NHL RELEASES DETAILS OF SPECTATOR PLAZA
The NHL this morning announced the details of Spectator Plaza presented by GEICO, a free fan festival that will be held outside of Nationals Park in conjunction with the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Thursday, Jan. 1 (1:00 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVA).

From 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET on game day, the Fairgrounds – an outdoor multipurpose event space across the street from Nationals Park – will transform into a hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages with live musical performances; interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways; food and beverages; and retail tents with an extensive selection of officially-licensed 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic merchandise and collectibles.

Click here for more information.

KINGS TO UNVEIL STADIUM SERIES JERSEYS
The Kings this evening will unveil their jerseys for the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series in conjunction with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new TEAM LA Store at STAPLES Center.

The Kings will face the Sharks in the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 21 (7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET, NBCSN, HNIC, TVA2). This marks the second consecutive season the Kings will participate in an outdoor game, following their appearance in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium.

The Sharks unveiled their jerseys for the Feb. 21 game on Friday. Click here to view them.

MONDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NY ISLANDERS 3, New Jersey 2 (SO)
PITTSBURGH 4, Tampa Bay 2
BUFFALO 5, Ottawa 4 (SO)

ROOKIES POWER PENGUINS PAST LIGHTNING . . .
Knotted at 1-1 early in the second period, rookies Bryan Rust (2 GP) and Brian Dumoulin (10 GP) scored their first NHL goals to power the Penguins to their 10th consecutive victory over the Lightning dating to Jan. 15, 2012.

* With the win, the Penguins (20-6-4, 44 points) matched a club record for the most points through the opening 30 games of one season. That mark was established in 2012-13, when they went 22-8-0 in their first 30 contests.

* The Penguins also moved within three points of the Ducks (21-6-5, 47 points) for the top spot in the NHL standings, with two games in hand.

* Rust and Dumoulin became the first pair of Penguins teammates to record their first NHL goals in the same game since Oct. 12, 2006, when Jordan Staal and Kris Letang both did so in a 6-5 win at NYR.

* Steve Downie posted 1-1—2, including his eighth career game-winning goal and first since Oct. 2, 2013 vs. ANA (w/ COL). He played parts of four seasons for the Lightning, totaling 47-65—112 in 214 contests.

* Evgeni Malkin collected one assist to extend his point streak to five games (3-4—7). He has registered at least one point in 25 of 30 outings this season, sharing second in the NHL with 15-22—37.

* Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves, including 11 in the opening period, to improve to 8-1-2 in his last 11 starts. He is tied for second in the NHL with 17 wins this season and also has a 2.10 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and five shutouts in 23 appearances.

* The Penguins picked up their eighth consecutive home victory against the Lightning dating to Nov. 12, 2010 (regular season only). All eight of those wins have come at CONSOL Energy Center, where the Penguins have outscored the Lightning 42-16.

. . . ISLANDERS KEEP PACE IN METROPOLITAN DIVISION
Josh Bailey potted the decisive marker in the fifth round of the shootout to help the Islanders overcome an early 2-0 deficit and record their fourth consecutive victory over the Devils dating to March 29, 2014.

* The Islanders improved to 21-10-0, marking the first time in franchise history they have won 21 of their first 31 games in one season. They also improved to 12-3-0 at Nassau Coliseum, matching a club record for the most victories through the first 15 home games of one season (1984-85: 12-3-0).

* With 42 points, the Islanders kept pace with the Penguins (20-6-4, 44 points) for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.

* The Islanders improved to 9-0 in games that have gone past regulation this season (3-0 in OT, 6-0 in SO). Per Elias, they are the first team in NHL history to win their first nine games of one season that have required extra time.

* Elias says the Islanders also tied an NHL record for the most consecutive wins – at any point in one season – in games that have gone past regulation. That mark was established by the 2006-07 Canucks and equaled by both the 2009-10 Coyotes and 2010-11 Lightning.

* Bailey improved to 5-for-12 (41.7%), including four game-deciding goals, in his shootout career. He also cut the team’s deficit in half with his fifth marker of the season early in the second period.

* Jaroslav Halak made 26 saves – and denied four shootout attempts – to improve to 16-6-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and three shutouts in 22 appearances this season. That includes a 10-3-0 mark at Nassau Coliseum, where he has a 2.30 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and two clean sheets.

FLYNN, MOULSON LIFT SABRES TO FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
Trailing 4-3 late in the third period, Brian Flynn netted the tying goal with 3:29 remaining in regulation and Matt Moulson posted the lone goal in the shootout to lift the Sabres to their season-high fourth consecutive victory.

