the most points in the NHL standings, improved to 9-0-0 in their last nine home games versus the Canucks dating to Feb. 8, 2014 (VAN: 0-8-1).

Matthews became the first Maple Leafs player to score at least one goal in seven consecutive games played since 1993-94, when Dave Andreychuk (7 GP from Jan. 6-18, 1994) and Wendel Clark (7 GP from Nov. 15-27, 1993) each did so. Only four different players in franchise history have had a longer such run.

Matthews, who did not play during Toronto’s contest on Jan. 22, owns an official goal streak of six games (7-1—8) – that matched the longest of his NHL career, a mark set from Oct. 3-13, 2018 (10-4—14 in 6 GP).

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Wayne Simmonds put the Maple Leafs on the board with a power play goal at 4:42 of the first period and later scored the fifth Maple goal of the night at 3:16 of the third period. Simmonds has four goals over his last five games played. Tonight’s game is his first multi-goal and multi-point game of the season. He had one multi-goal game and two multi-point games in 2019-20.
• Auston Matthews scored the second Toronto goal of the night at 14:04 of the first period and later scored the fourth Toronto goal of the game at 1:28 of the third period. Matthews has goals (8) and points (8-1-9) in six consecutive games. With goals in six consecutive games, Matthews ties his career-long goal streak set over six games between October 3, 2018 and October 13, 2018 (10 goals). Tonight’s game is his second multi-goal and fourth multi-point of the season.
• Zach Hyman registered the secondary assist on Matthews’ first period goal and later scored the third Maple Leafs goal of the game at 7:36 of the second period. Hyman has points (2-2-4) in three consecutive games. Tonight’s game is his first multi-point performance of the season. He has five points (1-4-5) in six games on home ice this season. In nine career games against Vancouver, Hyman has seven points (3-4-7).
• Mitch Marner registered the primary assist on Simmonds’ first period goal and later recorded the primary assist on Matthews’ first period goal before picking up the secondary assist on Hyman’s second period goal. Tonight’s three assist performance ties his career high for assists in a game (3 – 14x).  Marner has assists (9) and points (3-9-12) in seven consecutive games. Tonight’s game is his fourth multi-assist and seventh multi-point performance of the season. He has 11 points (4-7-11) in six games on home ice this season.
• Morgan Rielly collected the secondary assist on Simmonds’ first period goal. Rielly has assists (3) in two consecutive games. He has recorded six assists over his last five games played.
• Mikko Lehtonen registered the primary assist on Hyman’s second period goal and later had the primary assist on Simmonds’ third period goal. He has three assists over his last two games played. Tonight’s game is his first career multi-assist and multi-point game.
• John Tavares picked up a secondary assist on Simmonds’ third period goal. Tavares has points (1-4-5) in four consecutive games. He has seven points (4-3-7) in six games on home ice this season.
• Frederik Andersen stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced in the loss.

FLAMES TAKE FIRST ‘BATTLE OF ALBERTA’ INSTALMENT OF 2020-21

In their first head-to-head meeting in over year, the Flames defeated the Oilers after the clubs combined for 10 goals including five during the third period. Calgary and Edmonton are set to square off nine more times this season, with the next showdown scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 at Scotiabank Saddledome (9 p.m. ET on TVAS, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNW, ESPN+).

The Flames and Oilers have combined for a double-digit goal total in each of their last two meetings, following an 8-3 Edmonton win on Feb. 1, 2020. It marked the sixth instance in which the clubs combined for 10 or more goals in consecutive games (spanning regular seasons and playoffs).

MARLEAU, TROTZ CLIMB ALL-TIME LISTS; OTHER PLAYERS REACH MILESTONES

Sharks forward Patrick Marleau and Islanders head coach Barry Trotz climbed all-time lists, while three other players reached milestones including a pair of first NHL goals:

Marleau skated his 1,733rd career NHL game and tied Jaromir Jagr for third place on the League’s all-time list. Marleau now trails only Mark Messier (1,756) and Gordie Howe (1,767).

Trotz guided the Islanders past the Penguins to earn his 849th career win as an NHL head coach, tying Ken Hitchcock for third place on the League’s all-time list.

Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored the first goal of his NHL career (1-4—5 in 7 GP) – he tallied on Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who made his 500th career regular-season appearance. Ducks forward Isac Lundestrom also scored his first goal since making his League debut on Oct. 8, 2018 (1-6—7 in 36 GP).

Sharks’ Simek Fined for Spearing

San Jose Sharks defenseman Radim Simek has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for spearing Anaheim Ducks forward Adam Henrique during NHL Game No. 187 in Anaheim on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021 The incident occurred at 6:21 of the second period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

A total of 10 NHL teams are in action across a five-game slate before Super Bowl LV, beginning with Washington welcoming Philadelphia to Capital One Arena for a matinee that will be nationally-televised in both the U.S. and Canada (12 p.m. ET on NBC, SN, TVAS).

TOP NHL PERFORMERS ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY AND OTHER FUN FACTS

A look at some of the top NHL teams and players in games taking place on Super Bowl Sunday as well as other fun facts ahead of football’s championship game:

The Capitals (17-11-2, 36 points) have earned 17 all-time wins on Super Bowl Sunday, the second-most in League history behind the Canadiens (20-12-3, 43 points). Boston (14-4-2, 30 points) and Chicago (13-3-2, 28 points) are the only other clubs with at least 10. Tampa Bay won its only appearance on Super Bowl Sunday, in 2011 against St. Louis.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has scored 10 career goals on Super Bowl Sunday, trailing only Phil Esposito for the most in NHL history. Teammate Nicklas Backstrom has 10 assists, which are tied with longtime Washington forward Mike Ridley (1-10—11 in 7 GP) for third in League history behind only Esposito and Johnny Bucyk.

The NHL has featured franchises based in the same city as both teams set to square off in Super Bowl LV. The Tampa Bay Lightning have competed in the League since 1992-93, winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 and 2020; the Kansas City Scouts played in the NHL for two seasons (1974-75–1975-76) before becoming the Colorado Rockies.

An NFL team has never won the Super Bowl less than a year after an NHL team based in the same city (or within close geographic proximity) won the Stanley Cup. There was one such instance from 1933 to 1966, when a playoff system was implemented that culminated with the NFL Championship Game (Detroit Red Wings & Detroit Lions in 1952).