GROSENICK SHINES IN NHL DEBUT
San Jose goaltender Troy Grosenick recorded a 45-save shutout in his NHL debut to lift the Sharks to a 2-0 victory over the Hurricanes. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Grosenick is the first goaltender in Sharks franchise history to record a shutout in his NHL debut. He also set a franchise mark for saves in an NHL debut with 45. Prior to Grosenick, the last goaltender to record 40 or more saves and a shutout in his NHL debut was Vancouver’s Mike Fountain, who made 40 saves in a 3-0 victory over New Jersey on Nov. 14, 1996.

* Per Elias, only three U.S.-born goaltenders have ever recorded a shutout in their first NHL game and they happen to be the last three netminders from any country to do so: Grosenick from Wisconsin, Pittsburgh-born John Gibson for the Ducks on April 7, 2014 (at Vancouver) and Chicago-born Al Montoya for the Coyotes on April 1, 2009 (at Colorado).

MONTREAL WINS SIXTH STRAIGHT
The Canadiens recorded their sixth straight win in a 4-1 decision over the Red Wings. The victory pushed Montreal’s record to 14-4-1 this season. The Canadiens lead the League with 29 points, three more than any other team. Prior to Sunday, the last time Montreal had won six consecutive games was March 6-16, 2010.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the first win in Montreal's streak came via a shootout (Nov. 5 at Buffalo), but their last five victories have been by scores of 4-1, 3-0, 5-1, 6-3, and 4-1 Sunday at Detroit. It's the first time that the Canadiens have won five consecutive games, each by at least a three-goal margin, since a five-game run in 1991 (Oct. 24-Nov. 2).

* P.K. Subban (1-1—2), Brendan Gallagher (1-1—2) and Tomas Plekanec (1-1—2) each had multi-point efforts in the Montreal win.

* Max Pacioretty had an assist to extend his point streak to five games (3-4—7). He leads the team in goals (8), points (16) and is tied for the team lead in assists (8).

* Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 28 saves to improve his record to 3-1-0 this season with a 1.78 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage.

CAREER FIRSTS ON SUNDAY NIGHT
* Both Coyotes defenseman Brandon Gormley (1-0—1) and Stars forward Curtis McKenzie (1-0—1) recorded their first career NHL goal/point.

* Ducks defenseman Josh Manson (0-1—1), Stars defenseman John Klingberg (0-1—1) and Sharks forward Barclay Goodrow (0-1—1) all recorded their first career NHL assist/point.

OFFENSE POWERS BLACKHAWKS OVER STARS
Patrick Kane (1-2—3) and Kris Versteeg (1-2—3) each recorded three-point games to lead the Blackhawks to a 6-2 win over the Stars. Both Kane and Versteeg’s goals came as part of Chicago’s four-goal third period.
* Kane recorded his 36th career three-point outing and his game-winning tally was the 32nd of his career.
* Duncan Keith (1-1—2), Jonathan Toews (1-1—2), Brad Richards (0-2—2) and Marian Hossa (0-2—2) also registered multi-point games.

* Richards was honored in a pre-game ceremony for skating in his 1,000th career NHL game, the 22nd active player to reach the milestone.

BJUGSTAD LEADS PANTHERS OVER DUCKS
Nick Bjugstad set a new career high with four points (2-2—4) including his first game-winner of the season to lead the Panthers to a 6-2 win over the Ducks.

* Four other Panthers recorded multi-point efforts: Brad Boyes (2-1—3), Jonathan Huberdeau (1-1—2), Brian Campbell (0-2—2) and Jussi Jokinen (0-2—2).

* Aaron Ekblad had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (1-5—6) and leads all rookie defensemen with eight assists and 10 points in 15 games this season.

WILD NIGHT IN MINNESOTA
After the Wild saw their 3-0 lead disappear in the third period, Minnesota’s Marco Scandella scored his first career overtime goal to give the Wild a 4-3 victory over the Jets. With the win, Minnesota improved to a perfect 5-0-0 record against Central Division opponents.

* Nino Niederreiter opened the scoring with a highlight reel power-play goal, beating Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec on his backhand while falling to the ice.

* After missing the previous five games with an injury, Zach Parise (2-0—2) scored twice to record his 35th career multi-goal game.

* Jason Pominville (0-3—3) matched a career-high with three assists, a feat he has reached six times (most recently Jan. 20, 2013).

LOOSE PUCKS
Arizona improved their point streak against the Oilers to 15 games, their longest point streak against the same opponent in franchise history… Mikkel Boedker scored a goal to extend his point streak to four games (2-2—4), matching a career high… Sharks forward Joe Thornton scored his seventh goal of the season to extend his point streak to six games (4-3—7). He leads the Sharks with 18 points (7-11—18) in 20 games this season… Dallas forward Erik Cole (0-1—1) earned the 500th point of his NHL career (248-252—500)… Winnipeg forward Chris Thorburn played in his 500th game as member of the Jets/Thrashers franchise… Oilers forward Taylor Hall scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season in his return to the Edmonton lineup after missing the previous six games with an injury… The Carolina Hurricanes observed a moment of silence during their game against San Jose in honor of United States Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Cathcart, who skated with the Hurricanes last season during a practice at Fort Bragg, N.C. and passed away Friday following injuries sustained during combat operations.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., SN1, TVA, SUN, MSG

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.