HAT TRICKS POWER CAPITALS, STARS AND OILERS . . .
Alex Ovechkin (WSH), Patrick Eaves (DAL) and Jordan Eberle (EDM) all recorded hat tricks to power their teams to victories:

* Ovechkin (3-0—3) posted his 14th career hat trick – and first since Dec. 10, 2013 vs. TBL (4-0—4) – to lift the League-leading Capitals to their fifth consecutive victory and a 7-1-1 record in their last nine outings. Elias says that Washington (40-9-4, 84 points) became the fastest team – in terms of game played – in NHL history to reach the 40-win milestone (53 GP). Ovechkin, who scored all three of his goals in the opening frame, registered three goals in one period for the second time in his career (also March 3, 2008 vs. BOS: 1st period) to move into first place in the League with 34 goals this season, including 8-1—9 in his past eight games.

* Eaves (3-0—3) also scored three times in the first period to collect his second career hat trick – and first since Dec. 29, 2010 at DAL (3-1—4 w/ DET) – and lead the Stars to their fifth victory in their last six contests. At 35-15-5 (75 points), Dallas moved within one point of Chicago (36-18-4, 76 points) for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference. The Stars hold three games in hand, but the Blackhawks own the ROW tiebreaker (CHI: 35, DAL: 33). Per Elias, Eaves became the second players in Stars/North Stars history to record a first-period hat trick. The other: Bill Goldsworthy on Dec. 11, 1973 vs. LAK.

* Eberle (3-1—4) notched his first career hat trick to help the Oilers snap a three-game skid overall (0-3-0) and pick up their third win in their past four outings at Rexall Place. Eberle also equaled a career high with his third four-point performance. The others: Nov. 19, 2011: 1-3—4 vs. CHI and Feb. 2, 2012: 1-3—4 vs. CHI. The line of Eberle, Connor McDavid (2-3—5) and Benoit Pouliot (0-4—4) combined for 5-8—13 and has totaled 13-19—32 in six games since McDavid returned from injury on Feb. 2 (McDavid: 4-8—12, Eberle: 7-3—10 and Pouliot: 2-8—10).

. . . McDAVID: DID YOU KNOW?
Forward Connor McDavid (2-3—5) set career highs in assists and points – and also matched a career high for goals – in leading the Oilers to victory.

* At 19 years, 29 days, Elias says that McDavid became the ninth-youngest player in NHL history to register a five-point game and the youngest to do so since current teammateRyan Nugent-Hopkins (18 years, 221 days) posted 0-5—5 on Nov. 19, 2011 vs. CHI – that also was the last time any rookie recorded a five-point game.

* Elias adds that McDavid became the third rookie in Oilers history to collect a five-point game. The others: Dave Lumley (Feb. 1, 1980 vs. WPG: 1-4—5) and Nugent-Hopkins (Nov. 19, 2011 vs. CHI: 0-5—5).

* McDavid (Richmond Hill, Ont.), who faced the Maple Leafs for the first time, leads all rookies with an average of 1.26 points per game (9-15—24 in 19 GP). That includes 4-8—12 in six outings since returning from injury.

GOSTISBEHERE TIES NHL RECORD IN FLYERS’ WIN
Five different players scored and nine total players collected at least one point – including 0-1—1 from Shayne Gostisbehere – to lift the Flyers to a 4-2-1 record in their last seven contests.

* At 24-20-9 (57 points), the Flyers moved within four points of the idle Penguins (27-19-7, 61 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Gostisbehere extended his point streak to 10 games (2-11—13). Via Elias, that equals an NHL record for the longest point streak by a rookie defenseman. The only other rookie blueliner to post a 10-game point streak: Barry Beck, who did so twice with the Colorado Rockies in 1977-78 (both 10 GP).

* Gostisbehere also matched a Flyers record for the longest point streak by any rookie.Mikael Renberg set that mark March 13 – April 2, 1994 (8-8—16 in 10 GP).

* Gostisbehere has collected at least one assist in nine straight games (11 A). That is the longest such run by any NHL player since 2013-14, when Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (15 A) and Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux (11 A) both had assists in nine consecutive outings.

MARCHAND, BERGERON HELP BRUINS BOUNCE BACK
Brad Marchand posted 1-2—3 and Patrice Bergeron scored twice to help the Bruins bounce back from a lopsided defeat on Tuesday vs. LAK for their fifth consecutive road win.

