BLUE JACKETS ESTABLISH FRANCHISE RECORD FOR HOME WINS IN A SEASON
Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves to help the Blue Jackets establish a single-season franchise record with 26 home wins (26-9-1, 53 points), eclipsing their previous mark from 2008-09 (25-13-3, 53 points).

* At 45-18-6 (96 points), the Blue Jackets climbed within two points of the League-leading Capitals (45-17-8, 98 points). Columbus owns a 2-1-0 edge in their five-game season series (WSH: 1-1-1) and will face Washington on March 23 and April 2.

* Bobrovsky extended his personal win streak to six games (1.17 GAA, .962 SV%, 3 SO) and registered his League-leading 38th victory of the season.

* Zach Werenski scored his 11th goal of 2016-17 to move within one of the franchise record for most in a season by a defenseman, set by Bryan Berard (12 in 2005-06).

MAPLE LEAFS BLANK LIGHTNING, RECLAIM FINAL WILD CARD SPOT
Toronto scored five unanswered goals – including two in a span of 10 seconds – and Frederik Andersen (33 saves) registered his career-high fourth shutout of the season as the Maple Leafs improved to 32-23-14 (78 points) and reclaimed sole possession of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* William Nylander collected an assist to extend his point streak to six games (1-5—6) and become the third Maple Leafs rookie to reach the 50-point mark this season (18-32—50), joining Auston Matthews (31-24—55) and Mitchell Marner (17-28—55).

* Elias notes that the Maple Leafs became the first team to have three rookies reach the 50-point mark in a season since the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93, when Teemu Selanne (76-56—132), Alexei Zhamnov (25-47—72) and Keith Tkachuk (28-23—51) each did so.

CENTRAL DIVISION CONTENDERS POST VICTORIES
Three of the Central Division’s top four teams posted victories on Thursday:

* Scott Darling (33 saves) extended his personal win streak to five games (1.21 GAA, .963 SV%) to help the Blackhawks (45-20-5, 95 points) open a three-point lead atop the Central Division and Western Conference standings.

* Viktor Arvidsson scored the first overtime goal of his NHL career to power the Predators (35-24-11, 81 points) to their third consecutive win, maintaining their hold on third place in the Central Division.

* Vladimir Tarasenko (2-0—2) scored his 33rd and 34th goals of 2016-17 to move into third in the NHL this season and help the Blues (37-28-5, 79 points) pick up their sixth win in their last seven outings, reinforcing their grip on the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference.

LOOSE PUCKS
Kings forward Jarome Iginla scored the 99th game-winning goal of his NHL career to pass Bobby Hull,Guy Lafleur and Patrick Marleau (98) for seventh on the all-time list . . . Bruins forward Brad Marchand (1-2—3) scored his League-leading 37th goal of 2016-17 to match his single-season career high from 2015-16 . . . Kings forward Dustin Brown collected two assists to eclipse the 500-point milestone (229-272—501) . . . David Pastrnak (6-9—15 in 11 GP), James Neal (3-2—5 in 5 GP) and Elias Lindholm (1-4—5 in 5 GP) extended point streaks . . . Marian Hossa (1,300), Ryan Suter (900), Tyler Bozak (500) and Pekka Rinne (500) appeared in milestone games . . . The Devils donned their vintage red and green jerseys . . . The Lightning honored former forward Brian Boylein his return to Tampa Bay . . . Outfielder A.J. Pollock of the MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks dropped the ceremonial puck at Gila River Arena . . .The Blue Jackets honored play-by-play announcer Jeff Rimer for recently broadcasting his 2,000th career NHL game . . . The Royal Canadian Mint is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup by producing a limited-edition commemorative quarter.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Florida @ NY Rangers, 7 p.m., TVAS, NHLN-US, MSG, FS-F
New Jersey @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m., SN360, ROOT, MSG+
Dallas @ Calgary, 9 p.m., SNW, FS-SW+
Buffalo @ Anaheim, 10 p.m., PRIME, MSG-B

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.