* Talbot has earned at least one point in 14 of this last 15 appearances (11-1-3), including a 7-1-1 mark in his past nine outings (1.54 GAA, .948 SV%, 2 SO).

* Talbot has allowed one goal or fewer in regulation in five consecutive games. The last Rangers goaltender to accomplish that feat: Henrik Lundqvist, from March 16-25, 2007 (6 GP).

* J.T. Miller scored the tiebreaking goal late in the first period, his second career game-winning marker and first since Dec. 13 at VAN. He has 7-8—15 in 42 games this season, compared to 5-5—10 in his first 56 career outings.

* Martin St. Louis added an insurance goal late in the third period, stretching his point streak against the Capitals to 10 games (8-8—16); he has 31-51—82 in 76 career games vs. WSH. The Rangers are 17-0-1 in the last 18 games in which St. Louis has recorded at least one point.

* Kevin Hayes collected two assists for his third career multi-point game, all in the past month (also Feb. 12 at COL: 1-2—3 and Feb. 26 vs. ARI: 0-2—2). He ranks eighth among rookies with 13-19—32 this season (63 GP), including 7-9—16 in his past 20 contests.

* The Rangers improved to 21-10-2 (44 points) this season as visitors. They lead the NHL in road wins, while their 44 road points are tied for first with the Ducks (20-10-4) and Islanders (20-12-4).

GAUDREAU, STAJAN SPARK (ANOTHER) FLAMES COMEBACK WIN
The Ducks raced to a 2-0 lead less than three minutes after the opening face-off, but the Flames scored five consecutive goals – including a pair by both Johnny Gaudreau and Matt Stajan – to stretch their point streak to five contests (4-0-1) and snap a three-game skid against the Ducks dating to Nov. 25.

* At 37-25-5 (79 points), the Flames moved within one point of the idle Canucks (38-24-4, 80 points) for second place in the Pacific Division. They also moved two points ahead of the idle Kings (32-21-13, 77 points), who are the first team on the outside of the playoff picture.

* The Flames do not face the Canucks again in 2014-15, though they won the season series (CGY: 2-1-1, VAN: 2-2-0). The Flames play the Kings one more time, on April 9 at CGY (CGY: 3-1-0, LAK: 1-1-2).

* The Flames overcame a multi-goal deficit to win for the ninth time this season, tops in the NHL (only ANA and DET have done so at least seven times). The Flames also posted their 18th victory when allowing the first goal (18-19-3), second in the League to the Predators (19-18-3).

* Gaudreau notched his fourth career multi-goal game to extend his point streak to a career-high five contests (3-3—6). He has 18-32—50 this season, second among rookies to Filip Forsberg (21-32—53). Gaudreau also became the first Flames rookie to reach the 50-point milestone since Jarome Iginla in 1996-97 (21-29—50).

* Stajan registered his 13th career multi-goal game and second of the season (also Jan. 9 vs. FLA: 2-0—2). He has four goals in his past four outings after scoring three times in his first 40 games of the season.

* Jiri Hudler and Sean Monahan supplied the other goals for the Flames, who scored four times on seven shots over the final two periods. Hudler (5-4—9) and Monahan (4-2—6) both stretched their point streaks to five games.

* Kris Russell matched a career high with three assists, a mark established on Dec. 4 at COL (0-3—3). He has 2-6—8 in his last four contests, including three multi-point performances.

* Dennis Wideman also collected three helpers, equaling a career high set March 28, 2009 at TOR (0-3—3 w/ BOS). He has 0-7—7 in his past four outings, including three multi-point games.

* Mikael Backlund added one assist to extend his point streak a career-high six games (2-4—6).

DID YOU KNOW?
Captain Ryan Getzlaf spotted the Ducks a 2-0 lead with goals at 0:22 and 2:51 of the first period.

* Per Elias, they were the earliest two goals by one player in Ducks history, shattering the previous mark set by Nick Bonino on Feb. 2, 2013 vs. LAK (2:30 and 5:49).

* The last time any player recorded two goals in the first three minutes of a road game was on Feb. 14, 2003, when Mike Knuble set the NHL record for the fastest two goals from the start of a game – home or road – by scoring twice for the Bruins in the first 27 seconds at FLA.

* Elias also says that Getzlaf’s first goal was the fastest to start a game by any Ducks player since March 2, 2013 at PHX (Andrew Cogliano – 0:21). Paul Kariya holds the franchise record for the earliest goal in a game, scored at 0:08 on March 9, 1997 at COL.

* With his two goals, Getzlaf (205-466—671) passed Kariya (300-369—669) for second place on the franchise’s all-time points list. Teemu Selanne ranks first with 457-531—988.

BOZAK LIFTS MAPLE LEAFS OVER SABRES
Tyler Bozak scored the tying goal with 3:25 remaining in regulation and then provided the lone marker in the shootout to lift the Maple Leafs to a 5-1-1 record in their past seven meetings with the Sabres dating to Nov. 16, 2013.

* The Maple Leafs improved to 12-1-2 in their last 15 home games against the Sabres dating to Dec. 21, 2009, including six consecutive victories. The home club has won 18 of the last 20 meetings between these teams dating to March 12, 2011, including 10 straight.

