ARVIDSSON SCORES THREE OF NASHVILLE’S SEASON-HIGH SEVEN GOALS
Viktor Arvidsson (3-0—3) recorded the second hat trick of his NHL career (also 3-0—3 on Feb. 11, 2017 vs. FLA) as the Predators scored a season-high seven goals to defeat the Capitals. Nashville (28-16-4, 60 points) occupies second place in the Central Division standings, two points back of Winnipeg (30-14-2, 62 points).

* Juuse Saros (26 saves) improved to 4-0-1 in his last six appearances dating to Dec. 15, allowing two goals or fewer in each contest (0.95 GAA, .966 SV%, 1 SO).

SHARKS POST SEVENTH STRAIGHT VICTORY
Tomas Hertl scored three times to propel the Sharks to their seventh straight victory. San Jose (28-13-7, 63 points), which earned wins in seven or more consecutive games for the 12th time in franchise history and first since March 12-26, 2018 (8-0-0), occupies second place in the Pacific Division standings.

* Tuesday’s outing marked Hertl’s second career hat trick and first since he tallied four goals in his third NHL game on Oct. 8, 2013 vs. NYR, which included a highlight-reel goal against Martin Biron.

HATS RAIN DOWN ACROSS THE NHL

There have been 55 hat tricks scored in 2018-19, the most in a season through games played Jan. 15 since 1992-93 (65).

* At least one hat trick has been scored in each of the last five days dating to Jan. 11, equaling the last season's longest such run from March 12-16, 2018. The last time at least one hat trick was scored in six consecutive days was March 3-8, 1999.

BLUE JACKETS MOVE INTO FIRST PLACE IN METROPOLITAN DIVISION STANDINGS

Artemi Panarin (1-1—2), Cam Atkinson (1-1—2) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (1-1—2) each collected two points to help the Blue Jackets extend their win streak to four games. Columbus improved to 28-15-3 (59 points) this season and surpassed Washington (27-14-5, 59 points) for first place in the Metropolitan Division standings.

* Panarin extended his goal streak to four games (5-2—7), one shy of his career high set from March 27 – April 4, 2017 with the Blackhawks (6-1—7 in 5 GP). Atkinson, meanwhile, scored for a third consecutive contest (3-2—5).

* Joonas Korpisalo (29 saves) improved to 9-2-2 this season (2.94 GAA, .902 SV%), including a 4-0-0 record since Dec. 27 (1.67 GAA, .942 SV%).

JETS BECOME SECOND CANADIAN TEAM TO REACH 30-WIN MARK

Blake Wheeler assisted on both third-period goals to help the Central Division-leading Jets (30-14-2, 62 points) become the third team to reach the 30-win mark this season, joining Tampa Bay (36-9-2, 74 points) and Calgary (30-13-4, 64 points). It marked the 13th season in NHL history where at least two of the first three teams to record 30 wins in a season were based in Canada and first since 1988-89 (MTL, CGY and PIT).

* Wheeler (9-51—60 in 46 GP), who shared the League lead with 68 helpers in 2017-18 (23-68—91 in 81 GP), joined Atlanta’s Marian Hossa (57 A in 2006-07 and 53 A in 2005-06) as the only players in Jets/Thrashers franchise history to reach the 50-assist mark in consecutive seasons.

* Laurent Brossoit made 43 saves – including 26 in the second period – to improve to 7-0-0 in his last seven appearances dating to Nov. 24 (2.26 GAA, .938 SV%, 1 SO).

RANGERS EARN 16TH CONSECUTIVE HOME WIN AGAINST HURRICANES
Mika Zibanejad (2-2—4) factored on four consecutive goals to help the Rangers improve to 16-0-0 in their last 16 regular-season home games against the Hurricanes dating to Jan. 5, 2011 (CAR: 0-13-3), extending their longest such win streak versus one opponent in franchise history.

* The NHL’s longest active regular-season home win streak against one opponent is 18 games, which is owned by the Penguins versus theJets/Thrashers dating to March 24, 2007 (WPG/ATL: 0-14-4). Pittsburgh extended its current run earlier this month with a 4-0 win at PPG Paints Arena on Jan. 4.

* Henrik Lundqvist (34 saves) earned the 444th regular-season win of his NHL career to move within one of tying Terry Sawchuk (445) for sixth place on the League’s all-time list. Lundqvist also made his 838th career regular-season appearance to surpass Jacques Plante (837) for sole possession of 12th place in NHL history.

CANADIENS, ISLANDERS SECURE WINS

The Canadiens (26-17-5, 57 points) and Islanders (26-15-4, 56 points), two teams who were not part of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, each secured wins to strengthen their grip on Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference standings. Overall, 21 teams either possess or are within four points of a playoff berth.

* Antti Niemi established a single-game career high with 52 saves, eclipsing his previous mark of 48 set on March 3, 2018 against the Bruins. Only two Canadiens goaltenders have recorded more saves in a regular-season game since 1955-56 when shots on goal became an official NHL statistic: Wayne Thomas on March 10, 1974 (53 at PIT) and Carey Price on Nov. 14, 2009 (53 at NSH).

* Jordan Eberle (10-11—21 in 41 GP) and Valtteri Filppula (10-10—20 in 43 GP) each scored to become the seventh and eighth Islanders playersto reach the 10-goal mark this season. It marked the ninth season in franchise history in which the Islanders featured eight or more 10-goal scorers through the first 45 games and first since 1984-85 (Mike Bossy, Brent Sutter, John Tonelli, Bryan Trottier, Patrick Flatley, Pat LaFontaine,Greg Gilbert and Clark Gillies).

QUICK CLICKS

* David Perron extends point streak to 12 games
* Max Domi and father Tie featured in latest installment of “Skates Off”
* Capitals host youth team that stood up for teammate after racial taunts

* Five Questions with Lightning GM Julien BriseBois

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

McDAVID, GAUDREAU AND RANTANEN LOOK TO REACH 70-POINT MARK

Oilers captain Connor McDavid (28-41—69 in 45 GP), Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau (27-42—69 in 47 GP) and Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (21-48—69 in 46 GP) can become the second, third and fourth players to reach the 70-point mark this season, in which they would join Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (22-53—75 in 47 GP). It would mark the ninth season in NHL history to feature four or more 70-point gettersthrough games played Jan. 16 and first since 1992-93 (Mario Lemieux, Pat LaFontaine, Adam Oates and Mark Recchi).