HAT TRICK SPARKS MAPLE LEAFS RALLY IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR
Patrick Marleau (1-0—1) tied the game with 15.3 seconds remaining in regulation and James van Riemsdyk (3-0—3) netted his third career hat trick as the Maple Leafs (41-22-7, 89 points) rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to win in a shootout and extend their franchise-record home winning streak to 11 contests.

* Toronto overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to win for a League-leading fourth time this season, one more than the Predators (3) and Islanders (3). In addition, the Maple Leafs relinquished a two-goal lead and overcame a two-goal deficit en route to victory in the same game for the fourth time in franchise history. The only other teams to win in such a manner this season: Pittsburgh (Jan. 7 vs. BOS) and Nashville (Oct. 10 vs. PHI).

* With the hat trick, van Riemsdyk lifted his season totals to 29-15—44 in 69 GP to pass Auston Matthews (28-22—50 in 53 GP) for most goals on the team and move within one tally of his career high (30 in 2013-14).

PLAYOFF HOPEFULS COLLECT CRUCIAL POINTS
The Devils (36-26-8, 80 points), Ducks (35-24-12, 82 points) and Sharks (38-23-9, 85 points) each skated to victories to continue their push to the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.

* Taylor Hall (1-1—2) was one of five players to record multiple points as New Jersey scored eight goals in a game for the first time since Dec. 12, 2008 vs. NYR and leapfrogged idle Columbus into the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. The Devils, who also netted eight goals in a road game for the first time since Nov. 25, 2005 at TBL, trail the Flyers (35-24-11, 81 points) by just one point for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Brandon Montour (2-0—2) netted his first career two-goal game and John Gibson made 32 saves to record his third shutout of the season (15th career) and help the Ducks move into a tie – in terms of points – with the Avalanche (37-24-8, 82 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Montour, who recorded his fourth game-winning goal of the season, trails only Tampa Bay’s Mikhail Sergachev (5) and St. Louis’ Alex Pietrangelo (5) for the most such tallies by a defenseman in 2017-18.

* Logan Couture collected 1-2—3 and assisted on Tomas Hertl’s overtime goal as the Sharks earned a victory in the first contest of a three-game road trip through Western Canada. With the win, San Jose maintained second place in the Pacific Division and extended its lead to three points over the third-place Kings (38-26-6, 82 points).

ZIBANEJAD’S LATE-GAME HEROICS LEAD RANGERS TO VICTORY
Chris Kreider collected his first career four-point game (1-3—4) and Mika Zibanejad (2-0—2) tied the game with 3:17 remaining in regulation before scoring the winner in overtime to lift the Rangers (32-32-7, 71 points) to victory.

* Zibanejad, whose overtime tally was the 100th goal of his NHL career, became just the third player in Rangers franchise history to score a tying goal in the final five minutes of regulation and go on to net the overtime winner. The others: Derek Stepan (April 6, 2015 vs. CBJ) and Theo Fleury (Jan. 16, 2001 vs. PHI). The only other player on any team to accomplish the feat this season was Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek on Feb. 20 vs. MTL.

QUICK CLICKS

· Susan Sarandon goes between the benches during Penguins-Rangers game

· VIDEO: Alex Ovechkin joined Kevin Weekes to reflect on his career after 600-goal milestone

· Michel Bergeron, Nordiques were on wrong end of NHL record (via Dave Stubbs)

· Andrew Ference set to 'hit ground running' in new NHL job

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION

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LAINE LOOKS TO SET POINT STREAK RECORD

Jets forward Patrik Laine looks to extend his point streak to 14 games – which would be the longest ever recorded by a teenager in NHL history – when the Jets (41-19-10, 92 points) host the Blackhawks (30-32-8, 68 points) at Bell MTS Place. Laine’s current 13-game run (16-7—23) is the longest in Jets/Thrashers franchise history (regardless of age) and the second longest by any player in the NHL this season (Taylor Hall: 13-13—26 in 19 GP).

BLUE JACKETS SET SIGHTS ON SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN

The Blue Jackets (37-28-5, 79 points), who hold the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, look to match a season high with six consecutive wins when they visit the Flyers (35-24-11, 81 points), who lead Columbus by two points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Seth Jones has recorded 4-3—7 during Columbus’ five-game run, including the game-winning goal in each of the last three contests. He can become the first defenseman in NHL history, and third player overall, to record the game-winning goal in four consecutive contests joining Montreal’s Newsy Lalonde (5 straight from Feb. 12 – 26, 1921 w/ MTL) and Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson (4 straight from Jan. 9 – 16, 2007 w/ OTT).

the above information was supplied by the NHL PR department