CAPITALS PREVAIL IN WINTER CLASSIC PREVIEW
Trailing 2-0 late in the middle frame, the Capitals scored three unanswered goals – including the tying and winning markers 42 seconds apart – to defeat the Blackhawks in their lone meeting before the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park.

* The Capitals snapped a five-game losing streak dating to Oct. 26 (0-4-1). They also picked up their first win at United Center since March 14, 2010.

* Joel Ward recorded the game-winning goal, the 14th of his NHL career and second of the season (also Oct. 25 at CGY). He has found the back of the net in each of the past three games and paces the Capitals with seven goals in 2014-15.

* Matt Niskanen collected the primary assist on the tying and winning goals, marking his second multi-point performance of the season (also 0-2—2 Oct. 16 vs. NJD).

* Marcus Johansson posted 1-1—2 to extend his point streak to four games (3-3—6).

* Andre Burakovsky also recorded 1-1—2 and now ranks second among rookies with 3-7—10 in 13 games this season.

* Braden Holtby made a season-high 38 saves, including 13 in the third period, to pick up his fourth win.

LINDHOLM (AGAIN) LIFTS HURRICANES
Down 2-1 midway through the third period, Victor Rask scored the tying goal and Elias Lindholm potted the overtime winner to lead the Hurricanes to their fourth consecutive victory.

* Lindholm has registered at least one point during all four games of the team’s winning streak (4-2—6), including three of the decisive goals (also Nov. 1 vs. ARI and Nov. 2 vs. LAK).

* At age 19, Lindholm became the fourth teenager in Hurricanes/Whalers history to score a regular-season overtime goal, joining Sylvain Cote, Justin Faulk and Eric Staal (via Elias).

* Making his fourth straight start, Cam Ward recorded 29 saves to pick up the victory. Ward has a 1.48 goals-against average and .944 save percentage during the four-game winning streak, his longest personal run since Jan. 24-30, 2010 (4-0-0).

* Rask posted 1-1—2 for his first career multi-point game.

* The Hurricanes swept their home-and-home series with the Blue Jackets following a 4-2 win Tuesday in Columbus. Carolina now has won four of their past five meetings dating to Jan. 27 (4-0-1).

COYOTES RALLY TO EDGE DUCKS
Behind 2-0 after 20 minutes, Rob Klinkhammer and Shane Doan scored 58 seconds apart in the second period and Mikkel Boedker recorded the shootout winner to power the Coyotes to their third consecutive win.

* The Coyotes overcame a multi-goal deficit on the road for the second straight game. On Sunday, they trailed the Capitals 3-1 after the first period but scored five consecutive goals en route to a 6-5 victory.

* Doan now has 33-39—72 in 97 career regular-season games against the Ducks. His 33 goals are the most by any opponent versus Anaheim, one more than Brett Hull.

* Mike Smith made a season-high 37 saves – and denied two of three shootout attempts – to record his second straight victory.

* The Coyotes picked up their first win against the Ducks since April 27, 2013, snapping a five-game skid in the head-to-head series (0-3-2).

DEFENSEMEN FUEL RED WINGS
Trailing 1-0 late in the opening period, the Red Wings scored four consecutive goals – including three by defensemen – to snap their three-game skid (0-1-2).

* Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith found the back of the net 33 seconds apart to give the Red Wings the lead. Niklas Kronwall then added an insurance marker late in the middle frame. Per Elias, it marks the first time three different Red Wings defensemen have scored in the same game since Nov. 12, 2011, when Kronwall, Brad Stuart and Ian White all recorded goals in a 5-2 win vs. DAL.

* Johan Franzen posted the game-winning goal. He now has 3-5—8 in eight appearances this season and 6-3—9 in nine career games against the Devils.

* The Red Wings improved to 11-1-0 in their last 12 meetings with the Devils at Joe Louis Arena dating to Dec. 19, 1997.

GORDON POWERS OILERS TO FIRST ROAD WIN
Down 2-1 midway through the third period, Mark Arcobello scored the tying goal and Boyd Gordon netted the decisive marker with 4:15 remaining to lift the Oilers to their first road win of the season.

* Gordon registered his seventh career game-winning goal and first since Jan. 5 vs. TBL.

* Iiro Pakarinen added his first career goal in his second NHL game. A seventh-round pick (184th overall) by the Panthers in the 2011 NHL Draft, Pakarinen made his League debut Thursday at BOS.

