DID YOU KNOW?
Two tying goals were scored in the final 10 seconds of regulation on Saturday – by Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (19:59) and Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner(19:56).

Elias says that it marked the first day in which two such goals were scored in the final 10 seconds of the third period since Oct. 8, 2009, when Devils forward Travis Zajac (19:59 at TBL) and Flames forward Rene Bourque (19:58 at EDM) both accomplished that feat en route to wins.

OVECHKIN TIES FEDOROV FOR MOST GOALS BY A RUSSIAN-BORN PLAYER . . .
Alex Ovechkin scored his 483rd career goal and also potted the lone marker in the shootout to propel the Capitals to a 10-3-0 record (20 points), equaling the franchise’s best 13-game start to a season in its 41-year NHL history (also 1991-92: 10-3-0, 20 points).

* In doing so, Ovechkin tied Sergei Fedorov – who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday – for the most goals by a Russian-born player in NHL history. Ovechkin equaled the mark in his 772nd career game, 476 fewer contests than Fedorov played in his NHL career (1,248 GP).

* Earlier this season, Ovechkin (483-427—910) also became the fourth Russian-born player to record 900 NHL points, following Fedorov (483-696—1,179), Alexander Mogilny (473-559—1,032) and Alex Kovalev (430-599—1,029).

* Ovechkin, who has 3-3—6 during a five-game point streak, ranks fourth among active players (from any nation) in goals, behind Jaromir Jagr (728), Jarome Iginla (595) andMarian Hossa (487). Ovechkin, however, has 138 more goals than the next-closest player (Iginla: 345) since making his NHL debut in 2005-06.

* Nicklas Backstrom (1-1—2) collected an assist on Ovechkin’s goal. Since entering the NHL in 2007-08, Backstrom has assisted on 45.2% of Ovechkin’s goals (174 of 385).

. . . CANADIENS, RANGERS ALSO CONTINUE RECORD-SETTING STARTS
The Canadiens and Rangers – the top two teams in the Eastern Conference – also continued their record-setting starts with victories on Saturday:

* Trailing 2-1 in the third period, the Canadiens scored three unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by David Desharnais with 1:08 remaining in regulation – to improve to 13-2-1 (27 points), their highest win total through the opening 16 games of a season in the franchise’s 98-year NHL history. The Canadiens also improved to 7-0-1 in their first eight contests at Bell Centre, marking the first time that they have earned at least one point in each of their first eight home games of a season since 1992-93 (8-0-1 in 9 GP).

* Mike Condon, a native of Needham, Mass., made 29 saves in his first game against his hometown team to improve to 6-0-1 in his first seven NHL appearances (1.57 GAA, .940 SV%). The Canadiens also improved to 12-1-0 in their last 13 regular-season meetingswith the Bruins dating to March 3, 2013 (BOS: 1-10-2), including seven straight wins. These clubs, who have faced off more than any two teams in NHL history (731 GP), will meet again Dec. 9 at MTL before taking it outdoors for the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on New Year’s Day.

* The Rangers scored four consecutive goals, including three in the second period, to improve to 10-2-2 (22 points), equaling the franchise’s best 14-game start to a season –in terms of points – in its 89-year history (also 1971-72: 9-1-4 and 1990-91: 11-3-0). The Rangers also extended their overall point streak to nine games (7-0-2), including five consecutive wins, and improved to 13-3-0 in their last 16 meetings with the Coyotes dating to Oct. 28, 2002 (ARI/PHX: 3-8-5), including five straight victories.

* Antti Raanta made 39 saves – one shy of his career high established Dec. 3, 2014 vs. STL (w/ CHI) – to improve to 3-0-0 in his first three appearances since joining the Rangers during the offseason (0.67 GAA, .976 SV%, 1 SO). Via Elias, he became the sixth goaltender in Rangers history to win each of his first three games with the club and the first to do so since Dan Cloutier in 1997-98.

STOP THEM ALL
Four goaltenders – Jake Allen (STL), Michal Neuvirth (PHI), Devan Dubnyk (MIN) andAnton Khudobin (ANA) – recorded shutouts to backstop their clubs to wins on Saturday:

* Allen turned aside all 45 shots he faced, including 19 in the second period, to earn his seventh career shutout (second this season) and lead the Blues to their fifth victory in their past six outings. Per Elias, Allen became the second goaltender in Blues history to make 45 or more saves in a shutout. The other: Chris Mason, who stopped 47 shots in a 1-0 shootout win Nov. 25, 2008, also at NSH.