* The Sabres improved to 10-3-0 in their last 13 outings, marking the first time they have won 10 contests over a 13-game stretch in one season since Feb. 1 – March 3, 2007 (10-2-1).

* The Sabres also recorded their sixth straight victory at First Niagara Center, their longest home winning streak since Jan. 17 – Feb. 15, 2007 (6-0-0).

* Moulson (1-0—1) improved to 15-for-32, including six game-deciding goals, in his shootout career. His 46.9% conversation rate ranks fourth among active players with a minimum of 30 attempts.

* Jhonas Enroth made 29 saves – and stopped all three shootout attempts he faced – to match a career best with his fourth consecutive victory (also Feb. 15 – March 30, 2011). He improved to 9-2-0 in his last 11 appearances, with a 2.20 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and one shutout in that span.

* Marcus Foligno (1-1—2) found the back of the net for the third consecutive game, the first time he has achieved that feat in his NHL career.

* Nine of the last 11 matchups between the Sabres and Senators, including each of the past five, have been decided by one goal dating to Dec. 31, 2011 (BUF: 4-5-2, OTT: 7-1-3).

LOOSE PUCKS
Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid, a native of Farmingville, N.Y. (approximately 38 miles from Nassau Coliseum), made 31 saves in his first career appearance against the Islanders . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (1-1—2) scored his 12th goal of the season, second on the team to Steven Stamkos (17), and now has 3-2—5 in his past three outings . . . Senators forward Alex Chiasson (1-1—2) recorded his first multi-point game since April 1, 2014 at WSH (0-3—3 w/ DAL) . . . Penguins forward Brandon Sutter posted his eighth career shorthanded goal and second of the season . . . Devils forward Jaromir Jagr (1,065) collected two helpers to pass Steve Yzerman (1,063) for sole possession of seventh place on the NHL’s all-time assists list . . . Senators forward Curtis Lazar scored his first NHL goal . . . The Oilers relieved Dallas Eakins of his head-coaching duties. General manager Craig MacTavish will take over behind the bench on a short-term basis; Oklahoma City Barons (AHL) head coach Todd Nelson will join the Oilers staff and transition into the role of interim head coach . . . Sabres forward Tyler Ennis, Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 14 . . . ICYMI: The NHL officially took over Nationals Park on Monday with the arrival of the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Ice Plant presented by York.

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., SUN, CSN-PH
Anaheim @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., TVA, PRIME, TSN4
Carolina @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., FS-CR, SNE, RDS
Columbus @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., FS-O, FS-D
Washington @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., CSN-DC+, FS-F
Los Angeles @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., SN1, SNO, SNP, FS-W, FS-MW
Boston @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., NESN, FS-TN
Buffalo @ Winnipeg, 8:00 p.m., MSG-B, BELL TV, TSN3
Minnesota @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., FS-N, FS-WI, CSN-CH
NY Rangers @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., MSG+, SNF
Edmonton @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., SNW, FS-A
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FLYERS HONOR FORSBERG
In celebration of his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Flyers will honor former forward Peter Forsberg during a pregame ceremony tonight at Wells Fargo Center. The 41-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native compiled 249-636—885 over 708 regular-season games played during parts of 13 seasons, including 30-85—115 in 100 contests with Philadelphia. He also recorded 64-107—171 in 151 postseason appearances, including 4-4—8 in the Flyers’ six-game loss to the Sabres in the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

HOT CLUBS FACE OFF IN TORONTO
Two of the hottest clubs in the NHL face off when the Ducks visit the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Anaheim has won seven straight games, its second such winning streak of the season (also Oct. 11-24), and ranks first in the overall standings with 47 points (21-6-5). Toronto, meanwhile, has won a season-high five consecutive outings as well as eight of its past nine games at home. This marks the first of two meetings between these clubs in 2014-15; the Maple Leafs have won five straight matchups dating to Oct. 26, 2009.

WILD, BLACKHAWKS MEET FOR FIRST TIME SINCE PLAYOFFS
The Wild face the Blackhawks at United Center in their first meeting since the Second Round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a six-game series victory by Chicago sealed by Patrick Kane’s overtime winner. The Blackhawks have earned points in 11 of the past 14 regular-season matchups between these clubs dating to Feb. 16, 2011 (8-3-3). The Wild, however, won three of their five regular-season games in 2013-14, all in regulation. Overall, Chicago has recorded 12 wins in its past 14 outings, while Minnesota is 9-4-1 in its last 14.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.