* Patrick Kane registered his fourth game-winning goal of the season, moving into a tie for the League lead. He paces the Blackhawks with 13-14—27 in 29 GP and also now has 7-5—12 in 15 GP vs. BOS (regular season and playoffs).

* Making his third consecutive start, rookie Scott Darling recorded 32 saves, including 14 in the first period, to improve to 5-1-0 with a 1.80 GAA and .939 SV%. That includes a perfect 4-0-0 mark on the road, where he has a 2.16 GAA and .927 SV%.

* Ben Smith (1-1—2) and Marcus Kruger (0-2—2) added multi-point games.

* The Blackhawks picked up their first regular-season victory in Boston since Jan. 7, 2010, snapping a two-game skid. The club, however, won two contests at TD Garden during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, including Game 6 to clinch their second championship in four seasons.

. . . PREDATORS, BLUES KEEP PACE IN CENTRAL DIVISION
The Predators (19-7-2, 40 points) and Blues (19-8-2, 40 points) also recorded victories Thursday to keep pace with the Blackhawks (20-8-1, 41 points) for the top spot in the Central Division:

* Trailing 1-0 less than five minutes after the opening face-off, the Predators scored five unanswered goals to earn their seventh win in their last nine outings. Eleven Nashville skaters found the scoresheet, highlighted by multi-point performances from Mike Fisher (1-1—2), James Neal (1-1—2), Filip Forsberg (0-2—2) and Shea Weber (0-2—2).

* With 12-17—29 in 28 GP, Forsberg continues to lead all rookies in goals, assists and points. He also paces the entire NHL with a +25 rating; Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko ranks second at +18.

* Pekka Rinne made 31 saves, including 24 over the final two periods, to record his League-leading 19th win of the season. He also ranks in the top five in goals-against average (2nd; 1.78), save percentage (2nd; .935) and shutouts (t-3rd; 3).

* Tied at 2-2 after 40 minutes, the Blues scored four third-period goals to pick up their third consecutive victory and improve to 7-2-1 in their last 10 outings. Alexander Steen (2-1—3), T.J. Oshie (1-2—3), Barret Jackman (1-1—2) and Kevin Shattenkirk (0-2—2) all registered multiple points.

* Steen notched his first multi-goal game and second three-point performance of the season (also Nov. 11 vs. BUF: 0-3—3). Oshie recorded three points in one period for the first time in his NHL career; he also collected his 17th career game-winning goal and first since March 27, 2014 vs. MIN.

* Jackman added his second consecutive +3 rating, the first time he has achieved that feat in his 752-game career. Shattenkirk now has 21 assists, tied for sixth in the NHL; he also paces the League with 13 power-play helpers and shares first place with 15 power-play points.

* The Blues extended their point streak at Scottrade Center to seven games (6-0-1); they share the lead among Western Conference clubs with 11 home victories this season. The Blues also recorded their fifth consecutive victory against the Islanders (and second in less than one week) dating to Feb. 16, 2012.

KUCHEROV’S LAST-MINUTE HEROICS POWER LIGHTNING
Nikita Kucherov scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal with 30.3 seconds remaining in regulation, to help the Lightning snap a two-game skid.

* At 19-8-3 (41 points), the Lightning leapfrogged the idle Red Wings (17-6-6, 40 points) for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

* Per Elias, the Lightning recorded a tiebreaking goal in the final minute of regulation for the first time since Dec. 20, 2007, when Vincent Lecavalier found the back of the net at 19:18 of the third period in a 2-1 win vs. TOR.

* Kucherov became the ninth player to post a game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation this season and the third to do so at home. The others: Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec (19:17, Oct. 8 at TOR), Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf (19:36, Oct. 11 at DET), Colorado’s Daniel Briere (19:59, Oct. 13 at BOS), Dallas’ Tyler Seguin (19:57, Oct. 16 at PIT), Columbus’ Mark Letestu (19:39, Oct. 23 at SJS), Minnesota’s Jason Zucker (19:14, Nov. 20 at PHI), San Jose’s Matt Nieto (19:48, Dec. 2 vs. PHI) and Chicago’s Brandon Saad (19:33, Dec. 5 vs. MTL).

