BENN CAPS (ANOTHER) COMEBACK WIN FOR THE STARS
The Stars erased a 3-1 third-period deficit to force overtime, where Jamie Benn scored at 2:28 to lead the team to its second consecutive comeback victory and seventh win in its past eight outings overall.

* The Stars also overcame a multi-goal deficit in their most recent contest, a 4-3 victory on Tuesday vs. ANA. In that game, the club trailed 3-0 after 20 minutes before notching four unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by Antoine Roussel with 1:28 remaining in regulation.

* Benn (1-1—2) recorded his second career overtime goal (also March 11, 2014 at STL). The reigning Art Ross Trophy winner paces all players with 9-8—17 in 10 games this season, including 3-4—7 in his past three outings.

* Per Elias, Benn is the third player in Stars/North Stars history to register 17 or more points through the team’s opening 10 games of a season. The others: Bobby Smith (17 in 1981-82) and Dino Ciccarelli (20 in 1986-87).

ZATKOFF, PENGUINS SPOIL BYLSMA’S RETURN TO PITTSBURGH
Making his first start since April 13, 2014, Jeff Zatkoff recorded a career-high 50 saves – including 23 in the third period – to backstop the Penguins to their sixth win in their past seven games following a 0-3-0 start to the season.

* Zatkoff, who improved to 13-7-2 in 22 career appearances (2.60 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO), made the most saves by a Penguins goaltender since Feb. 26, 2008, when Ty Conklin also stopped 50 shots in a 4-2 victory at NYI.

* Evgeni Malkin (1-1—2) notched his third game-winning goal of the season, tops in the NHL. Patric Hornqvist (1-1—2), Ben Lovejoy (1-1—2) and Sidney Crosby (0-2—2) also collected multiple points for the Penguins, who won their seventh straight game against the Sabres dating to Oct. 5, 2013 (BUF: 0-7-0).

* ICYMI: Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma received a standing ovation from players and fans in his return to Pittsburgh, where he served behind the bench from 2008-14. Bylsma guided the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2008-09 and is the winningest coach in franchise history (252-117-32).

THE BEST OFFENSE IS GOOD DEFENSE
Two defensemen – Colton Parayko (STL) and Ron Hainsey (CAR) – scored game-winning goals to guide their clubs to victories:

* Parayko registered the tiebreaking goal with 9:29 remaining in regulation to lift the Blues to a 7-2-1 record this season, including a 3-0-1 clip at Scottrade Center. Parayko, a third-round selection (86th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, has 4-3—7 in his first 10 games – including a pair of game-winning goals (also Oct. 13 at CGY). Only two other rookie defensemen have notched multiple game-winning goals for the Blues in one season: Brian Benning (2 in 1986-87) and Erik Johnson (3 in 2007-08). With 10 shots on goal, Parayko also set a franchise record for a rookie (forward or defenseman) and became the first rookie to fire 10 shots on goal for any team since April 7, 2006 (Alex Ovechkin, WSH: 12).

* The Hurricanes overcame a 2-1 third-period deficit to force overtime, where Hainseyscored at 2:21 to help the team close its seven-game road trip with a 4-3-0 record. Hainsey also posted the game-winning goal in the club’s most recent outing, a 3-1 victory on Tuesday at DET – he had three such goals in his first 762 NHL appearances prior to this week. Per Elias, Hainsey became the third defenseman in Hurricanes/Whalers history to pick up the winning goal in consecutive team games. The others: Joe Corvo (2x in 2008-09) and Jay Harrison (Jan. 12-14, 2012). Harrison also was the last defenseman to score an overtime goal for the club (March 4, 2014 at SJS).

MORE FROM LAST NIGHT
* Michael Hutchinson made a career-high 45 saves, including 18 in the second period, to backstop the Jets to their fifth win in their past seven meetings with the Blackhawks dating to Jan. 26, 2014 (CHI: 2-5-0). Hutchinson, who ranked second among rookies with 21 wins in 2014-15, improved to 4-0-0 this season (1.75 GAA, .949 SV%).

