* Lars Eller opened the scoring with his 10th goal of 2014-15. His six game-winners are a career high and two shy of his career total before this season (286 GP).

* Brendan Gallagher matched a career-high with his 19th goal; he has 19-21—40 in 66 games this season, one point shy of his 81-game total from 2013-14.

* Montreal also snapped a two-game skid against the Coyotes, which followed an 11-0-3 run for the Canadiens dating to Dec. 14, 1998.

LIGHTNING STAGE COMEBACK FOR FRANCHISE-RECORD 26TH HOME WIN
Down 3-2 to start the third period, the Lightning scored three straight goals – including BrianBoyle’s eventual game-winner into the empty net – to win their fourth straight game at Amalie Arena and set a franchise record with their 26th home win of the season.

* The Lightning (41-20-6, 88 points) rank second in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Atlantic Division rival Canadiens (42-18-6, 90 points).

* Tampa Bay has won 15 of its last 17 games on home ice and is tied with Nashville for first place in the NHL for both home wins and home points (53). Their 53 home points are three shy of the franchise record set last season (25-10-6, 56 points).

* Ondrej Palat equaled a career high with his third three-assist performance of 2014-15 (also Dec. 23 vs. PIT and Dec. 31 at BUF). He ranks second on the club with 37 helpers this season, while his 52 points rank fourth.

* Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn each scored for the second straight game. Kucherov ranks second on the club with 25 goals this season, while Killorn’s goal stretched his point streak to four games (2-2—4). Victor Hedman (1-1—2) and Anton Stralman also found the back of the net for the Lightning.

* AndreiVasilevskiy stopped 31 shots, including 14 in the third period, to earn his second straight win and boost his record to 6-3-1 in 12 career appearances.

PENS, CAPS WIN AS METROPOLITAN RACE TIGHTENS
The No. 3 Penguins (38-18-9, 85 points) and No. 4 Capitals (36-21-10, 82 points) each posted victories on Saturday to inch closer to the Islanders (42-21-4, 88 points) – who lost in a shootout – for top spot in the Metropolitan Division:

* Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 31 shots he faced and Patric Hornqvist scored the lone goal at 1:44 of overtime to lift the Penguins to their eighth win in their last 11 road games (8-2-1) and third straight victory in Los Angeles.

* Fleury earned his League-leading ninth shutout, extending his franchise record for a single season. His 37 career shutouts also are a franchise record and rank third among all active goaltenders behind Roberto Luongo (68) and Henrik Lundqvist (55)

* Fleury also shut out the Kings on Oct. 30 at CONSOL Energy Center. Elias says he is the first goaltender to blank the defending Stanley Cup champions twice in the same season since Martin Brodeur shut out the Penguins twice in 2009-10.
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* Fleury improved to 4-1-0 in his last five appearances and reached the 30-win milestone for the seventh time in his career.

* Hornqvist potted his 27th career game-winning goal and first in overtime. His 22 goals this season (52 GP) match his 76-game output from 2013-14 w/ NSH.

* After falling behind less than three minutes into the game, the Capitals scored six unanswered goals, highlighted by 1-2—3 from Curtis Glencross, to beat the Sabres.

* Glencross, who was acquired on March 1 from the Flames, registered three points for the first time since March 22, 2014 at EDM (w/ CGY). He has 2-2—4 in three games with WSH and 11-21—32 overall this season.

* Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) posted his third straight multi-point performance and 23rd this season in his return from a one-game absence. The goal was his League-leading 44th and 20th via the power-play (also a League high).

* Nicklas Backstrom earned two helpers to eclipse 50 assists for the fifth time in his career. He also moved into a tie with Michal Pivonka for first place on the Capitals’ all-time assist list with 418; Ovechkin ranks third with 417.

* Ovechkin (44-25—69) and Backstrom (18-51—69) are tied for second in the NHL scoring race, one point behind John Tavares (32-38—70).

MARCHAND (AGAIN) RALLIES BRUINS
Boston fell behind Philadelphia 2-1 with the less than five minutes left in the third period, however, BradMarchand scored both the tying goal and overtime winner to lift the Bruins past the Flyers and to a 3-0-1 record in their past four outings.

* At 32-22-10 (74 points), the Bruins maintained a two-point edge over the Panthers (29-23-14, 72 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the East.

* Marchand tied the game with 14.1 seconds remaining in the third period before scoring at 3:52 of the extra frame. Elias says the only other Bruins player to tie a regular season game in the final minute of regulation and score in overtime was Rick Middleton on Mar. 1, 1984 vs. LAK (since the five-minute overtime format was introduced in 1983-84).

* Saturday marked the second time this season that Marchand scored both the tying goal (at any time) and overtime winner – he also accomplished the feat in a 3-2 OT win at BUF on Oct. 30 (14:30 of third and 1:20 of OT).

* Marchand has four career overtime goals, including three this season (also Nov. 4 vs. FLA). He has goals in three straight games, equaling his longest run of the season and is one shy of his career high set from Jan. 14-20, 2014.

