* In his first career appearance versus the Wild, John Gibson made 32 saves to improve to 10-6-0 this season with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Gibson has won four of his last five decisions (4-1-0).

* Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf skated in the 700th game of his NHL career and became the third player to appear in 700 games with the club, joining Teemu Selanne (966) and Corey Perry (710).

* Anaheim swept its three-game season series versus Minnesota and has won eight of its past nine games against the Wild. The Ducks have won a franchise-best six consecutive games at Xcel Energy Center, all of which were one-goal victories.

FLAMES RISE IN PACIFIC DIVISION RACE
Joining the Ducks in moving up the Western Conference ladder were the Flames, who scored four first-period goals – including two shorthanded markers within a span of 2:58 – en route to a 6-3 victory over the Maple Leafs. The Flames extended their standings point streak to six games (5-0-1) and leapfrogged the idle Canucks into sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Flames scored two shorthanded goals within a three-minute span for the first time since Oct. 17, 1997, when German Titov and Derek Morris tallied 38 seconds apart in the second period against the Avalanche.

* Calgary's leading scorer Jiri Hudler (1-2—3) reached the 60-point mark for first time in his NHL career (25-35—60), surpassing his previous high of 23-34—57 set with Detroit in 2008-09. The reigning NHL First Star of the Week also tied a single-season high with his sixth power-play goal and extended his point streak to six games (6-6—12).

* Sean Monahan (2-1—3) recorded a pair of milestones, notching the first shorthanded goal and three-point game of his NHL career. Monahan also tallied his team-leading seventh game-winning goal of the season and extended his point streak to a career-high six games (6-3—9).

* Johnny Gaudreau (1-2—3) extended his career-high point streak to six games (4-5—9) and increased his season points total to 53 (19 goals, 34 assists), tied for the most among NHL rookies with Nashville's Filip Forsberg (21-32—-53).

SURGING SENATORS, STARS INTENSIFY PLAYOFF PUSH WITH ROAD WINS
Rookie Andrew Hammond continued the sizzling start to his NHL career by making 34 saves as Ottawa won 2-1 on Long Island. The Senators, who have earned points in 11 of their last 12 games (10-1-1), moved within five points of the idle Bruins, who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Hammond improved to 9-0-1 with a 1.44 goals-against average and .954 save percentage. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hammond is just the fifth goaltender since 1972 to earn a point in each of his first 10 career starts, joining Semyon Varlamov (9-0-1 with WSH in 2008-09 and 2009-10), Patrick Lalime (10-0-0 with PIT in 1996-97), Bob Froese (9-0-1 with PHI in 1982-83) and Ross Brooks (7-0-3 with BOS in 1972-73).

* Elias also says that Hammond is just third goaltender in NHL history – and the first since 1938 – to allow two goals or fewer in each of his first 10 career starts. The others are Boston’s Frank Brimsek (12 starts, Nov. 3 – Dec. 27, 1938) and Detroit’s Clarence Dolson (10 starts, Nov. 15 – Dec. 13, 1928).

Meanwhile, the Stars stepped up their pursuit of a playoff berth in the West by winning for the fifth time in their past six games (5-1-0) as Vernon Fiddler (1-1—2) keyed Dallas' win at Washington. The Stars closed within five points of the idle Kings, who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Tyler Seguin (1-0—1) notched the game-winning goal on a power play in the second period. Seguin leads the Stars in goals (32), power-play goals (10) and game-winners (five).

* Kari Lehtonen made 18 saves to improve his season record to 29-13-10 with a 2.92 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. Lehtonen has won each of his past four decisions and has prevailed in his past six games against the Capitals.

* Jamie Benn (0-1—1) registered his team-leading 41st assist of the season and extended his point streak versus Washington to five games (2-5—7).

* The Stars swept the season series and have won seven straight games against the Capitals, including four at Verizon Center. Dallas has also won six consecutive games versus Metropolitan Division opponents.

ROOKIES LEAD COLUMBUS OVER EDMONTON
Rookies Alexander Wennberg (0-2—2) and Marko Dano (1-1—2) propelled the Blue Jackets to a 5-4 win over the Oilers. Wennberg netted the shootout winner in addition to his two assists in regulation while Dano recorded his third multi-point game of the season, lifting Columbus to its third consecutive victory.

* Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves through 65 minutes and stopped all five shootout attempts in claiming his 20th win of the season (20-16-2). Bobrovsky upped his shootout record to 6-1, earning a share of a six-way tie for the League lead in shootout wins. Bobrovsky has stopped 30 of 34 shootout attempts this season; his .882 save percentage ranks second to Jhonas Enroth (20 of 21, .952) among goaltenders facing at least 20 shots.

LOOSE PUCKS
Calgary forward Mikael Backlund (1-0—1) extended his career-high point streak to seven games (3-4—7)… Dallas defenseman Patrik Nemeth (0-1—1) recorded the first point of his NHL career... Washington forward Curtis Glencross (1-0—1) has recorded five points in five games (3-2—5) with his new club since the trade deadline acquisition from the Flames… Washington forward Alex Ovechkin (0-1—1) recorded his 418th career assist, tying Michael Pivonka and Nicklas Backstrom for first place on the franchise’s all-time list. Ovechkin also extended his point streak to five games (6-3—9)… Edmonton forward Jordan Eberle (1-1—2) recorded his 12th multi-point game of the season and extended his point streak to four games (3-5—8), which matches a season high... Edmonton defenseman Justin Schultz (0-2—2) posted his first multi-assist performance of the season… Calgary forward Drew Shore (1-0—1) scored his first goal of the season and first as a member of the Flames... Toronto forward David Booth (2-0—2) recorded his first multi-goal game of the season and extended his season-high point streak to six games (5-2—7)... Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner (0-2—2) posted his fourth multi-assist performance of the season... Chicago Blackhawks forward Joakim Nordstrom has been suspended for two games by the Department of Player Safety for boarding Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY'S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit @ Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m., FS-D, CSN-PH
Boston @ Pittsburgh, 1:00 p.m., NHLN-US, TVA, NESN, ROOT
Chicago @ San Jose, 4:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN, WGN, CSN-CA
NY Rangers @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., MSG, MSG-B
Winnipeg @ Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m., SN, SUN
Montreal @ NY Islanders, 7:00 p.m., NBCSN, TVA, CITY
Florida @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., FS-F, FS-CR
Toronto @ Vancouver, 7:00 p.m., CBC
Minnesota @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., FS-N, FS-MW
New Jersey @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., MSG+ 2, FS-A
Calgary @ Colorado, 10:00 p.m., CBC, TVA2, ALT
Nashville @ Los Angeles, 10:00 p.m., SN, FS-TN, FS-W

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SEVERAL NATIONAL BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT BUSY SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Eleven games on Saturday's busy slate feature a team above the playoff cutoff or within six points of it, and seven of those contests are being broadcast to a national audience: Boston at Pittsburgh (NHL Network-US, TVA), Chicago at San Jose (NHL Network-US, SN), Winnipeg at Tampa Bay (SN), Montreal at NY Islanders (NBCSN, TVA, CITY), Toronto at Vancouver (CBC), Calgary at Colorado (CBC) and Nashville at Los Angeles (SN).

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department