OTHER WESTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS EARN KEY POINTS
Two other clubs earned important points to move up the Western Conference standings:

* Carter Hutton stopped all 29 shots he faced to help the Predators end a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) and win their season series with the Wild (NSH: 3-1-0, MIN: 1-3-0). Hutton posted his third career shutout to improve to 4-2-1 in seven games this season (2.55 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SO). Eric Nystrom scored the eventual game-winning goal less than 90 seconds into the contest, while Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg added insurance markers in the third period.

* At 20-17-8 (48 points), the Predators leapfrogged the Avalanche (22-21-3, 47 points) – who lost in regulation – to move into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They also moved within four points of the Wild (22-15-8, 52 points), their Central Division rival, for the first Wild Card spot.

* Martin Jones made 32 saves and Tomas Hertl scored at 1:12 of overtime – after the Sharks surrendered leads of 2-1 and 3-2 in the third period – to guide San Jose to its fifth consecutive win. Jones improved to 20-13-2 in 36 appearances this season to reach the 20-win mark for the first time. Marc-Edouard Vlasic (2-1—3) posted his first career multi-goal game (710 GP) and collected at least three points in a game for the first time since Nov. 20, 2011 at COL (0-3—3).

* At 23-18-2 (48 points), the Sharks inched closer to the Kings (27-13-3, 57 points) and Coyotes (22-17-5, 49 points) – the only two clubs ahead of them in the Pacific Division – after both those clubs suffered regulation losses on Saturday. San Jose has one game in hand on Arizona.

LATE WINNER HELPS BRUINS CLIMB IN ATLANTIC DIVISION
Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal with 47 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Bruins to consecutive wins for the first time since they won three in a row from Dec. 16-20, 2015. The Bruins also improved to 16-3-2 in their last 21 regular-season meetings with the Maple Leafs dating to Oct. 20, 2011, including a 9-1-1 mark at TD Garden.

* At 23-16-5 (51 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the idle Lightning (23-17-4, 50 points) into sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division, where the top five clubs are separated by seven points.

* Tuukka Rask made 27 saves, including 12 in the first period, to improve to 14-3-1 in 20 career regular-season appearances against the Maple Leafs (1.81 GAA, .937 SV%, 2 SO).

* Marchand, who scored his first goal since Dec. 14 vs. EDM (11 GP), became the first Bruins player to score a go-ahead goal in the last minute of the third period since Dec. 7, 2013 vs. PIT (ZdenoChara, 19:47). Per Elias, Marchand also became the seventh player to score a tiebreaking goal in the final minute of regulation this season:

Tiebreaking Goals in Final Minute of Regulation, 2015-16
19:51 – Michael Frolik (CGY) on Oct. 31 at EDM
19:43 – Rasmus Ristolainen (BUF) on Nov. 7 vs. VAN
19:43 – Justin Faulk (CAR) on Dec. 6 vs. ARI
19:41 – Patrick Sharp (DAL) on Dec. 8 vs. CAR
19:39 – Aaron Ekblad (FLA) on Nov. 16 vs. TBL
19:13 – Brad Marchand (BOS) on Jan. 16 vs. TOR
19:06 – Mats Zuccarello (NYR) on Nov. 15 vs. TOR

QUICK STRIKES: DID YOU KNOW?
Saturday featured six goals in the opening minute of a period, including two by Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (0:45 of 1st and 0:39 of 2nd). The other such goals were scored by Devils forward Kyle Palmieri (0:18 of 3rd), Stars forward Tyler Seguin (0:33 of 3rd), Blues forward Robby Fabbri (0:34 of 1st) and Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky (0:58 of 1st). Via Elias, there have been 147 goals scored in the first minute of any period this season, including 33 in the opening minute of a game.

RANGERS ALSO CLIMB AS LUNDQVIST REACHES 20-WIN MARK . . .
Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves through overtime – then denied all three attempts in the shootout – to backstop the Rangers past the Flyers and to a 3-1-1 record in their last five games.

* At 24-15-5 (53 points), the Rangers leapfrogged the idle Islanders (24-15-5, 53 points) – by virtue of the ROW tiebreaker (NYR: 22, NYI: 21) – into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Lundqvist earned his 20th win of the season to become the first goaltender in NHL history to post at least 20 wins in each of his first 11 seasons. He also established a Rangers franchise record for most career 20-win seasons, one more than Mike Richter had during his 14-year career with the club.

* Per Elias, Lundqvist is just the third goaltender in NHL history to post at least 11 consecutive 20-win seasons at any point:

Most Consecutive 20-Win Seasons, NHL History
12 – Tony Esposito (CHI): 1969-70 – 1980-81
12 – Martin Brodeur (NJD): 1995-96 – 2007-08
^11 – Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): 2005-06 – 2015-16
^ At least 20 wins in each of his first 11 NHL seasons

* ICYMI: Mats Zuccarello sealed the victory with a highlight-reel goal in the shootout.

. . . OTHER CLUBS GAIN GROUND IN EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Devils (22-19-5, 49 points) and Senators (21-18-6, 48 points) both earned wins to inch closer to a playoff position in the Eastern Conference, where teams Nos. 3-13 are separated by seven points. That includes seven teams within four points of a Wild Card spot:

* Cory Schneider saved all 38 shots he faced, including 28 over the final two periods, to record his 21st career shutout (fourth this season) and help the Devils end their four-game road trip with a victory (2-2-0). Schneider improved to 7-1-1 in nine career appearances vs. ARI, including four shutouts (0.88 GAA, 0.969 SV%).