* Tuukka Rask stopped 29 shots, including 13 in the third period and overtime, to improve to 9-1-1 in 12 career appearances vs. PHI (1.82 GAA, .937 SV%).

* The Bruins swept the season series with the Flyers for the second straight season (3-0-0 each time). The only other instance of a team winning every game in back-to-back seasons between these clubs was in 1970-71 and 1971-72 when Boston posted a 6-0-0 mark in each campaign.

. . . PANTHERS RALLY TO KEEP PACE
Florida gave up three one-goal leads, including a 3-2 edge in the third period, but Jonathan Huberdeau scored the only goal of the shootout to help the club improve to 3-1-1 in its last five games.

* At 29-23-14 (72 points), the Panthers remain two points behind the Bruins (32-22-10, 74 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Huberdeau notched his fourth career game-deciding goal and first this season. He also scored in regulation to stretch his point streak to four games (2-4—6).

* Dan Ellis stopped 25 shots – and denied all three shootout attempts – to earn his first NHL victory since Feb. 1 at ANA (w/ DAL). He also improved to 10-10 in career tiebreakers.

* Erik Gudbranson and Nick Bjugstad also scored for the Panthers. Bjugstad extended career highs in both goals (23) and points (40); he continues to lead the club in both categories.

BLUES STAY HOT IN TORONTO, MOVE CLOSER TO DIVISION LEAD
Vladimir Tarasenko and T.J. Oshie each had 1-1—2 to help the Blues sweep their two-game season series against the Maple Leafs and enable them finish their road trip with a 3-1-1 record.

* The Blues (41-19-5, 87 points) moved within two points of the Predators (41-19-7, 89 points) – who lost in regulation – for first place in the Central Division. St. Louis holds two games in hand, but Nashville owns the ROW tiebreaker (NSH: 35, STL: 33). Nashville won the season series with a 3-1-1 record (STL: 2-3-0).

* Tarasenko and Oshie each have 3-6—9 in their last eight games. Tarasenko shares fourth in the League with 32 goals and ranks seventh with 64 points.

* Alexander Steen and Jori Lehtera both tallied three assists to match and set career highs for assists in a game, respectively. Steen paces the club with seven three-point efforts this season; Elias says Pavol Demitra was the last Blues player with as many three-point games in a season (11 in 2002-03).

* Steen, the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2002 NHL Draft, has 5-7—12 in seven career games against his former club.

* Brian Elliott made 23 saves to improve to 5-1-0 in his last six road decisions (1.60 GAA, .945 SV%). He is 6-5-1 in 13 career games vs. TOR, including a 5-1-0 record in his last seven appearances.

* Jaden Schwartz, Chris Butler, Paul Stastny and David Backes supplied the other goals for the Blues, who have scored at least six goals a League-high nine times this season.

* The Blues are 7-0-2 in their last nine overall meetings with the Maple Leafs and hold a 9-0-2 mark in their last 11 visits to Toronto dating to Apr. 1, 1998.

VRBATA, CANUCKS CREATE SPACE IN PACIFIC
Radim Vrbata scored twice, including the game-winning goal at 5:21 of the third period, to help the Canucks overcome an early 2-0 deficit and earn a season-series victory over the Pacific Division rival Sharks (VAN: 3-2-0, SJS: 2-3-0). The Canucks improved to 4-2-1 in the last seven contests between the clubs following nine straight meetings without a win (including playoffs).

* At 37-24-4 (78 points), the Canucks opened a two-point lead over the idle Flames (36-25-4, 76 points) for second place in the Pacific Division. They also have three more points than the Kings (31-21-13, 75 points) and six points more than the Sharks (32-26-8, 72 points).

* Vrbata registered his second multi-goal performance of 2014-15 (also Nov. 19 at EDM) and fifth game-winning goal. He has 3-3—6 in his last four games and ranks third on the Canucks with 25-23—48 this season, three points shy of his total from 2013-14 (w/ PHX).

* Bo Horvat became the first Canucks rookie since 2011-12 to reach double digits in goals; he has 10-9—19 this season. Daniel Sedin (14-44—58) contributed two helpers and continues to rank second on the club in both assists and points, behind brother Henrik (15-45—60).

* Eddie Lack turned aside 38 shots – three off his season-high set twice – to improve to 9-8-3 in 2014-15 and earn his first career win against the Sharks.

JETS STRENGTHEN GRIP ON WILD CARD . . .
After allowing the tying goal midway through the second period, Blake Wheeler restored the Jets’ lead just 35 seconds later to guide the club to its second win over the Predators this season in the finale of their five-game series (NSH: 3-2-0, WPG: 2-3-0).

* With the win, the Jets (33-21-12, 78 points) opened a three-point lead over the Kings (31-21-13, 75 points) – who lost in overtime – for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference and pulled within one point of the idle Wild (36-22-7, 79 points) for the first Wild Card position.