* Kyle Palmieri registered 1-2—3, including the game-winning goal, to help the Devils overcome a 1-0 deficit and pick up their fifth victory in their last six outings (as well as their fourth consecutive win on the road). Palmieri posted his second career three-point game, also Feb. 27, 2013 vs. NSH (3-0—3 w/ ANA).

* The line of Nathan MacKinnon (1-1—2), Alex Tanguay (1-1—2) and Jarome Iginla (0-2—2) combined for 2-4—6 to help the Avalanche snap a four-game skid overall (0-3-1) and improve to 10-2-1 in their last 13 meetings with the Lightning dating to Jan. 5, 2007 (TBL: 3-7-3).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla (592-641—1,233) collected two assists to surpassPhil Housley (338-894—1,232) and move into 38th place on the NHL’s all-time points list.Peter Stastny ranks 37th with 450-789—1,239.

* Semyon Varlamov (34 SV) picked up his 108th victory with the Avalanche to surpassDan Bouchard (107) and move into sole possession of second place on the franchise’s all-time wins list among goaltenders (COL/QUE), behind current head coach Patrick Roy(262).

* Hurricanes goaltender Eddie Lack (17 SV) earned his first win with his new club.

* Canucks forward Brendan Gaunce, the 26th overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut (10:47 TOI). Blackhawks forward Tanner Kero, who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent, also made his NHL debut (11:40 TOI).

LOOSE PUCKS
Stars forward Patrick Sharp (2-0—2) and Devils forward Travis Zajac (2-0—2) both registered multi-goal games . . . Stars defenseman John Klingberg extended his point streak to six games (2-5—7) . . . Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (3-4—7), Jets forwardNikolaj Ehlers (3-2—5) and Oilers forward Benoit Pouliot (3-2—5) all stretched their point streaks to five games . . . Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis, who only played in 16 games last season due to injury, scored his first goal since Nov. 14, 2014 at TOR . . . Jets captain Andrew Ladd, who played for the Blackhawks from 2007-10, recorded the game-winning goal against his former club. He has 4-8—12 in 12 career appearances vs. CHI . . . The Blackhawks and goaltender Corey Crawford extended their shutout streak to 141:46 before allowing a first-period goal . . . The Islanders have killed off 23 consecutive penalties over their past seven games. They rank first in the NHL with a 91.7% success rate on the penalty kill . . . The Maple Leafs signed forward Rich Clune to an NHL contract. . . ICYMI: Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop robbed Avalanche forward Matt Duchenewith a diving save . . . Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban knocked a sure goal out of midair.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Philadelphia @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., TCN-PH, MSG-B, BELL TV
Toronto @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., SN360, MSG
Columbus @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., FS-O, CSN-DC
Colorado @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., ALT2, FS-CR
Ottawa @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., TSN5, RDSI, FS-D+
Boston @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., NESN, FS-F
Chicago @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., CSN-CH, FS-N
Montreal @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., CITYM, RDS, SNF
Vancouver @ Arizona, 10:00 p.m., SNV, FS-A+
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

WILD HOST BLACKHAWKS IN FIRST MEETING SINCE PLAYOFFS
The Wild play host to the Blackhawks at Xcel Energy Center in their first meeting since the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a four-game sweep by Chicago. These teams have faced off in each of the past three postseasons, with the Blackhawks winning all three series (also in the 2013 Western Conference Quarterfinals, 4-1, and 2014 Second Round, 4-2). In doing so, Chicago became the first NHL team to eliminate the same opponent in each of three consecutive postseasons since Toronto did so against Ottawa from 2000-02. The Wild and Blackhawks will meet four more times this season, including the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Feb. 21.

HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT
The Red Wings host their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night when they face the Senators at Joe Louis Arena. Click here for more details.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for supplying the above information.