* Holtby has been in net for all three victories against the Penguins, compiling a 0.33 goals-against average, .989 save percentage and two shutouts. Prior to 2014-15, he was 0-4-0 in four career appearances vs. PIT (4.37 GAA, .874 SV%).

* Ward (1-1—2) posted his 16th career game-winning goal and fourth this season (58 GP), matching a career high set in 2010-11 (80 GP w/ NSH) and equaled in 2013-14 (82 GP).

* Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) scored his League-leading 37th goal and 17th via the power play. He has 21-10—31 in his past 23 outings dating to Dec. 29, including 5-4—9 during a five-game point streak.

* Ovechkin registered his 10th game this season with at least one goal and one assist. Elias says only two players have more such performances in 2014-15: Patrick Kane (13) and Tyler Seguin (11).

* Nicklas Backstrom collected the primary assist on Ward’s marker; he leads the NHL with 44 helpers this season, including six in his past five contests.

. . . ISLANDERS REBOUND, CREATE SPACE ATOP METROPOLITAN
Making his first start since Feb. 7, Chad Johnson posted a season-high 37 saves, including 30 over the final two periods, to lead the Islanders to their fifth win in their past six starts.

* At 38-19-1 (77 points), the Islanders moved four points ahead of the idle Rangers (34-16-5, 73 points) and Penguins (32-16-9, 73 points) – who lost on Tuesday – for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, where the top four clubs are separated by five points:

* The Islanders’ 38 wins through their first 58 games of the season are tied for the second-most in franchise history, behind only the 1981-82 team that went on to win the Stanley Cup (39-13-6).

* Johnson picked up his first win since Jan. 10 and seventh victory of the season (7-7-0, 3.17 GAA, .883 SV%). His 37 saves were two shy of his career high, established Dec. 12, 2013 at EDM (w/ BOS).

* Anders Lee scored for the fourth time in his past six outings (4-5—9). His 19 goals this season are tied for second among rookies, one behind League leader Mike Hoffman.

* John Tavares (1-1—2) and Frans Nielsen (0-2—2) both recorded multi-point games. Tavares shares sixth in the NHL with 28-30—58 this season, including 4-3—7 in his past three contests. Nielsen notched his third consecutive multi-point performance (2-4—6), a first in his NHL career.

* Michael Grabner found the back of the net in his return to the lineup following a five-game absence. Brock Nelson snapped an 18-game drought with his first goal since Jan. 4 at EDM.

* The Islanders picked up their fourth straight win over the Hurricanes dating to March 25, 2014; they had lost the six prior meetings dating to Feb. 11, 2013 (0-5-1).

RINNE BACKSTOPS PREDATORS TO SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN
Pekka Rinne made a season-high 42 saves, including a flurry of stops in the middle frame, to power the Predators to their sixth consecutive victory, their longest winning streak since March 17-26, 2011 (6-0-0).

* At 39-12-6 (84 points), the Predators moved six points ahead of the idle Canadiens (37-15-4, 78 points) and Blues (37-16-4, 78 points) – who lost on Tuesday – for first place in the NHL standings.

* Rinne’s 42 saves were his most in one game since Feb. 4, 2012, when he stopped 42-of-43 shots in a 3-1 win vs. STL. His single-game high for saves is 48, set Feb. 15, 2011 vs. SJS (2-1 OT L).

* Rinne picked up his League-leading 34th win of the season. He also improved to 15-1-1 in his past 17 appearances dating to Dec. 16, including five straight victories.

* Craig Smith (2-0—2) posted his ninth career multi-goal game and third of the season (also Oct. 29 at EDM: 2-0—2 and Dec. 22 at CBJ: 2-0—2).

* James Neal reached the 20-goal mark for the seventh time in as many NHL seasons. Per Elias, he is one of seven active players to record at least 20 goals in each of his first seven (or more) NHL seasons. The others: Jaromir Jagr (first 17), Alex Ovechkin (10; active), Thomas Vanek (9; through 2013-14), Patrick Kane (8; active), Steven Stamkos (7; active) and Jonathan Toews (7; through 2013-14).

* Shea Weber (1-1—2) and Mike Ribeiro (0-2—2) added multiple points for the Predators, who improved to 25-3-1 at Bridgestone Arena this season. Their 25 home wins and 51 home points pace the NHL.

* The Predators earned their eighth victory in their last 11 meetings with the Sharks dating to Nov. 5, 2011 (8-2-1).

STARS, PANTHERS INCH CLOSER TO WILD CARD SPOTS
Both the Stars and Panthers picked up wins on Tuesday to inch closer to Wild Card spots in the Western and Eastern Conference, respectively.

* Jamie Benn recorded his first career hat trick to power the Stars to their fourth victory in their past five games. At 27-22-8 (62 points), the Stars moved within four points of the Sharks (29-22-8, 66 points) – who lost on Tuesday – for the final Wild Card spot in the West.

* Benn became the second Stars player to post a hat trick this season (Tyler Seguin: 2x). Elias says he also became the first Stars player other than Seguin to notch a hat trick since March 31, 2010 (Steve Ott). Seguin has five in that span for the club.

* Jason Spezza collected an assist on all three of Benn’s goals, marking his 20th career three-assist effort and second of the season (also Oct. 18 vs. PHI: 1-3—4). He also stretched his point streak to six contests (3-7—10).

* Kari Lehtonen made 27 saves, including 13 in the second period, to earn his fourth straight win and 25th of the season. The Stars improved to 5-0-2 in their last seven meetings with the Blues dating to Dec. 29, 2013, including four consecutive victories at Scottrade Center.

