Tage Thompson scored his 200th career goal on a night he netted his ninth career hat trick and third-career five-point outing as Buffalo improved to 8-2-0 in its past 10 games.
* Jack Eichel (1-3—4), Mitch Marner (0-2—2) and the Golden Knights earned the franchise’s second-latest comeback win and did so in the latter’s first game against his former team. Vegas captured its sixth straight win after tying the contest with seven seconds left in regulation.
* Friday features the Lightning and Patrick Kane looking to set a franchise and NHL record, respectively, as well as the Avalanche aiming to inch closer to the longest season-opening home point streak in League history.
THOMPSON TALLIES HAT TRICK, FIVE POINTS AND REACHES 200-GOAL MILESTONE
Tage Thompson (3-2—5) scored his ninth career hat trick, his third five-point game and reached the 200-goal milestone to help Buffalo (26-16-4, 56 point) win its second game in as many days and its eighth since returning from the holiday break (8-2-0). The Sabres’ eight victories through that span are the second most among all teams, behind the Lightning (9).
* Thompson became the first Sabres player to record a five-point game since Rasmus Dahlin on Jan. 7, 2023. It marked the third of his career and only five players in franchise history have more: Gilbert Perreault (14), Pat LaFontaine (8), Dave Andreychuk (7), Alexander Mogilny (4) and Danny Gare (4).
* Thompson also tied Patrick Kane (9) for the second-most hat tricks among active American players, a list topped by Auston Matthews (14), and tied Andreychuk for the fifth most in Sabres history.
* Thompson reached the 200-goal milestone a day after Brady Tkachuk, who will be his teammate on Team USA at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. On Wednesday, Tkachuk became the sixth-fastest active American player to score 200 NHL goals but was bumped to seventh on the list after Thompson added his name on it.
MARNER, EICHEL GUIDE GOLDEN KNIGHTS RALLY PAST MATTHEWS AND MAPLE LEAFS
Auston Matthews (1-0—1), William Nylander (1-1—2) and John Tavares (1-1—2) helped the Maple Leafs build a multi-goal lead in the third period, but Mitch Marner (0-2—2) collected two assists in his first game against his former club and Jack Eichel (1-3—4) factored on the game-tying goal with seven seconds remaining in regulation before capping a Golden Knights victory with the overtime winner.
* The Golden Knights, who captured their sixth straight win and opened up a four-point cushion on the Oilers atop the Pacific Division, earned their third victory in a contest where they faced a multi-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation, following March 12, 2024 (at SEA) and March 1, 2021 (vs. MIN).
* Eichel, fresh off a 0-3—3 performance in his last outing, registered his sixth career four-point game with the Golden Knights and became the third player in franchise history to record consecutive three-assist games. The others: Alex Pietrangelo (2 GP in 2024-25) and Chandler Stephenson (2 GP in 2021-22).
* Captain Mark Stone (1-2—3), who found the back of the net midway through the third period to kickstart the multi-goal comeback, has found the score sheet in all but three games this season and ranks among the top five in points per game in 2025-26 (1.53 P/GP). He became the third player in franchise history to register a 10-game point streak, alongside Eichel (12 GP in 2023-24) and Tomas Hertl (11 GP in 2024-25).
HUTSON, CROSBY REACH 100-ASSIST MILESTONES
Lane Hutson (0-2—2) and Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) both achieved 100-assist milestones Wednesday, with the latter helping the Penguins (22-14-10, 54 points) jump from outside of the playoff line and into a top-three position in the Metropolitan Division for the first time since Dec. 5.
* Hutson collected two helpers to improve his career totals to 14-101—115 (132 GP) and became the second-fastest defenseman in NHL history to 100 assists, trailing Sergei Zubov (127 GP). The next closest active blueliner on that list is Cale Makar (140 GP) who is now fifth. The contest also featured multiple Canadiens players reach notable milestones – Ivan Demidov tied Chris Chelios (48 GP in 1984-85) for the fifth-fewest games to 40 points in a season by a rookie in Canadiens history and Noah Dobson became the seventh-fastest defenseman to 30 points with the franchise.
* Crosby recorded his 100th assist (regular season & playoffs combined) against the Flyers and has now reached that plateau versus multiple franchises (also 103 vs. NYI). Among players to debut in the expansion era (since 1967-68), the only players to record a hundred helpers against two or more franchises are Wayne Gretzky (7; CGY/AFM, WIN/PHX, VAN, LAK, TOR, DET & CHI), Ray Bourque (3; HFD/CAR, BUF & QUE/COL), Steve Yzerman (3; CHI, STL & TOR), Ron Francis (2; BOS & MTL) and Mark Messier (LAK & WIN/PHX).
