* Nick Schmaltz scored 2-5—7 Saturday to stand alone as the only player with a seven-point game for the Coyotes/Jets franchise, a club which has featured multiple Hockey Hall of Famers such as Dale Hawerchuk, Phil Housley and Teemu Selanne.
* While the Predators scored at least eight goals in a game for the eighth time in franchise history, Saturday also marked the third time Nashville has featured four players each register three-plus points.
* The top two teams in the Western Conference squared off Saturday and Johnny Gaudreau matched a franchise record en route to lifting the Flames past the Avalanche.
SCHMALTZ SETS FRANCHISE RECORD WITH SEVEN-POINT SHOWING SATURDAY
Nick Schmaltz (2-5—7) established a Coyotes/Jets franchise record for points in a game as Arizona surrendered a 4-0 lead but responded with four unanswered third-period goals to defeat Ottawa at Gila River Arena.
* Schmaltz, who eclipsed the club’s previous single-game record of six points set by Jets forwards Dale Hawerchuk (3x; last: 1-5—6 on March 18, 1989), Willy Lindstrom (5-1—6 on March 2, 1982), Thomas Steen (2-4—6 on Oct. 24, 1984) and Eddie Olczyk (2-4—6 on Dec. 21, 1991), became the first NHLer with seven or more in a contest since Edmonton’s Sam Gagner over a decade ago.
* Entering Saturday, Schmaltz’s single-game career high for points was three. He became the third player in NHL history to record seven or more points in a game without previously having four-plus in a contest entering play that day, joining Hamilton Tigers forward Red Green (5-2—7 on Dec. 5, 1924) and Blues forward Garry Unger (3-4—7 on March 13, 1971).
* Schmaltz also matched the franchise record for assists in a game, a feat last achieved by Coyotes forward Keith Tkachuk (0-5—5 on Feb. 23, 2001). Tkachuk’s son is Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who skated across from Schmaltz Saturday.
PREDATORS OFFENSE ALSO IGNITES FOR EIGHT-GOAL OUTING
Matt Duchene (2-0—2) was one of three Nashville skaters with multiple goals as the Predators (31-20-4, 66 points) matched their largest margin of victory in franchise history (also 8-0 vs DET on Feb. 28, 2009). Nashville sits one point ahead of Dallas (31-20-3, 65 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference and one point behind Minnesota (32-18-3, 67 points) for third place in the Central Division.
* Duchene, on pace for his first career 40-goal season, became just the third player in Predators history to score multiple goals in consecutive road games. The others: J-P Dumont (2 GP in 2010-11) and Yanic Perreault (2 GP in 2005-06).
* Meanwhile, captain Roman Josi (0-4—4) recorded his second career outing with four-plus assists and teammate Michael McCarron (2-2—4)collected a career-high four points – two of five such outings Saturday (also Nick Schmaltz: 2-5—7, Clayton Keller: 2-2—4 & Shayne Gostisbehere: 1-3—4). Only one other day this season has featured at least five players record four or more points in a game: Oct. 14, 2021 (6).
FLAMES STAY HOT AGAINST NHL-LEADING AVALANCHE
After the top two teams in the Western Conference came together for a ceremonial puck drop to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of You Can Play, Johnny Gaudreau (1-2—3) scored in overtime to help the Flames (33-14-7, 73 points) hand the Avalanche (40-11-5, 85 points) just their sixth defeat at Ball Arena this season. Calgary improved to 13-1-1 over its past 15 games dating to Jan. 29, posting four more wins and six more points than the next-closest clubs over that span.
* Saturday marked the ninth three-point outing of the season for both Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk (0-3—3), who matched Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen for the second most among all players in 2021-22. Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (12) is the only skater with more.
MAKAR’S STREAKS HIGHLIGHT #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Cale Makar was featured in the Saturday edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates as he boosted his totals to 18-42—60 (52 GP), becoming the first defenseman to reach the 60-point mark this season while requiring the fewest games to reach the milestone among all blueliners in franchise history. In doing so, Makar extended his point and assist streak to 11 games (0-16—16), marking the second-longest point streak by an Avalanche/Nordiques blueliner behind only Steve Duchesne (15 GP in 1992-93).
* Makar is on pace for 90 points in 2021-22 – a benchmark an NHL defenseman has not reached in his lifetime. The Avalanche stalwart can become the first blueliner to reach at least 90 points in a single campaign since Hockey Hall of Fame member Ray Bourque did so with the Bruins in 1993-94 (20-71—91 in 72 GP).
QUICK CLICKS
* You Can Play celebrates 10th anniversary
* Dream Gap Tour stop at Capitals practice facility inspires women to play
* Islanders honor Zdeno Chara in pre-game ceremony
* Rick Nash’s No. 61 raised to the rafters at Nationwide Arena
* Mark Giordano, Wayne Simmonds skate in 1,000th career games
FRANCIS FACING HURRICANES HIGHLIGHTS EIGHT-GAME SUNDAY IN THE NHL
Sunday is highlighted by Seattle clashing with Carolina at PNC Arena for the first time since Ron Francis was named Kraken general manager. Francis, who served in the same capacity with the Hurricanes from April 28, 2014 to March 7, 2018, skated parts of 16 seasons with the franchise (1981-82–1990-91; 1998-99–2003-04) and tops the club’s all-time lists for goals (382), assists (793), points (1,175) and games played (1,186).
