Anze Kopitar wrote his name atop the Kings’ all-time points record page via a multi-goal performance that allowed him to surpass Hall of Fame forward Marcel Dionne, who had previously held the distinction for more than 45 years.
* Thomas Harley scored the overtime winner to climb atop a Stars/North Stars list and help Dallas match the longest point streak in franchise history (15 GP).
* Jamie Oleksiak scored the 14th and final goal by a defenseman on Saturday, bringing the League’s total in 2025-26 to 1,001. The only other seasons to feature as many from blueliners at this stage (1,056 GP) are 1992-93 (1,134), 1993-94 (1,045) and 1983-84 (1,005).
* The weekend continues with a six-game Sunday that includes a national broadcast across the U.S. on TNT which pits the Maple Leafs against the Wild.
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KOPITAR BECOMES KINGS’ ALL-TIME POINTS LEADER
Anze Kopitar recorded his 51st career multi-goal game to improve his career totals to 450-858—1,308 (1,505 GP) and become the Kings’ all-time points leader, besting Marcel Dionne (550-757—1,307 in 921 GP), who had held that distinction since 1981. Kopitar became the 10th active player to lead a franchise in points and third to achieve the feat this season after Sidney Crosby (PIT) and Mark Scheifele (WPG/ATL). Click here for the #NHLStats Pack on Kopitar becoming the Kings’ all-time points leader.
* Kopitar’s historic achievement came against the Devils – a franchise that has already played a significant role in his career. Kopitar won his first Stanley Cup (2012) during a championship series that pitted eighth-seeded Los Angeles against New Jersey. He scored the overtime winner in Game 1 and went on to tally 2-3—5 through six games – the second-highest total by any player that series – before hoisting the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
* Kopitar’s teammates cleared the bench to celebrate his franchise-record achievement with him and the Devils players stayed on the ice post-game to congratulate Kopitar with a handshake.
HARLEY SCORES OVERTIME WINNER, HELPS STARS PUSH POINT STREAK TO 15
After the Red Wings scored twice in the third period to erase a 2-0 deficit and send the game to overtime, Thomas Harley netted the winner to help the Stars extend their point streak to 15 games and match the longest run in franchise history (15 GP in 1998-99). Dallas (42-14-10, 94 points) gained ground on Colorado (44-12-9, 97 points) for first place in the Central Division (and overall League standings).
* The Stars were 12 points back of the Avalanche for top spot in the Central Division before their 15-game run began on Jan. 23. Dallas is now within three points of Colorado – the last time a team was this close to the Avalanche for first place in the Central was Dec. 10 (COL: 49; DAL: 47).
* Harley netted his seventh career overtime goal and passed John Klingberg (6) for sole possession of the most by a Stars/North Stars defenseman. Harley also collected his 10th career game-winning goal and became the seventh blueliner in Stars team history to reach the mark.
* Jake Oettinger extended his personal point streak to 12 games and tied Don Beaupre (12 GP in 1982-83) for the second-longest run by a Stars/North Stars goaltender. Casey DeSmith holds the franchise mark, set earlier in 2025-26 (13 GP from Oct. 26 – Dec. 23).
* The Stars became the third team to post a point streak of 15-plus games this season, following the Avalanche (17 GP from Oct. 26 – Dec. 2) and Lightning (15 GP from Dec. 20 – Jan. 23).
RACING TO THE WILD CARD IN THE EAST…
The Blue Jackets and Senators – both in the race for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference – as well as the Bruins, who currently hold one of those seeds, all earned wins Saturday:
* Kirill Marchenko hit the 100-goal milestone and helped the Blue Jackets (34-21-11, 79 points) inch within one point of the Red Wings (36-23-8, 80 points) for the second Wild Card spot. Marchenko (276 GP) became the second-fastest player to score 100 goals with the Blue Jackets, trailing only Rick Nash (237 GP).
* Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for his 14th career shutout and became the first goaltender in Senators history to record consecutive 20-win seasons to begin his tenure with the franchise. In the process, Ottawa (33-23-9, 75 points) moved within five points of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and hold games in hand over the two teams who currently occupy those positions.
* Charlie McAvoy scored both of Boston’s goals in its eventual 3-2 shootout win and became the first Bruins defenseman since Ray Bourque (16 GP in 1993-94) to record a point in seven straight road contests as Boston (37-23-6, 80 points) leapfrogged Detroit for the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. McAvoy’s contributions on the ice have been pivotal for the Bruins in their pursuit of securing a postseason position, but he has made an impact in the community as well.
… AND ALSO IN THE WEST: A LOOK AT THE WILD CARD RACE
There was another shake-up in the Western Conference Wild Card race on Saturday as the Kraken inched closer and the Sharks moved back into the picture:
* Bobby McMann tallied 2-1—3 in his Kraken debut and helped Seattle (30-26-9, 69 points) move within one point of the playoff line in the West. McMann became the first player in Kraken history to score two goals in their franchise debut and the first skater to tally three points in their debut for any team since Rasmus Sandin with the Capitals (0-3—3 on March 4, 2023).