* Bozak recorded his 19th goal of the season (68 GP), equaling a career high established in 2013-14 (58 GP).

* Bozak also improved to 13-for-25 (52.0%), with three game-deciding goals, in his shootout career. His 52.0% efficiency ranks second among active skaters with a minimum of 25 attempts, behind Frans Nielsen (38-for-70, 54.3%).

* Leo Komarov added his seventh goal of the season; the Maple Leafs improved to 9-0-1 all-time when he scores.

* David Booth posted one assist to extend his point streak to five games (3-2—5), his longest such run since Dec. 27, 2008 – Jan. 10, 2009 (6-7—13 in 8 GP w/ FLA).

* Jonathan Bernier made 30 saves – and denied all three shootout attempts he faced – to reach the 20-win milestone for the second time in his career (26 W in 2013-14).

LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored for the fourth consecutive game (6-2—8), the second time he has achieved that feat in the past month (also Feb. 14-19: 5-4—9 in 4 GP). He leads the NHL in goals (45), power-play goals (21) and game-winning goals (10) . . . Ovechkin also ranks second in the League with 45-25—70, two points behind Islanders captain John Tavares (33-39—72) . . . Ovechkin reached the 45-goal milestone for the seventh time in his career. Only four other players have had as many 45-goal seasons in NHL history: Mike Bossy, Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux . . . The Sabres’ line of Tyler Ennis (1-2—3, +3), Johan Larsson (1-2—3, +3) and Matt Moulson (1-2—3, +3) combined for 3-6—9 and a +9 rating. Elias says it marked the first time that three different Sabres players posted at least three points in the same game since Jan. 31, 2013 at BOS, when Thomas Vanek (3-2—5), Cody Hodgson (1-2—3) and Jason Pominville (1-2—3) all did so . . . Moulson, a native of North York, Ont., also registered 1-2—3 on Nov. 15 vs. TOR and has 15-8—23 in 23 career games against his hometown team. Per Elias, his 11 goals at Air Canada Centre since his first visit in 2009-10 (11-5—16 in 13 GP) leads all visiting players in that span, two ahead of Ovechkin . . . Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello skated in his 208th NHL game to become the all-time leader in games played among Norwegian-born players (Espen Knutsen: 207 GP). Zuccarello also leads all Norwegian-born players in goals (42), assists (91) and points (133) . . . Maple Leafs defenseman Andrew MacWilliam registered his first career assist/point while making his NHL debut . . . ICYMI: Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist showed off his skills while wearing a GoPro.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Boston, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN360, TVA, SUN, NESN
Edmonton @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., SNW, ROOT
Dallas @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., FS-SW, FS-CR
Ottawa @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., TSN5, SNE, RDS
Columbus @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., FS-O, FS-D
Winnipeg @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., TSN3, FS-F
Philadelphia @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., CSN-PH, FS-MW
New Jersey @ Colorado, 9:00 p.m., MSG+, ALT
Los Angeles @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., FS-W, SNP
Chicago @ Arizona, 10:00 p.m., WGN, FS-A
Nashville @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., SN360, FS-TN, CSN-CA
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CRUCIAL POINTS ON THE LINE
Playoff implications highlight several of Thursday’s games:

* The Bruins (34-22-10, 78 points) try to strengthen their grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference when they host to the Lightning (42-20-6, 90 points) – who could move into first place in the Atlantic Division – at TD Garden. This marks the second of four meetings between these clubs this season; they also face off on March 22 and April 11, both at Amalie Arena. The Bruins have won nine straight in the head-to-head series dating to March 27, 2012.

* The Senators (30-24-11, 71 points), who sit seven points behind the Bruins (34-22-10, 78 points), continue their push for a playoff spot when they visit the Canadiens (42-18-7, 91 points) at Bell Centre. This marks the fourth and final game of the season between these Atlantic Division rivals. The Senators have won the past two meetings – both in Ottawa – after dropping the opening game of the season series in Montreal.

* Two teams looking to advance their Wild Card hopes face off when the Jets (33-22-12, 78 points) meet the Panthers (29-23-14, 72 points) at BB&T Center. Winnipeg occupies the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Los Angeles (32-21-13, 77 points). Florida, meanwhile, sits six points back of Boston (34-22-10, 78 points) for the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference.

* The Canucks (38-24-4, 80 points) and Kings (32-21-13, 77 points) jockey for position in the Pacific Division when they face off at Rogers Arena. Vancouver sits second in the division, while Los Angeles ranks fourth – and one point behind Winnipeg (33-22-12, 78 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. This marks the third of five meetings between these clubs this season; they also will play on March 21 at LAK and April 6 at VAN. The Kings have won both of the teams’ first two contests and six of the last seven in the head-to-head series dating to Nov. 9, 2013.

* The Sharks (33-26-8, 74 points) try to gain ground in the playoff race when they take on the Predators (42-19-7, 91 points) at SAP Center. San Jose currently ranks fifth in the Pacific Division – five points behind Calgary (37-25-5, 79 points) for third place. The Sharks also trail the Jets (33-22-12, 78 points) by four points for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department