Around the League notebook for Thursday, Feb. 11

OFFENSIVE SURGE
Edmonton Oilers rookie Connor McDavid (2-3-5) led all players with five points Thursday. Overall, 11 players registered at least three points:
* Four-point games:
Jordan Eberle (EDM): 3-1-4
Logan Couture (SJS): 1-3-4
Benoit Pouliot (EDM): 0-4-4

* Three-point games:
Alex Ovechkin (WSH): 3-0-3
Patrick Eaves (DAL): 3-0-3
Jarome Iginla (COL): 2-1-3
Brad Marchand (BOS): 1-2-3
Sam Bennett (CGY): 1-2-3
Brett Connolly (BOS): 0-3-3
Nicklas Backstrom (WSH): 0-3-3
MCDAVID-EBERLE-POULIOT LINE (AGAIN) POWERS OILERS TO VICTORY
Connor McDavid (2-3-5) factored on all five Oilers goals and linemates Jordan Eberle (3-1-4) and Benoit Pouliot (0-4-4) each had four points to power Edmonton to a 5-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, snapping a three-game slide.
* Per the Elias Sports Bureau, McDavid (19 years, 29 days) became the ninth-youngest player in NHL history to record at least five points in a game and the youngest since Nov. 19, 2011, when current teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18 years, 221 days) posted 0-5-5 vs. CHI. That also marked the last time a rookie had five points in a game.
* Elias adds McDavid became the third rookie in Oilers history to record five points in a game, joining Nugent-Hopkins and Dave Lumley (Feb. 1, 1980 vs. WPG: 1-4-5).
* McDavid (Richmond Hill, Ontario), who faced his favorite childhood team for the first time, has 9-15-24 through his first 19 NHL games. McDavid (4-8-12), Eberle (7-3-10) and Pouliot (2-8-10) have combined for 13-19-32 in six games since McDavid's return from injury.
* Eberle registered his first NHL hat trick and third career four-point game (also Nov. 19, 2011 and Feb. 2, 2012: both 1-3-4 vs. CHI). Pouliot established a career-high for assists/points in a game.
OVECHKIN'S HAT TRICK HELPS CAPITALS REACH 40 WINS
Alex Ovechkin (3-0-3) scored three times in the second period to register his 14th career hat trick and lift the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 win against the Minnesota Wild, giving them a 7-1-1 record in their past nine games, including five straight victories.
* At 40-9-4 (84 points), the Capitals increased their lead to eight points over the Chicago Blackhawks (36-18-4, 76 points), who lost in regulation, for first place in the League standings. Via Elias, the Capitals became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 40 wins in a season in terms of games played (53 GP).
* Ovechkin posted his first hat trick since Dec. 10, 2013 vs. TBL (4-0-4) and also scored three goals in one period for the second time in his career (March 3, 2008 vs. BOS: 1st period). Ovechkin, who has 8-1-9 in his past eight games, scored goals 32, 33 and 34 to overtake Patrick Kane (33) for the League lead.
* With 509 career goals, Ovechkin also surpassed Jean Beliveau (507) into sole possession of 39th place in NHL history. Gilbert Perreault (512) is 38th.
EAVES' HAT TRICK LEADS STARS IN CENTRAL DIVISION SHOWDOWN
The Dallas Stars scored four times in the opening period, including three goals by Patrick Eaves (3-0-3), en route to a 4-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. It was their fourth consecutive road victory in their second game against the Blackhawks in the past week.
* At 35-15-5 (75 points), the Stars moved within one point of the Blackhawks (36-18-4, 76 points) for top spot in the Central Division and Western Conference. Dallas holds three games in hand, but Chicago leads in ROW (CHI: 35, DAL: 33).
* Eaves registered his second career hat trick and first since Dec. 29, 2010 at DAL (3-1-4 w/ DET). He has 4-3-7 in his past four games, compared to 3-1-4 in his first 31 games this season.
* Via Elias, Eaves became the second player in Stars/North Stars franchise history to record a hat trick in the first period of a game, following Bill Goldsworthy on Dec. 11, 1973 vs. LAK. He also became the second player to score three times within the opening 20 minutes of a game this season (also Sam Bennett: Jan. 13 vs. FLA).

