COMPETITIVE BALANCE . . .
Twenty-four teams are within five points of a playoff berth:

* In the Atlantic Division, teams Nos. 2-8 are separated by eight points.

* In the Metropolitan Division, teams Nos. 1-4 are separated by three points.

* In the Central Division, teams Nos. 3-6 are separated by six points.

* In the Pacific Division, teams Nos. 1-6 are separated by seven points.

. . . LEADS TO PLAYOFF TURNOVER
Six teams that did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season currently hold postseason spots, including the League-leading Blue Jackets and each of the top three teams in the Atlantic Division (MTL, BOS, OTT). The other two teams – the Oilers and Flames – are within one and four points, respectively, of the top spot in the Pacific Division.

* Last season, five teams made the playoffs after not qualifying in 2014-15, including the Western Conference champion Sharks. The others: DAL, FLA, LAK and PHI.

* Overall, there has been a playoff turnover of at least five clubs in nine of the past 11 seasons.

HISTORIC WIN STREAK LIFTS BLUE JACKETS TO TOP OF NHL STANDINGS
The League-leading Blue Jackets (28-7-4, 60 points) are having their best start to a season – in terms of wins and points – in club history, aided by a 16-game winning streak that stretched from Nov. 29 to Jan. 3 and stands as the second-longest such run in NHL history.

* The Blue Jackets also set franchise records for longest overall point streak (17-0-1), a run that included club record winning streaks at home and on the road (8 games each) as well as a franchise-best 11-game road point streak (10-0-1).

* Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky leads the NHL with 26 wins in 2016-17, highlighted by a 14-game winning streak that tied the second-longest such run by a goaltender in NHL history (Gilles Gilbert: 17-0-0 in 1975-76 w/ BOS).

PRICE, MCDAVID LEAD TURNAROUND SEASON FOR CANADIENS, OILERS
The Canadiens (25-10-6, 56 points) and Oilers (21-14-7, 49 points) have experienced turn-around seasons backed by their respective cornerstone players, goaltender Carey Price and forward Connor McDavid:

* Price, who played in only 12 games last season (10-2-0) before suffering a season-ending injury, shares third in the League with 20 wins this season as the Canadiens have surged to a nine-point lead on first place in the Atlantic Division after missing the playoffs in 2015-16. Price backstopped Team Canada to a World Cup title in September before becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to win each of his first 10 appearances to start a season.

* McDavid, who missed nearly three months in 2015-16 due to a shoulder injury, leads the League in assists and points with 14-34—48 this season (42 GP), lifting the Oilers to within one point of first place in the Pacific Division (after finishing with the second-fewest points in the League last season: 31-43-8, 70 points). The 19-year-old sophomore, serving his first season as captain, has compiled 30-66—96 through his first 87 career games (1.1 points per game).

JAGR PASSES MESSIER AND COFFEY, APPROACHES 1,900 CAREER POINTS
With his 1,888th career point on Dec. 22 vs. BOS, 44-year-old Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr moved past Mark Messier (694-1,193—1,887) into sole possession of second place on the NHL’s all-time points list. Jagr tied Messier two days earlier when he posted three helpers – his 252nd career three-point game – in a 4-3 SO W vs. BUF.

* In Florida’s first game of 2017 on Jan. 4 vs. WPG, Jagr notched his 1,136th career assist to leapfrog Paul Coffey (1,135) into sole possession of fifth place in League history, behind Wayne Gretzky (1,963), Ron Francis (1,249), Messier (1,193) and Ray Bourque (1,169).

* Playing in his 23rd NHL season, Jagr (756-1,137—1,893) now sits seven points shy of joining Gretzky (894-1,963—2,857) as the only players in League history to accumulate 1,900 career points.

OVECHKIN, H. SEDIN, CROSBY NARROW IN ON 1,000-POINT MILESTONE
Three NHL captains – Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin and Pittsburgh’s SidneyCrosby – are within striking distance of reaching the 1,000-career point milestone. The first to hit the mark will be the 84th player in League history – and sixth active – to reach the mark.

* Ovechkin (544-455—999 in 879 GP) and H. Sedin (231-765—996 in 1,208 GP) sit one and four points, respectively, from becoming the first 1,000-point players in the history of their respective franchises.

