Game recaps, including milestone nights for Evgeni Malkin, Carey Price, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Johnny Gaudreau, in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM:Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin collected two assists for his 1,000th career point as the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit to down the Washington Capitals 5-3. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also became the only active player with six 90-point seasons on his resume.  Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had an assist to reach 1,200 career points. The Penguins (85 points) sit third in the Metropolitan Division. 

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin tallied his 1,000th career NHL point in a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals (Photo via NHL Images)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price picked up his franchise-record 315th win as his club defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-1. Price passed Hall-of-Famer Jacques Plante, whose record stood for nearly 56 years. The Canadiens (81 points) sit just outside the Eastern wild-card picture. 

The Calgary Flames erupted with six third-period goals to crush the New Jersey Devils 9-4. Johnny Gaudreau led the way with six points, including a hat trick, while Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm each collected four points. Gaudreau becomes the sixth player in franchise history to tally six points in a game. 

A goal by Joe Pavelski with five seconds remaining in regulation lifted the San Jose Sharks to a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Gustav Nyquist scored twice and Marc-Edouard Vlasic collected three points for the Sharks (94 points), who maintain a one-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the top spot in the Western Conference. 

Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop picked up his third straight shutout backstopping his club to a 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. With the win, the Stars (77 points) maintain their hold on the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bishop is also playing his way into this season’s Vezina Trophy conversation. He leads the league in save percentage (.932), sits second in goals-against average (2.08), and is tied for second in shutouts with six. 

Boone Jenner tallied his first NHL hat trick while Josh Anderson and Zach Werenski each collected four points to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 7-4 victory over the Boston Bruins. Brad Marchand scored twice for the Bruins. The Blue Jackets (81 points) hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. 

Darcy Kuemper made 39 saves as the Arizona Coyotes held off the St. Louis Blues 3-1. With the win, the Coyotes (75 points) vaulted over the Minnesota Wild into the final Western Conference wild-card spot, having won nine of their last 11 games. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: While the Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers have garnered most of the attention with their surges up the standings in recent weeks, the Coyotes have also been among the hottest teams in the league since early-January. They’re also doing it with an injury-depleted roster. 

John Gibson made 32 stops as the Anaheim Ducks edged the Nashville Predators 3-2. 

TORONTO SUN: The NHL has determined that Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly did not utter a homophobic slur during Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Some on social media accused Rielly of making the remark against referee Brad Meier. 

NEWSOBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Calvin de Haan is expected to recover from an eye injury suffered during Monday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. “We are optimistic that he will make a normal recovery without restrictions to his ability to play hockey in the near future,” said general manager Don Waddell.