MARCHAND, BERGERON HELP BRUINS TO FIFTH STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
Brad Marchand had 1-2-3 and Patrice Bergeron scored twice to help the Boston Bruins rebound from a lopsided defeat on Tuesday to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 and pick up their fifth consecutive road victory.
* At 29-19-6 (64 points), the Bruins moved past the idle Tampa Bay Lightning (29-20-4, 62 points) and tied the idle Detroit Red Wings (28-18-8, 64 points) in terms of points for second place in the Atlantic Division. Detroit and Tampa Bay both have 27 ROW, two more than Boston.
* Marchand extended his goal streak to five games, his second such run in his past 11 games (also Jan. 16-25), and posted his first three-point performance since Oct. 30, 2014 at BUF (2-1-3). He leads the Bruins and shares fifth in the League with 26 goals this season (49 GP), two shy of his career high established in 2011-12 (76 GP).
* Via Elias, Bergeron is tied for the League lead with five multigoal games this season. He has 21 goals overall, marking the seventh time in 12 NHL seasons he has reached the 20-goal milestone.
GOSTISBEHERE EXTENDS POINT STREAK TO 10 GAMES IN FLYERS WIN
Shayne Gostisbehere (0-1-1) factored on one of four second-period goals by the Philadelphia Flyers to extend his career-high point streak to 10 games (2-11-13) and help them defeat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1, improving the Flyers to 4-2-1 in their past seven games.
* Via Elias, Gostisbehere tied the NHL record for longest point streak by a rookie defenseman, a feat achieved twice during the 1977-78 season by Barry Beck with the Colorado Rockies (both 10 GP). Gostisbehere also equaled the Flyers' franchise record for longest point streak by any rookie, set by Mikael Renberg from March 13 - April 2, 1994 (8-8-16 in 10 GP).
* Gostisbehere also stretched his assist streak to nine games (11 A), the longest such run in the NHL since 2013-14 when Evgeni Malkin (15 A) and Claude Giroux (11 A) each had assists in nine straight.
* Gostisbehere leads rookie defensemen in goals (9), assists (20) and points (29). His 29 points also rank fifth among all rookies.
AROUND THE RINKS
* John Tavares and Casey Cizikas each had 1-1-2 to lead the New York Islanders to their third consecutive victory, 5-2 against the Los Angeles Kings. Tavares, who reached the 20-goal milestone for the seventh time in as many NHL seasons, posted his 11th multipoint game of the season, all wins for New York. At 29-18-6 (64 points), the Islanders moved within three points of the idle New York Rangers (31-18-5, 67 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
* Jarome Iginla (2-1-3) posted his second multigoal and three-point game of the season (also Nov. 3 vs. CGY: 2-1-3) to help the Colorado Avalanche defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 and snap a four-game skid (0-3-1). With 604 career goals, Iginla moved within four of tying Dino Ciccarelli (608) for 17th place in NHL history. Iginla scored each goal on the power play to also tie Pat Verbeek (186) for 23rd place on the NHL's all-time power-play goals list.
* The San Jose Sharks scored four straight goals, but Kris Russell tied the game at 8:08 of the third period and Jiri Hudler scored in the fourth round of the shootout to lead the Calgary Flames to a 6-5 win, their fourth in their past five games. Jonas Hiller made eight saves and denied three shootout attempts to earn the victory after replacing Kari Ramo (29 SV) with three minutes remaining in regulation.
* The Columbus Blue Jackets faced two multigoal deficits, but Brandon Dubinsky tied the game at 14:57 of the third period and Cam Atkinson scored the game-deciding goal in the shootout to help them defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 and improve to 5-1-2 in their past eight games. Joonas Korpisalo made 24 saves through overtime and denied two attempts in the tiebreaker to improve to 7-2-2 in his past 11 games.
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Flyers forward Nick Cousins scored his first NHL goal (19 GP).
* Flames forward Jiri Hudler (0-1-1) recorded his 400th career point.
* Sabres forward Justin Bailey, a second-round selection (No. 52) in the 2013 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut. With his appearance, Bailey became the fourth Buffalo-born player to play a regular-season game for the Sabres, joining Patrick Kaleta, Tim Kennedy and Scott Thomas.
* Stars forward Patrick Sharp played in his 800th NHL game while making his return to Chicago, where he won the Stanley Cup three times over the past 10 seasons. Teammate Johnny Oduya, who won two championships over the past four seasons, also returned to Chicago.
* Maple Leafs forward PA Parenteau played in his 400th NHL game.
LOOSE PUCKS
Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and Blue Jackets forward Brandon Saad both reached the 20-goal milestone . . . Sharks forward Joe Thornton (0-1-1) has registered at least one point in 22 of his past 24 games (8-23-31) . . . Flyers forward R.J. Umberger (50 GP) and Kings forward Kyle Clifford (44 GP) each halted lengthy goal droughts . . . Stars defenseman John Klingberg (1-1-2) has 4-2-6 in his past five games and shares second place among defensemen with 10-36-46 this season . . . Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (0-1-1) extended his point streak to five games (2-4-6) . . . Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (33 SV) earned his fifth consecutive victory and extended his personal point streak to eight games (7-0-1). He leads the NHL with 35 victories . . . Senators captain Erik Karlsson collected his 50th and 51st assists of the season (56 GP), tops in the League and eight shy of his career high of 59 set in 2011-12 (81 GP) . . . Forward David Perron (1-1-2) has 4-6-10 since joining the Ducks (10 GP) . . . Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen (31 SV) extended his personal point streak to eight consecutive decisions (6-0-2) . . . ICYMI: The
Blackhawks will host the 2017 NHL Draft
at United Center . . . The NHL announced Maple Leafs forward
Nazem Kadri has been fined $5,000 for inappropriate gestures
aimed at Flames defenseman Mark Giordano . . . The NHL unveiled an architectural rendering for the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Coors Field in Denver (DET @ COL).