PURSUIT OF DIVISION TITLES HEATS UP
The race for first place in both the Atlantic and Pacific Divisions intensified Saturday as the top two teams in each division met in Ottawa and San Jose, respectively:

* Paul Byron scored the decisive marker in the shootout – after both teams tallied a tying goal in the third period – to power the Canadiens (40-23-8, 88 points) past the Senators (39-23-8, 86 points) in the first half of a back-to-back home-and-home set. Montreal and Ottawa will play tonight on Rogers Hometown Hockey before closing their season series on Saturday at Bell Centre (OTT: 2-0-1; MTL: 1-1-1).

* Ryan Getzlaf (0-1—1) reached the 800-point milestone (235-565—800) to help the Ducks (38-23-11, 87 points) improve to 5-1-1 in their last seven games and move within four points of the Sharks (42-22-7, 91 points) for first place in the Pacific Division. Jonathan Bernier (33 saves) improved to 5-0-1 in his last six appearances, while Jakob Silfverberg (GWG) reached 20 goals for the second time (also 2015-16).

Meanwhile, Chicago opened a five-point lead atop the Central Division and Western Conference with a victory in Toronto:

* Ryan Hartman scored in the final 20 seconds of overtime to power the Blackhawks (46-20-5, 97 points) to their fourth consecutive win. John Hayden tallied the first goal of his NHL career (2 GP) to become the second Illinois-born player to score for the Blackhawks this season, joining Vinnie Hinostroza (6).

OTHER PLAYOFF HOPEFULS SECURE KEY VICTORIES
Several clubs secured victories to improve their chances of clinching a playoff berth:

* Cam Talbot (33 saves) picked up his sixth shutout of the season and Connor McDavid netted the game-winner as the Oilers (38-24-9, 85 points) reclaimed third place in the Pacific Division. McDavid regained sole possession of the League lead with 25-55—80 and became the first Oilers player to reach the 80-point mark in a season since 2013-14 (Taylor Hall: 27-53—80).

* Jake Allen (31 saves) registered his fourth shutout of the season to help the Blues (38-28-5, 81 points) improve to 7-1-0 in their last eight contests and overtake the Predators (35-25-11, 81 points) – who lost in regulation – for third place in the Central Division. Allen established a career high with his 27th win of the season. St. Louis and Nashville will wrap up their season series on April 2 at Scottrade Center (NSH: 3-1-0; STL: 1-3-0).

* Zach Werenski (0-2—2) notched an assist on Cam Atkinson’s overtime goal to lift the Blue Jackets (46-18-6, 98 points) to a 6-1-0 mark in their last seven games. Werenski has collected 11-35—46 this season (70 GP) – including 2-5—7 during an active five-game point streak – and now sits five points shy of tying the single-season franchise record for most by a defenseman, a mark set by James Wisniewski in 2013-14 (7-44—51 in 75 GP).

* Jimmy Vesey scored his fifth game-winning goal of the season to guide the Rangers (45-24-3, 93 points) – who occupy the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference – to their League-leading 26th road win of the season, two shy of matching the franchise record set in 2014-15. Elias notes that Vesey became the first Rangers rookie to score five or more game-winning goals in a season since 1985-86 (Mike Ridley: 6).

LOOSE PUCKS
The Hurricanes (30-27-12, 72 points) extended their point streak to six contests (4-0-2) . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov scored the 100th and 101st goals of his NHL career . . . William Nylander (1-6—7 in 7 GP), Elias Lindholm (2-4—6 in 6 GP), Rickard Rakell (4-2—6 in 5 GP) and Artemi Panarin (3-3—6 in 5 GP) extended their points streaks . . . Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano skated in his 776th consecutive game and tied Craig Ramsay for the fourth-longest such run in NHL history . . . Sharks forward Logan Couture (1-0—1) skated in the 500th game of his NHL career . . . The Maple Leafs donned Toronto St. Pats uniforms, honoring one of their earliest eras in franchise history.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Columbus @ New Jersey, 1 p.m., MSG+, FS-O
Florida @ Pittsburgh, 1 p.m., SN, TVAS, ROOT, FS-F
Minnesota @ Winnipeg, 5 p.m., TSN3, FS-N, FS-WI
Colorado @ Chicago, 7 p.m., NHLN, WGN, ALT
Carolina @ Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., CSN-PH, FS-CR
Ottawa @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., SN, RDS, RDS
Los Angeles @ Calgary, 9:30 p.m., SN1, SNW, FS-W
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ELLIOTT AIMS TO TIE FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 11TH STRAIGHT WIN
The Kings (34-29-7, 75 points) look to inch closer to the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference when they visit the Flames (40-27-4, 84 points), who occupy the first Wild Card position. Flames goaltender Brian Elliott has won 10 consecutive games (1.67 GAA, .944 SV%, 2 SO) and can tie the longest win streak by a goaltender in franchise history, a mark set by Mike Vernon from Jan. 17 – Feb. 27, 1989 (11-0-0).

HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN OTTAWA
The Canadiens (40-23-8, 88 points) and the Senators (39-23-8, 86 points) conclude their home-and-home set on Rogers Hometown Hockey, which will showcase the city of Ottawa. Throughout the 2016-17 season, Sunday games will be broadcast from a different community rink in various towns across Canada. Included in each telecast will be local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features.

* Click here for more details about the festivities in Ottawa.

* Click here for the full schedule of stops for the 2016-17 season.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department