* Macklin Celebrini (2-1—3) recorded his 15th three-point game of 2025-26 and helped the Sharks (32-26-6, 70 points) jump past the Kings (27-24-15, 69 points) for the second Wild Card spot. He tied Nikita Kucherov for the second-most three-point outings this season behind Nathan MacKinnon (17) and surpassed Joe Thornton (14 in 2005-06) for the second most in a campaign by a Sharks player. Thornton (18 in 2006-07) tops that list.
#NHLSTATS FROM TEAMS IN PLAYOFF POSITION HIGHLIGHTED IN LIVE UPDATES
The Atlantic and Metropolitan Division’s top teams both padded their leads, while other clubs currently above the playoff line added to their win totals, including the Golden Knights who jumped into first in the Pacific Division for the first time in 10 days. Every note from Saturday’s slate can be found here.
* Mitch Marner (0-2—2) reached the 50-assist mark as Adin Hill collected his seventh shutout with the club to help Vegas (31-22-14, 76 points) overtake Anaheim (36-27-3, 75 points) for the Pacific Division’s top spot. Marner matched David Perron (66 GP) as the fastest player to record 50 assists with the Golden Knights and also joined Perron as the only players to reach the mark in their first season with the franchise.
* The Penguins (33-18-15, 81 points) earned their fifth multi-goal comeback win of the season – and second without Sidney Crosby since the Olympic break – to stay above the Islanders (38-24-5, 81 points), who also won Saturday, for second in the Metropolitan Division. New York earned its League-leading 25th one-goal win of the season, one back of its most in a single campaign (26 in 2014-15).
* The Hurricanes (42-18-6, 90 points) maintained a nine-point gap over the Penguins and Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division and became the first team in the East to hit the 90-point plateau. Carolina (66 GP) established its fourth-fastest pace to 90 points in a season, following 2022-23 (61 GP), 2005-06 (61 GP) and 2021-22 (63 GP).
* Buffalo (41-20-6, 88 points) earned the shootout win over Toronto and built a four-point cushion over Tampa Bay (40-21-4, 84 points) for first in the Atlantic Division. The Sabres improved to 3-0-1 against the Maple Leafs in their final meeting this season. The last campaign Buffalo finished without a regulation loss to Toronto was 1997-98 (1-0-1).
QUICK CLICKS
* Anze Kopitar draws praise from Marcel Dionne after breaking Kings‘ points record
* Auston Matthews out for season for Maple Leafs with grade 3 MCL tear
* Wild sport custom T-shirts to celebrate Jared Spurgeon’s 1,000th NHL game
* Jack Hughes hypes up USA baseball prior to matchup with Canada
* Kraft Hockeyville names Provincial/Territorial winners to vie for 2027 honor
KAPRIZOV, TAVARES CHASE GOAL BENCHMARKS SUNDAY ON TNT
The weekend concludes with a six-game Sunday that opens with the suddenly surging Blues (7-1-1 since returning from Olympic break) looking to claw their way back into the playoff race when they visit the Jets and includes John Tavares and the Maple Leafs visiting Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild with both players closing in on season scoring benchmarks.
* Kaprizov (38-41—79) sits two goals shy of his fourth career 40-goal season (in a five-season span) – Leon Draisiatl (4x) and David Pastrnak (4x) are the only skaters who currently own four 40-goal campaigns since 2021-22 (both could add to that total in 2025-26). Tavares (23-31—54) is two goals shy of his 14th 25-goal season, which would trail Alex Ovechkin (19x), Sidney Crosby (16x) and Steven Stamkos (15x) for the fourth most among active skaters. Ovechkin (24 G) can add to his total in 2025-26.
USA AIMS TO CONTINUE GOLD MEDAL RUN AT WINTER PARALYMPICS
The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team will look to add to the gold medal totals acquired by the women’s and men’s Olympic hockey teams in Milan when they face a familiar foe, Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, in the gold medal game of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics Games (11:05 a.m. ET). The game will be contested on the same ice in Milan that Megan Keller and Jack Hughes scored their “golden goal” against Canada.
* The NHL, NHLPA and 32 Clubs are committed to supporting sled hockey in the U.S. and Canada. The first-ever ‘Reeve Hockey Classic’ featured the Paralympic sled hockey rivals in a competitive tournament. The NHL has been a longtime presenting partner of the USA Hockey Sled Classic and also is partnered with Warrior 4 Life Fund. Through the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, investments support three adaptive hockey programs with the Islanders, growing sled hockey with the Hurricanes, and aiding Learn to Play sled hockey programs in NHL markets including Boston, Calgary, and Tampa Bay.
* ICYMI: NHL.com featured Team USA captain and four-time gold medalist Josh Pauls ahead of the tournament.