* The Senators overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 by scoring four unanswered goals in the third period – powered by two-point performances from Mika Zibanejad (1-1—2; GWG), Bobby Ryan (1-1—2) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (1-1—2) – to rally past the Kings. Via Elias, the Senators overcame a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win in regulation for the first time since March 19, 2013 at NYI (5-3 W). They also became the 22nd team to overcome a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win this season.

AROUND THE RINKS
* Chad Johnson made 33 saves, including 15 in the second period, to help the Sabres snap a six-game losing streak at First Niagara Center dating to Dec. 19 (0-5-1) and also halt the Capitals’ winning streak at five games. Buffalo carried a 4-0 lead into the third period on the strength of multi-point performances by Evander Kane (1-1—2) and Zach Bogosian (0-2—2).

* Jack Johnson scored the go-ahead goal at 18:53 of the third period to help the Blue Jackets earn back-to-back wins and improve to 8-3-4 record in their last 15 games at Nationwide Arena dating to Nov. 14. Joonas Korpisalo (29 SV) has allowed two goals in winning each of his last two contests (Jan. 13 at TOR: 41 SV, 3-1 W)

* Cam Talbot made 31 saves and denied all three shooters he faced in the tiebreaker to help the Oilers pick up their first win over the Flames at Rexall Place since April 1, 2013, snapping a seven-game skid (0-5-2).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Devils forward Lee Stempniak (0-1—1) registered his 400th career point (175-225—400).

* Senators goaltender Craig Anderson (30 SV) earned his 200th career win.

* Predators forward Paul Gaustad (700) and Stars forward Tyler Seguin (400) both played in milestone games.

LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby suffered his first regulation loss since Nov. 10, ending his run of 22 straight decisions with at least a point (20-0-2). Only one goaltender posted a longer personal point streak over the past 20 NHL seasons: Jose Theodore, who set a Capitals record with a 23-game stretch Jan. 13 – April 9, 2010 (20-0-3) . . . Sharks forward Joe Thornton (0-1—1) has registered at least one point in 13 of his past 14 outings (5-13—18), including 2-5—7 on his five-game point streak . . . Ryan O’Reilly (0-1—1) notched a point for the fifth straight game (2-3—5). With 17-21—38 in 45 games, he leads the Sabres in goals, assists (tied w/ RasmusRistolainen) and points . . . Flames forward Sam Bennett scored his sixth goal in his last three games, surpassing his total from his first 40 NHL games (5-10—15) . . . Stars forwards Tyler Seguin (1-1—2) and Jamie Benn (0-2—2) both collected multiple points, their first such efforts since Dec. 31 vs. NSH . . . Forward Vincent Lecavalier scored his first goal with the Kings (4 GP) . . . Oilers defenseman Mark Fayne scored his first goal since Feb. 14, 2015 at OTT (49 GP) . . . Despite their shootout loss, the Flyers picked up at least one point for the fifth straight game overall (4-0-1) and also for the eighth straight game at Wells Fargo Center (6-0-2) . . . Blues forward Ty Rattie scored at 14:35 of the third period to force overtime, his second goal in as many games (compared to 0-4—4 in his first 18 career appearances) . . . Jake Muzzin(LAK) notched an assist to extend his point streak to a career-high six games (1-5—6). Via Elias, that is the longest point streak by a Kings defenseman since Dec. 21-30, 2010 (Jack Johnson: 2-5—7 in 6 GP) . . . Forward Mike Richards (13:01 TOI) made his debut with the Capitals . . . Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick suffered his first regulation loss since Dec. 22, 2015, ending his personal point streak at eight games (7-0-1) . . . The Kings signed forward Anze Kopitar to an eight-year contract extension . . . The Flyers and NHL honored defenseman Nick Schultz, who played his 1,000th career game on Thursday.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Carolina @ Pittsburgh, 3:00 p.m., FS-CR, ROOT
Vancouver @ NY Islanders, 4:00 p.m., SNP, MSG+
Florida @ Tampa Bay, 5:00 p.m., FS-F, SUN
NY Rangers @ Washington, 5:00 p.m., NHLN-US, TVAS, MSG, CSN-DC
Montreal @ Chicago, 7:00 p.m., SN, RDS, WGN
Philadelphia @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN
Los Angeles @ Anaheim, 8:00 p.m., FS-W, PRIME, FS-SD
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN GRANDE PRAIRIE
The Montreal Canadiens travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks as Rogers Hometown Hockey visits Grande Prairie, AB. NHL alumni Clint Malarchuk, Marty McSorley andGeorges Laraque will be special guests with Ron MacLean on the program. EveryRogers 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.

FLYERS TAKE ON RED WINGS ON NBCSN
The Flyers play their second game in two days when they face the Red Wings in Detroit. Philadelphia is in the midst of a critical stretch in their schedule as they try to make up the four points that separates them from a Wild Card spot. This is the fourth in a run of ten straight games for the Flyers against Eastern Conference opponents. So far they are 2-0-1 in the stretch. At (23-14-7, 53 points), Detroit has a chance to move within two points of the Atlantic Division leading Panthers (26-13-5, 57 points) with a win tonight.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department