Cutter Gauthier and Sidney Crosby, forwards separated in age by 17 years, both ended the night tied atop the League in goals as their respective teams skated to victory.
* The Devils defeated the Canadiens in overtime to extend their home winning streak to six games after a late tying goal by Timo Meier. Overall, there have been 111 games this season, including four Thursday, that featured either a go-ahead goal or a game-tying goal in the third period – the second most through this stage of a season (226 GP) in NHL history behind 2005-06 (113).
* Several young stars are in action during Friday’s four-game slate, including San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini and Chicago’s Connor Bedard.
CROSBY, GAUTHIER END NIGHT AS LEAGUE’S GOAL-SCORING LEADER
Twenty-one-year-old Cutter Gauthier (11-7—18 in 13 GP) and 38-year-old Sidney Crosby (11-8—19 in 15 GP) each found the back of the net to finish Thursday tied as the NHL’s goal scoring leaders.
* Gauthier (1-1—2) put up another multi-point performance as the Ducks scored seven goals in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history and improved to 5-0-0 over their past five contests. Gauthier extended his point streak to eight games (8-7—15) – tied for the third longest by a player age 21 or younger in franchise history. He also extended his multi-point streak to four outings and matched Ryan Getzlaf (2015-16, 2012-13 & 2010-11), Corey Perry (2010-11), Teemu Selanne (3x in 2005-06) and Paul Kariya (1998-99) for the second longest in Ducks history – a list Kariya also tops (6 GP in 1994-95).
* Crosby (2-0—2) improved to 48-79—127 and a 56-39-4 record when facing long-time rival Alex Ovechkin (0-2—2), who also recorded a multi-point game in a Capitals three-goal rally that fell short. The Penguins captain helped his club require its fewest games to 20 points in a season since 2016-17 (13 GP) and became the second player age 38 or older to lead the NHL in goals (tied or outright) at this point of a campaign or later, joining Ovechkin last season (from Nov. 17-22).
BRUINS, DEVILS EXTEND STREAKS IN CLOSELY-CONTESTED GAMES
The Bruins and Devils both earned overtime wins to extend their respective winning streak in what were two of eight closely-contested games Thursday.
* The Bruins wiped a one-goal deficit with Morgan Geekie’s team-leading 10th goal of the season but then found their own lead erased in the third period to send the game to overtime. It took nearly the full five minutes to find a winner, but Pavel Zacha potted the decisive tally with six seconds left in the extra frame as Boston extended its winning streak to five games. Zacha (4:54) tied the fourth-latest overtime goal in Bruins history (Bobby Carpenter: Nov. 29, 1991). He trails David Pastrnak (4:58 on Jan. 11, 2025), Mike Knuble (4:56 on March 13, 2004) and Charlie McAvoy (4:55 on Feb. 28, 2023).
* After Timo Meier tied the game with 1:07 remaining in regulation, Jesper Bratt scored the overtime winner to help the Devils become the first team this season to reach 10 wins. New Jersey extended its home winning streak to six games – the last time the club posted a longer run was 2008-09 when they set the franchise record (11 GP).
KUCHEROV SPOTLIGHTED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured a number of stars finding the score sheet, including Nikita Kucherov (2-1—3), who put up a three-point performance and extended his point streak against the Golden Knights to 14 games dating to their inaugural season in 2016-17 (9-17—26) as the Lightning skated to victory.
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CELEBRINI LOOKS TO CONTINUE HOT START DURING FOUR-GAME FRIDAY
A four-game Friday features some of the League’s top young stars as Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks face off against the Jets while Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks visit the Flames.
* Celebrini (8-13—21 in 14 GP) enters Friday tied with Connor McDavid (4-17—21 in 15 GP) for the League lead in scoring thanks in part to his NHL-best four outings with three-plus points. The 19-year-old can become the fastest player in Sharks history to record five three-point performances in a season – a distinction currently held by Joe Thornton (23 GP in 2006-07).
* Bedard (52-94—146 in 164 GP) carries a six-game point streak – the second-longest run of his career following a nine-game streak in 2024-25 – and is just four shy of reaching the 150-point milestone. Bedard (20 years, 113 days) can overtake Eddie Olczyk (20 years, 127 days on Dec. 21, 1986) as the youngest player in Blackhawks history to record 150 career points.
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