OKPOSO RECORDS HAT TRICK TO LEAD THE ISLANDERS
The Islanders scored a season-high eight goals in their victory over the Oilers and improved to 5-2-1 in their last eight home games.

* At 27-18-6 (60 points), the Islanders leapfrogged the idle Penguins (26-18-7, 59 points) and Devils (26-20-7, 59 points) for sole possession of third place in the Metropolitan Division. They also climbed within three points of the idle Rangers (29-18-5, 63 points) for second place.

* Kyle Okposo (3-1—4) registered his second career hat trickand four-point game (also Jan. 16, 2015 vs. PIT: 4-0—4). He leads the club in assists (26) and points (41) this season (49 GP).

* John Tavares (1-2—3) recorded his third three-point game of the season (48 GP), which included scoring his team-leading fifth game-winning goal in the opening frame.

* Nick Leddy (0-3—3) posted a career high with three assists and recorded the third three-point game of his NHL career (also Feb. 19, 2015 vs. NSH: 1-2—3 and March 16, 2013 at DAL: 1-2—3 w/ CHI).

* Cal Clutterbuck (1-1—2) and Frans Nielsen (0-2—2) each registered two points.

* Thomas Greiss stopped 30 of 31 shots to earn his third straight victory and his fifth win in his last six outings (5-1-0). Overall, Greiss boasts a record of 14-6-2 this season (2.26 GAA, .929 SV%, 1 SO).

* The Islanders have won nine straight home games vs. EDM dating to Dec. 18, 2001 (EDM: 0-8-1).

NHL-LEADING CAPITALS CONTINUE DOMINANCE AT HOME
Matt Niskanen broke a 2-2 tie when he scored a highlight-reel go-ahead goal at 5:24 of the final frame to power the Capitals to a 14-1-1 record in their last 16 home games dating to Nov. 21.

* At 38-9-4 (80 points), the League-leading Capitals increased their lead atop the NHL standings to four points over the idle Blackhawks (36-16-4, 76 points).

* The Capitals improved to 20-4-2 (42 points) in 26 games at Verizon Center this season. Their 20 home wins and 42 home points rank second in the NHL behind the idle Blackhawks (21-5-1, 43 points).

* Braden Holtby (33 saves) picked up his third consecutive victory and extended his personal point streak to six games (5-0-1). Overall, Holtby improved to 33-5-3 this season (2.06 GAA, .929 SV%, 2 SO) and leads the NHL with 33 victories.

SCRIVENS, ANDRIGHETTO LIFT CANADIENS OVER HURRICANES
Ben Scrivens made 34 saves through 65 minutes and Sven Andrighettoscored the decisive goal in the fifth round of the shootout to lift the Canadiens to their second straight win on the heels of a four-game slide (0-4-0).

* At 26-24-4 (56 points), the Canadiens moved within three points of the idle Penguins (26-18-7, 59 points) and Devils (26-20-7, 59 points) for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Scrivens, who denied all five shooters in the shootout, picked up his second consecutive victory following a 0-4-0 start to the season.

* Captain Max Pacioretty (1-0—1) reached the 20-goal milestone for the third straight year and the fourth time in his eight NHL seasons.

* The Canadiens improved to 9-1-1 in their last 11 games vs. CAR dating to Dec. 18, 2013 (CAR: 2-8-1), which includes a record of 6-0-0 at home.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Hurricanes captain Eric Staal skated in his 900th career game (all w/ CAR) and became the third player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to play in 900 games with the franchise, joining Ron Francis (1,186 GP) and Glen Wesley (913 GP).

* Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov (0-1—1) skated in his 900th career game (all w/ MTL) and became the third blueliner in franchise history to reach the milestone, joiningLarry Robinson (1,202 GP) and Serge Savard (917 GP).

* Markov also registered his 407th career assist and passed Guy Lapointe (406) for sole possession of second on the Canadiens’ all-time list among blueliners. Larry Robinson(686) is the all-time leader.

* Canadiens forward Torrey Mitchell skated in his 500th career game.

LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (1-0—1) has 30-17—47 in 40 career regular-seasongames vs. PHI... Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky (0-1—1) extended his career-high point streak to seven games (6-3—9)... Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov (0-1—1) has registered at least one assist in six of his last seven games (0-12—12)... Flyers rookie Shayne Gostisbehere (0-1—1) extended his point streak to eight games (2-9—11), the longest such run by a Flyers rookie defenseman in franchise history. Elias adds that Gostisbehere’s run is the longest point streak by any rookie defenseman since Kevin Shattenkirk posted a nine-game streak from Nov. 17 – Dec. 4, 2010 (4-9—13 w/ COL)... Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (0-1—1) stretched his point streak to six games (2-7—9) and has recorded at least one point in 12 of his last 13 outings (4-11—15)... Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner (1-0—1) stretched his point streak to a season-high five games (2-4—6)... Oilers forward Connor McDavid (1-0—1), the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, has registered 2-4—6 in four games since making his return to the lineup on Feb. 2 and has 7-11—18 overall (17 GP)... Jets forward Drew Staffordwill have a hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday for high-sticking Nick Holdenof the Avalanche on Saturday at Pepsi Center... The Blues thanked a young fan and intend to repay him for his kind gesture to another fan after a 4-1 win against the Wild on Saturday.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
New Jersey @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., MSG, MSG+, NHLN-US
Anaheim @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., FS-W, ROOT, SN, TVAS
Tampa Bay @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., SUN, TSN5, RDS
Florida @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., FS-F, FS-D+
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DUCKS TAKE ON RED HOT SIDNEY CROSBY AND PENGUINS
Since Dec. 26, the Ducks are 13-3-1 for the second-best mark in the NHL but tonight they will be facing the League’s hottest player. SidneyCrosby (10-8---18) is currently on a 10-game point streak that is tied for third-longest in the NHL this year. If Crosby scores this evening, he will equal Patrick Kane’s NHL-season-high seven-game goal-scoring streak established from Nov. 2-15 (7 goals total). Crosby has the GWG in each of the Penguins last three home games and he has factored into 10 of Pittsburgh’s last 15 goals overall.

UPCOMING KEY DATES

• February 19-21 - 9th Annual Hockey Weekend Across America presented by CCM (USA Hockey)
• February 21 - 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild (TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.)
• February 27 - 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series: Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche (Coors Field, Denver, Colo.)
• February 29 - 2016 NHL Trade Deadline (3:00 p.m. ET)
• March 2 - Deadline for each national association to announce at least 16 members of its 2016 World Cup of Hockey roster

APPROACHING MILESTONES
There are a few players who are approaching significant milestones:

• Jaromir Jagr’s next game will be the 1600^th of his career. He has 1839 points, 11 shy of tying Gordie Howe for third all-time. His 738 goals are three away from matching Brett Hull for third in NHL history.
• Alex Ovechkin has 505 career goals, two away from equaling Jean Beliveau for 39^th all-time.
• Marian Hossa has 496 goals, four away from becoming the 44^th player in NHL history to score 500 goals.
• Roberto Luongo has 424 career wins, 13 away from tying Jacques Plante for sixth all-time.
• Henrik Lundqvist has 57 shutouts, his next blank sheet would move him into a tie with John Ross Roach and Clint Benedict for 18^th overall.
• Rick Nash is ten goals away from reaching 400 for his career.
• Steven Stamkos is three goals away from reaching 300 for his career.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department