* Wheeler (1-1—2) notched his 20th career game-winning goal and fourth this season, matching a personal best set in 2013-14. He ranks third on the Jets with 18-30—48.

* Drew Stafford also posted 1-1—2 for his second multi-point effort in a Jets uniform. He has 12-18—30 this season, including 3-3—6 in 10 games with Winnipeg. Tyler Myers, who was traded from Buffalo with Stafford, tallied the primary assist on the game-winner. He has points in three straight games and 2-6—8 with the Jets.

* Michael Frolik opened the scoring to extend his point streak to a career-high six games (4-2—6). His 15 goals this season (66 GP) match his 81-game total from 2013-14.

* Michael Hutchinson (20 saves) improved to 20-8-5 in 34 appearances this season. His 20 wins lead all rookies and match the franchise record for wins by a rookie goaltender established by Kari Lehtonen in 2005-06.

. . . VARLAMOV, AVALANCHE BLANK BLUE JACKETS TO STAY IN RACE
The Avalanche opened a 3-0 lead before the 10-minute mark of the first period and Semyon Varlamov stopped all 44 shots he faced to record his 18th career shutout and help the club improve to 4-0-1 in their last five visits to Columbus.

* At 29-25-11 (69 points), the Avalanche remain nine points behind the Jets (33-21-13, 75 points) for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The clubs meet once more this season – Apr. 9 at Pepsi Center.

* Varlamov recorded his career-high fifth shutout of the season, three of which have been 40+ save performances (40 saves vs. NYI, Oct. 30; 54 saves at CHI, Jan. 6). Elias says Varlamov is the third goaltender since the 1967-68 expansion to have three shutouts of at least 40 saves in a season. The others: Bill Ranford in 1986-87 w/ BOS and Mike Smith in 2011-12 w/ PHX.

* Jarome Iginla, Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene contributed the goals. Iginla’s goal was the 174th power-play tally of his career, moving him past RayBourque into 28th place in NHL history.

* Iginla (581-630—1,211) also surpassed Bobby Clarke (358-852—1,210) for the 43rd spot on the NHL’s all-time points list; JeremyRoenick (513-703—1,216) and Larry Murphy (287-929—1,216) share 41st place.

* Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and Alex Tanguay tallied the other Colorado goals, while Tyson Barrie (0-3—3) matched a career high for assists and points in a game. Barrie has 10-33—43 this season, one point behind Iginla and Landeskog for the team lead.

LOOSE PUCKS
Islanders captain John Tavares (1-2—3) registered his 20th multi-point effort – and fourth three-point game – to move into first place in the NHL with 32-38—70. His 32 goals are a career high . . . Jakub Voracek reached the 20-goal milestone for the third time (also 2012-13 and 2013-14). He is tied for fifth in the NHL with a career-high 20-46—66 in 66 GP . . . Stars forward Tyler Seguin scored twice in his return from a 10-game absence to eclipse the 30-goal milestone for the second straight season. His 31 goals are tied for seventh in the NHL . . . Teammate Vernon Fiddler also scored twice, while Colton Sceviour tallied 0-2—2 . . . Jay Beagle (1-1—2) and Mike Green (0-2—2) registered multiple points for the Capitals. Washington improved to 15-0-1 when Beagle records a point this season . . . Dougie Hamilton tallied two assists for the Bruins . . . Teammate Ryan Spooner notched a helper in overtime; he has 1-4—5 in his last six games, including a four-game point streak that began with his first NHL goal in overtime at NJD on Feb. 27 . . . Sharks forward Joe Thornton (1-1—2) tallied multiple points for the 13th time this season . . . Joe Pavelski stretched his point streak to five games (1-5—6) . . . Lightning forward Tyler Johnson notched one assist to extend his point streak to six games (2-6—8) . . . Coyotes forward Shane Doan played in his 1,379th career game, taking sole possession of 39th in NHL history . . . Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards served his 400th game behind a NHL bench . . . ICYMI: The 1995 Stanley Cup champion Devils reunited for a charity hockey game to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise's first championship . . . The Kings unveiled a bronze statue of Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille before the PIT-LAK game. Former teammates Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Rob Blake were among those who attended the ceremony.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit @ Boston, 12:30 p.m., NBC, SN360
Edmonton @ Carolina, 3:00 p.m., SNW, FS-CR
Philadelphia @ New Jersey, 5:00 p.m., TCN-PH, MSG+
Colorado @ Minnesota, 6:00 p.m., ALT, FS-N, FS-WI
Calgary @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m., TVA, CITY
NY Rangers @ Chicago, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN
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HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN THOMPSON, MB
The Calgary Flames are in Ottawa to face the Senators as Rogers Hometown Hockey visits Thompson, MB. Former NHL’ers Theo Fleury and Curtis Leschyshyn will be special guests on the program. Every Rogers Sunday Night Hockey game this season will feature a Canadian team in action and travel to a community rink in hometowns across Canada, with local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features. For more information, click here.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.