Several players headed to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla., shone Thursday.
* Alex Ovechkin (29-19-48 in 41 GP) scored to move within one marker of tying longtime Capitals forward Mike Gartner (17) for the most 30-goal seasons in NHL history and help Washington extend its road winning streak to a franchise-record seven games. The 32 players named to an All-Star team roster have a combined 4,833 career regular-season goals, with Ovechkin accounting for nearly one-fifth of them.
* Connor McDavid (272-500-772 in 527 GP) tallied two helpers to reach the 500-assist milestone after being named to his sixth career NHL All-Star Game - the same night teammate Leon Draisaitl
(276-400-676 in 596 GP) celebrated 400 career helpers. McDavid improved his League-leading point totals to 33-42-75 (40 GP) and became the fourth player in the past 30 years to record 75-plus points through 40 games in season, joining Mario Lemieux (42-62-104 in 1995-96 & 39-65-104 in 1992-93), Jaromir Jagr (35-47-82 in 1995-96) and Pat LaFontaine (26-49-75 in 1992-93).
* Sidney Crosby (20-25-45 in 38 GP) found the back of the net in Vegas and became just the second active player to record 15 or more 20-goal seasons, joining Ovechkin (18). Crosby, who is one of six NHL players to capture the All-Star Game MVP, Hart Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy in his career (also Jean Beliveau, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Sakic & Lemieux), is on pace for his third season with 40-plus goals and seventh with 90 or more points.
* Jack Hughes (24-22-46 in 39 GP) had two goals in the Devils' loss to the Blues to boost his team-leading total to 24 this season. Hughes, one of 14 team leaders in goals named to an All-Star roster (outright or tied), recorded his 41st career multi-point game and tied Brendan Shanahan for the second most by a Devils/Rockies/Scouts skater before age 22 (only Kirk Muller has more w/ 63).
* Kevin Hayes (1-2-3) was one of three Flyers players with three or more points (also Morgan Frost & Travis Konecny) as Philadelphia posted a season-high six goals, including five in the middle frame. Hayes (10-25-35 in 38 GP) is one of 16 team leaders in assists named to an All-Star roster (outright or tied).
* Matty Beniers buried one of Seattle's five goals as the Kraken snapped the Maple Leafs' home point streak at 11 games (8-0-3 dating to Nov. 12, 2022). Beniers was one of two rookies named to an All-Star team roster, with the other one being Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson.
* Juuse Saros stopped 64 of the Hurricanes' 67 shots on goal to establish a new single-game franchise record for saves by a Predators goaltender. Saros, who is set to appear in an NHL All-Star Game for the second time in as many years, helped Nashville snap Carolina's home winning streak at eight contests.