PASTRNAK MOVES UP BOSTON’S ALL-TIME LIST WITH ANOTHER 20-GOAL SEASON
David Pastrnak found the back of the net to reach the 20-goal mark for the 10th straight season as the Bruins tallied four times to defeat the Kraken just hours after raising Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 to the rafters during a pre-game ceremony at TD Garden.
* Pastrnak, who will represent Team Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, tied Patrice Bergeron and Johnny Bucyk (both w/ 10) for the second-most consecutive 20-goal seasons in Bruins history behind only Brad Marchand (12). Pastrnak also moved into a tie with Rick Middleton for the fourth most 20-goal seasons overall in franchise history.
* Pastrnak will take the ice at Raymond James Stadium for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series in a little over two weeks. He leads all players in career outdoor goals and points (4-1—5 in 3 GP), with his four career outdoor tallies tied for the most in NHL history. For that and more, check out our #NHLStats Pack.
TOEWS, SCHEIFELE HELP JETS SOAR TO SIX GOALS IN WIN
Jonathan Toews (1-1—2) reached the 900-point milestone and Mark Scheifele (1-3—4) factored on four of his team’s six goals as the Jets earned their sixth consecutive road win against the Wild dating to 2022-23 – their longest active run versus a single franchise.
* Toews became the fifth player from the 2006 NHL Draft to record 900 career points (379-522—901 in 1,113 GP) after extending his goal streak to four games – tied with Peter Bondra (4 GP in 2005-06) for the longest by a Jets/Thrashers player at age 37 or older. It also marked Toews’ longest goal streak since 2013-14, when he registered one of equal length with the Blackhawks.
* Scheifele recorded his first four-point game since Dec. 23, 2024 (3-1—4 at TOR) and the 13th in his career to boost his totals since the calendar flipped to 5-8—13 (8 GP) – tied for the third most among all players in 2026.
CELEBRINI CAPS COMEBACK WITH 85TH CAREER ASSIST IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more storylines from a 10-game Thursday, including Macklin Celebrini’s no-look, League-leading 33rd primary assist and 85th of his career as the Sharks (24-19-3, 51 points) rallied to defeat the Capitals. The Sharks (24-19-3, 51 points) kept pace with the Mammoth (24-20-4, 52 points) in the Western Conference Wild Card standings.
* Celebrini, whose 33 primary assists are three more than the next-closest skater (Connor McDavid: 30), can become the first teenager in NHL history to lead the category at the end of a campaign.
QUICK CLICKS
* Panthers visit White House to celebrate back-to-back Stanley Cup wins
* Blues host Make-A-Wish kid at practice
* Macklin Celebrini sets up Sharks goal with no-look, between-the-legs pass
* Calvin Pickard happy to have hometown in spotlight for Hockey Day in Canada
* Zdeno Chara revels in ‘greatest honor’ as Bruins retire defenseman’s No. 33
Lightning, Kane can establish franchise, NHL records during Friday’s slate
Friday’s five-game schedule features Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay looking to log its 12th consecutive victory, Patrick Kane needing four points to pass Mike Modano (1,374) for the most by a U.S.-born player in NHL history as well as first-place Colorado aiming to inch closer to the League record for longest season-opening home point streak set by Philadelphia (26 GP from Oct. 11, 1979 – Feb. 3, 1980).
* The Lightning can establish a franchise record for longest winning streak after tying the club mark Tuesday (11 GP from Jan. 29 – Feb. 17, 2020). Tampa Bay was one point back of the Eastern Conference’s final Wild Card spot before its run began on Dec. 20, 2025.
* The Lightning are streaking as they move closer to hosting an NHL outdoor game for the first time at the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series against the Bruins on Sunday, Feb. 1, at Raymond James Stadium. On Thursday, the NHL unveiled the full lineup of attractions and interactive experiences for the 2026 NHL PreGame, the League’s official fan festival for the event.
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* Kane can become the ninth skater in League history with the title of all-time NHL scoring leader among U.S.-born players and first since Modano, who tallied two goals against the Sharks to pass Phil Housley (1,232) on Nov. 7, 2007. That came just one week after Kane received the League’s “Rookie of the Month” honors.
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