NHL Public RelationsFebruary 24, 2022

* Corey Perry scored his 400th NHL goal, which stood as the winner in Tampa Bay’s final game before the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series (Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, SN360, TVAS). 

* Cale Makar moved into a tie with Nashville’s Roman Josi for the scoring lead among defensemen this season. Josi has a chance to regain the lead Thursday when his Predators play their final Stadium Series tune-up. 

* ICYMI: Sarah Nurse and Marie-Philip Poulin were guests during the first intermission on national broadcasts on TNT and Sportsnet, respectively, on Wednesday – one week after winning Olympic gold with Canada.  

PERRY REACHES MILESTONE IN TAMPA BAY’S LAST GAME BEFORE STADIUM SERIES
With Tampa Bay suiting up for one last tune-up before its first outdoor endeavor, veteran forward Corey Perry (1-1—2) netted his 400th NHL goal – the winning tally – to become the ninth active player to reach the plateau. The milestone marker came nearly 16 and a half years after his first NHL goal, also scored against the Oilers (Oct. 10, 2005 w/ ANA, in his third career game).



* Pat Maroon (1-1—2) scored in his fourth straight meeting versus Edmonton – his former team – after tallying only once against them in a dozen games before being acquired by the Oilers in 2015-16. Maroon, who notched an assist on Perry’s milestone goal, is the subject of an NHL.com feature ahead of Saturday’s outdoor game and also is a guest on the latest episode of “The Chirp with Daren Millard” podcast. 

* The entertainment lineup also is taking shape ahead of the first-ever NHL outdoor game in Nashville, with the unveil of nearly two dozen performers for Saturday’s showdown – including Jessie James Decker and Dustin Lynch – along with a new partnership between the League, NHLPA and TikTok. The TikTok announcement included news of pre-game performances – highlighted by country music star Walker Hayes– at the TikTok Tailgate Stage, which will become a signature feature of the partnership. 

MAKAR, SEIDER GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AS AVALANCHE EXTEND LEAD ATOP NHL STANDINGS 

Cale Makar and Moritz Seider each had two assists in a head-to-head matchup that saw the Avalanche (37-10-4, 78 points) claim a victory to build a three-point lead over the idle Panthers (35-11-5, 75 points) atop the NHL standings. 

* Makar boosted his totals to 18-35—53 (47 GP), tying Predators captain Roman Josi (14-39—53 in 49 GP) for the League lead in points among defensemen. In doing so, Makar claimed his third point streak of six-plus games in 2021-22 (0-9—9) to join Sandis Ozolinsh (3x in 1996-97)and Jeff Brown (3x in 1988-89) as the third blueliner in franchise history to post three such runs in one season. 



* Seider, who extended his point streak to five games (1-7—8), improved to 5-32—37 (52 GP) in 2021-22 and surpassed Jeff Sharples for sole possession of third place on the franchise list for points in a season by a rookie defenseman, trailing only Red Wings legend and Hockey Hall of Fame member Nicklas Lidstrom and Reed Larson. 

SUZUKI, MONTEMBEAULT HELP CANADIENS CLAIM FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN 

Nick Suzuki (2-1—3) scored twice, including a goal on his first career penalty shot attempt, and Sam Montembeault(32 saves) posted his first NHL shutout as the Canadiens claimed their fourth consecutive victory. Suzuki matched a career high for points in a game and recorded his first multi-goal outing since the 2020-21 regular-season finale. 
 

BLACK HOCKEY HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: JOSEPH BROTHERS

Pierre-Olivier and Mathieu Joseph were selected in the NHL Draft two years apart, with Mathieu going in the fourth round to Tampa Bay in 2015 (120th overall) and Pierre-Olivier in the first round to Arizona in 2017 (23rd overall). Already in the early stages of their careers, both have produced memorable moments:

* Mathieu has skated in 10 career postseason games, including four during the 2021 Stanley Cup Final against the Canadiens (with two of those coming in his home province of Quebec). He collected a primary assist on the winning goal in Game 3 of the Final and another helper on a tying goal in Game 4 to help Tampa Bay send the contest to overtime.

* Meanwhile, Pierre-Olivier collected an assist in his League debut, doing so with the Penguins on Jan. 22, 2021 (0-1—1 vs. NYR), and became just the third Pittsburgh defenseman in roughly 33 years to record a point in his first NHL game at age 21 or younger.



QUICK CLICKS

* Stadium Series ready for ‘killer party’ in Nashville 
* 2022 NHL Stadium Series ice crew prepares rink for Saturday’s game 
* Rodion Amirov, Maple Leafs first-round pick in 2020 Draft, has brain tumor 
* Steven Stamkos focused on third straight Stanley Cup, growing Lightning legacy 
* Pekka Rinne joins NHL on TNT ahead of jersey retirement

CHARA SET TO REWRITE NHL HISTORY 

Zdeno Chara will rewrite the NHL record book Thursday when the Islanders (19-20-7, 45 points) travel to SAP Center at San Jose to take on the Sharks (22-22-6, 50 points). Chara (1,651 GP) is set to eclipse Chris Chelios (1,651 GP) for the most games played among defensemen in League history – a distinction the latter has held since Feb. 21, 2009.



PREDATORS READY TO HONOR RINNE IN FINAL GAME BEFORE STADIUM SERIES
In their final contest ahead of the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, the Predators (29-18-4, 62 points) will clash with the Stars (27-20-2, 56 points) – their only other outdoor opponent to date. Nashville will raise Pekka Rinne’s No. 35 to the rafters of Bridgestone Arena – the first in franchise history – prior to puck drop after the eighth-round pick in the 2004 NHL Draft concluded his career atop every major goaltending category by a Predators netminder.



* Thursday also holds significance for general manager David Poile(3,199 GP). Poile – who spent Aug. 30, 1982 to May 12, 1997 with the Capitals – has spearheaded the Predators franchise since its inaugural season in 1997-98 (July 9, 1997). He will become the first general manager in NHL history to reach the 3,200-game mark (regular season and playoffs), with Glen Sather (3,025 GP) the next closest on the list. 
 

LINDHOLM, FLAMES LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS 

Multiple franchise records can fall Thursday when Elias Lindholm and the Flames (30-13-6, 66 points) visit the Canucks (24-22-6, 54 points) in Vancouver. While Lindholm (8 GP since Feb. 2) can establish the longest goal streak in franchise history, Calgary can register the franchise’s longest winning streak (10-0-0 since Jan. 29).
 

* Lindholm’s stretch also includes the game-winning goal in each of Calgary’s past three contests (Feb. 16, Feb. 19 & Feb. 21) and he can become just the third player in NHL history to score the winner in four consecutive games. Newsy Lalonde (5 GP w MTL in 1920-21) and Daniel Alfredsson (4 GP in 2006-07 w/ OTT) are the only skaters to ever accomplish the feat.

COURTESY NHL.media.com