WILD INCREASE LEAD ATOP WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Jason Pominville (2-2—4), Charlie Coyle (0-3—3) and Nino Niederreiter (2-0—2) combined for 4-5—9 as the Wild improved to 5-1-0 in their last six contests.

* At 35-12-5 (75 points), the Wild increased their lead to five points over the Sharks (33-17-4, 70 points) for the top record in the Western Conference.

* Pominville matched a career high with four points, while Coyle matched a career high with three assists.

MATTHEWS NOTCHES ANOTHER GAME-WINNING GOAL
Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (GWG) leads all rookies in goals (25) and game-winning goals (6) this season. Elias notes that Matthews became the first Maple Leafs rookie to score 25 goals in a season since Sergei Berezin did so in 1996-97. He also became just the second rookie in franchise history to score at least six game-winning goals in a season, joining Howie Meeker (8) in 1946-47.

CLUBS KEEP PACE IN WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE
The Predators (26-19-8, 60 points), Blues (27-22-5, 59 points) and Flames (28-25-3, 59 points) each secured victories to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race:

* Four different skaters scored to help the Predators improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven home games. Nashville remained a point ahead of the Blues for third place in the Central Division.

* Vladimir Tarasenko scored two of his team’s six unanswered goals to lead the Blues to their third win in their last four outings. St. Louis leapfrogged the Kings (27-23-4, 58 points) and moved into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Calgary surrendered a 2-0 lead in the third period, but Kris Versteeg scored the decisive marker in the shootout to lead the Flames to their fourth win in their last five contests. Calgary also leapfrogged the Kings and moved into the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference.

LOOSE PUCKS
Seth Jones scored his third overtime goal of the season to move into a tie with Jaroslav Spacek for the most by a defenseman in Blue Jackets franchise history . . . Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made a season-high 43 saves to help Alain Vigneault become the 15th head coach in NHL history to reach the 600-win milestone . . . Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (0-1—1) moved within two points of the 1,000-point milestone (368-630—998) . . . Patrick Marleau (7-4—11 in 7 GP), Mitch Marner (3-4—7 in 5 GP), Nicklas Backstrom (2-5—7 in 5 GP) and Tyler Bozak (1-4—5 in 5 GP) each extended point streaks . . . Blues forward Ivan Barbashev scored the first goal of his NHL career (6 GP) . . . Sharks forward Marcus Sorensen collected an assist in his NHL debut . . . Bruce Cassidy was named head coach of the Bruins . . . The Penguins, Rangers and Sabres each held You Can Play Awareness Nights while the Blue Jackets and Bruinshosted community events, all as part of Hockey is for Everyone month. Hockey pioneer Willie O’Ree also attended the Ducks-Rangers game at Madison Square Garden.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Chicago @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., SN, TVAS, NBCSN
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WILD, BLACKHAWKS CLASH ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY
The top two teams in the Central Division square off when the Wild (35-12-5, 75 points) host the Blackhawks (32-17-5, 69 points) on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry. Minnesota has won six consecutive regular-season games against Chicago since being swept by the Blackhawks in the Second Round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department