COMPETITIVE BALANCE
* Through Sunday’s games, 26 teams are within six points of a playoff berth. Last season, 25 clubs returned from the Olympic break within four points of a playoff berth; there was a four-way tie for the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots with two weeks left in the season; seven of the eight playoff matchups were finalized over the final weekend of the regular season; and the League’s top seven finishers entered the playoffs separated by only 10 points.

* Five teams that did not qualify for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs currently hold postseason berths (CGY, NSH, NYI, TOR, VAN). There has been a playoff turnover of at least five clubs in seven of the past nine seasons.

* A closer look at the five new teams in line to make the playoffs:

Calgary Flames
Led by captain Mark Giordano, the Flames are 13-7-2 (28 points) in their opening 22 games; they did not reach 13 wins until their 32nd contest last season (13-15-4). Giordano paces all defensemen with 17 assists and 23 points, and also is tied for third among blueliners with six goals.

Nashville Predators
Rookie Filip Forsberg has powered the Predators to a 13-5-2 mark (28 points) in their opening 20 contests. Forsberg leads all rookies in goals (9-tied), assists (13) and points (22), and paces the entire NHL with a +20 rating.

New York Islanders
At 14-6-0 (28 points), the Islanders have matched a franchise record for the most victories through their first 20 games of the season (also, 1976-77: 14-3-3; 1978-79: 14-3-3; and 1987-88: 14-5-1). They didn’t record their 14th win until their 42nd game in 2013-14 (14-21-7).

Toronto Maple Leafs
Powered by Phil Kessel (11-12—23), the Maple Leafs (11-8-2, 24 points) are in line for their second playoff berth in the last 10 seasons. Kessel currently is tied for sixth in the NHL in points; he is the only player to finish among the top 10 scorers in each of the past three years.

Vancouver Canucks
Led by the offseason additions of Ryan Miller and Radim Vrbata, the Canucks (14-6-1, 29 points) are two points shy of the top record in the Western Conference. Miller became the first goaltender in franchise history to win 10 of his first 11 starts with the club and has a 13-3-0 record in 16 GP.

MORE HOT STARTS
Other clubs and players off to hot starts in 2014-15:

* The Canadiens (16-6-1) sit atop the NHL standings with 33 points. They reached their 16th win in their 22nd game, the fastest they have hit that total since 1959-60 (16-4-2).

* At 14-6-2 (30 points), the Lightning have matched a franchise record for the most wins through the opening 22 games of a season and also have set a new club record for the most points in that time span.

* Jakub Voracek leads the NHL with 22 assists and 29 points. He has found the scoresheet in 17 of Philadelphia’s 19 games, including 10 multi-point performances. Only five other players in Flyers history have registered 10 multi-point games through the club’s opening 19 contests of the season.

* Tyler Seguin paces the League with 15 goals and is tied for second with 26 points in 21 GP. He has posted two hat tricks this season (Oct. 14 at CBJ and Nov. 8 vs. SJS) and now has 52-58—110 in 101 GP since joining the Stars for the 2013-14 campaign.

* Other fresh faces in the top 10 in scoring: Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko (12-11—23 in 21 GP), Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist (10-13—23 in 19 GP), Blue Jackets forward Ryan Johansen (7-16—23 in 20 GP) and Flames defenseman Mark Giordano (6-17—23 in 22 GP).

* After missing most of 2013-14 due to injury, Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is tied for the League lead with 13 wins (with Ryan Miller and Carey Price) and also places in the top five in goals-against average (1.92) and save percentage (.930).

* Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.38) and save percentage (.948). Fellow rookie Jake Allen also ranks in the top five in goals-against average (2.00).

LEAGUE LEADERS
Goals
1. Tyler Seguin (DAL): 15
t-2. Rick Nash (NYR): 14
t-2. Steven Stamkos (TBL): 14

Assists
1. Jakub Voracek (PHI): 22
t-2. Sidney Crosby (PIT): 18
t-2. Claude Giroux (PHI): 18

Points
1. Jakub Voracek (PHI): 7-22—29
t-2. Tyler Seguin (DAL): 15-11—26
t-2. Sidney Crosby (PIT): 8-18—26

Wins
t-1. Ryan Miller (VAN): 13
t-1. Carey Price (MTL): 13
t-1. Pekka Rinne (NSH): 13