* Crosby (364-618—982 in 740 GP), meanwhile, who shares second in League scoring with 26-18—44 this season, needs 18 points to join Mario Lemieux (690-1,033—1,723 in 915 GP) and Jaromir Jagr (439-640-1,079 in 806 GP) as the only 1,000-point Penguins.

YOUNG TALENTS IMPRESS ON BIG STAGE
In addition to 19-year-old Connor McDavid leading the League in assists (34) and points (48), Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, 19, and Jets forward Patrik Laine, 18, – the top two selections in the 2016 NHL Draft – also rank among the top scorers through the first half of their rookie season:

* Matthews and Laine share the rookie lead and third in the entire NHL with 21 goals apiece this season – 10 more than the next-closest rookies (Jimmy Vesey and Anthony Mantha: 11). Laine also paces rookies with 21-16—37 this season (42 GP), two points more than Matthews has accumulated (21-14—35 in 39 GP).

NHL CENTENNIAL SEASON
The League’s Centennial Celebration, which commenced with the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic on Jan. 1, will honor a century’s worth of extraordinary players, teams, remarkable plays and unforgettable moments throughout 2017.

* The year-long celebration includes the unveiling of the 100 Greatest NHL Players presented by Molson Canadian, which began on New Year’s Day with the reveal of the names of 33 legends, predominantly from the League’s first 50 years (1917-1966). The remaining 67 players will be recognized on Jan. 27 in Los Angeles as part of a special event at the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.

* The League also announced NHL.com/100 and the NHL Centennial Fan Arena, a traveling fan experience that will visit all NHL markets across North America in 2017. Thousands of fans attended the first two stops in Toronto and Arizona, with the tour now en route to Dallas. Click here for a look at scheduled stops in the coming weeks.

MONDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Florida 3, NEW JERSEY 0
Washington 4, MONTREAL 1
WINNIPEG 2, Calgary 0
Dallas 6, LOS ANGELES 4

LUONGO MOVES UP ALL-TIME WINS LIST
Roberto Luongo stopped all 28 shots he faced to earn his 448th career victory, passing Terry Sawchuk for sole possession of fifth place all-time.

* Since entering the League in the 1999-2000 season, Luongo (448-360-33-101) ranks second in wins behind only Martin Brodeur (490) and holds a 2.49 GAA, .919 SV% and 73 shutouts. Only Brodeur (691), Patrick Roy (551), Ed Belfour (484) and Curtis Joseph (454) have recorded more career victories.

* Luongo’s shutout was the 73rd of his career, most among active goaltenders and 11th on the all-time list.

OVECHKIN CLOSES IN ON 1,000 POINTS
Alex Ovechkin (1-2—3) earned his third three-point game of the season to lead the Capitals to victory and move within a single point of 1,000 in his career (544-455—999).

* Ovechkin’s goal was the 544th of his career, putting him in a tie with Maurice Richard for 29th on the NHL’s all-time goals list. He leads all skaters in goals and points since his League debut in 2005-06.

* The Capitals (26-9-5, 57 points) extended their winning streak to six games to match their longest run this season and move within three points of the Blue Jackets for the top spot in the League.

* Braden Holtby won his third straight start and has allowed only one goal over that span (0.33 GAA, .988 SV%, 2 SO). He improved to 9-1-2 against Montreal in his career (1.59 GAA, .943 SV%, 2 SO).

LOOSE PUCKS
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 28 shots he faced to earn his third shutout of the season . . . Six different Dallas players found the net as the Stars snapped a three-game slide . . . Kings captain Anze Kopitar recorded 1-1—2 in his 800th NHL game . . . Capitals head coach Barry Trotz earned a victory in his 1,400th NHL contest . . . Rangers forward Michael Grabner, Oilers forward Patrick Maroon and Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby were named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Jan. 8.

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Philadelphia @ Buffalo, 7 p.m., MSG-B, CSN-PH
Columbus @ Carolina, 7 p.m., FS-CR, FS-O
Boston @ St. Louis, 8 p.m., SN, TVAS, NBCSN, NESN
Vancouver @ Nashville, 8 p.m., FS-TN, SNP
Detroit @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., WGN, FS-D
San Jose @ Edmonton, 9 p.m., SNW, CSN-CA
Dallas @ Anaheim, 10 p.m., PRIME, FS-SW

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.