* Neuvirth made 28 saves to post his 10th career shutout (third this season) and help the Flyers snap a six-game skid (0-4-2). Neuvirth, who is 3-2-1 in eight appearances this season (1.81 GAA, .945 SV%) also recorded shutouts in each of his first two wins with the Flyers: Oct. 12 vs. FLA (31 SV) and Oct. 14 vs. CHI (30 SV).

* Dubnyk stopped 31 shots to record his 16th career shutout (second this season) and guide the Wild to their sixth victory in seven games this season at Xcel Energy Center. Dubnyk has collected seven shutouts in 51 appearances since joining the Wild in January (35-12-3, 1.93 GAA, .930 SV%); he had nine in his first 192 NHL outings.

* Khudobin also denied 31 shots to earn his fifth career shutout (first this season) and lead the Ducks to their fourth consecutive win following a 1-7-2 start to the season. Anaheim snapped an eight-game skid in San Jose (0-6-2) with its first victory at SAP Center since March 19, 2012.

FAMILIAR FACES PLAY FORMER CLUBS
* The Sabres aired a tribute video for Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller, who returned to Buffalo for the first time since a February 2014 trade. Miller, a fifth-round pick (138th overall) by the Sabres in the 1999 NHL Draft, posted a franchise-record 284 wins in 540 regular-season appearances with the club (2.60 GAA, .916 SV%, 28 SO).

* Predators defenseman Barret Jackman faced his former team, the Blues, for the first time since signing with Nashville as a free agent. The 17th overall selection by St. Louis in the 1999 NHL Draft, Jackman compiled 28-153—181 while playing his first 13 seasons with the Blues (803 GP).

* Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle returned to Arizona for the first time since a March trade. A fourth-round choice (105th overall) by the Coyotes in the 2005 NHL Draft, Yandle collected 65-246—311 while playing his first nine seasons with the team (558 GP).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Bruins forward Frank Vatrano, a native of East Longmeadow, Mass., scored while making his NHL debut in front of family. Senators defenseman Chris Wideman also recorded his first NHL goal (4 GP).

* Coyotes captain Shane Doan registered his 115th career power-play goal to surpassKeith Tkachuk (114) and move into sole possession of second place on the franchise’s all-time list, behind Dale Hawerchuk (122). Doan also played in his 1,407th NHL game, tying Dale Hunter for 33rd place on the League’s all-time list.

* Wild forward Christoph Bertschy, a sixth-round pick (158th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, made his League debut (8:08 TOI).

* Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo both played in their 400th NHL games.

LOOSE PUCKS
Johnny Gaudreau (2-1—3) and Mikael Backlund (0-3—3) both posted three points to ignite the Flames to their third victory in their past four outings and snap the Penguins’ winning streak at six games . . . The Kings scored four unanswered goals, including three in the second period, to improve to 9-2-0 in their last 11 contests following a 0-3-0 start to the season . . . MUST-SEE: Flames forward Sam Bennett, the fourth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, dangled past defenders for what stood as his first game-winning goal (15 GP) . . . Teammate Sean Monahan, the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft,batted the puck out of the air for an insurance goal . . . Sabres forward Jack Eichel (0-2—2), the second overall choice in the 2015 NHL Draft, registered his first multi-point game, including his first two assists. All nine of his points have come on home ice (5-2—7 in 9 GP at First Niagara Center) . . . Justin Faulk (CAR) and Colton Parayko (STL) both scored their fifth goals of the season, tied for first among defensemen . . . Bruins defenseman Colin Miller posted one assist to extend his point streak to six games (1-5—6) . . . Canucks captain Henrik Sedin (1-4—5) and Capitals forward Justin Williams (1-4—5) both stretched their point streaks to five games . . . ICYMI: Four clubs – theHurricanes, Jets, Predators and Coyotes – hosted their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Nights . . . U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Payne, a Buffalo native, dropped the ceremonial opening puck as part of Military Appreciation Day at the Canucks-Sabres games.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Dallas @ Detroit, 3:00 p.m., SNE, SNO, SNW, FS-SW, FS-D
Vancouver @ New Jersey, 5:00 p.m., SNP, MSG+ 2
Boston @ NY Islanders, 5:00 p.m., TVAS, NESN, MSG+
Edmonton @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN, WGN
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HOMETOWN HOCKEY STOPS IN FREDERICTON
The Oilers visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks at United Center asRogers Hometown Hockey stops in Fredericton, N.B. – the hometown of Blues goaltenderJake Allen as well as NHL pioneer Willie O’Ree. Throughout 2015-16, Sunday games will be broadcast from a different community rink in various towns across Canada. Included in each telecast will be local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features.

* Click here for more details about the festivities in Fredericton.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.