* At 29-19-6 (64 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the idle Lightning (29-20-4, 62 points) for third place in the Atlantic Division. They also tied the idle Red Wings (28-18-64 points) –in terms of points – for second place in the division, but Detroit owns the ROW tiebreaker (DET: 27, BOS: 25).

* Marchand extended his goal/point streak to five games (6-2—8), his second such run in his last 11 contests (also Jan. 16-25: 5-0—5). He paces the Bruins – and shares fifth in the NHL – with 26 goals this season (49 GP), two shy of equaling his career high established in 2011-12 (76 GP).

* Bergeron registered his fifth multi-goal game of the season, tied for the League lead according to Elias. He also reached the 20-goal milestone for the seventh time and third straight campaign (21-26—47 in 54 GP).

AROUND THE RINKS
* The Sharks scored four consecutive goals to overcome an early 4-1 deficit, but Kris Russell tied the game midway through the third period and Jiri Hudler (0-1—1) provided the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the Flames to their third straight win. At 25-25-3 (53 points), Calgary moved within five points of idle Nashville (25-21-8, 58 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* John Tavares and Casey Cizikas both registered 1-1—2 to power the Islanders to their third consecutive victory overall as well as their third straight win at Barclays Center. At 29-18-6 (64 points), the Islanders moved within three points of the idle Rangers (31-18-5, 67 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Tavares reached the 20-goal milestone for the seventh time in as many seasons (20-23—43 in 50 GP).

* Jarome Iginla notched 2-1—3 to help the Avalanche snap a four-game skid overall (0-3-1) and pick up their fourth victory in their past five road outings. At 28-25-4 (60 points), Colorado moved two points ahead of idle Nashville (25-21-8, 58 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Iginla scored his 603rd and 604th career goals to climb within four of tying Dino Ciccarelli (608) for 17th place in NHL history.

* Brandon Saad and Brandon Dubinsky both scored in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit and Cam Atkinson and Alexander Wennberg each tallied in the shootout to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. Elias notes that Columbus overcame a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win for the first time this season – they achieved that feat three times in 2014-15, including the season finale on April 11 at NYI.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (3-0—3) scored his 507th, 508th and 509th career goals to move past Jean Beliveau (507) and into sole possession of 39th place in NHL history.

* Flames forward Jiri Hudler (0-1—1) recorded his 400th NHL point (152-248—400 in 650 GP).

* Flyers forward Nick Cousins (1-1—2), a third-round selection (68th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal (19 GP).

* Stars forward Patrick Sharp played in his 800th NHL game. ICYMI: The Blackhawks honored both Sharp and Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya in their returns to United Center.

* Sabres forward Justin Bailey (Buffalo, N.Y.), a second-round selection (52nd overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft, made his League debut. He became the fourth Buffalo-born player to appear in a regular-season game with the Sabres, joining Patrick Kaleta, Tim Kennedyand Scott Thomas.

LOOSE PUCKS
Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (33 SV) earned his League-leading 35th win of the season to extend his personal point streak to eight games (7-0-1), including five consecutive victories . . . Senators captain Erik Karlsson collected his League-leading 50th and 51st assists of the season . . . Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane scored his career-high 33rd goal of the season, which ranks second in the NHL . . . Flyers forwardWayne Simmonds and Blue Jackets forward Brandon Saad reached the 20-goal milestone for the fourth and second time, respectively . . . Sharks forward Joe Thornton(0-1—1) posted at least one point for the 22nd time in his past 24 games (8-23—31) . . . Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (0-6—6) and Wild defenseman Matt Dumba(2-4—6) extended their point streaks to a career-high six and five games, respectively . . . Forward David Perron registered 1-1—2, giving him 4-6—10 in 10 games since joining the Ducks . . . Flyers forward R.J. Umberger (50 GP) and Kings forward Kyle Clifford (44 GP) both snapped lengthy goal droughts . . . ICYMI: The NHL fined Maple Leafs forwardNazem Kadri $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for inappropriate gestures aimed at Flames captain Mark Giordano . . . The Blue Jackets signed defenseman Ryan Murray to a two-year contract extension . . . The Blackhawks announced that they will visit the White House on Thursday, Feb. 18, to celebrate their 2014-15 Stanley Cup championship.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Montreal @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., SNE, RDS, MSG-B, BELL TV
Los Angeles @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, FS-W, MSG
Pittsburgh @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., TVAS, ROOT, FS-CR
Colorado @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., ALT, FS-D
Nashville @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., FS-TN, SUN
St. Louis @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., FS-MW, FS-F
Calgary @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., SNW, FS-A
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the above information was provided by the NHL PR department