* Kucherov ranks third on the Lightning with 11-14—25 in 30 GP – all career highs. He collected 9-9—18 in 52 GP last season, his rookie campaign.

* Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves to pick up his 353rd career victory, moving within two wins of Rogie Vachon for 17th in NHL history.

* The Lightning recorded their NHL-leading 12th victory on home ice this season. They also share the League lead with 25 points at home.

* The Lightning improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine meetings with the Hurricanes dating to Jan. 22, 2013, including four consecutive wins.

FOLIGNO LIFTS BLUE JACKETS TO FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN . . .
Nick Foligno posted two goals, including the game-winning marker with 18.8 seconds remaining in overtime, to power the Blue Jackets to their fifth consecutive victory.

* The Blue Jackets have won five straight games for the first time since Jan. 6-23, 2014, when they set a franchise record with eight consecutive victories.

* Foligno recorded his second career overtime goal (also April 15, 2013 at COL). He added his second multi-goal performance of the season (also Nov. 14 at PHI: 2-1—3) as well as his 18th career game-winning goal and first since Feb. 3, 2014 at ANA.

* Trailing 2-1 midway through the third period, Kevin Connauton found the back of the net for the second straight game to force overtime. Connauton now has 2-0—2 in his last 2 GP; he had 1-8—9 in the first 50 GP of his NHL career.

* Sergei Bobrovsky made 39 saves, including 15 in the second period, to earn his 10th victory of the season. He has been in net for all five games during the team’s current winning streak, compiling a 1.73 GAA and .949 SV% in that span.

* The Blue Jackets picked up their first victory at Verizon Center since Nov. 1, 2009, snapping a four-game skid (0-2-2), and just their third win in 10 all-time visits to the U.S. capital (3-4-3).

. . . GIRGENSONS, SABRES CONTINUE TO ROLL
Down 3-2 early in the third period, Zemgus Girgensons potted the tying marker and then assisted on Matt Moulson’s game-winner to lead the Sabres to their eight victory in their past 11 outings.

* The Sabres have won eight contests over an 11-game stretch for the first time since March 7-27, 2012, when they went 8-1-2.

* The Sabres also have recorded four consecutive victories at First Niagara Center for the first time since Dec. 17, 2013 – Jan. 4, 2014 (5-0-0).

* Girgensons, who leads the 2015 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by SiriusXM, posted his third multi-point performance of the season. He paces the Sabres with nine goals (29 GP), surpassing his total from his rookie campaign in 2013-14 (8 G in 70 GP).

* Tyler Ennis (0-3—3) matched career highs for assists and points in one game.

* Jhonas Enroth made 42 saves, including 17 in the third period, to improve to 7-2-0 with a 1.93 GAA and .944 SV% in his last nine appearances.

* The Sabres improved to 9-0-1 in their last 10 home games against the Flames dating to Oct. 22, 1997.

AVALANCHE STAGE (ANOTHER) RALLY
Trailing 3-1 late in the third period, Jarome Iginla and Ryan O’Reilly scored 4:23 apart to force overtime and Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene both found the back of the net in the shootout to help the Avalanche snap a four-game skid (0-3-1).

* The Avalanche have overcome at least a one-goal deficit in each of their past seven wins – Elias says that marks a first in franchise history. They have faced a third-period deficit in five of those seven contests.

* Duchene improved to 12-for-33 (36.4%) in his shootout career. He also posted 1-1—2 for his fifth multi-point performance of the season.

* MacKinnon registered his first career game-deciding goal in the tiebreaker. He is a perfect 3-for-3 in the shootout this season after going 0-for-3 during his rookie campaign.

* Iginla registered his 567th career goal, moving within six of Mike Bossy for 20th in NHL history. He also moved past Rod Brind’Amour and into sole possession of 47th place on the NHL’s all-time points list (1,185).

* Calvin Pickard made 30 saves – and denied both attempts he faced in the tiebreaker – to pick up his first career shootout victory. The 22-year-old rookie improved to 4-5-0 with a 2.36 GAA and .926 SV% in nine appearances.

