CAPITALS, FLAMES GAIN KEY STANDING POINTS, CANADIENS PAD LEAD
The Capitals (27-9-5, 59 points) and Flames (23-19-2, 48 points) each earned regulation wins against divisional rivals, while the Canadiens (26-10-6, 58 points) padded their lead atop the Atlantic Division:

* Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie collected 1-3—4 and 0-3—3, respectively, in the Capitals’ victory to help Washington, the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winner, move within one point of Columbus (28-8-4, 60 points) for first place in the NHL. Backstrom (3-8—11) and Oshie (2-5—7) have combined for 5-13—18 in three games against the Penguins this season.

* Rookie Matthew Tkachuk tallied 1-1—2 and provided the screen for the tiebreaking goal by Dougie Hamilton (1-1—2) with 2:19 left in regulation to help the Flames extend their home win streak to four games and move within four points of the Sharks (25-15-2, 52 points) for first place in the Pacific Division. Tkachuk, who had a nine-game point streak from Dec. 19 to Jan. 7 (1-9—10), ranks fourth among NHL rookies with 8-19—27 this season (40 GP).

* Rookie Artturi Lehkonen (2-1—3) posted his first career multi-goal and multi-point games (33 GP) to lead the Canadiens to their fourth consecutive road victory and to a nine-point lead atop the Atlantic Division. Phillip Danault (2-0—2) also posted his first career multi-goal game, including his third game-winning goal of the season.

NHL REVEALS JERSEYS, FORMAT FOR 2017 HONDA NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND
The NHL unveiled the four jerseys and announced that the 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament will return when 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend takes over STAPLES Center in Los Angeles from Jan. 26-29.

* The Pacific Division, featuring the hometown Kings, will wear a black jersey, while the other three teams – the Central (purple), Atlantic (gold) and Metropolitan (white) – also will don uniforms that feature colors worn by Los Angeles during its 50-year history. Click herefor more information on the design, which was inspired partly by the League’s Centennial and the Kings’ 50th anniversary.

* The 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, Jan. 28 has added incentive this year as the winning division will have the right to select both its first opponent and when its semifinal game will be played during the 3-on-3 tournament on Sunday, Jan. 29. Click here for more information.

LOOSE PUCKS
Defenseman Jason Demers established a career high with his eighth goal of the season, scoring the winner in the Panthers’ fourth straight road victory . . . Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (1-1—2) posted his fourth consecutive multi-point game (2-7—9) to move into a share of fourth in League scoring (17-27—44 in 42 GP) . . . Penguins teammates Phil Kessel (2-6—8) and Justin Schultz (1-5—6) and Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (5-3—8) each extended their point streak to six games . . . Capitals head coach Barry Trotz earned his 685th career win to move past Pat Quinn into sole possession of seventh place in NHL history. Trotz served his 1,401st career game behind an NHL bench to also surpass Quinn into eight place on the all-time list . . . The NHL Centennial Fan Arena, a touring tribute to a century of hockey thrills, will begin its three-day stay in Dallas today at Victory Plaza outside American Airlines Center.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Vancouver @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m., CSN-PH, SNP
Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., RDS2, TSN5, ROOT
Buffalo @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SUN, MSG-B
Boston @ Nashville, 8 p.m., SNO, TVAS, FS-TN, NESN
Montreal @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., NBCSN, SNE, RDS
Detroit @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., FS-SW+, FS-D
New Jersey @ Edmonton, 9 p.m., SNW, MSG+
Anaheim @ Colorado, 9 p.m., ALT2, PRIME
St. Louis @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SN, SN360, FS-W, FS-MW
NBC Sports Channel Finder
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HALL RETURNS TO EDMONTON FOR FIRST TIME SINCE TRADE
Taylor Hall, the first overall selection by the Oilers in the 2010 NHL Draft, returns to Edmonton for the first time since being traded to the Devils during the offseason. Hall, who compiled 132-196—328 in 381 GP with the Oilers, shares the team lead with 9-16—25 in 32 games with the Devils this season, but was held off the scoresheet in his first game against Edmonton on Saturday (2-1 OT L).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above