* The Oilers recorded just their second victory in their last nine meetings with the Sabres dating to Jan. 16, 2006 (2-6-1). Their other win came in their most recent trip to Buffalo, also a 3-2 decision Feb. 3.

LOOSE PUCKS
Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf scored the game’s opening goal and now has 16-38—54 in 52 regular-season contests against the Coyotes, his most goals (tied), assists and points versus any opponent . . . Sabres goaltender Michal Neuvirth made 49 saves, two shy of his career high (51; March 13 at CAR) . . . Blue Jackets forward Scott Hartnell (2-0—2) registered his first multi-goal game since March 18 vs. CHI (2-0—2) . . . Playing in his first game against his former team, Devils forward Jordin Tootoo scored his first goal since April 24, 2013 vs. LAK . . . Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford extended his shutout streak to 153:30 before yielding a second-period goal to Andre Burakovsky . . . Devils forward Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,487th career game, tying Wayne Gretzky for 17th place in NHL history . . . Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith played in his 700th NHL game . . . Capitals forward Jay Beagle played in his 200th NHL game . . . ICYMI: Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad shared his journey to the NHL . . . Longtime broadcaster Rick Jeanneret and Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly dropped the ceremonial opening puck at the Sabres-Oilers game as part of Buffalo’s Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Calgary @ Florida, 3:00 p.m., SNW, FS-F (#CGYvsFLA)
Pittsburgh @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., FX-CA, ROOT, MSG-B (#PITvsBUF)
NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m., CBC, MSG 2 (#NYRvsTOR)
Minnesota @ Montreal, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, CITY, TVA, FS-N+ (#MINvsMTL)
Winnipeg @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m., SN (#WPGvsOTT)
Colorado @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., ALT, CSN-PH (#COLvsPHI)
Tampa Bay @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., SUN, FS-O (#TBLvsCBJ)
Carolina @ Washington, 8:00 p.m., FS-CR, CSN-DC+ (#CARvsWSH)
Nashville @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., FS-TN, FS-MW (#NSHvsSTL)
San Jose @ Dallas, 8:00 p.m., CSN-CA, FS-SW (#SJSvsDAL)
NY Islanders @ Arizona, 8:00 p.m., MSG+, FS-A (#NYIvsARI)
Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 10:00 p.m., CBC, TVA2, FS-W (#VANvsLAK)
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FIVE GAMES HIGHLIGHT SATURDAY’S NATIONAL SCHEDULE
Five games highlight Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada schedule: the Penguins look to extend their six-game winning streak when they visit the Sabres; the Rangers try to stretch their four-game point streak (2-0-2) when they face the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre; Thomas Vanek makes his return to Bell Centre when the Wild take on the Canadiens; two of the hottest clubs in the NHL meet when the Jets, who have points in seven straight (5-0-2), visit the Senators, who have points in four of their past five (3-1-1); and the Kings try to extend their seven-game home points streak (6-0-1) when they play host to the Canucks, winners of six of their last seven.

CANADIENS RETIRE LAPOINTE’S JERSEY
The Canadiens will retire Guy Lapointe’s No. 5 jersey prior to their tilt against the Wild. Lapointe, who was an integral part of Montreal’s six Stanley Cup championships during the 1970s, will become the 18th player to have his jersey raised to the Bell Centre rafters and first since Dec. 4, 2009, when Elmer Lach (No. 16) and Émile Bouchard (No. 3) saw their numbers retired in conjunction with the team’s centennial celebration. A 1993 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Lapointe recorded 166-406—572 in 777 regular-season games with the Canadiens and still holds franchise records for single-season goals by a defenseman (28 in 1974-75) and goals by a rookie blueliner (15 in 1970-71).

DID YOU KNOW?
The Predators visit the Blues Saturday on the 80th anniversary of the first NHL game contested in St. Louis – by the St. Louis Eagles.

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT
The Coyotes host their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night Saturday. Click here for more details.

TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAY
As part of Come Play Hockey Month, the NHL has teamed up with USA Hockey to offer Try Hockey for Free Day. Nearly 500 sites throughout the U.S. will today host Try Hockey for Free clinics for children ages 4-9. Equipment will be provided. No experience is necessary to participate.

Parents can find the Try Hockey for Free location closest to them and register to participate by visiting TryHockeyForFree.com.

The above information courtesy of the NHL PR department.