Goals-Against Average
1. Michael Hutchinson (WPG): 1.38
2. Brian Elliott (STL): 1.90
3. Pekka Rinne (NSH): 1.92

Save Percentage
1. Michael Hutchinson (WPG): .948
2. Craig Anderson (OTT): .935
3. Jonathan Quick (LAK): .932

SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
St. Louis 4, WINNIPEG 2
NY RANGERS 5, Montreal 0
ANAHEIM 2, Arizona 1
VANCOUVER 4, Chicago 1

HANSEN’S HAT TRICK POWERS CANUCKS
Knotted at 1-1 after 40 minutes, Jannik Hansen completed his first career hat trick with a pair of third-period goals – including the game-winner – to power the Canucks to their fourth victory in their last six outings (4-1-1).

* Prior to Sunday, Hansen had only registered three multi-goal games in 409 career outings. His last such performance came on Dec. 6, 2011 vs. COL, when he posted 2-0—2 in a 6-0 win vs. COL.

* Hansen also matched a career high for points in one game; he set the mark with 1-2—3, including the game-winning goal, March 14, 2013 vs. NSH.

* Hansen now has scored in three consecutive games (5-0—5), matching the longest such streak of his career (2x, last March 2-5, 2013: 3-2—5).

* After scoring his first NHL goal Thursday, Bo Horvat posted 0-3—3 for his first career assists and multi-point game. At age 19, Elias says Horvat is the first teenager to record three points in one game for the Canucks since Feb. 28, 1990, when Trevor Linden collected 2-1—3 vs. PHI.

* Ryan Miller made 24 saves to tie Carey Price and Pekka Rinne for the most wins in the NHL (13). Miller now has a 2.63 goals-against average, .904 save percentage and one shutout in 16 appearances with the Canucks.

* Daniel Sedin played in his 1,000th NHL game, all with the Canucks. The second overall selection by Vancouver in the 1999 NHL Draft, Sedin is the third player in franchise history to appear in 1,000 games with the club – following Linden (1,140) and his twin brother, Henrik (1,031). Overall, Sedin is the 52nd player in NHL history to appear in at least 1,000 games with one team.

* Sedin has compiled 311-514—825 in his NHL career. He is the Canucks’ all-time leader in game-winning goals (69) and overtime goals (12); ranks second in assists and points; and places third in goals. ICYMI: The team recognized his achievement during a pregame ceremony.

MAROON, DUCKS MAINTAIN TOP SPOT IN WEST . . .
Patrick Maroon (1-1—2) scored his first goal of the season, the game-winner, to lift the Ducks to their second consecutive win and first regulation victory since Nov. 2 at COL.

* With the win, the Ducks (13-4-5, 31 points) maintained the top spot in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Blues (14-6-1, 29 points) and Canucks (14-6-1, 29 points). They also moved within two points of the Canadiens (16-6-1, 33 points) for the best record in the NHL.

* Maroon tallied his first goal since April 13 vs. COL and posted his first multi-point game since April 9 vs. SJS (2-0—2).

* Maroon also picked up his fourth career game-winning goal and first since April 9 vs. SJS. Ten different Ducks players have scored the decisive marker in the team’s 10 regulation/overtime wins this season.

* Frederik Andersen made 26 saves, including 16 in the third period, to improve to 9-2-4 with a 2.10 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and one shutout in 16 appearances this season.

* Ryan Kesler collected two assists for his third multi-point performance of the season. He ranks third on the team in goals (6-tied), assists (11) and points (17).

* The Ducks improved to 6-0-1 in their last seven meetings with the Coyotes dating to Oct. 18, 2013.

. . . HOMETOWN BOYS HELP BLUES KEEP PACE
Playing in their hometown, Winnipeg natives Ryan Reaves (1-0—1) and Alexander Steen (0-2—2) led the Blues to their second straight win and fifth victory in their last seven outings.

* With the win, the Blues (14-6-1, 29 points) leapfrogged the idle Predators (13-5-2, 28 points) for the top spot in the Central Division. They also remained two points behind the Ducks (13-4-5, 31 points) for the best record in the Western Conference.

* Reaves scored his first goal in six career appearances against his hometown team (1-1—2). He also picked up his fourth career game-winning goal and first since April 19, 2013 vs. DAL.