* The Avalanche have earned points in seven of their last eight meetings with the Jets dating to Oct. 27, 2013 (4-1-3).

THURSDAY NIGHT NOTABLES
Highlights from the rest of Thursday’s action:

* Joe Pavelski scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period to power the Sharks to their sixth win in their past seven outings. Pavelski now has 206 career goals, tied with Owen Nolan for the second-most in franchise history. Joe Thornton (349-871—1,220) collected two assists to move past the late Jean Béliveau (507-712—1,219) and into 39th place on the NHL’s all-time points list. Brent Burns added his ninth goal of the season, second among defensemen, to help the Sharks improve to 14-1-1 in their last 16 home games versus the Wild dating to Nov. 7, 2006, including five consecutive victories.

* Tied at 2-2 early in the final frame, the Kings scored three third-period goals to snap a two-game skid. Jake Muzzin (0-3—3) established a career high for assists in one game and also equaled a career high for points in one contest; he now has 1-13—14 over his past 16 outings. Drew Doughty (0-2—2) added his third multi-point performance of the season, while Trevor Lewis recorded his first game-winning goal (in the regular season) since March 22, 2014 vs. FLA. The Kings improved to 12-2-1 in their last 15 meetings with the Senators dating to Jan. 16, 2001, including four straight wins.

* Sean Couturier collected 1-1—2, including his fourth career shorthanded goal, to help the Flyers stretch their point streak to four games (2-0-2). Couturier also extended his personal point streak to five contests (2-4—6), while Matt Read (1-1—2) snapped an eight-game point drought and 11-game goal drought. Ray Emery made 17 saves to improve to 8-4-2 with a 1.85 GAA, .932 SV% and 2 SO in 14 GP vs. NJD. The Flyers picked up their first victory over the Devils at Wells Fargo Center since March 15, 2013, snapping a four-game losing streak.

LOOSE PUCKS
Senators forward Bobby Ryan scored a highlight-reel goal to cut the team’s deficit in half in the second period . . . Jets forward Mark Scheifele (1-2—3) recorded his first career three-point game. Despite falling in the shootout, the Jets extended their point streak to eight games (5-0-3), their second such run of the season (also Oct. 26 – Nov. 8: 6-0-2). Elias says it marks the first time in franchise history the club has posted multiple eight-game point streaks in one season . . . Flames captain Mark Giordano scored his eighth goal of the season to stretch his point streak to six games (2-4—6). He continues to lead all defensemen in assists (22) and points (30) . . . Bruins captain Zdeno Chara logged four penalty minutes and 24:11 of ice-time in his return from a 19-game absence . . . Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester also returned after an eight-game absence . . . Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock (St. Paul, Minn.) became the first Minnesota native to record a win against the Wild and just the second netminder ever to face the club (Damian Rhodes) . . . Blackhawks defenseman Klas Dahlbeck (3 GP) and Wild defenseman Christian Folin (12 GP) both scored their first NHL goals . . . Hurricanes defenseman Ron Hainsey (700), Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky (500), Predators defenseman Roman Josi (200) and Capitals forward Tom Wilson (100) all played in milestone games . . . Dave Cameron (OTT) made his NHL head-coaching debut . . . Flyers defenseman Mark Streit collected two assists while celebrating his 37th birthday . . . The Department of Player Safety suspended Stars forward Ryan Garbutt for three games for slew-footing Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien . . . ICYMI: The NHL and EPIX announced that film director, author and avid hockey fan Kevin Smithwill host weekly recaps of the two upcoming EPIX original series – Road to the NHL Winter Classic and Road to the NHL Stadium Series . . . The NHL announced that the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Ice Plant presented by Yorkwill arrive at Nationals Park on Monday to begin the ice-making process for the New Year’s Day game between the Capitals and Blackhawks.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Calgary @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., TVA2, SNW, ROOT
Los Angeles @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., KCOP-13, SNE, RDS
Florida @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., FS-F, FS-D
Anaheim @ Edmonton, 9:30 p.m., PRIME, SNW

The above information was provided by the NHL PR department.