Schmaltz celebrates goal

Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz decided to make history on Saturday because if he made it Sunday, it would have been just a little too coincidental.

Schmaltz put up a team record 7 points in a game against the Ottawa Senators to help the Coyotes complete a wild 8-5 comeback victory at Gila River Arena on Saturday.

The veteran forward, in his seventh NHL season and fourth with the Coyotes, also tied the Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets mark for most assists in a game with five.
This all happened on March 5, 2022. Schmaltz's four assists in the third period nearly matched the team record for most helpers in a single period, set by Hockey Hall of Fame forward Dale Hawerchuck, who had 5 assists in a period for the franchise when they were the Winnipeg Jets exactly 37 years and 364 days prior, on March 6, 1984.
Hawerchuk also tied his own mark for most assists in a game with five on March 4, 1990. He dished out five assists on March 18, 1989, so it must be something with the month.

As if that's not enough, the most recent member of the Coyotes to register five assists in a game was Keith Tkachuk, on February 23, 2001, whose son, Brady Tkachuk, is currently the captain of the Senators, Schmaltz's opponent on the record night.
To say the least, the feat earned Schmaltz the Player of the Game title from the team.

Wonder what Schmaltz will come up with next March.