HALL NOTCHES FOUR POINTS IN DEVILS VICTORY

Taylor Hall (2-2—4), Kyle Palmieri (1-2—3) and Nico Hischier (1-1—2) - New Jersey’s top three scorers this season - each registered multiple points to lead the Devils past the Senators.

* One day after becoming the third player from the 2010 NHL Draft to hit the 200-goal mark, Hall posted his second four-point performance of the season (also 2-2—4 Nov. 13 vs. PIT). The reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner now has nine career games with at least four points, including one five-point outing (April 3, 2013 at CGY w/ EDM).

* Hall paces the club with 11-26—37 in 2018-19 (32 GP), including 4-7—11 through eight games in December - missing the score sheet on only two occasions this month.

* Palmieri notched his team-leading 18th goal of the season to move within two of his fourth 20-goal campaign. He has tallied at least 24 goals in each of his first three seasons since joining the Devils, including a career-high 30-goal campaign in 2015-16. Since 2004-05, only two Devilsplayers have recorded four straight 20-goal campaigns: Brian Gionta (2005-06 - 2008-09) and Zach Parise (2006-07 - 2009-10).

HOLTBY’S 36 SAVES LEAD CAPITALS TO VICTORY

Braden Holtby stopped 36 of 37 shots he faced to help the Capitals shut down a trio of streaking Sabres - Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner, who each entered with a point streak of at least seven games - and improve to 13-3-0 in their past 16 contests dating to Nov. 16.

* MUST SEE: Holtby, who improved to 9-3-1 in 13 career games against Buffalo, made an adventurous trip to the blueline late in the second period, but recovered to preserve Washington’s one-goal lead.

* Evgeny Kuznetsov notched an assist on the go-ahead goal with seven minutes remaining in the third period, boosting his 2018-19 stats to 7-25—32 (28 GP). He has recorded at least one point in all but five contests this season, tied with Connor McDavid (29 of 34 GP) for the fewest games without a point thus far (min. 20 GP). The 26-year-old Chelyabinsk, Russia, native now sits three points shy of 300 in his NHL career (87-210—297 in 368 GP).

CALIFORNIA NATIVE COLLIN DELIA RECORDS SECOND CAREER WIN

Twenty-four year-old Blackhawks netminder Collin Delia held the NHL’s top line of Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog off the score sheet in his first start of the season, stopping 34 of 35 shots in Chicago’s victory. Delia improved his record to 2-1-0 in three career starts, two of which have come in Colorado.

* Born in Rancho Cucamonga, Cali., Delia signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent on July 28, 2017 and is one of only three California-born goaltenders in NHL history (also John Blue and Thatcher Demko). Delia has appeared in 17 games with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs this season, leading the League with a .933 save percentage and sharing second among qualified goaltenders with a 2.34 goals-against average.

* Alex DeBrincat scored the winning goal to boost his totals to 16-14—30 this season, tied for second on the team in goals with captainJonathan Toews, one behind Patrick Kane (17).

QUICK CLICKS

* Urho Vaakanainen of Bruins to play for Finland at World Junior Championship

* Golden Knights prospect Cody Glass prepared for World Junior success with Canada

* Winter Classic preparations on schedule at Notre Dame Stadium

* Home Cookin': Mom's Danish pudding, Risengrød, is Nikolaj Ehlers' Christmas star

* P.K. Subban sings with kids, teammates and more in 'Carol Crawl'

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

PLETHORA OF GOAL SCORERS IN ACTION ON SATURDAY

* Auston Matthews (19-14—33 in 21 GP) needs one goal in the next four games to become the ninth different player in Maple Leafs franchise history to reach 20 goals in 25 or fewer personal games to begin a season. There have been three instances in the modern era (since 1943-44) of a Maple Leafs player achieving the feat: Dave Andreychuk (1992-93 in 19 GP), Wendel Clark (1993-94 in 20 GP) and Sweeney Schriner(1944-45 in 24 GP).

* Morgan Rielly (11-29—40 in 35 GP) posted his second four-point performance of the season Thursday to become the third defenseman since 1993-94 to record 40 or more points before Christmas, joining Bryan McCabe in 2005-06 (12-30—42 in 35 GP w/ TOR) and Brian Leetch in 2000-01 (10-35—45 in 36 GP w/ NYR). Bobby Orr is the only blueliner in NHL history to post at least 60 points before Dec. 25, doing so in 1974-75 with the Bruins (23-43—66 in 34 GP).

* Alex Ovechkin can become the second player in NHL history to score 30 or more goals in each of his first 14 seasons, with Mike Gartner(15) the only player to do so. He can also become the third player in League history to score 30 or more goals in 14 consecutive seasons at any point in his career, joining Gartner (15) and Jaromir Jagr (15).

* Connor McDavid (21 years, 343 days) needs one assist to reach the 200-mark in his career as he looks to add another milestone to his resume after hitting the 100-goal (Nov. 20 at SJS) and 300-point (Dec. 13 at WPG) marks already this season. Only five players in League history have recorded their 200th assist before age 22: Wayne Gretzky (20 years, 265 days), Sidney Crosby (21 years, 72 days), Mario Lemieux (21 years, 177 days), Dale Hawerchuk (21 years, 251 days) and Ron Francis (21 years, 346 days).

* Elias Pettersson is three goals shy of 17 and leads all rookies with 17-19—36 in 32 games. Only 42 players in the League’s modern era (since 1943-44) have scored their 20th goal within their first 40 career games. The only active players to achieve this feat: Alex Ovechkin (33 GP), Auston Matthews (36 GP), Brock Boeser (37 GP), Evgeni Malkin (38 GP), Sidney Crosby (39 GP) and Patrik Laine (40 GP).

FIVE CLUBS TO PLAY 4,000TH REGULAR-SEASON GAME IN THE NEXT WEEK

Five franchises will play their 4,000th regular-season game in the next week, beginning today with the Stars, Kings and Penguins. The Stars will hit the milestone on the road in Minnesota, where they began as the North Stars with the six-team expansion in 1967-68. The Flyers will hit the mark Thursday in Tampa, followed by the Blues Saturday at home against the Penguins.

* Four other franchises will reach regular-season games played milestones later in 2018-19: the Jets (1,500 GP; Feb. 14 vs. COL), Devils(3,500 GP; March 19 vs. WSH), Capitals (3,500 GP; March 20 vs. TBL) and Bruins (6,500 GP; April 6 vs. TBL).

EUROPEAN GAME OF THE WEEK: PREDATORS AT BRUINS

The final Saturday before the Christmas break begins with the NHL European Game of the Week between Roman Josi and the Predators (22-12-2, 46 points) and Bruins (19-12-4, 42 points), who are led in scoring by 22-year-old David Pastrnak (22-22–44 in 35 GP).