* Steen now has 10-8—18 in 22 career games against the Jets/Thrashers franchise, including 4-2—6 in six contests since the club relocated to Winnipeg.

* David Backes scored his sixth goal of the season and fifth via the power play, one shy of the League lead shared by Claude Giroux and Brock Nelson.

* Jake Allen made 28 saves to improve to 6-2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and two shutouts in eight appearances this season.

* The Blues now have won five consecutive games against the Jets/Thrashers and are 8-0-2 in their last 10 meetings dating to Nov. 8, 2009.

LUNDQVIST, RANGERS EXTEND SHUTOUT STREAK
Henrik Lundqvist denied all 21 shots he faced to record his 54th career shutout and backstop the Rangers to their second consecutive clean sheet.

* The Rangers extended their shutout streak to 122:51 – their longest since a 127:30 stretch Jan. 9-14, 2010 – following a 31-save performance by Cam Talbot Wednesday vs. PHI. The club has posted consecutive regular-season shutouts for the first time since March 17-19, 2003, when Mike Dunham blanked the Islanders (17 saves) and Sabres (27 saves), respectively.

* Via Elias, the Rangers last recorded consecutive shutouts using different goaltenders Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, 1977, when Wayne Thomas defeated the Blues and John Davidson blanked the North Stars, respectively.

* Lundqvist moved into a share of the League lead with his fourth shutout of the season (tied with Marc-Andre Fleury). He has a 7-3-3 record with a 1.95 goals-against average, .933 save percentage and four clean sheets in his last 13 appearances dating to Oct. 16 vs. CAR.

* Five different Rangers players found the back of the net and 13 different Blueshirts – including all 12 forwards – recorded at least one point. Elias says it marks the first time that all 12 Rangers forwards have found the scoresheet in the same game since Dec. 17, 1980, an 8-2 win vs. WPG.

* Rick Nash scored his 14th goal of the season, one shy of the League lead held by Tyler Seguin. He has registered at least one point in 15 of 20 games this season, including goals in 12 contests.

* The Rangers recorded their first regular-season shutout of the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden since Feb. 27, 2007, when Lundqvist made 19 saves in a 4-0 win. They also shut out the Canadiens in their last meeting in New York, a 1-0 decision in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final (Lundqvist: 18 saves).

BOUWMEESTER’S “IRONMAN” STREAK ENDS AT 737
Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester missed his first contest in more than 10 years, ending his consecutive games played streak at 737. Per Elias, his “ironman” streak was the longest active such run in the four major North American professional sports leagues (NHL, MLB, NBA and NFL) and the fifth-longest in NHL history.

Longest “Ironman” Streaks, NHL History
964 – Doug Jarvis (MTL, WSH, HFD): Oct. 8, 1975 – Oct. 10, 1987
914 – Garry Unger (TOR, DET, STL, ATL): Feb. 24, 1968 – Dec. 21, 1979
884 – Steve Larmer (CHI): Oct. 6, 1982 – April 15, 1993
776 – Craig Ramsay (BUF): March 27, 1973 – Feb. 10, 1983
737 – Jay Bouwmeester (FLA, CGY, STL): March 6, 2004 – Nov. 22, 2014

* Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano now holds the longest “ironman” streak in the NHL; he has played in 562 consecutive games since making his League debut Oct. 4, 2007.

LOOSE PUCKS
Rangers forward Martin St. Louis posted 1-1—2 to move within two points of 1,000 in his NHL career (378-620—998 in 1,080 GP) . . . Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook collected an assist to extend his point streak to five games (2-3—5) . . . Canucks forward Derek Dorsett (0-2—2) registered his first multi-point game since Feb. 21, 2013 at DET (1-1—2 w/ CBJ) . . . Rangers forward Jesper Fast recorded his first NHL assist/point . . . Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell (300) and Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm (100) both played in milestone games . . . Defenseman Chris Butler made his debut with the Blues, becoming the second St. Louis-born player to appear in a game with the club (Cam Janssen) . . . Ducks forward Rene Bourque registered three shots on goal in his team debut.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ Boston, 7:00 p.m., NBCSN, SN, TVA, ROOT, NESN
Philadelphia @ NY Islanders, 7:00 p.m., TCN-PH, MSG+
Ottawa @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., RDS, TSN5, FS-D
Minnesota @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., FS-N, FS-WI, FS-F

thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information