. . . CLIMB INTO FIRST PLACE IN PACIFIC DIVISION
With the victory, the Ducks leapfrogged the idle Kings for first place in the Pacific Division, where the top three clubs are separated by just four points.

Overall, three of the NHL’s four division races feature teams tied or within one point of each other for first place:

FLYERS CONTINUE SURGE WITH VICTORY AGAINST CAPITALS
Steve Mason made 29 saves, plus a dazzling stop in the shootout, to guide the Flyers past the League-leading Capitals and to a 12-3-2 record in their last 17 games.

* At 38-25-13 (89 points), the Flyers moved two points ahead of the idle Red Wings (38-28-11, 87 points) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. These teams will meet one more time this season: next Wednesday, April 6, at Joe Louis Arena (PHI: 2-0-0, DET: 0-1-1).

* Mason, who played in his 400th NHL game, improved to 8-2-2 in his 12 March appearances (1.88 GAA, .933 SV%, 1 SO).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his League-leading 44th goal of the season. He also moved past Dale Hawerchuk (518) and into sole possession of 35th place in NHL history with his 519th career goal.

* Flames forward Hunter Shinkaruk, the 24th overall selection by the Canucks in the 2013 NHL Draft, potted his first career goal (3 GP).

* Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds (0-1—1) played in his 600th NHL game.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Jets evened the contest midway through the third period, but Alex Chiasson scored less than two minutes later to help the Senators snap a three-game skid (0-2-1) . . . Jets forward Blake Wheeler (0-1—1) extended his point streak to six games (2-5—7) and also matched a career high for points in one season (20-49—69) . . . Jets forward Mark Scheifele (3-4—7) and Ducks forward Corey Perry (3-2—5) both extended their point streaks to five games. Scheifele leads the NHL with 13-11—24 in 19 outings since Feb. 23 . . . Flames captain Mark Giordano (1-1—2) became the fifth defenseman in franchise history to reach the 20-goal milestone and first to do so since 2005-06 (Dion Phaneuf: 20) . . . The Department of Player Safety suspended Canucks forward Jake Virtanen fortwo games for interference against Sharks defenseman Roman Polak . . . ICYMI: The NHL announced the details of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge powered by Samsung, which will open on Monday, April 11 . . . GoPro released the latest video in itsNHL After Dark series, featuring Flyers captain Claude Giroux.

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
* The Rangers will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Hurricanes in regulation or overtime.

* The Predators will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Penguins in any fashion.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Toronto @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., TSN4, MSG-B, BELL TV
Columbus @ NY Islanders, 7:00 p.m., FS-O, MSG+
Nashville @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SNO, SNP, SNW, TVAS, FS-TN, ROOT
NY Rangers @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., MSG, FS-CR
Montreal @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SNE, RDS, SUN
New Jersey @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., MSG+ 2, FS-F
Ottawa @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., TSN5, RDS2, FS-N, FS-WI
Arizona @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., FS-A, FS-SW
Calgary @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNW, FS-W
Vancouver @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., SNP, CSN-CA
NBCSN Channel Finder
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RANGERS ATTEMPT TO CLINCH AS E. STAAL RETURNS TO CAROLINA
The Rangers (43-24-9, 95 points) attempt to clinch their sixth consecutive playoff berth when they visit the Hurricanes (33-28-16, 82 points) at PNC Arena. This game marks the return of former captain Eric Staal to Carolina. Staal, the second overall selection by the Hurricanes in the 2003 NHL Draft, ranks second in franchise history in goals (322), assists (453) and points (775) as well as third in games played (909). He also led the team with 9-19—28 during its run to the 2005-06 Stanley Cup.

“You don’t really know how you’re going to react or feel or what your emotions will be until you really experience it,” Staal said. “It’s going to be a lot of different, unique emotions just in general because of being there for so long, playing in that building as the home team. I’m not sure what I’ll be feeling, to be honest.”

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.