* Down 1-0 less than five minutes after the opening face-off, the Panthers scored three consecutive goals – by Jussi Jokinen, Nick Bjugstad and Jimmy Hayes – to snap a three-game skid. At 25-19-12 (62 points), the Panthers moved within two points of the idle Bruins (28-20-8, 64 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the East.

* Bjugstad found the back of the net for the fourth time in his past five outings. Ten of his 21 goals this season have come against the Eastern Conference (11 vs. West). Elias says he is the first Panthers player to register double-digit goal totals against both conferences in one season since 2000-01, when Pavel Bure scored 45 versus the East and 14 against the West.

* Jokinen (1-1—2) and Brian Campbell (0-2—2) added multi-point performances. Roberto Luongo made 27 saves to improve to 17-7-2 in his career vs. TOR (2.35 GAA, .923 SV%, 2 SO).

* The Panthers picked up their fourth consecutive victory over the Maple Leafs dating to Feb. 4, 2014. They also improved to 8-4-1 in their last 13 visits to Air Canada Centre dating to Feb. 5, 2008.

CALVERT PROPELS BLUE JACKETS PAST FLYERS
The Flyers erased a 2-0 deficit in the middle frame, but the Blue Jackets scored three unanswered goals in the third period – including a pair by Matt Calvert – to record their fourth victory in their past six starts.

* The Blue Jackets improved to 7-1-0 in their last eight meetings with the Flyers dating to Dec. 21, 2013, including a 4-1-0 mark in 2014-15.

* Curtis McElhinney made 42 saves to match a career high established April 9, 2010 at STL (w/ ANA). He improved to 5-1-0 all-time vs. PHI, including a 3-0-0 mark this season (2.64 GAA, .917 SV%).

* Calvert notched his third career multi-goal game and second of the season (also Jan. 17 at BOS: 2-0—2).

* Scott Hartnell posted two assists to stretch his point streak to seven games (3-7—10), his longest such run since a career-high eight-game point streak Dec. 21, 2013 – Jan. 7, 2014 (4-5—9 w/ PHI).

* Brandon Dubinsky (1-1—2), Ryan Johansen (1-1—2) and Alexander Wennberg (0-2—2) also registered multi-point performances.

LOOSE PUCKS
Goaltender Cory Schneider made 24 saves through overtime and denied both shootout attempts he faced to help the Devils snap a four-game skid. With his 20th victory, Schneider matched a career high for wins in one season, also achieved in 2011-12 (w/ VAN) . . . The Flyers suffered their first regulation loss since Jan. 19, snapping their point streak at nine games (6-0-3) . . . Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel scored his team-leading 22nd goal of the season . . . Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds found the back of the net to extend his point streak to five games (4-3—7) . . . Forward Steve Downie became the ninth Penguins player to reach double digits in goals this season . . . Sabres goaltender Michal Neuvirth denied Devils forward Adam Henrique on a third-period penalty shot. Goaltenders have stopped 20-of-28 (71.4%) penalty shots this season . . . Defenseman Barret Jackman played in his 780th NHL game, all with the Blues, to surpass Brian Sutter (779) and move into sole possession of second place in franchise history . . . Devils forward Travis Zajac (600) and Islanders forward Travis Hamonic (300) both played in milestone games . . . Forward Olli Jokinen recorded one shot on goal and logged 10:13 of ice-time in his Maple Leafs debut . . . ICYMI: Click here for a recap of the third episode of Road to the NHL Stadium Series, which premiered on Tuesday . . . Jimmy Fallon and Taylor Swift donned Islanders and Rangers gear as part of a skit on The Tonight Show.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Montreal @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m., SN, RDS
Detroit @ Chicago, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TVA
Minnesota @ Calgary, 9:30 p.m., SN1, FS-N, FS-WI
Los Angeles @ Colorado, 10:00 p.m., NBCSN
Boston @ Edmonton, 10:00 p.m., SN, NESN
Tampa Bay @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., SUN, PRIME
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

RED WINGS VISIT BLACKHAWKS ON RIVALRY NIGHT
Original Six clubs face off for the second and final time this season when the Red Wings visit the Blackhawks at United Center. Both teams sit third in their respective divisions – Detroit (31-14-10, 72 points) trails Montreal (37-15-4, 78 points) by six points for the top spot in the Atlantic, while Chicago (35-18-4, 74 points) is 10 points back of Nashville (39-12-6, 84 points) in the Central. This marks the 729th regular-season meeting between these teams; the Red Wings won their lone other contest in 2014-15, picking up a 4-1 victory on Nov. 14 at Joe Louis Arena. Overall, Detroit leads the all-time series with 827 points (365-266-97) to Chicago’s 652 (279-355-94).

PAIR OF MATCHUPS PROVIDE WILD CARD IMPLICATIONS
A pair of games highlight the tight Wild Card race in the Western Conference:

* The Kings (26-18-12, 64 points), winners of five straight and the first club on the outside of the playoff picture, visit the Avalanche (24-22-11, 59 points), who also are fighting for a Wild Card spot in the West. This marks the first of three meetings between these clubs this season, also March 10 at COL and April 4 at LAK. The Kings are 4-0-1 in their past five head-to-head games dating to Feb. 23, 2013 (COL: 1-2-2).

* The Wild (28-21-7, 63 points), who sit one point behind the Kings, face the Flames (32-22-3, 67 points), the third-place squad in the Pacific Division – one point clear of the Wild Card picture. This marks the second of three meetings between these teams this season; Minnesota earned a 1-0 victory in their first matchup on Jan. 29 courtesy of 30 saves from Devan Dubnyk. Overall, the Wild have won five of the past seven head-to-head games between these clubs dating to Feb. 26, 2013 (5-1-1); their final matchup of the season is March 27 at MIN.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department